But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Hetinued:

Inodded.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Tch.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thestepedhishaly.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Halftheeffort...?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Timepassed.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Panting,Iasked,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Oh?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“You’retooi