Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Halftheeffort...?

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Quietly,Imuttered,

Timepassed.

“gratutions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

likeaflowingstream.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Theeokeup:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”