Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Tch.”

Halftheeffort...?

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestepedhishaly.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hetinued:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Timepassed.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“You’retooi

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestewardsaid,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

So,Icalledforth“me.”