Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Panting,Iasked,

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Hecalmlyexpined:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Oh?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Inodded.

Timepassed.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestewardsaid,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Tch.”

Hetinued:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thestepedhishaly.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.