First Lesson of the School Year

Primary Academy's course schedule was very simple.

Classes were held in the morning, and the afternoons were for independent cultivation.

Ages six to twenty were the golden period for a Soul Master's cultivation. Though the transmission of knowledge was indeed very important, cultivating Soul Power was still the foundation of a Soul Master.

Because of that, the academy's teaching hours were very short.

Under these circumstances, students were required to have the ability to study on their own.

However, this also happened to suit Quan Yi's needs. This way, he had more free time to do his own things.

It was a bright, sunny morning, and sunlight spilled through the window onto Quan Yi's desk.

However, Quan Yi had no time to admire the beautiful scenery outside the window. At this moment, his gaze was focused on the podium.

On the podium, Teacher Bai Yan was still wearing her teacher's uniform, and her gaze was still just as sharp.

The teacher swept her eyes across the whole class, then began her lesson.

"Good morning, students. This is your first class since coming to Soul Master Academy. What I want to talk about today is the most fundamental part, and also the part most often overlooked."

The teacher turned and wrote a large character for "fire" on the blackboard.

Then she turned back and asked, "Do you know how many characteristics fire has?"

The students fell into thought, each coming up with one or two points in their hearts. However, under the pressure of the teacher, none of them seemed to dare speak up.

Bai Yan swept her gaze around the classroom, and in the end, her eyes stopped on Quan Yi.

"Quan Yi, you answer."

Quan Yi stood up from his chair. There was no nervousness on his face, and he appeared very calm, as though he had not been affected by Teacher Bai Yan at all.

"Teacher, right now I can only think of two. One is high temperature, and the other is explosive force."

These were the two traits Quan Yi had thought of based on the characteristics of his own Martial Soul and Soul Skill.

A look of approval flashed through Bai Yan's eyes. She was very satisfied with Quan Yi's calmness in the face of pressure.

Bai Yan gestured for Quan Yi to sit down, then continued from his answer.

"What you said is correct. The two you mentioned are both among fire's powerful characteristics. It is precisely because fire possesses these powerful characteristics that people define Fire-attribute Soul Masters as Power Attack System Soul Masters."

"Do you still remember the question on yesterday's white paper?"

The students below the podium also recalled the answers they had written down.

"Aside from a small number of students, most of you wrote Power Attack System. In my eyes, this is a foolish display. Fire-attribute is indeed powerful, but that does not mean you are suited to walking the path of Power Attack."

Teacher Bai Yan's tone was heavy, and it could be said that she showed no mercy at all.

"My Martial Soul, the Red-Necked Crane, possesses the two advantages of flame and speed. However, compared to other Fire-attribute Soul Masters, my flames hold no advantage in any aspect. This is an innate disadvantage.

However, my Martial Soul has one more advantage than other Martial Souls: speed. In order to bring out the strengths of my Martial Soul, I changed my cultivation direction to the Agility Attack System.

After switching to the Agility Attack System, I pushed my speed advantage to its limit, and my strength also improved by leaps and bounds.

If I had mistakenly chosen the Power Attack System back then, then my achievements would have been far inferior to other Soul Masters.

A single choice will determine your future achievements."

Through her own experience, Bai Yan wanted to teach the students the importance of choice.

"In the classes to come, I will not only teach you knowledge about Martial Souls and Soul Beasts, I will also lead you to better understand your own Martial Souls and help you choose the path suited to you."

After finishing this section, Bai Yan paused briefly. The students below the podium fell into deep thought. What Bai Yan had said was different from what they had expected, so it was still difficult for them to accept.

However, Bai Yan did not strike while the iron was hot. Instead, she began explaining basic knowledge about Martial Souls and Soul Beasts.

This had nothing to do with what she had discussed at the beginning.

Quan Yi felt that Teacher Bai Yan was taking an approach like a gentle rain that moistened things without a sound.

She did not forcefully instill her own thoughts into the students, nor was she impatient to correct their way of thinking.

On the contrary, she began with the basics and slowly guided the students to make their own choices.

Teacher Bai Yan's guidance also gave Quan Yi a certain amount of inspiration.

Quan Yi actually had a tendency to neglect his Martial Soul, especially when it came to the use of flames.

This was because Quan Yi placed more importance on improving his physical conditioning. After all, this was related to his plan to absorb Soul Rings beyond the age limit.

Moreover, he still had Steel and Sharpness, and with his powerful physical body added on, Quan Yi felt that his strength was already strong enough.

Because of that, Quan Yi had consciously or unconsciously neglected practicing with flames.

However, since he had finally come to Blazing Fire Academy, Quan Yi felt that he should also properly train his control over the Fire-attribute.

The morning's class passed amid Teacher Bai Yan's explanations.

"All right, that's all for today. Class dismissed. Oh, Quan Yi and Huo Wu, come with me to the office."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu glanced at each other. Both of them were completely confused.

The two of them looked away and replied, "Yes, Teacher."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu followed Teacher Bai Yan out of the classroom.

Teacher Bai Yan walked ahead, and Quan Yi realized that he was already almost taller than her.

However, his teacher walked with quite an imposing air, without any of a delicate little girl's softness.

After entering the office, Bai Yan sat down in her chair, then gestured for Quan Yi to close the door.

Huo Wu could not help asking, "Teacher, may I ask what this is about?"

Back in the office, Bai Yan relaxed a little, so her tone sounded somewhat easygoing as she said, "During the self-directed training period this afternoon, I hope you two can come to the Training Ground. I have other arrangements for you."

Seeing that Huo Wu and Quan Yi were somewhat confused, Bai Yan explained, "Your strength has already far surpassed the other students, and even exceeds that of ordinary sixth-grade students. This afternoon, I want to arrange for you to undergo Combat Training."

Quan Yi and Huo Wu were also a little surprised. It was only the first day.

However, both Quan Yi and Huo Wu's eyes were full of eager anticipation.

"Do you have any objections to my arrangement?"

How could the two of them possibly object? They answered at once.

"No objections!"

The corners of Bai Yan's mouth lifted, very satisfied with their attitude.

"Very good. The time is set for two o'clock this afternoon. Gather at the Training Ground on the East Side of the Teaching Building."

"Yes."

The two of them said goodbye to their teacher and left the office.

"How do you think Teacher will arrange our fight? She won't make us go one-on-one, will she?"

The moment Huo Wu heard there would be fighting, she was like a puppy seeing its owner, so excited she could hardly contain herself.

Moreover, she had also been working hard on her cultivation recently, and had long wanted to test her results in battle.

"Not sure. We'll probably find out when the time comes."

Although Quan Yi was also very interested, he was still a little calmer than Huo Wu.

"By the way, there's still time at noon. I'm going to train a bit more. Are you coming?"

Although the afternoon's battle was very important, he could not slack off on training either. Quan Yi asked Huo Wu whether she wanted to go with him.

Huo Wu found it somewhat unbelievable too. They were already training in the afternoon, and he was still going to train at noon?

However, seeing that Quan Yi did not seem to be joking, after a round of internal struggle, Huo Wu gritted her teeth and agreed to go with him.

"If you have no problem with it, then of course I don't either."