Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Hecalmlyexpined:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hetinued:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Panting,Iasked,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Halftheeffort...?

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestewardsaid,

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thestepedhishaly.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Oh?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“You’retooi

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”