“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestepedhishaly.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Panting,Iasked,

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Tch.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Hetinued:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”