“Tch.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Timepassed.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thestewardsaid,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hetinued:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”