Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Panting,Iasked,

“You’retooi

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inodded.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Timepassed.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestepedhishaly.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Halftheeffort...?

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Oh?”