Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Timepassed.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inodded.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Tch.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestepedhishaly.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Hetinued:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thestewardsaid,