Thestewardsaid,

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inodded.

“Tch.”

Timepassed.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Hetinued:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Oh?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestepedhishaly.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Halftheeffort...?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“You’retooi

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.