TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hetinued:

Inodded.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Oh?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Panting,Iasked,

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Tch.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“You’retooi

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.