“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inodded.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Panting,Iasked,

Thestepedhishaly.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Tch.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Oh?”

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hetinued:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”