The Strong Are Those Who Do Not Fear Challenges

In the afternoon, seven people stood in a neat row on the plaza.

Having fully absorbed the medicinal pills from the morning, everyone was in high spirits, their eyes noticeably brighter than before.

Ye Qiong stood on the steps, scanned the group, and nodded.

"Good, very spirited."

Bai E was the first to ask a question.

"Teacher, you said you had a training plan to arrange for the afternoon. What is it?"

Ye Qiong clasped his hands behind his back.

"Starting today, you will cultivate during the day and participate in soul fighting at the Soul Fighting Arena at night."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Sheng and the others exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

Ye Qiong continued.

"Daytime cultivation will follow a check-in system; the daily training time must not be less than three hours."

Wang Sheng and the others were stunned for a moment, looking at each other in confusion. Finally, Huang Yuan blurted out:

"Teacher, three hours... isn't that a bit short?"

The corner of Ye Qiong's mouth twitched.

Three hours meant six hours of training.

This wasn't a desk job; in his previous life, that would be equivalent to six hours of physical education class.

Wang Sheng nodded.

"When we were at Notting Academy, our daily cultivation time was always more than three hours."

Ye Qiong was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Fine, then make it four hours."

This time, no one raised any objections.

"Teacher, how exactly will the training be conducted? Will we all be cultivating together?"

Ye Qiong shook his head.

"Teacher Ti Bao will arrange a corresponding cultivation training plan for each of you. You will cultivate independently according to the plan. If you have any questions or need help, go to Teacher Ti Bao."

He paused and scanned the group.

"Do you have any opinions on my arrangements?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

Opinions? Teacher Ti Bao was a level 99 Limit Douluo. If word got out, people would be breaking down the doors to become her disciples.

Bai Chenxiang suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"Dean, what about you? What will you be responsible for teaching us?"

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, a single piece of advice from Ye Qiong had cleared her mind, and she still remembered it to this day.

Ye Qiong glanced at her.

"Me? Naturally, I will be taking you to fight in the Soul Fighting Arena."

As he spoke, he took two steps forward, his tone deepening.

"If a soul master only knows how to cultivate blindly, they are merely building a cart behind closed doors."

"Cultivation gained that way is like a castle in the air—it shatters at the slightest touch."

"Only through battle can you stabilize your foundation and solidify your base. Therefore, I hope that before the Soul Master Tournament arrives, you can all obtain the Gold Soul Fighting Badge."

Gold Soul Fighting!

The moment these three words were spoken, the atmosphere on the plaza changed instantly.

Wang Sheng and the others opened their mouths in shock.

"T-Teacher, the Gold Soul Fighting Badge? Isn't that a bit too difficult..."

"That's right, there's less than two years left..."

Keleradra, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"Noisy."

Hearing these sudden words, everyone was taken aback and looked at her in unison.

Keleradra lifted her head, her gaze sweeping over Wang Sheng and the others, her tone filled with undisguised mockery.

"The strong never fear a challenge. It is merely a Gold Soul Fighting Badge, yet you are already this afraid. With such a mindset, how can you ever become a true powerhouse?"

Once these words were spoken, the plaza fell into instant silence.

Wang Sheng and the others lowered their heads, falling into deep thought.

They were, indeed, afraid.

Ye Qiong watched this scene, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Caesar's words were like a basin of cold water, splashing everyone awake.

A moment later, Ye Qiong spoke at the opportune time:

"The Gold Soul Fighting Badge is merely my requirement for all of you."

"However, Bai E, Your Highness Caesar, your aptitudes are stronger. I want you to go a step further and obtain the Purple Gold Soul Fighting Badge. Can you do it?"

Purple Gold!

The crowd gasped in unison.

This was a grade higher than the Gold Soul Fighting Badge, and the difficulty was significantly greater.

Bai E hesitated for a fleeting second, then nodded heavily, his eyes fixed on Ye Qiong with determination:

"Teacher, although this might be a bit of a challenge for me, I believe I can definitely do it."

Ye Qiong nodded in satisfaction and turned to look at Keleradra.

Keleradra's expression was indifferent, calm and ripple-free:

"A mere Purple Gold, easy as pie."

"Very good!"

Ye Qiong chuckled, his gaze shifting back to Wang Sheng and the others.

"Do you see? This is the resolve one should have to become a powerhouse."

"Her Highness Caesar was absolutely right just now; a true powerhouse never fears a challenge."

"The Gold Soul Fighting Badge is just the first challenge on your path to becoming strong. What you will face in the future will be a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand times more difficult than this!"

"Only by harboring an unwavering heart of a powerhouse can you go further. Now, do you understand?"

"Understood!"

Hearing this, Wang Sheng and the others raised their heads and shouted in unison.

"Very good. Rest assured, Teacher Ti Bao and I will do our utmost to help you, provided you have the heart to become stronger. But before that..."

Ye Qiong paused, his gaze landing on Wang Sheng:

"Wang Sheng!"

"Here!"

"You, along with Jiang Zhu, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Bai Chenxiang, have all broken through level thirty. I am giving you one week to obtain your soul rings. Teacher Ti Bao will take you to the Star Dou Great Forest. We will follow the same method as last time for the hunt. Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

The five of them shouted in unison.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong turned to look at Ti Bao:

"Teacher Ti Bao, I'll have to trouble you to take them. As for the daily instruction for Bai E and Her Highness Caesar during this time, leave it to me."

"Very well."

Ti Bao nodded and raised her right hand.

A golden triangular gate slowly pulled open in the center of the plaza.

"Let's go."

After they left, only Ye Qiong, Bai E, and Keleradra remained in the plaza.

Bai E turned to look at Ye Qiong:

"Teacher, what shall we do next? Should we start training immediately?"

Ye Qiong waved his hand:

"No need, let's start tonight. We still have some time now; I want to take you to recruit a new student first, right here in Soto City."

Bai E was stunned:

"Another new student? Who? Are they strong?"

Ye Qiong smiled:

"Let's put it this way: his combat power isn't very high, but his..."

Ye Qiong pointed to his own head as he spoke:

"...is heaven-defying. You'll understand once you've met him."

Bai E scratched his head.

He glanced at Keleradra beside him.

Keleradra stood there expressionless, as if she hadn't heard a thing.

But Bai E noticed her gaze flicker ever so slightly.

Bai E could not guess what she was thinking.

He only knew that anyone capable of piquing Keleradra's interest was likely no simple person.

"Let's go."

Ye Qiong turned and headed toward the academy gates.

The streets of Soto City were as bustling as ever.

Ye Qiong led the two of them through two alleys before turning into an artisan's shop.

Inside the shop sat a green-haired youth with a black mask covering his eyes.

At this moment, he was holding a small carving knife, focused intently on polishing a piece of wood in his hands.

His expression was so concentrated that he did not notice the movement at the entrance at all.

It was not until the three of them stopped before him that he finally looked up at the newcomers.