“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Timepassed.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestepedhishaly.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestewardsaid,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Halftheeffort...?

“Tch.”

“You’retooi

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inodded.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.