Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

“You’retooi

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hetinued:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inodded.

Halftheeffort...?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Oh?”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Timepassed.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Panting,Iasked,