Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inodded.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thestewardsaid,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Panting,Iasked,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Halftheeffort...?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Tch.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Oh?”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thestepedhishaly.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“You’retooi

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Hetinued:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Timepassed.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.