Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“You’retooi

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hetinued:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestewardsaid,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Halftheeffort...?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Panting,Iasked,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Inodded.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.