Thestepedhishaly.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thestewardsaid,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inodded.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“You’retooi

Panting,Iasked,

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hetinued:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”