“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Oh?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Hetinued:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestewardsaid,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Tch.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“You’retooi

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inodded.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thestepedhishaly.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”