“Oh?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Hecalmlyexpined:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Tch.”

Panting,Iasked,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thestewardsaid,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hetinued:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.