“You’retooi

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Halftheeffort...?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Hetinued:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestewardsaid,

Timepassed.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inodded.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thestepedhishaly.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Tch.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.