Douluo Dalu: Sun Gauntlet

"It's okay, you're not late," Quan Yi reassured her gently.

Only then did Huo Wu let out a sigh of relief.

"Huh~, that's good."

As she spoke, she instinctively tidied her slightly messy hair and adjusted her dress.

Once she was satisfied, she smiled brightly at Quan Yi.

"Alright, let's go then."

"Ah."

The two of them walked side by side toward the Mimicry Training Ground.

This particular path was much more crowded than other parts of the academy, with students passing by frequently.

Naturally, their presence attracted attention.

It wasn't surprising—both of them had striking appearances and well-proportioned physiques. Walking together, they resembled a perfect pair, exuding an undeniable sense of compatibility.

The only odd thing was the stark contrast in their outfits.

Quan Yi's simple white short sleeves and black shorts stood out next to Huo Wu's elegant fiery-red dress with intricate golden embroidery.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Quan Yi lowered his gaze.

It was clear that Huo Wu had put a lot of thought into her appearance today, whereas he had simply worn his usual training attire.

He inwardly shook his head—perhaps he should have dressed a little better.

However, Huo Wu didn't seem to mind at all.

Her expression was full of excitement, and she looked as if she was genuinely enjoying herself.

As they walked, Quan Yi caught a faint, refreshing fragrance coming from her.

It seemed that Huo Wu had even taken a bath before coming.

"Hey, Quan Yi," Huo Wu suddenly spoke up. "Do you know how our academy's Mimicry Training Ground came to be?"

"I only know that it's a branch of the flame vein from Blazing Academy," Quan Yi replied honestly. "Wasn't it naturally formed?"

"Hmph!"

Seeing that Quan Yi was clueless, Huo Wu let out a smug laugh, looking proud of herself.

Then, with a hint of superiority, she began explaining.

"Let me tell you—the flame vein at the Volcano Academy isn't natural at all. It's man-made. Several powerful soul masters worked together to open underground channels, drawing part of the flame vein from Blazing Academy all the way here."

Quan Yi was taken aback.

He hadn't expected such a secret behind the academy's Mimicry Training Ground.

Once again, he was amazed by the sheer power of soul masters.

But something still didn't quite make sense.

"Was it really necessary to go through all that effort for just a Primary Soul Master Academy?" he asked, frowning slightly.

"Of course!" Huo Wu answered confidently.

"This academy wasn't originally an affiliate of Blazing Academy."

"But because Blazing Academy was nearby, over time, the Volcano Academy naturally became a feeder school."

"Since most of the students here eventually go on to enroll at Blazing Academy, the academy decided to take full advantage of this."

"Realizing the potential, Blazing Academy invested heavily in the Primary Academy, making sure to cultivate talented soul masters from an early age."

"It was during this time that they brought in the flame vein to improve training conditions."

Huo Wu spoke with confidence, as if she was very familiar with this information.

After listening to her explanation, Quan Yi finally understood the history behind the training ground.

"Huo Wu, that's impressive. This information wasn't even in the academy's guidebook," Quan Yi praised her sincerely.

Hearing his compliment, Huo Wu's lips curved into a pleased smile.

"Haha, of course! If there's anything you don't know, just ask me in the future!"

Seeing how much Huo Wu enjoyed being praised, Quan Yi couldn't help but tease her.

"Alright then, Teacher Huo Wu," he said with a smirk. "If I ever don't understand something, I'll be sure to come to you for guidance."

Huo Wu burst into laughter at Quan Yi's joke, playfully patting his shoulder.

"Not bad! You're learning fast. You're in good hands with Teacher Huo Wu!"

The two laughed and joked along the way, gradually getting a better understanding of each other's personalities.

After walking for a long time, a barren hilltop came into view—their destination.

At the end of the road, the bare hill stood without a single tree, only a single passage leading underground.

The tunnel entrance was dim, making it impossible to see what lay beyond, as if it were a gateway to the underworld, silently swallowing every student who stepped inside.

Despite the eerie entrance, there was a steady stream of students walking into the passage, one after another.

Yet, no matter how many entered, the passage never seemed to be crowded—it was like a bottomless abyss.

The once-lively students instinctively fell silent upon approaching the tunnel.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Quan Yi and Huo Wu also stopped talking and began observing their surroundings.

The most surprising thing to Quan Yi was the sheer number of people.

Aside from mealtime at the cafeteria, he had never seen so many students gathered in one place.

He had always thought the training grounds were deserted, assuming that his peers were just lazy.

Turns out, they had all been coming here.

Huo Wu, too, was affected by the unusual atmosphere. Unconsciously, she moved a little closer to Quan Yi.

Near the cave entrance, a large notice board displayed the training ground's regulations.

The two of them stopped to read.

Mimicry Training Ground Guidelines: Strict silence is required—loud noises will disturb other students' training. The tunnel leads deep underground to the flame vein. The deeper you go, the higher the temperature. Higher temperatures enhance training effectiveness. Students must choose a suitable depth based on their own tolerance level. In case of emergencies, students can call for assistance from patrol instructors stationed within the tunnel.

After carefully reading the rules, Quan Yi turned to Huo Wu, who had also just finished.

They exchanged a brief nod, then stepped into the passage together.

Inside the Underground Tunnel

Quan Yi had expected the tunnel to be pitch black, but to his surprise, the underground space was well-lit.

Torches and soul-powered lamps lined the tunnel walls, casting a warm glow that illuminated the path.

As they walked deeper, a noticeable heat began to rise from below.

Quan Yi also noticed temperature markers engraved into the walls.

At the entrance, the temperature was only 40°C (104°F)—barely warm for a fire-attribute soul master.

This level of heat was nothing to Quan Yi and Huo Wu, so they continued deeper without hesitation.

Further down, openings in the walls appeared on both sides of the tunnel, each marked with wooden signs indicating occupancy.

Some signs read "Occupied", while others read "Vacant".

These must be private training chambers for students.

As Quan Yi and Huo Wu advanced, the number of students around them dwindled, and the temperature steadily increased.

Reaching the Deeper Zones

At 70°C (158°F), both of them had begun sweating, though they remained unfazed.

Quan Yi's white short-sleeved shirt was now drenched, clinging to his skin, revealing his well-defined chest muscles through the fabric.

Huo Wu was in the same situation—her long crimson hair stuck to her skin, and her clothes were soaked with sweat, making her look slightly disheveled.

However, since this was her first experience, she didn't mind the discomfort.

Glancing at Quan Yi's lightweight attire, Huo Wu suddenly felt admiration for his foresight.

She made a mental note to prepare similar short-sleeved training outfits for herself.

Of course, what she didn't know was that Quan Yi only wore short sleeves and shorts because that's all he had.

At 80°C (176°F), Huo Wu finally reached her limit.

She tugged at Quan Yi's sleeve, signaling that she couldn't go any further.

Though Quan Yi could continue deeper, he knew he could still train effectively here for a longer duration.

After weighing his options, he decided to stay as well.

"Let's pick this spot," Quan Yi suggested. "We're just here to get a feel for it today. An hour should be enough."

Huo Wu nodded in agreement.

Spotting an available training chamber, the two entered together.

Before stepping inside, they made sure to flip the sign on the door to indicate that the room was occupied.

Then, they closed the door, sealing themselves within the intense heat of the Mimicry Training Ground.