“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Timepassed.

Inodded.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Oh?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“You’retooi

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestepedhishaly.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Tch.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Hetinued:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestewardsaid,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.