But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestewardsaid,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

“You’retooi

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Hetinued:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Tch.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inodded.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Panting,Iasked,

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.