Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Panting,Iasked,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Tch.”

Inodded.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“You’retooi

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

“Oh?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Hetinued:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout: