Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

Hecalmlyexpined:

Timepassed.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Halftheeffort...?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hetinued:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Oh?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“You’retooi

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inodded.

Thestepedhishaly.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Tch.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”