Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Halftheeffort...?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inodded.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestewardsaid,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

Thestepedhishaly.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Panting,Iasked,

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“You’retooi

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Timepassed.

Hetinued:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”