“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestepedhishaly.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inodded.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Halftheeffort...?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestewardsaid,

Hecalmlyexpined:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“You’retooi

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Panting,Iasked,

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

Hetinued:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Tch.”