“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“You’retooi

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inodded.

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestewardsaid,

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestepedhishaly.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain: