Chapter 23 – The Spirit Hall Has Arrived

After Ming Lang's round of introductions, everyone was at least passingly familiar with one another. As the scheduled time arrived, the banquet officially began.

The instructors from each of the five elemental academies reappeared. Each gave a short speech, after which the music began, and people started dancing, mingling, or forming connections.

As for Yun Yibai, he preferred peace—a trait rooted in his focus on cultivation over socializing.

At some point, Yu Tianheng had slipped off to dance with a girl from Tianshui Academy, while Yu Tianxin was engaged in conversation with acquaintances of his own.

Left alone, Yun Yibai sat idly.

Even though Ming Lang from Thunderclap Academy had introduced him to others, he didn't know anyone here well.

Despite having the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, his surname was different, which made his social status compared to Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin immediately apparent.

Still, even as an outsider, he wasn't without his share of attention.

He noticed cold, hostile glares from several Elephant Armored Academy students across the hall—buried deep, but unmistakably sharp.

Meanwhile, Feng Xiaotian was still relentlessly trying to flirt with Huo Wu, failing again and again—but never giving up.

That said, handsome and exceptional people never lack attention. Yun Yibai may not have gone looking for conversation, but others were seeking him out.

Aside from the girls of Tianshui Academy, several female students from Divine Wind, Blazing Fire, and Thunderclap Academy had tried inviting him to dance.

"That guy from Thunderclap Academy is such a weirdo!"

Chatter buzzed from a small group of Tianshui Academy girls.

"What do you think, Sister Xue Wu?"

"His identity isn't simple,"

Xue Wu replied thoughtfully, remembering the earlier introductions among the top students from each academy.

"He's from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The fact that he's mingling with Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin—both hailed as the clan's 'Twin Stars'—means he's not ordinary."

"Still, he seems so cold! I saw girls from the other academies ask him to dance and he didn't even flinch."

"He's got that whole 'don't come near me' vibe…" one of the girls muttered, blushing slightly.

"Hah! Someone's got a crush~" teased another girl.

"Yanyan! Don't tease me!" The flustered girl's face turned bright red.

"If you're interested, go for it!"

"I can't! He looks like someone who'd reject you with a look."

"Tsk. What am I gonna do with you?"

"Why can't you be more like the girls from the other academies? They're not even as pretty as you, and they still made a move."

"He didn't even look their way. What chance do I have?"

"Geniuses like him always have insanely high standards—especially one from a prestigious clan like that."

"It's just a thought… If I were serious, I'd say Sister Xue Wu has a better shot than me."

At least she was self-aware—she understood what was appropriate, and where the line was.

"You all are too much."

Xue Wu shook her head softly, occasionally glancing at Yun Yibai from across the room.

She was indeed curious about this "Yun Yibai."

He had a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, didn't share the clan's surname, yet still earned the respect of its core descendants.

It was hard not to wonder just how talented—and how strong—he truly was.

More than personal interest, Xue Wu's focus was on evaluating a rival, ahead of the upcoming academy battles.

On the dance floor, the music was soft and flowing, light played across the floor, and elite students swayed in elegant rhythm or exchanged whispers.

The banquet hall brimmed with youthful vitality and anticipation for the future.

Yun Yibai sat quietly on a corner sofa, holding a glass of untouched champagne, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the dancers, though his mind seemed elsewhere—lost in thought.

"Still sitting here alone?"

Yu Tianheng reappeared at some point, dropping into the seat beside him with his signature grin.

"Honestly, I'd rather be out at Shuiyue City's Great Soul Arena seeing what kind of battle masters they have,"

Yun Yibai said as he set the glass down.

He and Yu Tianheng had only just arrived a day ago, and with the exchange about to begin, neither of them had a chance to explore yet.

But Yun Yibai was particularly interested in the Soul Arena here.

Back in Heaven Dou City, he was already a well-known figure in the Great Soul Arena—he'd faced nearly all of the notable Soul Elders there.

Now that he was in Shuiyue City, where no one knew him, why not drop in and stir things up—and maybe earn a little money on the side?

Yu Tianheng's eyes lit up too.

"How about we—?"

"Forget it. We've already held back for a day, we can manage one more."

They had both been warned—Yu Tianxin and the Thunderclap Academy instructors had told them to lie low until the matches began.

No need to reveal their abilities prematurely.

The next day.

"Welcome, everyone, to the grand gathering hosted by the Five Elemental Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

"It's truly an honor to be part of this event."

This wasn't just polite formality. The Five Elemental Academies had never before held their exchange publicly.

It was only because Tianshui Academy had insisted on hosting it outside their school grounds that spectators were allowed at this time.

"We're especially honored today to be joined by the City Lord of Shuiyue City!"

A man rose and smiled warmly to the crowd.

City Lord An Zhiqiu, Rank 77 Assault System Battle Soul Sage. Martial Soul: Icefang Tiger.

"Also present, Red-robed Bishop Stuson of Spirit Hall!"

Wearing crimson robes, Stuson stood and offered a small smile.

Stuson, Rank 75 Control System Soul Sage. Martial Soul: Golden Lock.

"And last but not least, the esteemed Headmistress of Tianshui Academy, Zuo Qiuqing!"

Zuo Qiuqing stood with a cool and aloof demeanor, offering a subtle nod.

Zuo Qiuqing, Rank 78 Agility-Type Battle Soul Sage. Martial Soul: Watercloud Crane.

...

After the introductions, the emcee named the instructors from the Five Elemental Academies.

A Zhiqiu then gave the opening speech, and finally, under a brief sentence from Zuo Qiuqing, the long-awaited Academy Exchange officially began.

Fireworks burst into the sky, marking the grand start of the event.

The rules of the exchange had already been explained by Ming Lang—there wasn't much difference from the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

Formats included:

One-on-one

Two-on-two

Seven-on-seven

One-vs-many

The structure was casual: however they enjoyed fighting, and that's how they'd compete.

The point was to enhance each academy's strength and foster mutual growth and learning.

BOOM! BOOM!

Colorful light beams lit up the stage.

Seven female students from Tianshui Academy took to the stage like lotus flowers emerging from water—graceful and radiant.

They danced elegantly to the rhythm of music, their bodies light and fluid like drifting water.

Clad in pale blue dresses that fluttered with the wind, they seemed to merge with the natural world around them.

Every motion overflowed with elegance and energy.

Below the stage, the crowd stirred in awe and admiration.

"So this is Tianshui Academy!"

"Stunning!"

"Too bad they don't accept male students…"