Chapter 18 – A Letter from Thunderclap Academy

Nearly eight months had passed since Yun Yibai obtained his third soul ring.

Notably, after Dugu Yan acquired her third soul ring in the Sunset Forest, she transferred to Blue Tyrant Academy.

On one hand, it was her own decision; on the other, it was partly due to Dugu Bo privately singing Yun Yibai's praises.

Thus, despite having enrolled in Heaven Dou Imperial Advanced Soul Master Academy for less than a year, Dugu Yan transferred out.

Those who spent enough time around Yun Yibai would eventually realize: that being his friend might be a blessing—or a curse.

One day, Yun Yibai received a letter.

This letter was quite unusual—it came from Thunderclap Academy, a school directly affiliated with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

That same day, Yu Tianheng, who was also in Heaven Dou City, received an identical letter.

"Thunderclap Academy?" he muttered, turning the purple-blue envelope over in his hands, visibly puzzled.

He couldn't recall having any particular connection with Thunderclap Academy.

Though confused, his curiosity won out. He opened the envelope and began to read.

The letter was from Yu Tianxin, and its purpose was to invite him to attend the decade gathering of the Five Elemental Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Yun Yibai frowned slightly, a trace of doubt surfacing in his mind.

Although he had crossed paths with Yu Tianxin before, they weren't particularly close. His relationship with Yu Tianheng was closer.

So why would Yu Tianxin invite him to something as significant as the Five Elemental Academy Exchange?

The Five Elemental Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire were:

Thunderclap Academy – Lightning Element

Divine Wind Academy – Wind Element

Blazing Fire Academy – Fire Element

Heavenly Water Academy – Water Element

Elephant Armored Academy – Earth Element

Among them, Thunderclap Academy was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the three great upper sects.

Elephant Armored Academy was supported by the Elephant Armored Clan, one of the four lower sects.

The other three academies—Divine Wind, Blazing Fire, and Heavenly Water—each had at least several Soul Saints, and possibly even Soul Douluos, stationed as protectors.

There was also a Plant Element Academy, but that one was not located within the Heaven Dou Empire's borders and was considered separate.

Historically, the Five Elemental Academies shared close ties.

But with the ascension of the new Pope in Spirit Hall, Elephant Armored Academy had begun exploring… other options. The rest of the elemental academies were not yet aware of this shift.

As for why Yun Yibai received an invitation from Yu Tianxin of Thunderclap Academy, the true reason lay with Yu Tianheng.

When Yu Tianheng had returned home to obtain his third soul ring, he'd casually mentioned Yun Yibai's name and current state.

At the time, the one accompanying him on that soul beast hunt had been Yu Shouxian, a fifth-ring Soul King of the "Shou" generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—technically Yu Tianheng's uncle.

Older clan members like Yu Shouxian had not yet fallen into rigid, dogmatic thinking. He'd had a fairly good relationship with Yun Yibai's mother, Yu Shoufang when they were younger.

Back then, he had deeply regretted the clan's treatment of Yun Yibai—a genuine talent born with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the most powerful beast-type assault Martial Soul on the continent. If he had followed the clan's fixed soul ring path, he was destined to become, at the very least, a Soul Douluo.

However, most of the clan saw Yun Yibai's deviation as a serious mistake. One of the few exceptions was his mother, Yu Shoufang.

Upon hearing Yu Tianheng describe Yun Yibai's progress, Yu Shouxian began to take a closer interest.

As time passed, more than a year quietly slipped by.

Through Yu Shouxian's influence, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan came to a startling realization:

Yun Yibai had been hiding his true strength all along.

He hadn't declined due to abandoning the clan's prescribed soul ring configuration—on the contrary, he had become even more brilliant.

The clan's internal perception of Yun Yibai shifted dramatically. His talent and potential were now being taken seriously for the first time.

With the decennial Five Elemental Academy Gathering fast approaching—a prestigious summit for elite young soul masters—the main branch of the clan saw an opportunity.

They ordered Thunderclap Academy to act as a liaison and formally invite both Yun Yibai and Yu Tianheng to participate.

Yu Tianheng, as the clan's designated heir, had always been the focus of their attention. This event was not only a chance for him to expand his knowledge and horizons but also a rare opportunity to shine and build his reputation.

Yun Yibai, however, was the wildcard.

Inside the clan, opinions about him were sharply divided—some questioned whether he truly had the strength others claimed; others were quietly placing great hopes on him.

This gathering was the perfect opportunity for the clan to observe firsthand whether Yun Yibai was truly as remarkable as Yu Shouxian and Yu Tianheng said.

To determine if he was worthy of becoming a key talent, someone the clan would back with full support.

And what did "key talent" mean?

It meant:

Access to higher-quality soul rings

Instruction and mentoring by the clan's senior elders

Possibly even personal guidance from the clan leader, Yu Yuanzhen

To any soul master, these were dream-level opportunities.

Lastly, the clan wanted to see if their "three stars" could shine together:

Yu Tianheng

Yu Tianxin

and the unknown factor—Yun Yibai

If the trio could unite in strength, they could greatly boost the prestige of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and draw in more talented lightning-type soul masters.

Although the clan was one of the Upper Three Sects, it still lagged behind the Clear Sky Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

In terms of Titled Douluo, for example, they couldn't compete with those two.

"The Five Elemental Academy Gathering?"

"It's been three or four years since I last returned to the clan. Thunderclap Academy is directly affiliated with them… Why would they remember me now?"

Yun Yibai held the letter in his hand, his eyes flickering as thoughts swirled behind them.

That afternoon, Yu Tianheng came looking for him.

"Yibai! You got the letter too, right?" he asked happily.

Seeing Yu Tianheng show up so proactively, Yun Yibai more or less pieced together what was happening.

"So it was you," he said with layered meaning.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Yu Tianheng didn't catch his tone.

"It's been three or four years since I went back to the clan, and suddenly I get this?" Yun Yibai raised the deep blue envelope in his hand.

"I know exactly what I am to the clan—a nobody. There's no way they'd have sent this unless something changed."