Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Timepassed.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“You’retooi

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestewardsaid,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inodded.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Hetinued:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Halftheeffort...?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”