Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“You’retooi

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Hetinued:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Halftheeffort...?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inodded.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Timepassed.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.