Timepassed.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Inodded.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“You’retooi

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thestepedhishaly.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”