Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thestepedhishaly.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Timepassed.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Halftheeffort...?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“You’retooi

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Tch.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thestewardsaid,

Hecalmlyexpined:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Inodded.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Oh?”