“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Tch.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Halftheeffort...?

Thestewardsaid,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“You’retooi

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Oh?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Timepassed.

Inodded.

Panting,Iasked,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hetinued:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain: