“Tch.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestepedhishaly.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thestewardsaid,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Hetinued:

Timepassed.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“You’retooi