Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“You’retooi

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thestepedhishaly.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Halftheeffort...?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestewardsaid,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Panting,Iasked,

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Timepassed.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hetinued:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Oh?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Tch.”