Yun Yibai summarized Oscar's progress:
Regeneration of spirit and physical strength
Detox and status resistance
Flight
"From a support-team perspective," he continued, "you need a soul skill that boosts teammates' attack power—your third skill partially does that, but it's not enough. You also need defense enhancement, an all-attribute buff, and healing."
"So, Oscar, which direction do you want to focus on?"
Oscar, impressed by the depth of planning, paused to think.
Oscar's inner reasoning:
Boosting attack: Yun Yibai is already strong, and Dugu Yan excels in offense (poison). Team composition unclear—prioritizing attack might be premature.
Defense, all-attribute buff, healing: More universally useful for the team.
Defense seems most urgent—both brother and sister are offense-heavy.
All-attribute buff is also a good choice now; healing can wait for future teammates.
Oscar finally spoke:
"Big bro, sister Yan, I've decided—my fourth soul ring should focus on defense or all-attribute augmentation. I'll decide exactly once the rest of the team is in place."
Yun Yibai smiled, pleased at his team-oriented decision. "That's great thinking. I already have some candidates lined up."
Yun Yibai revealed their team plan for the upcoming nationwide academy tournament:
Yun Yibai
Dugu Yan
Oscar
4–6. Three more from the Po Zhi clan
A candidate from the Yu Zhi clan—likely defense-oriented
Feng Xiaotian, the wind-attribute prodigy from Shenfeng Academy
Oscar was wary: "Feng Xiaotian is top-tier, not easy to recruit."
Yun Yibai grinned: "Leave Feng Xiaotian to me—and if needed, we have Dugu Yan's grandfather's influence."
Oscar made his choice: "Then I'll go with the all-attribute buff!"
Yun Yibai shared several potential soul-skill concepts based on suitable soul beasts (details omitted here). After some time, they returned to the Grand Arena in Tiandou City to continue honing their skills—not competing yet, avoiding early exposure.
Yun Yibai set up training in the Soul Beast Forest for himself and Dugu Yan, while Oscar prepared to embark on his new role.
A while later, Yang Wudi sent word. Yun Yibai, Dugu Yan, and Oscar traveled to Haoyue City, north of Sunset Forest. The Po Zhi clan had already settled on the eastern side of the city, thanks to swift relocation efforts from across the Xingluo Empire.
Standing before the clan manor, they were greeted warmly:
"Young Clan Lord!" (Yun Yibai's fiancée, Dugu Yan)
"Young Master Yun!" (Yun Yibai)
"Young Master Oscar!"
An escort led them inside the clan elder Yang Wudi's courtyard, where a well-built man sat beside the elder, both laughing heartily. The servants announced their arrival, and the introductions followed:
"Dugu Yan, granddaughter of Dugu Bo."
"Yun Yibai, the prodigy of Lightning Tyrant Dragon's direct line."
"Oscar, food-attribute soul master with innate full spirit power."