Old Bones, You're Not Dead Yet

The next day, Lin Yuan, Dugu Bo, Niu Gao, Bai He, and Yang Wudi sat together in the main hall of Linyuan Pavilion.

A map lay spread across the table, with circles marking the locations of various powers across Douluo Continent.

Yang Wudi spoke first. "We don't have enough people. Right now, Linyuan Pavilion has only the members of the three clans and that batch of independent Soul Masters we recruited earlier. Our foundations are too shallow."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"We won't attract anyone worthwhile by recruiting on our own," Yang Wudi continued. "Douluo Continent is full of powerful factions. Who's even heard of Linyuan Pavilion?"

"Then we need to make a name for ourselves first." Dugu Bo leaned back in his chair and spoke at an unhurried pace. "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is coming up, and the academies in the Heaven Dou Division are preparing for it. Why don't we put together a team and use the tournament to spread Linyuan Pavilion's name?"

Lin Yuan tapped the table twice, thought it over, and said, "We can do that."

Yang Wudi waved a broad hand. "Then it's settled."

Dugu Bo changed the subject. "I hear the Heaven Dou Auction House has something good lately. Want to take a look? I need to visit Heaven Dou City anyway and check on that girl Yanyan."

"Sure. Let's go."

Heaven Dou City's largest auction house stood in the city center. The entire building gleamed with gold and splendor, and people streamed through its entrance.

Ning Rongrong arrived at the auction house with Ning Fengzhi. The moment she entered the lobby, she spotted a familiar figure.

"Xiao Wu!"

With a delighted cry, she rushed over and wrapped Xiao Wu in a hug.

"Mmph—Guga!"

A muffled cry squeezed out from between