Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Tch.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Hetinued:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestewardsaid,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Oh?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Halftheeffort...?

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inodded.

“You’retooi

Timepassed.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Panting,Iasked,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hecalmlyexpined: