“Tch.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Panting,Iasked,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Oh?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hetinued:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestepedhishaly.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thestewardsaid,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inodded.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Timepassed.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.