Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Halftheeffort...?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inodded.

“Tch.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestepedhishaly.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Timepassed.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Panting,Iasked,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hetinued:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Oh?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thestewardsaid,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.