“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Tch.”

Panting,Iasked,

“You’retooi

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Timepassed.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Halftheeffort...?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thestewardsaid,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”