2. Training Program

Night – Underground Training Room

Deep beneath the Quan family estate lay a secluded chamber—an exclusive training ground reserved for the head of the Quan family, Quan Yi's father.

The underground room had only a single entrance, heavily guarded at all times. Within its depths, an astonishing array of cold weapons filled the space—swords, spears, halberds, armors, and shields, enough to outfit an army of hundreds.

At the center of the chamber sat a towering, formidable man, cross-legged in quiet cultivation. Though surrounded by lethal weapons, he remained utterly unfazed, his presence exuding a sense of unwavering dominance. His focus was solely on refining his soul power.

This man was Quan Yue, the current patriarch of the Quan family and father to Quan Yi.

While this chamber served as Quan Yue's personal training ground, it also functioned as the family's primary armory—a storage vault for their vast weapon stockpile.

At 39 years old, Quan Yue was a Rank 59 Soul King, just a step away from breaking into the Spirit Emperor realm. His Martial Soul was the Black Iron Gauntlet, a pair of heavy, battle-worn gauntlets that covered his forearms and hands, enhancing his unarmed combat abilities.

But why did he choose to cultivate in an armory rather than a more conventional training space?

The answer lay in the mimetic training environment—a concept well-known among soul masters. Each Martial Soul had an optimal setting that resonated with its nature, allowing its wielder to cultivate with greater efficiency.

For Quan Yue, the presence of countless weapons and pieces of armor perfectly complemented his Black Iron Gauntlet, creating an ideal cultivation atmosphere that allowed him to maximize his training results.

Outside the heavy doors of the training chamber, a voice called out.

"Madam, what brings you here? The patriarch has ordered that he is not to be disturbed unless it is urgent."

"I have an important matter to discuss. Please inform him immediately."

The guard hesitated for a moment but ultimately obeyed. He reached for a rope hanging beside the entrance and gave it two firm tugs. The rope was connected to a bell inside the chamber, serving as a discreet method of summoning the patriarch when necessary.

A brief silence followed. Then, with a deep, resonant creak, the heavy iron doors slowly parted. From within the dimly lit chamber, a towering figure emerged.

"Ling'er, come inside."

Without hesitation, Su Ling'er stepped through the threshold, and as soon as she entered, the doors shut firmly behind her.

Inside, Quan Yue gazed at his wife with rare tenderness. "Tell me, this must be important."

Su Ling'er hesitated only for a moment before speaking. "Husband, I know you are in seclusion, preparing to break through your bottleneck. But this matter is too important to ignore—you need to hear it."

She quickly recounted everything regarding Quan Yi. As she spoke, a deep contemplation settled over Quan Yue's face. Moments passed before, suddenly, his expression shifted—his solemn demeanor gave way to a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha! He truly is my son! At only two years old, he's already displaying such intelligence and decisiveness."

His laughter echoed through the armory, brimming with pride.

Quan Yue had been so preoccupied with the affairs of the family and his own impending breakthrough that he had neglected to pay much attention to his son. He had originally thought there would be plenty of time to guide the boy once his own strength advanced.

But now, he realized the mistake in that thinking. Quan Yi was no ordinary child—he was already taking his first steps toward something greater.

If he failed to support his son at this crucial moment, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

The Next Morning

At dawn, within the family dining hall, Quan Yi found himself face-to-face with his father—an unusual occurrence, given how rarely they saw each other.

Even before his father spoke, Quan Yi knew the truth: he had already found out.

Sure enough, as soon as they sat down, Quan Yue turned to him and said, "Xiaoyi, I already know about your plan."

A brief pause. Then, with a firm nod, he continued, "Your mother and I have already made arrangements. The swimming pool is under construction as we speak. You will have your opportunity soon."

Quan Yi looked into his father's eyes, sensing the weight of his seriousness. He understood the meaning behind that gaze.

Without hesitation, Quan Yi stood up, bowed solemnly to both his father and mother, and spoke with unwavering resolve.

"I will never betray your trust."

With that, he reached into his robes and retrieved a neatly folded piece of paper, handing it to Quan Yue.

"This is my training schedule. Please take a look."

Quan Yue unfolded the paper, revealing an entire page filled with meticulously written notes.

Training Schedule Swimming training – Three sessions daily: morning, noon, and evening. Endurance and physical strength are required. Sleep regulation – Ensure at least ten hours of rest per day to optimize recovery and growth. Nutritional intake – Maintain a high-energy diet, consuming soul beast meat for all three meals, preferably from fire- or metal-attributed soul beasts.

The more Quan Yue read, the more astonished he became. But when his gaze fell upon the last point regarding soul beast meat, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

This plan was not just ambitious—it was strategic. Extreme training would deplete energy reserves, and replenishing them with soul beast meat, rich in soul power, was an ingenious method of strengthening the body.

Furthermore, the specific focus on fire- and metal-attributed soul beast meat demonstrated deep foresight. Given Quan Yi's Martial Soul, consuming such meat would likely enhance his Martial Soul's development, reinforcing its elemental affinity.

But what truly impressed Quan Yue was Quan Yi's awareness of balance—ensuring both intense training and proper recovery. Even as an adult, Quan Yue had only come to understand the importance of this equilibrium later in life.

For a two-year-old child to devise such a comprehensive plan was simply unbelievable.

He looked at Quan Yi, his voice carrying both disbelief and admiration.

"Xiao Yi, did you really design this yourself? If you can follow this plan strictly… you may very well create a miracle."

Today had already been full of shocks, yet this one hit differently.

"Father, I wrote this based on knowledge from books," Quan Yi admitted. "But the key factor here is the soul beast meat. I wanted to ask if we could obtain it?"

He paused before explaining further. "We can purchase soul beasts hunted in the Soul Hunting Forest. Most people only care about the soul bones and soul rings, completely disregarding the meat. If we act wisely, we can acquire it at a low cost."

Upon hearing this, Quan Yue's eyes lit up.

He had already anticipated that Quan Yi's intelligence was exceptional—but to think he had even considered the logistics of obtaining soul beast meat…

Clearly, this plan wasn't an impulsive idea—it had been thought out for some time.

Quan Yue had always been a decisive man, so he didn't hesitate.

"Very well, we'll do as you suggested. You don't have to worry—our Quan family has more than enough resources to support you. For a child like you, ensuring food and training is the least we can do."

His father's firm support sent a wave of warmth through Quan Yi's heart. His vision blurred slightly as emotion welled up inside him.

In his previous life, he had chosen to save someone at the cost of his own life.

At that time, he had wondered if it was the right decision. But now, standing here, in front of his loving parents, he knew—

It was the best decision he had ever made.

Perhaps this life was a gift from the heavens.

And now, he had another reason to pursue strength.

To protect his family.

Only by becoming a powerful Soul Master could he truly safeguard them.

Two Weeks Later – The Beginning of Training

True to its reputation, the Quan family worked with remarkable efficiency.

In just two weeks, a fully functional swimming pool was constructed—a one-story facility with an expansive design.

Located near a creek, the pool was ingeniously connected to the natural water source.

When refilling was needed, the upstream valve could be opened, allowing fresh creek water to flow in. When cleaning was required, the downstream valve could be released, efficiently draining the pool while ensuring clean, circulating water.

The architectural ingenuity amazed Quan Yi.

At the same time, the first batch of soul beast meat had arrived.

This shipment had been sourced from the nearest Soul Hunting Forest, though the distance posed logistical challenges. Transporting fresh meat over such a distance risked spoilage.

To counter this, the Quan family had taken a practical approach—

They preserved the soul beast meat using traditional methods, marinating it in large vats to create cured meat, ensuring long-term storage without spoilage.

With everything in place, Quan Yi's training officially began.