Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Halftheeffort...?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Timepassed.

“You’retooi

Thestewardsaid,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Panting,Iasked,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Oh?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Tch.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hetinued:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”