Douluo Dalu: Sun Gauntlet

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The curriculum of the Volcano Academy is quite simple:

Lectures take place in the morning, while the afternoons are reserved for independent cultivation.

For soul masters, the ages of six to twenty are considered the golden period for cultivation. While acquiring knowledge is important, soul power cultivation serves as the foundation of a soul master's growth.

As a result, the academy's structured teaching hours are relatively short.

This approach requires students to develop strong independent learning abilities.

Fortunately, this suited Quan Yi perfectly, as it gave him ample free time to focus on his own pursuits.

On a bright morning, sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Quan Yi's desk.

However, he had no time to admire the scenery outside. At this moment, his attention was entirely focused on the podium.

Standing there was Teacher Bai Yan, dressed in her usual instructor's uniform, her gaze as sharp as ever.

She swept her eyes across the classroom before beginning her lecture.

"Good morning, students. This is your first class at the Volcano Academy. Today, I want to discuss a fundamental yet often overlooked concept."

Turning to the blackboard, Bai Yan picked up a piece of chalk and wrote a single word: "Fire."

Then, she turned back to the class and asked, "Can anyone tell me the properties of fire?"

The students fell into deep thought, each considering one or two possible answers. However, under Bai Yan's sharp gaze, no one dared to speak up.

After scanning the room, her eyes settled on Quan Yi.

"Quan Yi, please answer."

Without hesitation, Quan Yi stood up. His expression remained calm and composed, unaffected by the pressure of being singled out.

"Teacher, I can think of two primary properties: high temperature and explosiveness."

These were conclusions he had drawn based on the characteristics of his own Martial Soul and soul skills.

A hint of approval flashed in Bai Yan's eyes—she was pleased with his steady demeanor.

She gestured for him to sit down before continuing.

"You're correct. The properties you mentioned are among fire's most dominant characteristics. Because of these, fire-attribute soul masters are often classified as Power Attack System soul masters."

She then asked, "Do you all remember the question on yesterday's white paper?"

The students recalled the answers they had written.

"Aside from a small number of exceptions, most of you classified fire-attribute soul masters as Power Attack System soul masters. To me, this is a foolish assumption. While fire is indeed powerful, that alone does not determine whether you are suited for the Power Attack path."

Bai Yan's tone was sharp, almost merciless.

"My Martial Soul, the Red-Necked Crane, possesses both flame and speed attributes. However, compared to other fire-attribute soul masters, my flames are not particularly dominant. This is an inherent limitation."

"However, my Martial Soul grants me a speed advantage over others. To maximize its potential, I shifted my cultivation focus to the Agility Attack System."

"Once I embraced this path, I was able to fully utilize my speed, and my strength increased dramatically."

"Had I blindly followed the Power Attack route, my achievements would have been far inferior to those of other soul masters."

"One decision can determine the heights you will reach in the future."

Through her own experience, Bai Yan sought to impress upon the students the importance of choosing the right cultivation path.

"In the upcoming lessons, I will not only teach you about Martial Souls and soul beasts, but I will also guide you in understanding your own Martial Souls better—helping you find the path that truly suits you."

After speaking for a while, Bai Yan paused. The students remained deep in thought—her words had challenged their preconceived notions, making them difficult to accept.

However, Bai Yan did not press the issue further. Instead of reinforcing her argument while the iron was hot, she smoothly transitioned into teaching the fundamental knowledge of Martial Souls and soul beasts.

It seemed unrelated to what she had discussed earlier.

Quan Yi, however, realized that Teacher Bai Yan was using a method of subtle guidance.

She wasn't forcefully imposing her ideas or impatiently correcting the students' perspectives. Instead, she laid a strong foundation, allowing them to gradually come to their own conclusions.

This approach left a strong impression on Quan Yi.

He had always tended to neglect his understanding of Martial Souls, particularly the finer aspects of fire control.

His focus had primarily been on enhancing his physical strength, as this directly impacted his plan to absorb soul rings beyond the usual age limit.

Moreover, with his natural power, sharp instincts, and a reinforced physique, he felt that his current strength was already formidable.

As a result, he had subconsciously overlooked the importance of honing his fire attribute abilities.

However, now that he was at Blazing Academy—a place dedicated to fire-attribute cultivation—it would be a waste if he didn't take the opportunity to refine his fire control.

The rest of the morning class was spent on Bai Yan's lecture.

Finally, as the lesson came to an end, Bai Yan put down her chalk and said, "Alright, that's all for today. Class dismissed. Oh, and Quan Yi, Huo Wu—come with me to the office."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu exchanged puzzled glances before quickly responding, "Yes, Teacher."

They followed Bai Yan out of the classroom.

As they walked, Quan Yi noticed that he was nearly as tall as Bai Yan now.

However, despite her petite frame, Bai Yan carried herself with an imposing presence—far from delicate or frail.

Upon entering the office, Bai Yan sat in her chair and gestured for Quan Yi to close the door.

Huo Wu, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "Teacher, what's going on?"

Now that they were in the office, Bai Yan seemed more relaxed. She leaned back slightly and said in a casual tone, "This afternoon is independent training, but I have a special arrangement for you two. I want you to come to the training ground."

Seeing their confused expressions, she elaborated, "Both of you have far surpassed your peers—your strength even exceeds that of most sixth-year students. Because of that, I'm arranging combat training for you."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu were caught off guard. It was only the first day, yet they were already being assigned combat training?

However, rather than feeling pressured, both of them felt a surge of anticipation.

Bai Yan looked at them and asked, "Any objections?"

Objections? How could they possibly object?

The two responded immediately.

"No objections!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Bai Yan's face.

"Good. We'll meet at the training ground on the east side of the teaching building at two o'clock sharp."

"Understood!"

With that, they bid farewell to their teacher and left the office.

As they walked, Huo Wu's excitement was evident.

"How do you think the teacher will arrange the fight? Do you think we'll go one-on-one?"

The mere mention of battle made Huo Wu light up with enthusiasm—like a restless puppy eager for action.

She had been training hard recently and was eager to test her progress in actual combat.

Quan Yi, though equally interested, remained much calmer.

"No idea. We'll find out soon enough."

Then, as if recalling something, he suddenly said, "By the way, we still have time at noon. I'm going to train—want to come?"

Huo Wu looked at him in disbelief.

"We have combat training in the afternoon, and you still want to train at noon?"

But when she saw that Quan Yi was serious, she hesitated. After a brief internal struggle, she clenched her fists and made up her mind.

"If you can do it, then of course I can too!"