tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thestepedhishaly.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“You’retooi

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inodded.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Tch.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Hetinued:

Thestewardsaid,

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Panting,Iasked,

“Oh?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”