Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Halftheeffort...?

“Tch.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Panting,Iasked,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

“You’retooi

Timepassed.

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Hetinued:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.