TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Tch.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestepedhishaly.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Timepassed.

Inodded.

Halftheeffort...?

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Panting,Iasked,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestewardsaid,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Hetinued:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“You’retooi

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.