Chapter 28 – A Bet

Yun Yibai lifted his drink and gave it a slight swirl, giving the impression he didn't take Feng Xiaotian seriously.

"Shared experiences?" His lips curved. His eyes locked onto Feng, assessing him deeply.

"You invented your soul skill?"

"Of course," Feng replied confidently.

"I think we can learn from each other," he added enthusiastically—self-created soul skills opened up endless discussion.

"Brother Feng!" Yun Yibai interrupted.

"Yes?" Feng asked with curiosity.

"I hear you're natively full soul power and a bit older than me—but how are you still only at Soul Sovereign Level 36?"

He paused, letting the words sink in:

"A natively full soul power cultivator, at sixteen, should at least reach Spirit Sovereign.

And you, Feng, at almost seventeen, are still Soul Sovereign?"

Feng had no reply. Yun Yibai's words were true: someone with innate full soul power hadn't stayed at Soul Sovereign for this long without records or precedent. Those rare geniuses typically soared quickly.

"I want to tell you," Yun Yibai continued, "though we both invented our soul skills, we don't share much else."

"But let me warn you one last time:"

"I, Yun Yibai of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with innate soul power level 7, am only thirteen years old, yet at Soul Sovereign Level 34."

He spoke with calm confidence:

"Just moments ago, I, a Level 34 Soul Sovereign, defeated you, a Level 36."

"If I weren't a Soul Sovereign, I wouldn't even have gotten the chance to fight you."

With that, Yun Yibai left.

Feng Xiaotian stood alone, stunned.

"Innate soul power 7… thirteen… thirty-four…"

Feng repeated the numbers under his breath.

"He's thirteen and already Level 34… I was Level 33 at that age, and I'm still Level 36…"

His expression grew distant and hollow.

Time passed swiftly. The academy tournament reached its final day, thrilling all spectators. Once again, the performance of Elephant Armored Academy impressed the Red-Robed Cardinal of the Soul Hall, Sturson.

That evening's banquet brought Feng Xiaotian back to find Yun Yibai.

In a quiet corner beneath the moonlight, Feng poured champagne with a lazy demeanor.

"So what exactly did you mean at the arena?

Are you just showing off how talented you are?"

"I just didn't want you to go the wrong path," Yun Yibai said softly.

"…Or waste your gifts as an innately full-power soul master."

"Or… I wanted to recruit you onto my team."

"Your teammate? Let's not kid ourselves—you can't even enter Divine Wind Academy."

Feng finally grasped what Yun had hinted.

"But how did you do it? Innate soul power 7, and at thirteen you already reached Level 34? Impossible—even with enhancers, you couldn't reach that!"

This question had tormented Feng since their fight.

Yun Yibai grinned, calm as ever:

"It depends—do you have the guts?"

"The guts?

Are you telling me you crossed age limits to absorb soul rings?"

Feng's face paled at the thought.

"How'd you…"

"You might be the most reckless person I've ever met," Feng muttered.

"That's one kind of recklessness," Yun Yibai said, taking a sip in the moonlight.

"All my three soul skills are amplification-based."

"Soul power amplification, attribute amplification—it's no secret.

And that's exactly why my soul power grew so fast."

"Amplification soul skills?!

You're insane. Are you not afraid of pushing yourself to the edge?"

Feng shook his head in disbelief.

Yun Yibai laughed, his gaze strangely confident:

"Afraid? Of course. But I'm more afraid of spending my limited life without chasing endless possibilities—like reaching the Cherished Realm."

"With innate soul power level 7, if I didn't push this far, how could I compete with you all?"

"Now, soul power is no longer my weakness.

And I have more time to build my offensive techniques."

"It worked out… didn't it?"

He tilted his head toward Feng.

"Insane. Mad," Feng answered bluntly.

"Soul power is the foundation of any soul master.

Your self-created skills might let you overcome higher-ranked enemies—

but pairing them with higher soul power, then you're something else entirely."

"For example—you, a Spirit Sovereign, could defeat other Spirit Sovereigns far more easily at your level. Why go to such lengths at your Soul Sovereign stage?"

Yun Yibai's words struck a nerve—no one had ever challenged Feng this way.

"That's why...I value your talent, Feng Xiaotian.

I want to make you my teammate."

"I want to assemble someone strong—and challenge the Soul Hall's dominance in the Continental Advanced Academy Elite Tournament."

"Never expected you to have that kind of ambition," Feng said, surprised.

It was also his hidden desire.

"You've got a good vision,

but if you were my target...you're not quite there yet."

"Looking back, I'm thankful.

I'm glad you—a madman—recognized my talent."

He paused, almost catching himself.

"Or… I really would've gone all the way alone."

"With your talent and your audacity, who knows—you might reach Spirit Sovereign before me."

"Your talent and strength awakened my competitive spirit. I'm looking forward to seeing you."

"To us being teammates."

His simple words carried complex implications.

It was a sort of bet—a gamble with terms yet to be settled: at a special future point, one of them would inevitably join the other's side—no matter the obstacles.

For Yun Yibai, this was no burden.

Even though he studied at Blue‑Dragon Academy now, it wasn't his final destination, and he carried no real attachments.

He could join any academy he wanted—Blue‑Dragon Academy and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could not stop him.