TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Timepassed.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Panting,Iasked,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thestewardsaid,

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inodded.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thestepedhishaly.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

“You’retooi

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hetinued: