Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“You’retooi

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Hetinued:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Halftheeffort...?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Oh?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestepedhishaly.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Panting,Iasked,

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Tch.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inodded.