"One year?"
Chris couldn't help but frown when he heard Gu Han say it would only take a year. He turned to look at Gu Han, his eyes filled with scrutiny and appraisal.
"Is this kid truly confident, or is he just acting on a momentary impulse?"
"This Xiong Ba possesses the Blood Demon Mad Bear Spirit, with innate spirit power of rank eight, and is currently a Spirit Master at rank eighteen."
"In a year, this kid should be able to break through to Spirit Grandmaster."
"But you only have innate spirit power of 0.25."
"Although I don't know how Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong managed to evolve your Spirit and allowed you to break through to a Spirit Master in just three months of cultivation—"
"—I heard your Spirit is a Beast Spirit that cannot undergo Martial Soul Avatar and is extremely small."
"Even if you become a Spirit Master, how much combat power can it give you?"
"Even if you reach the Spirit Grandmaster realm in a year, you might not be Xiong Ba's opponent."
However, Chris greatly admired Gu Han's courage in wanting to prove himself to the entire Spirit City, to prove that he was qualified to be accepted as a disciple by Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong.
After Xiong Ba left with Xiong Chuan, Chris called Gu Han out.
In a forest, Chris stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, and said faintly,
"Gu Han, do you blame me?"
"Originally, I could have fully protected you as the homeroom teacher of Class A (1) of the first year, preventing Xiong Ba from bothering you, but I still let you make the one-year agreement."
"Actually, in this matter, I didn't fully stand on your side. Do you blame me?"
Gu Han smiled slightly and said very respectfully,
"Teacher Chris, you can't say that. If it weren't for you, I might have been forced to fight him now, and perhaps I would have been beaten black and blue."
"Teacher Chris, I am very grateful that you are willing to fight for a few years of growth time for me!"
"Yes, Teacher Chris, you can fully protect me, but that won't solve the fundamental problem. They all think I'm not qualified to be accepted as a disciple by Teacher. Even if you can protect me in the Academy, they will still bother me outside the Academy."
"The key is for me to become strong myself, to prove that I am qualified to be accepted as a disciple by Teacher. At that time, there will be no more rumors or troubles."
"My talent and strength are not good now, but I believe that the future me will definitely not be like this. In the future, I will only become stronger and stronger, to the point where even Xiong Ba will not be able to see my back."
"Give me one year, and this Xiong Ba will definitely not be my opponent!"
Gu Han clenched his fists, a faint smile on his face, full of confidence.
"Good!"
Chris greatly admired him and couldn't help but smile contentedly, saying,
"I now feel that you are indeed qualified to be a disciple of Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong. This confidence alone is something that someone without true ability would never possess."
"Since you say so, then from now on, you can study and cultivate with peace of mind. In the Academy, I won't interfere with those in the same grade, but as for the higher-grade students, I will not let any of them bully you!"
After the one-year agreement was made with Xiong Ba, the news quickly spread throughout Wuhun City Junior Soul Master Academy.
Everyone couldn't help but discuss it animatedly.
"This Gu Han, with innate spirit power of 0.25 and a mutated Spirit that can't even fuse, actually dares to challenge Senior Xiong Ba to a duel? What a joke! Don't even talk about giving him a year; even if you give him ten years, he won't be Senior Xiong Ba's opponent!"
"Exactly! Exactly! Even if Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong gave him special treatment, somehow allowing him to advance to the Spirit Master realm and enter Class A (1) of the first year, a good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing! How can a salted fish ever turn over?!"
"One year from now? It's not long. Let's just wait and watch the show then!"
In Wuhun City Junior Soul Master Academy, upon learning this news, the vast majority of students were disdainful of Gu Han, believing that even with ten more years, Gu Han would still lose, let alone one year.
Many people were eagerly looking forward to seeing Gu Han being brutally beaten by Xiong Ba a year later.
And upon learning this news, Hu Liena anxiously sought out Gu Han.
"Little Han, how could you make a one-year agreement with that Xiong Ba?"
"In a year, he'll break through to Spirit Grandmaster. You, in one year, might not even be able to break through to Spirit Grandmaster, plus Holy Dragon is still very weak right now. How can you be his opponent?!"
"No! I'll take you to find Teacher. We must cancel this agreement!"
Hu Liena pulled Gu Han's small hand, wanting to go ask Bibi Dong for help.
But Gu Han didn't listen; instead, he shook his head and smiled, saying,
"Senior Sister, you have to believe me. This time, in three months, I broke through from rank 0.25 to a Spirit Master. Give me another year, and how could I not break through to Spirit Grandmaster?"
"Although Holy Dragon hasn't completely transformed yet and is still very weak, I think one year is enough for Holy Dragon to make huge progress and growth."
"Anyway, give me one more year, and I am confident I can defeat this Xiong Ba!"
However, despite saying so, Gu Han's inner confidence primarily came from the Holy Dragon Art and the Saint Dragon Body Tempering Method.
Give him one year.
With Holy Dragon constantly feeding on the flesh and blood of various light-attribute dragon Spirit Beasts, the feedback of bloodline power, spirit power, and life force should be enough for him to cultivate the Saint Dragon Body Tempering Method to a certain realm.
As long as he cultivates qi and blood, he will definitely have the strength to fight Xiong Ba.
Coupled with the assistance of Holy Dragon, defeating Xiong Ba is not impossible.
Moreover, within this year—
Although he is currently in Spirit City, based on the information that Teacher Bibi Dong has been enthroned for three years, it can be confirmed that Tang San should be around three years old now.
At this point in time, it is relatively difficult for Gu Han to change the plot and have a certain impact on the World's trajectory, thereby obtaining Tian Yan Points.
But this is not impossible.
If Gu Han can obtain a few more Tian Yan Points within this year and deduce some martial arts—
Wouldn't defeating Xiong Ba be even easier?
Anyway, Gu Han was very confident in his heart.
And as if infected by Gu Han's confidence, Hu Liena couldn't help but ask,
"Little Han, are you really confident that you can defeat this Xiong Ba in a year? Seriously, don't lie to your Senior Sister."
"Of course!"
Gu Han said with a confident smile.
"Sigh! Then I'll temporarily believe you."
Hu Liena finally sighed and chose to believe Gu Han.
But thinking of the duel a year later, a cunning smile appeared on Hu Liena's charming and beautiful face. She clenched her fair fists and waved them in the air, saying,
"But don't worry, I'll bring my brother and Yan to cheer you on then. If you can't win, I'll have them immediately stop the fight. I definitely won't let that Xiong Ba bully you!"
"See how good your Senior Sister is to you!"
After Hu Liena finished speaking, she couldn't help but giggle, vigorously rubbing Gu Han's head.
Time flows like water.
In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
During this half-year period—
In the Central Library of Spirit City, Gu Han had already finished reading all the books related to Spirits and Spirit Masters.
In the Academy, Gu Han studied the various common sense courses taught by teachers while also self-studying in the library. He had already finished all six years of courses ahead of time and ranked first in every subject.
However, being first in cultural subjects did not bring Gu Han much glory; instead, it only aroused jealousy and disdain in Wuhun City Junior Soul Master Academy.
In this Spirit Master World, strength ultimately reigns supreme!
And because of his outstanding performance in cultural subjects—
As a privilege of being an honor student, Gu Han frequently took leave directly.
Later, he rarely attended cultural classes, instead spending his mornings having Holy Dragon feed on light-attribute dragon flesh and blood and spiritual medicines. In the afternoons, he would go to the Supreme Pontiff Palace's archives to read, and in the evenings, he would cultivate at home.
His days were very fulfilling.
But one day, in the Supreme Pontiff Palace's archives, while Gu Han was reading, he unexpectedly saw a stunningly beautiful figure.
It was a golden-haired girl who looked about twelve or thirteen years old.
Her long golden hair fell over her shoulders, her willow eyebrows were arched, her nose was delicate and upturned, her cherry lips were red, and her skin was as fair and delicate as snow. The sacred and noble aura on her angelic face was displayed to the fullest.
When Gu Han noticed her, the golden-haired girl was standing in front of a bookshelf, quietly flipping through a book.
Golden sunlight streamed through the windows outside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, casting upon her beautiful face, making her appear like an angel descended to the mortal World.