“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestewardsaid,

Inodded.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Hetinued:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“You’retooi

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Tch.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Timepassed.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Oh?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Panting,Iasked,

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thestepedhishaly.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hecalmlyexpined: