Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Timepassed.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“You’retooi

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hetinued:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thestepedhishaly.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestewardsaid,

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Panting,Iasked,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inodded.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.