Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Timepassed.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Halftheeffort...?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Panting,Iasked,

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inodded.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hetinued:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestewardsaid,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”