They had spent more than a month in the Extreme North hunting soul beasts. Including travel time, the journey lasted almost three months.
"Yibai, which Advanced Soul Master Academy are you at now?"
"Lanba Academy in Tiandou City. A public school, nothing fancy." Yun Yibai answered, catching on to Yang Wudi's intentions.
"The National Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academies is coming up. Has Lanba's team been finalized?" Yang Wudi wondered if Yun Yibai's team needed stronger members. If so, he could recruit capable youths from his Po Zhi Clan.
Historically, participating academies have always included at least one Soul King on their teams. Yang Wudi believed that with Yun Yibai and the Soul King Dugu Yan already, plus Oscar who could break into Spirit Master rank before the competition, the team would be formidable.
Lanba Academy, as a public institution, was not well-known. They typically formed tournament teams one year ahead. So far, they hadn't approached Yun Yibai—they simply didn't know his true strength.
Yun Yibai seized the moment: "I'm looking for teammates. Do you have anyone in Po Zhi Clan who'd fit?"
Yang Wudi approved.
"Yes, I'll find someone suitable."
Candidly, Yun Yibai remembered Yang Lang, whom he had sparred with—but he was overage this year.
Dugu Bo supported Yun Yibai's plan: "You want to take down the Spirit Hall?" he asked, showing no objection.
"Besides Yan and Oscar, anyone else?" Dugu Bo inquired.
"There was one, but he lost to me and can't escape now." Yun Yibai grinned mysteriously.
"Who?" Yang Wudi asked.
"Feng Xiaotian from Shenfeng Academy—wind attribute, full innate spirit power."
Yang Wudi had heard of him—when Shenfeng was cleared by the Spirit Hall, Feng Xiaotian was their ace.
"Think he'd join you? Shenfeng won't let go of their top student so easily." Dugu Bo doubted.
"That's not my concern." Yun Yibai replied.
"He and I made a wager—if he lost, he joins my team."
Yang Wudi realized Yun Yibai's goal was to assemble the strongest team, not necessarily fight for a specific academy. Winning vindication for himself over the Spirit Hall was his aim. Yang Wudi eagerly offered a strategy.
"Seems you already have five people. With Feng Xiaotian, you'd have two strong attackers, one agile attacker, Oscar as support, and Yan as a controller—you're missing a defensive soul master." Yang Wudi noted.
"Any recommendation?" Yun Yibai asked.
"Not for agile attack, but yes for defense." Yang Wudi replied.
"Know them?" Yun Yibai asked curiously.
"You'd recognize them once introduced," Yang Wudi smiled.
"Our Po Zhi Clan's specialty is offense—breaking spirit guns—and potion-making. But there's another clan, the Yu Clan, with defensive core strength—plate-armored rhino carriers. Their masters excel at defense and construction."
"You mean the Yu Clan?" Dugu Bo asked, remembering rumors.
"Yes. If you want defense, they're as good as the Mammoth Elephant Clan or White-Armored Dragon Clan of the Holy Dragon Sect." Yang Wudi confirmed.
Dugu Bo smiled, impressed. Including the Yu Clan would enhance their legacy.
Yang Wudi also had personal reasons—he wanted to bring old friends into the plan for vengeance and unite the Po Zhi and Yu clans toward a shared goal.