Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inodded.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Tch.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Oh?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thestewardsaid,

Thestepedhishaly.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Panting,Iasked,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

Timepassed.

Halftheeffort...?

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.