Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Panting,Iasked,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hetinued:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Timepassed.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inodded.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“You’retooi

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Thestewardsaid,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Tch.”

Halftheeffort...?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.