Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“You’retooi

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestewardsaid,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Tch.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Timepassed.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Panting,Iasked,

Hetinued:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestepedhishaly.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.