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Timing is of the essence when it comes to earning the Silver Spirit Fighter Badge in one decisive strike.
According to Quan Yi's own estimates, if he advanced at a rate of two levels per year, he would break through level 30 by the time he reached sixth grade and successfully become a Spirit Elder.
At that point, if he entered the Great Spirit Arena, he would have to face opponents at the Spirit Elder level.
With only one year remaining after that, it would be a daunting task to compete against Spirit Elders in their mid-to-late thirties while he was only in the early teens himself.
Therefore, the best window to obtain the Silver Spirit Fighter Badge was while he was still at the Spirit Grand Master stage.
He originally thought he had five years to prepare.
Now, he had just under four.
This was Teacher Bai Yan's mistake—she had miscalculated his level. After all, who would have expected Quan Yi to reach level 23 immediately after absorbing his first Spirit Ring?
Based on his calculations, if he only participated in one-on-one battles, he would need to win 29 consecutive matches to obtain the Silver Badge.
Of course, while it sounded simple, achieving it was another matter. Before each battle, he would have no way of knowing his opponent's abilities.
If he encountered a Spirit Master with an attribute or skill set that directly countered his own, maintaining a winning streak would be difficult.
To ensure victory, Quan Yi dedicated himself to both improving his spirit power and preparing for battle at the academy.
Since he couldn't control his opponent's strength, the only option was to enhance his own. Only by remaining steadfast amidst change could he overcome any challenge.
Half a year into the school term, Quan Yi broke through to level 25 as expected.
During these six months, he had completely adapted to the changes in his Martial Soul and physical abilities.
Gone was the sharp, unrestrained aura he had before. His temperament had calmed, giving him a composed and steady demeanor.
However, this did not mean he had lost his edge. If one looked closely into his eyes, they would see a sharp gleam flashing in his pupils, impossible to ignore.
Quan Yi had learned to conceal his aura, keeping his strength hidden beneath the surface—proof of a qualitative leap in his self-control.
But after six months of restraint, it was time for the sword to be unsheathed once more.
Saturday morning.
Quan Yi awoke in his dormitory, feeling fully energized.
Today marked his first battle in the Great Spirit Arena. To ensure he was in peak condition, he had ended his training early the previous night and rested properly.
In the morning, after a brief warm-up run, he skipped his usual long-distance training.
Following breakfast, he returned to his dormitory, took a shower, and then made his way toward the academy gates.
As he passed through the entrance, he presented the pass Teacher Bai Yan had given him. After verifying it, the guard allowed him to leave.
Most junior academies had strict campus regulations, and even on Saturdays, students couldn't leave freely unless they had special permission.
However, family visits were allowed, meaning that even if Quan Yi couldn't go out, he could still receive spirit beast meat from outside to aid his training.
He had received the pass a week after school started, granting him unrestricted entry and exit.
Yet, in the past six months, he had never used it once—his focus had been solely on cultivation.
As Quan Yi stepped out of the academy gates, a carriage stood waiting.
"Mother," he called softly.
"Xiao Yi, are you ready?" Su Ling'er asked gently.
It was rare for Quan Yi to leave the academy, and Su Ling'er was pleased to see him. However, the purpose of his trip this time—to participate in Great Spirit Arena battles—made her uneasy.
Su Ling'er had come to the academy today to personally supervise Quan Yi's participation in the Great Spirit Arena.
Spirit battles were inherently dangerous, and academy students were required to compete under the supervision of a teacher.
However, with Su Ling'er accompanying Quan Yi, he was able to refuse the academy's arrangement for a supervising teacher.
This way, he could conceal his abilities while also gaining the flexibility to choose when to enter the Great Spirit Arena.
"I'm ready," Quan Yi replied, his words short but firm. A faint light of battle intent flickered in his eyes, though he remained composed.
Seeing her son's state of mind, Su Ling'er sighed inwardly.
Not only is he physically prepared, but mentally as well.
"Let's go, then."
The carriage set off toward a distant city.
Upon entering the city, Quan Yi asked the coachman to slow the carriage. He opened the window and quietly observed the bustling streets.
The lively crowds and noisy marketplace painted a stark contrast to the calm, structured life within the academy.
Training left him with little time to explore the city, but now that he had the chance, he took it all in.
As the carriage moved forward, the noise of the crowd grew louder.
Quan Yi leaned out of the window, following the source of the commotion. Soon, an awe-inspiring dome-shaped building came into view.
"It's time to get off. The crowd will only grow thicker ahead—we'll proceed on foot," Su Ling'er said beside him.
Quan Yi immediately understood.
This massive structure was their destination—the Great Spirit Arena.
He had never imagined such a colossal building existing within the city.
It spanned an enormous area, towering over 100 meters in height.
Considering this world's medieval-level productivity, such a feat of construction was astonishing.
But this was the world of Spirit Masters, vastly different from that of ordinary people. Once again, Quan Yi was reminded of the disparity between them.
This Great Spirit Arena was founded by the seven great Spirit Master clans, and similar arenas existed in every major city across the Douluo Continent.
Moreover, this arena was built within the city itself, where every inch of land was invaluable.
The sheer power and influence backing this establishment were evident.
Compared to such formidable forces, the Quan Clan still had a long way to go.
Upon stepping inside the Great Spirit Arena, the first thing that caught Quan Yi's eye was a massive stone monument, densely inscribed with countless names.
"These are the names of those who perished in battle," Su Linger explained.
Quan Yi halted before the stele, carefully reading the engraved names.
Each one represented a fallen Spirit Master.
This was a monument of warning.
It served as a stark reminder—this was no mere training ground, but a real and brutal battlefield.
Quan Yi had approached this as just another match—a competition meant to hone skills and exchange insights, with killing strictly forbidden.
But standing before this monument, his mindset shifted.
A newfound caution and solemnity settled in his heart.
"Let's go. We still need to register," Su Ling'er called.
"Alright."
Quan Yi and Su Ling'er walked toward the registration area.
To participate, he needed to obtain the lowest-tier Iron Spirit Fighter Badge.
The registration process was simple—just a few basic details:
Name
Age
Place of Birth
Martial Soul
"Xiao Yi," Su Ling'er said in a low voice. "They won't verify the accuracy of the information. You can increase your age when filling it out. Also, you don't have to use your real name—you can choose a title instead. Think of one in advance."
This was for Quan Yi's protection.
If his real age were revealed, it would cause an uproar.
Fortunately, his physique was different from that of ordinary children—most wouldn't suspect he was only fourteen or fifteen years old.
Su Ling'er planned to take advantage of this to conceal his true talent.