Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Tch.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thestewardsaid,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Halftheeffort...?

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestepedhishaly.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Inodded.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hetinued:

Hecalmlyexpined:

Timepassed.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

“Oh?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”