Facing Xiong Ba, a Certain Defeat?

"Calling for backup? No need! No need!"

Inside the classroom of Class A(1), Year One, at Spirit City Junior Soul Master Academy.

Hearing his deskmate Wang Hao's words, Gu Han could not help but laugh and shake his head.

"Since I said I would fight him in a year and prove through my strength that I am qualified to be Teacher's disciple, then I will keep my word."

"Though he may have already reached the Soul Grandmaster level, as it happens, I have broken through to Soul Grandmaster too!"

Gu Han's face was filled with calm confidence.

"Damn! Brother Han, how did you do that?!"

Wang Hao stared in disbelief, unable to stop himself from exclaiming.

"My Innate Soul Power is level seven. After cultivating for a year, I have only just absorbed my first Soul Ring and broken through to become a Soul Master, but you're already a Soul Grandmaster."

"Even if His Holiness the Pope gave you special tutoring, that rate of improvement is way too ridiculous!"

Wang Hao was both envious and jealous, grumbling incessantly.

"I have always thought there was a saying that made a lot of sense: there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters."

"Though there is something wrong with the person who said it, no matter what kind of martial soul one has, as long as they find a suitable way to develop and cultivate it, they can certainly achieve remarkable results."

"Though my Sacred Dragon's Innate Soul Power level was somewhat low, it does possess certain special traits. I merely discovered those traits and made proper use of them."

Gu Han shrugged as he spoke.

After class, homeroom teacher Chris called Gu Han outside as well.

"Gu Han, how are your preparations? You will be fighting that Xiong Ba soon. Are you confident?"

In the corridor outside the classroom, Chris stood with his hands behind his back. His indifferent eyes rested on Gu Han beneath his stern, sinister face as he asked in a hoarse, low voice.

"I'm confident. Don't worry, Teacher Chris. Though he may have broken through to Soul Grandmaster, I have as well. I will prove with my strength that I am qualified to become Teacher's disciple."

Gu Han's tone was resolute and confident.

"You broke through to Soul Grandmaster too?"

A trace of surprise flashed over Chris's stern, sinister face. He could hardly believe that Gu Han, with Innate Soul Power of only level 0.25, had managed to break through to Soul Grandmaster in around a year.

Even if Gu Han was the esteemed disciple of His Holiness the Pope and had received the Pope's no-expense-spared investment of resources.

Without sufficient talent of his own, no amount of resources invested would produce much improvement.

After all, no matter how good a potion was or how much it could raise one's cultivation.

The more one consumed it, the weaker its effects would become.

Chris understood the term drug resistance very well.

"Mm. Keep it up."

Chris nodded faintly.

"I hope you do not disgrace His Holiness the Pope. But if you cannot beat him, just admit defeat. It is not a big deal. You are younger than him—that is simply a fact."

"To rise from level 0.25 to Soul Grandmaster in just over a year is already enough to prove that you are extraordinary. If anyone still looks down on you, it is only because they refuse to acknowledge your excellence."

"But since you have talent, even if you are no match for this Xiong Ba now, there will come a day when you can catch up to him."

"Mm, I understand, Teacher!"

Gu Han had not expected Chris to say such things, and he nodded seriously.

Noon arrived quickly.

Like most soul master academies on Douluo Continent, Spirit City Junior Soul Master Academy only held classes in the morning. The afternoon was reserved for the students' own cultivation.

They could cultivate in their dormitories or at the Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground to improve their cultivation.

They could also engage in soul battles at the academy's arena or Spirit City's Great Soul Arena to improve their practical combat abilities.

Compared to other cities, since Spirit City was inhabited almost entirely by soul masters, the Great Soul Arena within the city had very different opening hours. Rather than opening only at night like those in other cities, it was open all day.

After the final morning class ended, Xiong Chuan led several lackeys to Gu Han's seat. With his arms folded and his eyes full of condescending mockery, he sneered.

"Gu Han, I did not expect you to still dare show up today. You have some courage."

"For today's soul battle, my brother told you to come to the training ground. If you are not afraid, follow me!"

With that, Xiong Chuan swaggered out of the classroom with his lackeys, heading toward the training ground of Spirit City Junior Soul Master Academy.

Gu Han was naturally not afraid. He stood up and followed them out.

Before long, Gu Han arrived at the training ground.

The grounds were already packed with people.

Xiong Ba was already waiting there.

Besides Xiong Ba, Gu Han also saw his senior sister Hu Liena, as well as Xie Yue and Yan.

The moment Hu Liena saw Gu Han, her beautiful eyes lit up. Her stunningly charming face broke into a smile as she extended her fair, jade-like arm and waved repeatedly at him.

When the two people at the center of the matter finally arrived, the crowd that had packed the main training field retreated one after another, clearing enough space for Gu Han and Xiong Ba to duel.

"Kid! I didn't expect you not to run away. You actually dared to show up and accept the challenge—at least you've got some guts."

"But guts alone aren't enough. A soul duel is decided by strength. Today, in front of everyone, I'll make them all see that you, Gu Han, aren't qualified to be His Holiness the Pope's disciple!"

Seeing Gu Han approach, Xiong Ba—a tall, burly youth with close-cropped blood-red hair, rugged features, and a sharp, fierce aura—showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. But he still crossed his arms and spoke coldly.

"Whether I'm qualified to be His Holiness the Pope's disciple isn't for you to decide."

"The soul duel hasn't even started, yet you already think you've got me beaten?"

"I'll borrow your words: soul duels are decided by strength. It's not whoever has the sharper tongue who is stronger!"

Gu Han sneered and fired back.

Before the soul duel had even begun, Gu Han and Xiong Ba were already clashing verbally.

And when the surrounding spectators saw that both Gu Han and Xiong Ba had arrived, they immediately began talking among themselves.

"The one-year agreement is finally happening!"

"But I'd say Xiong Ba will definitely win this soul duel. He's a genius of the Blood Demon Berserk Bear Family, after all. I heard his Innate Soul Power was as high as rank eight or nine!"

"Meanwhile, Gu Han's Innate Soul Power is less than rank one, and I heard his martial soul can't even possess him. Where did he get the nerve to make a one-year agreement with Xiong Ba? He's simply overestimating himself!"

Someone in the crowd said disdainfully.

"Exactly! Exactly! I think so too. Still, it'll be fun to watch the joke! Haha!"

Many of the onlookers agreed and burst into laughter.

Hearing that no one around them thought highly of Gu Han, Hu Liena became furious. She could not help taking out a cheering sign that read, "Go, Gu Han! Certain victory!" and began shouting loudly.

"Go, Gu Han! Victory is certain in this battle!"

As she shouted, Hu Liena also made Xie Yue and Yan join in.

Faced with the goddess's command, Yan could only grit his teeth, raise his voice, and shout along with her.

Xie Yue was rather aloof by nature and did not like shouting in public. But seeing how angry and upset his sister was, he could only helplessly join in as well.

In response, the surrounding crowd was filled with mockery and laughter.

There were actually fools who believed in that trash whose Innate Soul Power was below rank one and whose martial soul could not even possess him?