52. Summary of the Second Battle
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"By the way, Xiao Wu, why haven't I seen your brother recently?" As dinner was coming to an end, Quan Yi voiced his curiosity to Huo Wu.
Aside from the first few days after his arrival at the academy, Quan Yi hadn't seen Huo Wushuang in the cafeteria at all.
"Oh, my brother has been busy lately and rarely stays at the academy. I heard he's undergoing actual combat training at the Great Spirit Arena in the city," Huo Wu replied, though there was some uncertainty in her tone.
In truth, Huo Wu didn't know much about her brother's recent activities. She had been focused on her own training and hadn't paid much attention to Huo Wushuang.
"The Great Spirit Arena… so that's it," Quan Yi murmured in realization.
Huo Wushuang had mentioned breaking through to a new level recently. Given his talent, the academy's standard curriculum probably wasn't challenging enough for him anymore.
It made sense that the academy arranged for him to train in the Great Spirit Arena, where he could gain real combat experience.
Quan Yi had to admit, this academy had a great advantage—it tailored its teachings to suit each student's aptitude and placed a strong emphasis on practical training.
The fact that Huo Wushuang was sent to the Great Spirit Arena as soon as he advanced in level proved this point.
Quan Yi wasn't sure if all soul master academies followed this method, but he found that this academy's approach aligned well with his own goals.
He was also looking forward to visiting the Great Spirit Arena himself. It was a place where he could observe all kinds of soul masters, Martial Souls, and soul skills. A place that fascinating—he definitely had to see it for himself.
And he wouldn't have to wait too long. Given his cultivation speed, he estimated that he could reach the required level within a year. When that time came, he, too, would undergo training in the Great Spirit Arena.
But for now, he needed to focus on the battle ahead.
"What do you think about tomorrow's match?" Quan Yi asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"We'll stick to our usual strategy," Huo Wu responded. "You focus on defense, and I'll do my best to drain the teacher's soul power. Even if I'm the first to fall, I can at least create some advantages for you. From then on, it'll be up to you."
Though her tone carried a hint of helplessness, there was also a firm resolve in her words.
The power gap was simply too great. Huo Wu knew that, with her current strength, she might not even last 15 minutes.
She was under no illusions about the outcome. In this third round, she likely wouldn't be standing by the time the battle ended.
Her plan was simple—use up as much of Bai Yan's soul power as possible, prolong the fight, and create an opportunity for Quan Yi.
At the same time, she trusted Quan Yi.
Even if she fell early, she believed he would fight until the very end and never let her down.
"Alright, I'll do my best," Quan Yi said solemnly.
He could tell that Huo Wu was prepared to push herself to the limit. The least he could do was meet her determination with his own.
"Let's give it our all tomorrow!" Huo Wu said, trying to lift the heavy atmosphere.
"Yeah."
After parting ways, Quan Yi returned to his dormitory.
He took a quick shower, drying himself off with his Sun Gauntlets.
Luckily, he had the Sun Gauntlets—otherwise, taking multiple baths a day would have been a hassle.
Once done, he sat at his desk, his expression serious.
Tomorrow's battle wouldn't be easy. He needed to prepare.
Noon, the Next Day. Training Grounds.
"Before we begin today's match, as usual, I want to hear your thoughts on yesterday's battle. Huo Wu, you go first," Teacher Bai Yan said firmly, her tone as resolute as ever.
Having experienced yesterday's lesson firsthand, Huo Wu had already prepared her thoughts in advance.
She calmly cleared her throat before slowly sharing her analysis.
"In yesterday's battle, I believe we managed to compensate for some of our weaknesses by utilizing variations in our soul skills. Additionally, Quan Yi's self-created soul skills and tactical planning were highly effective. This played a crucial role in our victory. Even a simple soul skill, when used with slight adjustments, can produce unexpected results."
Huo Wu spoke little about herself, mostly highlighting Quan Yi's contributions. Only at the end did she briefly mention her own reflections on the fight.
Bai Yan nodded in approval. "I can see that you've put real thought into this. Very good. I hope you continue analyzing battles this way. Combat isn't just about the strength of soul skills; it's about how soul masters apply them in battle. Quan Yi certainly has excellent talent in tactical planning, but even the best tactics require execution. And in that regard, Huo Wu, you performed exceptionally well."
She had noticed that Huo Wu's analysis lacked any real acknowledgment of her own contributions. While this could be seen as humility or objectivity, Bai Yan suspected it stemmed from a lack of confidence.
She decided to address it directly, praising Huo Wu's performance in the hopes that she would recognize her own strengths.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Huo Wu responded, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curling into a small smile.
Bai Yan then turned to Quan Yi. "Alright, now it's your turn. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Quan Yi remained composed, his gaze calm and steady.
"Alright, Teacher. Regarding yesterday's battle, while my tactical planning played a role, at its core, the outcome was determined by a simple fact—we were stronger. The previous two battles were ultimately cases where the strong defeated the weak. In essence, Huo Wu and I simply had an advantage over a teacher at level 20. Strategy played a part, but it was not the deciding factor."
His words were blunt and direct, catching Huo Wu off guard. Her heart skipped a beat as she listened.
After yesterday's training session, she thought she had grown accustomed to Quan Yi's straightforwardness, but his sheer audacity still made her uneasy.
However, Quan Yi was not being arrogant—he was simply stating the truth. Self-created soul skills and tactical execution were details; the real reason for their victory was that Bai Yan had underestimated their strength.
And if this wasn't addressed, today's match would likely have the same result.
Quan Yi met Bai Yan's gaze head-on. His expression showed no arrogance—only determination.
Bai Yan was momentarily surprised, not because she felt disrespected, but because Quan Yi's assessment perfectly aligned with her own.
After reflecting on yesterday's match, she too had realized that Quan Yi and Huo Wu were far stronger than she had initially believed.
If they continued fighting under the same conditions, their training wouldn't be as effective. That was why she had already decided to increase the difficulty of today's battle.
As she met Quan Yi's burning gaze, a thought crossed her mind.
Did he already predict my intentions? Or… was this his way of reminding me?
Various possibilities flashed through Bai Yan's mind.
Quan Yi's words were blunt, yet they struck at the heart of the matter. And though it was slightly embarrassing, she had to admit—he was right.
She had misjudged them.
Bai Yan was surprised by Quan Yi's keen insight, but at the same time, she felt a subtle pressure.
As a teacher, she was used to evaluating her students. But with someone as sharp as Quan Yi, she realized that every move she made was being scrutinized just as carefully.
Fortunately, she had already recognized this issue before Quan Yi pointed it out. If he had been the one to remind her first, it would have been truly embarrassing.
'I still have a lot to learn', Bai Yan thought to herself with a soft sigh.
"Your answers always exceed my expectations," she finally said, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "Quan Yi, your analysis is correct—this was my mistake. I'm glad you pointed it out. I admit that I underestimated you before. But from today onward, I will be holding you to a higher standard right from the start. I expect you to take this even more seriously."