Douluo Dalu: Sun Gauntlet

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Around One O'Clock in the Afternoon

At the training field on the east side of the teaching building, Huo Wu and Quan Yi sat in the shade, quietly recovering their strength.

Since they had just finished their meal and returning to the dormitory would take too much time, they decided to rest here instead.

Huo Wu leaned lazily against a large tree, looking somewhat drowsy, while Quan Yi, in contrast, sat calmly reading a book, showing no signs of fatigue.

Huo Wu glanced at him and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you exhausted?"

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that Quan Yi had exercised at noon.

Quan Yi looked up briefly from his book and replied, "You're just not used to it. If you train consistently, your stamina will improve."

Ever since awakening his Martial Soul, Quan Yi had noticed that his body's recovery ability was continuously strengthening.

This was also why he trained at unconventional times.

He assumed that his soul power was subtly reinforcing his body, but he also knew that this was due to the solid foundation he had built over the past four years.

Seeing that Huo Wu looked exhausted, Quan Yi closed his book and suggested, "You should take a nap while there's still time. I'll wake you when the teacher arrives."

Huo Wu hesitated for a moment, but upon hearing that Quan Yi would stand guard, she felt a sense of reassurance. Her eyelids grew heavier.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Murmuring drowsily, she soon drifted into a deep sleep.

Under the cool shade of the tree, a boy reading and a girl napping—a moment of peaceful harmony.

Forty Minutes Later

In the distance, a petite figure approached slowly.

Quan Yi looked up and immediately recognized Bai Yan. However, instead of her usual teacher's uniform, she now wore a fitted training outfit, allowing for ease of movement.

He reached over and shook Huo Wu gently.

"Wake up, the teacher is here."

Huo Wu blinked her eyes open and stretched comfortably. After her short rest, she felt completely refreshed.

The two stood up, dusted themselves off, and walked toward Bai Yan.

Before beginning the training, Bai Yan crossed her arms and looked at them seriously.

"Before we start, I need to assess your current abilities. Show me your Martial Soul and your first soul skill."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu both nodded in understanding.

Bai Yan gestured toward a large stone not far away.

"Let's start with Huo Wu. Use the stone as your target."

Huo Wu took a few steps forward and came to a stop.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

A faint orange-red shadow appeared behind her, its form illusory and slightly blurred, yet unmistakably identical to Huo Wu herself.

She raised her right hand, palm facing outward, pointing at the stone.

Silently, she activated her first soul skill:

"First Soul Skill—Flame Bullet!"

In her palm, an orange fireball quickly condensed. Though it was only the size of her hand, the heat it radiated was intense—even from a distance, Quan Yi could feel its temperature.

Without hesitation, Huo Wu launched the fireball toward the stone.

Its speed was astonishing—like an orange arrow, it streaked through the air and struck its target.

Boom!

The fireball exploded upon impact, sending brilliant sparks scattering in all directions—like a burst of orange fireworks against the backdrop of the training field.

However, Huo Wu's soul skill was far more dangerous than mere fireworks.

Bai Yan nodded in approval. "A very impressive first soul skill. The lifespan of the soul ring you absorbed must be quite long."

She was satisfied with the power of Huo Wu's skill. In the distance, a piece of food that had been left on the ground had been blown apart by the fireball's impact.

Its temperature, speed, and attack power—all were beyond reproach.

Hearing her teacher's praise, a pleased smile appeared at the corners of Huo Wu's lips.

Then, Bai Yan turned her gaze toward Quan Yi. "Your turn."

Quan Yi stepped forward and summoned his Sun Gauntlet.

The moment it appeared, Bai Yan's eyes widened slightly. This was her first time seeing Quan Yi's Martial Soul up close.

Its red and black color scheme, paired with its slender yet refined shape, made it uniquely striking.

"It's beautiful..." Bai Yan found herself momentarily captivated.

Quan Yi walked up to the stone and pressed his gauntlet-clad hand against it.

When he pulled away, a faint red imprint, shaped like a rhino horn, was left on the surface.

Stepping back to rejoin the group, Quan Yi gave a simple warning. "Pay attention."

Though his actions seemed a bit strange, the moment he spoke, Bai Yan and Huo Wu instinctively focused their attention on the stone.

Then—

Boom!

A deep, muffled explosion erupted from within the stone itself.

The stone, already slightly cracked, burst apart instantly, shattering into dozens of smaller fragments that shot in all directions.

Seeing the explosion originate from within the stone, both Bai Yan and Huo Wu felt their hearts tremble.

If that had been a human body instead of a stone… neither of them dared to imagine the outcome.

Bai Yan took a deep breath, her composure slightly shaken. "Quan Yi, can you explain the effects of your soul skill?"

"This soul skill comes from the Exploding Rhino. It's called the Seal of Rhinoceros."

Quan Yi paused before continuing.

"Once marked by touch, the seal detonates from within."

"Within fifty meters, I can freely trigger the explosion at will. If the target moves beyond fifty meters, the seal will detonate automatically."

"Once the imprint is placed, even I cannot remove it. It's a very dangerous soul skill."

Bai Yan's expression became even more serious. This was a skill meant purely for killing.

Looking at Quan Yi, she spoke in a solemn tone. "Quan Yi, I want you to use this soul skill with caution."

Quan Yi also understood the gravity of his ability. He nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher. I won't use it lightly against others."

Seeing that Quan Yi recognized the potential consequences, Bai Yan relaxed slightly.

"Alright. I now have a clear understanding of both your Martial Souls and soul skills."

She then took a step back and crossed her arms. "Now, I will demonstrate my first soul skill."

"After that, you two will have ten minutes to discuss and strategize."

"Once the time is up, your task is simple—last for a quarter of an hour against me."

"What?!" Huo Wu exclaimed in disbelief. "If you're our opponent, we won't last even a minute!"

After all, Bai Yan was a Spirit Ancestor. Even if she combined her and Quan Yi's levels, they wouldn't come close to matching Bai Yan's strength.

She couldn't imagine how they were supposed to endure fifteen minutes against their teacher.

Bai Yan smirked slightly. "Of course, I will only use my first soul skill, and my soul power will be suppressed to the level of a Spirit Master."

Then, she turned her gaze to Quan Yi.

"And Quan Yi, I will allow you to use your first soul skill on me."

Seeing his surprised look, she added, "Don't hold back. Even if the seal detonates, with my strength, I can minimize the damage. So go all out."

Martial Soul Possession: Red-Necked Crane

The moment Bai Yan activated Martial Soul Possession, a fiery red glow erupted from her body.

In an instant, her height increased by more than ten centimeters.

Quan Yi was momentarily stunned.

It was as if a petite girl had suddenly transformed into a tall and well-proportioned young woman.

Her training attire accentuated the refined yet powerful figure of a mature warrior.

Then, changes began to take place—

Her arms transformed into white wings, and her legs became slender crane-like feet. A sharp crane cry echoed through the training field, sending a wave of pressure over Quan Yi and Huo Wu.

The aura she now exuded was far stronger than anything they had experienced in the classroom.

At that moment, Quan Yi finally grasped the true difference between himself and a Spirit Ancestor.

"So this is the power of a Spirit Ancestor…"

His hands clenched into fists. The gap was undeniable.

Bai Yan looked at her two students and smiled. "Watch closely. This is my first soul skill—Flame Feather Strike."

From her white wings, three red energy-infused feathers materialized, glowing faintly.

Then—

With a simple flick of her right wing, the three flaming feathers shot toward a nearby stone.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Three sharp impacts rang out in quick succession.

The stone, untouched by Quan Yi's explosion earlier, now had three deeply embedded crimson feathers, each one piercing nearly halfway in.