"Participate in the tournament?" Wu Ling murmured to himself.
"With my current strength, even if a Spirit Leader came at me, I would not be afraid. Two Spirit Leaders plus a few teammates with a little ability would still be manageable. Three Spirit Leaders would probably bring it to a draw.
"But for now, the chance of facing even one Spirit Leader is very small, and multiple Spirit Leaders are almost impossible. In other words, this is a match we are practically guaranteed to win. But after that, what benefit does it bring me?"
After thinking for a moment, Wu Ling asked, "Master, can you tell me a little about our team and the other teams?"
Seeing that Wu Ling remained neither arrogant nor impatient, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction. Before doing anything, one had to understand the information first. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy could you win every battle.
"The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament requires participants to be under twenty-five years old. In practice, most competitors are between fifteen and twenty.
"Those between twenty and twenty-five do exist, but only academies with a shortage of younger talent usually send them. When talent is similar, higher age means higher cultivation. Winning that way invites contempt. Losing that way humiliates the academy across the entire continent.
"There are also participants below fifteen. For example, Spirit Hall, Star Stripe, and Polaris usually let a few younger but gifted members join their second teams to broaden their experience and prepare for the future.
"Of course, Wu Ling, you would certainly be placed on Spirit Hall's main team. You would not have to fight your way up through the preliminary rounds.
"As for this year, Spirit Hall's current team is still made up entirely of Spirit Meisters. We do have one twenty-one-year-old student with decent talent. If we give him some help, he may barely reach Spirit Leader.
"Star Stripe and Polaris are the same as in previous years. Star Stripe's imperial family and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan lead their respective teams. Each side has one auxiliary-type Spirit Elite, while the rest are Spirit Meisters.
"Overall, unless something unexpected happens, Spirit Hall still has a very high chance of winning this year.
"As for why I wanted you to participate, it is because your presence is far too low. Since you came to Spirit City, nearly ninety percent of your time has been spent cultivating at home. The remaining ten percent includes hunting Spirit Rings and visiting home.
"I know that keeping a low profile during the early stages of cultivation is important, but as my disciple, you do not need to fear the tallest tree catching the strongest wind. Showing your edge at the right time would benefit both you and me.
"Of course, that was only my previous thought. Since you obtained your third Spirit Ring, I now feel that it may not be bad for you to stay hidden for a while longer. Still, this matter concerns you, so I came to ask.
"If you do not want to go, I will not force you. If you do want to go, then I need to prepare to transfer you into the main team."
After listening carefully to Bibi Dong's explanation, Wu Ling fell back into memory and thought.
In the original story, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was one of the early climaxes and a turning point toward the middle stage. Wu Ling had watched that part with great interest and excitement, and he still remembered some details. One line from Alban Regis had left an impression on him.
"I remember that Alban once said that in the previous three tournaments, Spirit Hall won twice, while the Star Stripe Empire won once. Based on Master's words, this should be one of the two tournaments Spirit Hall wins.
"In other words, with or without me, the result is the same. At most, I would only be adding flowers to brocade.
"But after that, my existence would be exposed to every major force. Just as Bibi Dong said, as her disciple, I do not need to fear assassination or suppression, but it would still be troublesome.
"Trading the price of exposing myself for a victory that only makes an already certain win look prettier... no matter how I think about it, it is not worth it."
After careful consideration, Wu Ling decided to refuse this tournament.
"Forget it, Master. Next time. I will participate when I am fifteen. With five years and the help of my clones, reaching Spirit Leader should be enough.
"When the time comes, appearing as a fifteen-year-old Spirit Leader should bring some honor to you, right?" Wu Ling said with a bright smile. In other people's eyes, he looked as if he had already imagined the scene of bringing glory to his teacher.
Looking at this disciple who seemed to think of her at every turn, Bibi Dong felt something move in her heart. Her gaze gradually softened.
"Forget a fifteen-year-old Spirit Leader. The fact that you are already a ten-year-old Spirit Elite is shocking enough. But if you do not want to go, then do not go. With your current strength and combat experience, the tournament would be useless except for letting you feel the atmosphere. I will simply take you there to watch when the time comes."
After receiving Bibi Dong's promise, Wu Ling stood and bowed to her. "Thank you, Master."
Wu Ling did not actually care much about whether he went to watch in person, but the proper form still had to be observed.
Bibi Dong pressed her hand down, telling him to sit, then began speaking about the second matter.
"The second matter concerns your prediction. Are you interested in making the trip yourself?
"This year's Martial Soul awakening is only one week away. Because of your prediction, I specially altered this year's awakening plan. This year, awakenings will begin one day earlier than usual, and on that first day, only orphans will be awakened."
Wu Ling was stunned at once. Spirit Hall handled nearly eighty to ninety percent of all Martial Soul awakenings across the continent. Aside from a few great clans and major powers, even small villages like Crescent Moon Village had someone responsible for awakening Martial Souls. It might sound like only one day earlier, but the manpower and resources involved were not something one could dismiss lightly.
What moved Wu Ling even more was that Bibi Dong had changed the plan for the sake of one strange prediction he had given. There was certainly also her desire for a food-type innate full Spirit Power genius, but that degree of attention and trust alone touched him deeply.
"Master, if you suddenly changed the plan, did the Elders not object?" Wu Ling asked in surprise. After all, Spirit Hall was not the Pope's personal court. The Elders existed in part to balance the Pope's authority.
"At first, there was some resistance from the ordinary Elders, but once they heard that you were the reason, they all either abstained or agreed. As for the Elder Hall, perhaps because of that old man, they approved without even asking.
"To be honest, even I was surprised when I learned of it. In the current Spirit Hall, your words may be more useful than mine."
Bibi Dong rarely made a joke. Even she had not expected that the first matter Spirit Hall passed unanimously would have Wu Ling, a small Spirit Elite, as its key factor.