Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Inodded.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Tch.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“You’retooi

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestepedhishaly.

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

Hecalmlyexpined:

Hetinued:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”