“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Timepassed.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“You’retooi

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Panting,Iasked,

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Hetinued:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inodded.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Oh?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.