Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Timepassed.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Tch.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

Hetinued:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestepedhishaly.

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Hecalmlyexpined: