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"My request is simple—you must earn the Silver Spirit Fighter Badge before graduating from the Volcano Academy," Bai Yan stated firmly.
"Additionally, for you, I am granting special permission to enter and leave the academy freely. You may even choose to skip morning classes if you wish."
Quan Yi was momentarily stunned. Bai Yan was known for her strict discipline, yet here she was, offering him unparalleled freedom. The ability to miss classes and come and go as he pleased—this was nearly unheard of.
But Bai Yan had made this decision after careful deliberation.
First, she knew that Quan Yi's knowledge far exceeded the teaching pace of the junior division.
Second, she understood his level of self-discipline—something even she herself could not match.
This was the conclusion Bai Yan had reached after observing him for over a year.
Had it been Huo Wu, she might have hesitated, but with Quan Yi, she had no concerns.
Trust comes from understanding.
And if there was anyone in the academy who understood Quan Yi best, Bai Yan was undoubtedly one of them.
At this point, what Quan Yi lacked was not talent, knowledge, or determination—it was real combat experience.
That was why Bai Yan wanted him to hone his battle instincts and adaptability in the Great Spirit Arena.
The Great Spirit Arena?
The teacher's arrangement was unexpected, but not entirely surprising. After all, there was already a precedent—Huo Wushuang had taken the same path.
However, earning a Silver Fighting Soul Badge was far from easy.
"I understand, Teacher."
Despite the immense pressure, Quan Yi did not hesitate. Instead, he accepted the challenge head-on.
Seeing his unwavering resolve, Bai Yan nodded approvingly. Then, she turned to Huo Wu.
"As for you, Huo Wu, I know your breakthrough is approaching. For this semester, I want you to focus entirely on cultivating your soul power.
"Once you've broken through, you will join Quan Yi in the Great Spirit Arena to sharpen your combat skills."
Huo Wu's progress was evident to everyone.
Her improvement in combat techniques, in particular, was remarkable—even on par with Quan Yi's.
It was no surprise. During combat training, she often had to partner with Quan Yi to take on the formidable Bai Yan.
Being the physically weaker one, Huo Wu had always faced immense pressure.
Yet, she had gritted her teeth and endured a full year of intense, high-stress training.
Her efforts had paid off—her fire control, physical strength, combat awareness, and willpower had all improved significantly.
Now, what she needed most was to refine her soul power.
"Understood, Teacher," Huo Wu said, nodding without hesitation.
Bai Yan then turned back to Quan Yi, her expression serious.
"One last thing—do not neglect your own cultivation in pursuit of the Silver Badge."
She knew how demanding her request was, but she also believed that true gold could withstand any fire.
"Yes, Teacher."
Quan Yi had already considered this.
For him, soul power cultivation and physical conditioning remained his highest priorities. No matter what, he would never abandon them.
"Good. That's all I have to say. You may go."
Bai Yan was fully at ease—she trusted them both.
Outside the Office
As they stepped into the hallway, both Quan Yi and Huo Wu's expressions shifted. Their eyes burned with newfound determination.
With Bai Yan's guidance, each of them now had a clear goal for this stage of their journey.
"Xiao Wu, I'll be waiting for you ahead," Quan Yi said.
"Don't worry, I won't take long," Huo Wu replied confidently.
After parting ways, Quan Yi returned to his dormitory, sat down, and fell deep into thought.
The Great Spirit Arena
Indeed, battling only a single opponent repeatedly was not the best way to gain combat experience. True growth could only be achieved by clashing with different soul masters, encountering various Martial Souls, and facing unique soul skills.
Quan Yi first recalled the rules of the Great Spirit Arena.
The regulations were simple yet strict—each victory earned one point, while a loss deducted one point.
A soul master's rank in the Great Spirit Arena was represented by their badge, which had a total of eight levels. The Silver Fighting Soul Badge was ranked third from the bottom, making it seem relatively low.
However, earning it was no easy task.
To qualify for the Silver Badge, a contestant needed to accumulate 1,000 points.
Furthermore, the Great Spirit Arena imposed a strict daily battle limit:
One-on-one duels
Two-on-two battles
Team battles
A soul master could participate in each category only once per day.
This rule significantly increased the challenge, which was why Teacher Bai Yan had given him until graduation to achieve his goal.
Five years.
At first glance, it seemed like a long time.
But in reality, it was very short—only a little over 800 battle days in total.
However, Quan Yi soon discovered a rule that worked in his favor.
The Winning Streak Bonus.
After winning five consecutive battles, each subsequent victory would earn ten times the normal points. After achieving ten consecutive victories, the point multiplier would increase again.
Understanding this, Quan Yi began formulating a strategy.
The Next Day
When classes resumed, Quan Yi did not rush to the Great Spirit Arena.
Instead, he went to the classroom as usual.
Just like in the first semester, he quietly read books, absorbed knowledge, and diligently studied.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
Yet, Quan Yi never once set foot in the Great Spirit Arena, nor did he leave the academy.
To an outsider, it seemed as if he had completely forgotten about his agreement with Bai Yan.
But in reality, he was accumulating strength.
Quan Yi was fully confident in his abilities—but he also understood that now was not the right time to enter the Great Spirit Arena.
He had only recently broken through to Spirit Grand Master.
He had yet to fully adapt to his new level.
Moreover, the Great Spirit Arena matched opponents within the same realm—which meant he could end up facing a level 28 or 29 opponent.
A six-level difference was significant.
If he encountered an opponent with abilities that countered his own, even he wouldn't be guaranteed victory.
Quan Yi was confident—but not arrogant.
At level 23, he would not foolishly believe he could defeat every Spirit Grand Master he faced.
Furthermore, this was a major city, where the Great Spirit Arena was filled with highly skilled competitors.
Nearby academies like Blazing Academy and Godwind Academy produced outstanding students, and the soul masters here were far above average.
If he wanted to dominate, he needed to be stronger.
That was why he chose to wait until level 25 before making his move.
Quan Yi had no doubt that he could reach level 25 within a year.
If a craftsman wanted to do good work, he first had to sharpen his tools.
There was no need to rush.
At level 25, he would still have plenty of time before graduation. More importantly, he would be strong enough to execute his winning streak strategy effectively.
But to others, his plan was unbelievable.
Because for it to work, Quan Yi needed to be so strong at level 25 that he could completely dominate every other Spirit Grandmaster in the arena.
An impossible level of confidence.
An ego beyond reason.
Yet, Quan Yi was not blindly arrogant.
During his adaptation period, he had gained a deep understanding of his own power.
He had advantages that other soul masters simply did not.
His two overaged spirit rings alone put him hundreds of years ahead of most of his peers.
Combine that with his high-grade Martial Soul, innate full soul power, and rigorously trained body, and Quan Yi had every reason to believe—
He could win.