“Tch.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Timepassed.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inodded.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hetinued:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.