“Tch.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Timepassed.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Hetinued:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Panting,Iasked,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“You’retooi

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thestewardsaid,

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inodded.