Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Tch.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inodded.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“You’retooi

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Oh?”

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hetinued:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thestewardsaid,