Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Oh?”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

Inodded.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Timepassed.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Tch.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.