"Spirit Hall's ambition to swallow both empires and dominate the entire continent is no longer a secret."
"Can any egg remain unbroken beneath a collapsed nest?"
Xue Qinghe had said everything he needed to. Now, he quietly awaited Yun Yibai's response.
Both Yang Wudi and Ning Fengzhi stayed silent. This was a conversation between two young powerhouses, and they knew not to interfere.
"Your Highness, I feel your sincerity," Yun Yibai said calmly.
"But cooperation isn't child's play."
"In this world, what alliance doesn't revolve around mutual benefit? Even the two great empires and Spirit Hall are no exception."
"If Wujie Academy allies with the Heaven Dou Empire—what exactly do we stand to gain?"
Yun spoke bluntly. After all, they had substantial cards in hand.
Xue Qinghe nodded.
If they didn't seek their due rewards, that would be more suspicious.
"I propose cooperation on two fronts," Xue Qinghe replied.
"First—resource sharing. The royal family will supply your academy with rare cultivation materials, including—but not limited to—spirit bones."
"Second—mutual defense. As Spirit Hall grows increasingly arrogant, we must unite our strength against them."
"Furthermore, if Wujie Academy defeats Spirit Hall's team and wins the upcoming All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, Heaven Dou Empire will offer your academy a precious gift, as a token of our commitment."
"Your Highness gives us far too much credit," Yun replied modestly.
"On the contrary—Captain Yun, you're being far too humble."
"Wujie Academy is, without question, the strongest team I've seen in this tournament," Xue Qinghe said sincerely.
He continued slowly:
"Three Soul Kings, four Soul Ancestors—such a lineup is more than enough to match Spirit Hall's elite squad."
"Though your academy is backed by Elder Dugu Bo, my real interest lies in your students."
And how could it not?
If even one of these Titled Douluo candidates reached their full potential, Wujie Academy could one day surpass the Upper Three Sects.
Xue Qinghe had long since memorized every detail of Wujie Academy's team.
But he knew these seven weren't easy to recruit. Wujie might be a mere academy on the surface, but the foundation beneath it was far from ordinary.
"I hope your academy gives this proposal serious thought."
Later, Xue Qinghe spoke to Ning Fengzhi:
"Teacher, now that I've seen him up close… he doesn't quite resemble someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Though he has that same dominating aura, he's far more calculating than the others from that clan."
"This visit has confirmed my earlier suspicion—Wujie Academy was founded around him."
"Whether it's Dugu Bo or the leaders of the three single-attribute clans, they were all brought together because of him. He acted as the bridge that unified those forces."
"To bring together so many strong, stubborn personalities—each with unique backgrounds—and shape them into a cohesive force… That alone shows incredible leadership."
"For someone his age to possess such foresight and intellect—it's incredibly rare on this continent."
"If such a person becomes a friend, all the better.
But if he turns into an enemy…
He must be eliminated without hesitation."
"Mm." Ning Fengzhi smiled, clearly pleased.
"Qinghe, your observation is precise."
He paused thoughtfully.
"But did you notice something strange about Yang Wudi's behavior today?"
"Yang Wudi is a Soul Douluo—among the strongest just beneath Titled Douluo. These kinds of people have their pride."
"Yet Yun Yibai said many things today that could be seen as disrespectful, and Yang Wudi wasn't angry at all."
"That only means one thing: Yang Wudi is already accustomed to Yun Yibai's way of speaking."
"Even a Soul Douluo like him… is supporting Yun Yibai."
"Which begs the question—what exactly about Yun Yibai has earned the loyalty of a Titled Douluo and three clan leaders?"
Ning Fengzhi's conclusion confirmed what Xue Qinghe had suspected all along:
Yun Yibai was the true mastermind behind Wujie Academy.
After the guests left, the room was quiet—just Yang Wudi and Yun Yibai remained.
"Kid Yibai," Yang Wudi began, "this Crown Prince of Heaven, Dou, is no simple figure.
He might be more capable than his father, Emperor Xue Ye—more politically savvy, too."
"Senior Yang, Xue Qinghe is formidable, no doubt.
But we… we're just an academy of soul masters."
"We're not interested in challenging the empire's authority.
He may aim to rule the continent, but our goal is simply to become the top soul master academy—to earn a reputation like Spirit Hall, but with a different legacy."
"As long as Spirit Hall doesn't unify the continent, we won't stand in his way."
Yang Wudi nodded.
"The Crown Prince personally reaching out to us fits perfectly with our plans.
We were originally going to approach them—yet now, they're the ones knocking."
Yun Yibai smiled:
"Hehe, Senior Yang…
There's a world of difference between revealing yourself willingly and being discovered by others unknowingly."
"If you expose yourself too early, the mystery that surrounds you fades.
Like a star without clouds—you may still shine, but you've lost your depth and allure."
"But when others uncover your secrets gradually—when they peel away the layers—it ignites their curiosity.
They want to know more. That intrigue… becomes a powerful motivator."
"Let me offer a different analogy:
It's like admiring a famous painting.
At first glance, you only see the surface. But the deeper you look, the more the details and colors come alive.
It draws people in—mesmerizes them—instills awe."
"That's why I never advocated publicly declaring our academy's strength.
I wanted to preserve that mystique.
Because once Wujie Academy reveals just a fraction of its brilliance, the major powers will come running."
Yang Wudi burst out laughing:
"You rascal! You've got some flowery words, don't you?"
"So this is why you gave us that big pitch and then did nothing for a while—you were waiting for this moment! Hahahaha!"
"Well played.
Looks like Spirit Hall's overreach has finally provoked Heaven Dou Empire's reaction, too."
"Spirit Hall… huh! Those who walk in injustice are destined to be destroyed!"