“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“You’retooi

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Timepassed.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Oh?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Tch.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Hecalmlyexpined:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inodded.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thestewardsaid,

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hetinued:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Panting,Iasked,

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”