Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Panting,Iasked,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“You’retooi

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Thestewardsaid,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Timepassed.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inodded.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Halftheeffort...?

Hetinued:

“Tch.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”