Inodded.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Oh?”

Thestepedhishaly.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“You’retooi

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hetinued:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Panting,Iasked,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Halftheeffort...?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Timepassed.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thestewardsaid,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.