Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“You’retooi

Halftheeffort...?

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Timepassed.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestepedhishaly.

Panting,Iasked,

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Tch.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Hetinued:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hecalmlyexpined:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inodded.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”