“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“You’retooi

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Timepassed.

Hetinued:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Panting,Iasked,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Oh?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inodded.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Tch.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout: