But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Tch.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inodded.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Hetinued:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“You’retooi

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”