“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Hetinued:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestewardsaid,

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Tch.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Oh?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Halftheeffort...?

“You’retooi

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestepedhishaly.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Panting,Iasked,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”