Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

Thestewardsaid,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“You’retooi

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Oh?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Halftheeffort...?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Tch.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”