So,Icalledforth“me.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Tch.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hetinued:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestepedhishaly.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Oh?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“You’retooi

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestewardsaid,

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Panting,Iasked,

Inodded.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.