“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thestewardsaid,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Panting,Iasked,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Tch.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Timepassed.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“You’retooi

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inodded.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”