Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestewardsaid,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inodded.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Panting,Iasked,

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Timepassed.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hecalmlyexpined:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“You’retooi

“Tch.”

Halftheeffort...?