The Po Zhi Clan truly lives up to its reputation as the continent's top potion-makers. Yang Wudi took this latest concoction very seriously—he'd never before used such top-tier herbs in his alchemy.
Yun Yibai waited several days while Yang Wudi secluded himself to refine the pill.
"Here you go, kid—the pill you requested."
Yang Wudi handed Yun Yibai a small vial filled with nine smooth, jade-green pills. Crafted with supreme-grade Purple Ganoderma and a ten-thousand-year Ginseng King as the core ingredients, plus supplemental herbs and Yang's masterful techniques, these pills were greater than the sum of their parts.
Yun Yibai pulled one pill out and offered it back to Yang Wudi.
Yang Wudi accepted it without hesitation—he knew Yun Yibai didn't need it himself, and that it might push him up a soul power level.
"Clan Chief Yang, I need to visit Feng Academy next. Oscar will rely on the Po Zhi Clan while I'm away."
"No problem." Yang Wudi responded readily, aware of Yun Yibai's mission.
Only a month remained until the four-year agreement was up. Yun Yibai continued:
"If Oscar earns his Soul Lord breakthrough during this time, it may trouble you, Clan Chief Yang."
He paused, eyes deepening.
"Assuming no surprises, Yang Tai and Niu Tian should arrive in time to join us in retrieving spirit rings."
Yang Wudi smiled knowingly:
"Luck favors Niu Tian and Yang Tai! Even if Yun Yibai didn't favor them, he wouldn't have asked me to refine these top-tier pills."
Yun Yibai gave one to each of Yang Tai and Niu Tian before leaving with Dugu Yan.
"Clan Chief!"
"Follow the Young Master and make sure they stay safe."
"Yes, sir!"
Yang Wudi discreetly assigned a Soul Sage of his clan to guard them from the shadows.
Yun Yibai and Dugu Yan traveled slowly to Wensky City—the site of Feng Academy—north of the Sunset Forest, in the Di'ao Province of the TianDou Empire. Though not far, the journey by carriage took a week. Not far from them was Cossent City, home to the Fiery Academy.
Arriving in Wensky City, Yun Yibai discreetly paid local networks to dig up information on Feng Xiaotian:
Dugu Yan (smirking): "So this Feng Xiaotian… turns out he's a hopeless romantic."
The informants were thorough (and well-paid), bringing up anecdotes from his youth.
"I heard he used to chase a girl named 'Fire Dance' at Fiery Academy—but she barely paid him any attention."
Dugu Yan teased Yun Yibai:
"I wonder what makes her so captivating to a genius with innate max soul power!"
Yun Yibai continued browsing the dossier:
"Looks like he's been dividing time between Feng Academy, Hurricane Gorge for training, and Fiery Academy playing the field."
"He's not in school currently—either training in the gorge or chasing… girls, at Fiery Academy."
"At least he hasn't forgotten the four-year deal. He'll return soon—we sent him a letter already."
They waited quietly. Six days later, Feng Xiaotian finally returned—dusty and weary, his clothes clean but bearing a dignified aura. From the Academy gate guards' viewpoint:
Guard: "Oh? A letter for me?"
Another guard explained a blond youth delivered it—allegedly student Feng's friend.
Feng read it: "So he's here—kept his word." He smiled and set off.
At the hotel, Dugu Yan and Yun Yibai had stayed about ten days. When someone knocked, Dugu Yan was puzzled:
"They're not meal deliveries at this hour…"
Opening the door, both Miss Dugu Yan and the visitor froze.
From her perspective, a man about Yun Yibai's height, long black hair, dressed in white—but she didn't know him.
From Feng Xiaotian's perspective, he saw a beautiful woman—but he had sworn loyalty elsewhere. Confused, he reread the hotel bill referencing Yun Yibai.
Feng (confused): "He said this was the room… where's Yun Yibai? And… who are you?"
Dugu Yan tensed defensively.
Dugu Yan: "I'm looking for Yun Yibai. He sent word that this was the room. Who are you?"
Realizing, she shouted inside:
"Yibai! Someone's looking for you!"
Seconds later Yun Yibai appeared. Dugu Yan stepped aside, nervously glancing back.
Feng stumbled over his words pointing at Yun Yibai and then Dugu Yan:
"You—she—I—"