ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thestepedhishaly.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inodded.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Hetinued:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thestewardsaid,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“You’retooi

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Tch.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Timepassed.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.