Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Timepassed.

Thestewardsaid,

Panting,Iasked,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Halftheeffort...?

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestepedhishaly.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Hetinued:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“You’retooi

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Tch.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”