Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Hetinued:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Panting,Iasked,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“You’retooi

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thestewardsaid,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Tch.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Timepassed.

Hecalmlyexpined:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.