ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“You’retooi

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Hetinued:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestewardsaid,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Timepassed.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Inodded.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Halftheeffort...?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”