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During the battle, Su Wen had naturally grasped the technique of fusing the book pages into his own fists.
"Is this what it feels like to have a beast spirit possess your body?" Trying it again, feeling the increase in his physical strength after the pages fused into him, Su Wen felt somewhat emotional.
There was a good reason why Beast Spirit Masters far surpassed Tool Spirit Masters in physical strength.
"Just like the inspiration for the Spirit Fusion Method came from the idea of a Tool Spirit's Spirit Avatar fusing into the Spirit Master, this is essentially a 'Tool Spirit Possession' for me."
Or perhaps, Su Wen was actually already walking the path of cultivating the Spirit Fusion Method.
"My degree of fusion with my spirit must be very high to be able to do this."
Regarding the new discovery about his first spirit skill, Su Wen had numerous ideas.
Fusing the pages into teammates might enhance them, making it a proper auxiliary skill. Fusing the pages into wind blades or flames... if that also enhanced them, it would be like gaining an extra layer of amplification out of thin air.
After all, when Su Wen used his spirit to mobilize heaven-and-earth energy for flame and wind attacks, the spirit itself was already benefiting from the first spirit skill's enhancement. If the wind blades and flames unleashed by the spirit, now based on the physical pages, could also be enhanced, that would be a double enhancement.
One spirit skill, enhancing twice.
Jotting down the idea, Su Wen continued to organize the gains from the day's two battles.
Thus, Su Wen's study life at Tian Dou Royal Academy finally got on track.
He learned control over the two elements under Xiao Zhan, sparred under Qin Ming's supervision, and summarized his gains at night.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Su Wen's daily life was fulfilling, and his gains were immense. His excavation of the wind and fire elements grew deeper with each passing day.
However, he was not satisfied.
"My spirit power cultivation is too slow."
Half a month had passed. Adding the time spent at the Spirit Holy Temple and the seven days before joining the battle team, roughly a month had gone by.
And in one month, although his spirit power had taken a large step closer to level twenty-four, it wasn't enough to satisfy him.
"It's already been two months since I broke through to level twenty-three. Based on how I feel now, the fastest I can break through to level twenty-four is still another month away."
One level every three months meant only four levels a year.
And that was now. As his spirit power level continued to rise, perhaps it would take four or five months per level, or even later, maybe just one level per year.
This was the norm for Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent. Take Salas, for example, who was level eighty-seven; he had been stuck at that rank for several years. There were even Titled Douluo stuck at level ninety-one for over a decade.
So, Su Wen's situation was perfectly normal.
Moreover, his speed wasn't slow. Advancing four ranks a year at the Grand Spirit Master stage meant he would definitely become a Spirit Elder within two years. A thirteen-year-old Spirit Elder was considered an extremely monstrous existence on the Douluo Continent.
"My spirit power cultivation is still not fast enough."
Not fast enough!
I need visible improvement!
"The development of my second spirit skill must be accelerated. A high concentration of heaven-and-earth energy can speed up cultivation, but I still haven't truly reaped the benefits of this skill."
Using the second spirit skill to mobilize heaven-and-earth energy and increase the concentration around him was indeed feasible. However, casting the skill also consumed spirit power. Even with Su Wen's utmost control, it was unavoidable that a large portion of the refined energy would just be used to recover the spent spirit power, rather than breaking through his upper limit.
In fact, the overall cost-effectiveness was even lower.
"I must find the key issue here."
Casting a skill consumes spirit power; that's a fundamental rule. Su Wen couldn't find any fault with that. What he could try to solve was the part that came after.
"Most of the energy I refine is just used to recover the skill's consumption. If I can figure out why this happens and prevent that portion of energy from restoring spirit power, instead using it to expand my upper limit, then my cultivation speed can truly increase."
Su Wen reviewed everything he had learned, pondering the underlying principles.
"Little Wen, even though you're a substitute member, you can't skip the tempering experiences of the Great Spirit Arena."
After half a month of training, Qin Ming was finally ready to let Su Wen try his hand at the Great Spirit Arena.
"With your strength, you're practically guaranteed to win at the Grand Spirit Master stage. I will set some restrictions for you. Without using your flying technique, fighting only with the Flame Fist, you must obtain the Gold Spirit Badge within one year."
Without Ye Lingling's support, Su Wen's Flame Fist dropped by an entire tier.
During this period, Qin Ming had also briefly learned from Xiao Zhan about the progression of the Flame Fist – it involved constantly adapting to the flames erupting within the body, slowly increasing one's resistance.
That was why he had set such a requirement for Su Wen.
Yu Feng stood beside Su Wen, explaining the meaning of the Gold Spirit Badge.
"..."
Qin Ming, the seven official team members, plus Su Wen, left the academy together and arrived at the Great Spirit Arena in Tian Dou City.
"Tian Dou City has the highest concentration of Spirit Masters and geniuses in the entire Tian Dou Empire, and many sects are based here. Whether it's academies or sects, they often use the Great Spirit Arena to temper their talented students. Therefore, a Gold Spirit Badge obtained in Tian Dou City's Great Spirit Arena holds far more weight than one from other cities."
Arriving at the Great Spirit Arena, Su Wen was awestruck.
Even before entering, he was stunned by its sheer scale.
As far as the eye could see, almost the entire plaza belonged to the Great Spirit Arena. Everything within his field of vision was part of its structure.
Stepping inside, Qin Ming took Su Wen to register.
"Fighting Scholar"...
Looking at the ID on the badge in Su Wen's hand, Qin Ming's mouth twitched.
What kind of ridiculous ID was that?
Sure, your spirit was a book, but your development path was that of a combat Spirit Master!
Qin Ming currently had no idea that Su Wen was, in fact, a scholar. Although Su Wen hadn't hidden it, that kind of inner refinement wasn't usually apparent unless deliberately shown off. Especially since Su Wen spent every day in front of Qin Ming practicing berserk combat methods with his Flame Fist, utterly shattering any scholarly, refined image.
"Forget it. What name you choose is your own business." Qin Ming waved his hand dismissively. "Today is your first time. It should be over quickly."
The Great Spirit Arena's matchmaking system also progressed from weak to strong. With winning streaks or changes in Spirit Badge rank, the level of opponents matched would also increase.
"Alright, your opponent has been matched. Battle Axe."
Looking at the information on the large screen, Qin Ming told Su Wen to go prepare.
The first match also served as a quality check for newcomers; it wouldn't be easy. His opponent would be strong for their rank. Qin Ming had said it would be quick only because Su Wen's own strength was far above average for his rank.
"Little Wen, good luck later!" Yu Feng and the others greeted Su Wen, then found their respective rings and began their own preparations.
Su Wen put on his mask and went to Ring Seven.
Ten minutes later.
"Fighting Scholar versus Battle Axe! Will both contestants please prepare."
(End of this chapter)