Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“You’retooi

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inodded.

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hetinued:

Thestepedhishaly.

Thestewardsaid,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Panting,Iasked,

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Timepassed.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Tch.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.