Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thestewardsaid,

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inodded.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hetinued:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“You’retooi

“Tch.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Timepassed.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Hecalmlyexpined: