Thestepedhishaly.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“You’retooi

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Inodded.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Halftheeffort...?

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Tch.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Hetinued:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Panting,Iasked,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thestewardsaid,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.