Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Panting,Iasked,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Oh?”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Timepassed.

“Tch.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thestewardsaid,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“You’retooi

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Halftheeffort...?

Inodded.

Thestepedhishaly.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Hetinued:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”