Hetinued:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Timepassed.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Halftheeffort...?

Panting,Iasked,

Thestewardsaid,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Oh?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain: