“You’retooi

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Oh?”

Inodded.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Panting,Iasked,

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Hetinued:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Tch.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thestewardsaid,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”