Besides Ning Fengzhi, Xue Qinghe was also present.
"He's back," said Yang Wudi when he saw Yun Yibai enter.
"Kid Yun, Sect Master Ning, and His Highness the Crown Prince all have sharp eyes. They specifically asked to meet with you," Yang Wudi said meaningfully.
Don't be fooled by Yang Wudi's rugged appearance—he was, in truth, quite astute.
His comment was a subtle signal to Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe: Yun Yibai held a prominent position within Wujie Academy. He wasn't just some background figure—he was one of their core talents. Just because Yun hadn't shown his strength in the tournament so far didn't mean he had none. It was quite the opposite.
Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe exchanged a glance. In that instant, they both understood what the other was thinking: Yun Yibai was far more powerful than he appeared to be.
Previously, it had been a mere speculation. Now, thanks to Yang Wudi's words, it was confirmed—Yun Yibai was the second Soul King-level fighter at Wujie Academy.
Yang Wudi had essentially implied Yun might even surpass Dugu Yan in strength.
And Yang Wudi wasn't just speaking randomly. Wujie Academy had never actively sought out the Tiandou Empire—but now, the empire had come knocking. Naturally, it was a perfect chance to "advertise" Yun Yibai.
After all, it was only a matter of time before his strength would be revealed. Better to get people used to the idea early.
From the founding of Wujie Academy, the school's core vision had always been clear: to become the number one advanced soul master academy on the continent.
Achieving that meant they couldn't avoid building ties with the Tiandou Empire.
The academy's two biggest "trump cards" were:
The Titled Douluo Dugu Bo
A group of incredibly gifted soul master students
The support from their four founding clans, while meaningful, was secondary.
So with Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe here, Yang Wudi naturally took the chance to subtly "sell" Yun Yibai.
He also understood that once Yun's true strength came to light, the empire would take him seriously—but that time hadn't arrived just yet.
"Captain Yun, we meet again," said Xue Qinghe, smiling slightly.
"Sect Master Ning, Your Highness," Yun Yibai bowed respectfully.
Ning Fengzhi sat with his legs crossed, hands folded gently over his knees, smiling calmly as he nodded in return.
"So then, to what do I owe the honor of this meeting?" Yun asked.
"As the Crown Prince of the Empire, I naturally wish to form ties with outstanding talents like yourself," Xue Qinghe replied.
"Your Highness flatters me."
"Though your strength hasn't been openly displayed so far, I believe someone like Captain Yun, hidden as he is, must surely be a powerful trump card for Wujie Academy."
"Who knows—perhaps you're already a Soul King?" Xue Qinghe added with a subtle grin.
Yun Yibai simply smiled without replying—an unspoken confirmation. There was no point in hiding it; anyone with sense could guess as much.
"Now that Captain Yun has returned," Xue Qinghe continued, "let's speak plainly."
He looked directly at Yun Yibai and said,
"I've taken notice of your academy's potential, and I wish to ally."
Yun blinked. "Your Highness, surely you're speaking to the wrong person?"
"Haha… You underestimate the intelligence network of the Tiandou Empire."
Xue Qinghe leaned forward slightly.
"Southbound to Star Luo. The rebellion of the Po Clan. The integration of the Yu Clan. The acquisition of Hao Yue. The founding of Wujie Academy. The city is built in the northeast...
It seems Captain Yun's shadow lingers in all of these events~"
He paused meaningfully.
"Elder Dugu prefers a quiet life. By nature, he would never bother with so many complicated affairs."
"The Po Clan, Yu Clan, and Min Clan each lived in different regions. Without someone to mediate, there's no way they would've joined forces. Otherwise, they'd have done it long ago."
"And as for founding a new advanced soul master academy… it certainly doesn't align with the personalities of Elder Dugu or the three clan leaders."
"Do I need to go on?" Xue Qinghe asked, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Yun Yibai couldn't help but marvel inwardly:
"The Tiandou Empire's intel division is no joke."
After hearing all that, Yun chuckled.
"As expected of Your Highness."
"But let's be honest—you're interested in Elder Dugu Bo, aren't you?"
Indeed, Dugu Bo was Wujie Academy's greatest pillar of strength. That was undeniable.
Xue Qinghe, however, smiled gently and replied,
"Hehe. Am I not allowed to also be impressed by you—and the companions behind you?"
Yun Yibai's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
"Your Highness flatters us. We're merely a group of rookies—how could we possibly qualify as your right-hand men?"
Xue Qinghe shook his head softly.
His gaze turned sharp and resolute.
"You're too modest. In this soul master tournament, your team's performance has been nothing short of extraordinary. Your teamwork and individual power reveal potential far beyond the norm."
"I know… You may be wary of the royal family. You fear becoming pawns in a political struggle. But I truly seek to break that outdated structure—to lead this empire into real transformation."
"And you… are the very change-makers I've been searching for."
He paused before adding:
"Besides, Wujie Academy and the Tiandou Empire have a shared enemy."
Of course, he meant Spirit Hall.
Many of Wujie Academy's founding members had longstanding grudges against Spirit Hall. This was exactly why Xue Qinghe had chosen to speak these words.
Yes, he had met with Shrek Academy first—but that didn't mean he intended to ally with them formally. He had simply chosen to build good relations with some of their most promising students.
The key difference between Shrek and Wujie lies here:
Shrek only had one student, Tang San, who had enmity with Spirit Hall.
Wujie, on the other hand, had multiple people with grudges against Spirit Hall.
That meant Spirit Hall would never view Wujie Academy favorably—and that, in turn, meant relentless suppression.
Spirit Hall's actions are growing more brazen by the day. Even the local bishop in Tiandou City—Salas—dared show disrespect to an emperor of the realm."
"Across the continent, the tension between the Tiandou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Spirit Hall has reached a boiling point. A great catastrophe is inevitable."
"Spirit Hall's power has only grown. In recent years, they've secretly drawn in many factions, aiming to isolate both empires."
"Now, countless sects, kingdoms, and even soul master families have aligned themselves under Spirit Hall's banner."
"Once, Spirit Hall exercised restraint. But now, they're using any means necessary. They've already absorbed the lower four sects under their command."