53. Preparations Before the Battle

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Training Grounds – Noon

Bai Yan's gaze sharpened, and the fluctuation of her soul power became more pronounced. A powerful sense of oppression swept over the field, pressing down on Quan Yi and Huo Wu.

Both of them felt their hearts tremble under the weight of her aura.

Quan Yi was both nervous and excited. In the previous two battles, he had never truly felt the thrill of going all out, nor the exhilaration that came with facing an explosive powerhouse like the Exploding Rhino. It felt… unsatisfying.

As an Power Attack System soul master, being unable to engage in a direct clash—forced instead to rely on ranged attacks and calculated maneuvers—left him feeling somewhat stifled.

Bai Yan's voice carried a stern edge as she addressed them.

"The two of you have demonstrated an impressive synergy, a true embodiment of teamwork. Because of that, I will now fight you at a higher standard. From this moment on, I will raise my soul power to the level of a Level 25 Spirit Grand Master and use my second soul skill."

"Your second soul skill?" Huo Wu blurted out in shock, her eyes widening.

Quan Yi was equally surprised.

"You both saw it yesterday—my second soul skill is called Blazing Flame Body," Bai Yan continued, unfazed by their reactions. "Its effect: increases flame power by 20% and boosts speed by 15%."

"A dual augmentation skill?" Huo Wu gasped.

Skills that enhanced both attack power and speed were extremely rare. And for an agility-type soul master, a second soul skill that provided such an increase in speed was practically perfect.

"If this proves too much pressure, I won't use my second soul skill," Bai Yan added, her tone shifting slightly. "However, I will still maintain my soul power at Level 25."

She gave them the choice.

Huo Wu immediately turned to Quan Yi, wanting to hear his thoughts.

At that exact moment, Quan Yi also turned to her, their eyes meeting.

She saw the silent question in his gaze, but more than that—she saw his eagerness.

In that instant, Huo Wu understood.

Her heart swelled.

Though she could feel the weight of the challenge pressing down on her, the fire in Quan Yi's eyes made it clear—he had no intention of backing down. And if he wasn't going to retreat, then neither could she.

Backing down now? That was impossible.

If she hesitated here, she knew she would never forgive herself.

Clenching her teeth, Huo Wu gave a firm nod.

Quan Yi noticed and, for a brief moment, a rare gentleness flashed in his eyes.

Then, the battle intent within him surged to its peak.

He took a step forward, his voice unwavering despite the immense pressure from Bai Yan.

"We accept your proposal, Teacher."

Huo Wu stepped up beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder, her gaze locked onto Bai Yan with unwavering determination.

Seeing the resolute eyes of both students, Bai Yan felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her.

At the same time, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Truth be told, Bai Yan's heart wasn't as calm as she appeared on the surface.

She wasn't the type of teacher to push students too aggressively. Her original combat training plan had been structured in a gradual, step-by-step manner.

But Quan Yi and Huo Wu had completely shattered that structure. Two consecutive defeats had been entirely outside of her expectations.

And now, standing before these two students, she felt her own passion for teaching ignite.

She wanted to test the true limits of their potential.

Yet, at the same time, she felt a tinge of unease.

She was still relatively new to teaching, and she did not have much confidence in her educational experience and level.

Bai Yan wasn't entirely sure if this kind of high-pressure training was the right approach. If pushed too hard, it could have the opposite effect, hindering their growth rather than fostering it.

That was why, in the end, she had left the choice up to them.

But fortunately, as always, the two of them exceeded her expectations. Now, she could put her concerns to rest.

"Very well," she said. "You have 15 minutes to strategize. Go ahead."

Without hesitation, Quan Yi and Huo Wu ran some distance away from Bai Yan to discuss their plan.

The moment they stopped, Huo Wu turned to Quan Yi, her gaze firm.

"Xiao Yi, do you remember what I told you last night?" she asked before he could speak.

"I remember," Quan Yi replied immediately. "Xiao Wu, you..."

Their conversation from the previous night flashed through his mind.

Huo Wu's meaning was clear—she was prepared to be eliminated early, and she wanted Quan Yi to focus on the battle without worrying about her.

"This time, the situation isn't in our favor," she continued. "The best I can do is take the lead and gather intel on Teacher Bai Yan. I plan to go all out from the very start."

She knew that Bai Yan, in this state, was an entirely different opponent from before. They had little understanding of the exact effects of her second soul skill.

Her plan was simple—attack at full force the moment the battle began, forcing Bai Yan to reveal more of her abilities. This would buy Quan Yi time to observe and adjust to their opponent.

This was the conclusion she had come to after analyzing their chances.

She refused to stand behind Quan Yi as a mere support—she wasn't a burden.

She was Huo Wu, a soul master and a warrior, not a helpless girl waiting to be protected.

Even if her strength was still lacking, she would contribute in her own way.

Quan Yi met her determined gaze and nodded.

"Alright," he said. "I'll leave all the Seal of Rhinoceros to you—use them from the very beginning. After that, leave everything to me."

Seeing Huo Wu's resolve stirred something in him. This battle wasn't about sympathy or protection—it was about mutual trust. He would honor Huo Wu's determination and fight until the very last moment.

Moreover, against a stronger opponent like Bai Yan, any attempt at playing it safe would only lead to failure.

There was no room for hesitation.

After making his decision, Quan Yi pulled out dozens of grenade-like objects—Seal of Rhinoceros, carefully prepared the night before in his dormitory.

He handed them all to Huo Wu.

"These are all the Seal of Rhinoceros I prepared in advance. I'm counting on you."

He had crafted them beforehand to conserve his soul power for the battle itself, ensuring that he could fight at full strength.

Huo Wu took the seals into her hands, but at that moment, the normally light objects felt as heavy as mountains.

An indescribable pressure settled over her.

Seeing her expression, Quan Yi smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'm leaving it to you."

Huo Wu looked at Quan Yi, who was entrusting her with this responsibility without hesitation, and she felt her heart tighten.

Then, Quan Yi extended his fist toward her.

A fist bump.

For a moment, Huo Wu was stunned. Her mind flashed back to their previous agreement.

Then, her eyes lit up.

She tightened her grip, then abruptly tossed all the heavy stones in her arms to the ground. With a determined expression, she raised her fist and bumped it against Quan Yi's.

The two smiled at each other without saying a word.

Words weren't necessary.

Immediately after, they both sat cross-legged on the ground, regulating their breathing and adjusting their state of mind.

A tough battle lay ahead.

This time, there was no need for complex strategies.

For the remainder of their time, their only goal was to enter the battle in peak condition—ready to give it everything they had.