Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thestewardsaid,

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Oh?”

Timepassed.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thestepedhishaly.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Tch.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“You’retooi

Halftheeffort...?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hetinued:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inodded.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.