Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“You’retooi

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Oh?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inodded.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hetinued:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Panting,Iasked,

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Tch.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.