"Your Highness Son, I heard you do not intend to participate in this tournament."
In Wu Ling's courtyard, Alistair Jewel glanced at Blair standing behind Wu Ling, then asked in a probing tone.
Wu Ling did not react to Alistair's probe. He answered directly, "Correct. You know my strength. To the current me, this kind of tournament is no different from children playing house. I should at least leave the others a little hope, right?"
Alistair adjusted his glasses and glanced at Blair again before praising him.
"I do not think that is quite right, Saint. Even if you do not act personally, Spirit Hall will probably take this tournament with ease. After all, Spirit Hall's current Golden Generation all came out from under your hand. Three Spirit Emperors and three Spirit Leaders. Even six against seven, they could probably win easily."
That was true. One year had passed since Wu Ling obtained his eighth Spirit Ring. During that year, whenever he had nothing else to do, he gave Serena Ivory and the others some guidance. With cultivation methods and elixirs assisting them, every one of them had risen by a full step.
Serena Ivory, Vulcan Brand, and Cassian Glaive had all become Spirit Emperors. Blair, Oscar, and Avis Graves, whose Martial Soul had already evolved into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, had all become Spirit Leaders.
In the history of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament, this lineup was absolutely unprecedented.
This tournament had also lifted the restrictions on Soulcraft devices. On paper, that rule seemed fair. In reality, everyone on the continent knew that Wu Ling, the Father of Soulcraft, belonged to Spirit Hall.
"No. According to what I know, Isaac Gale of Divine Wind Academy has also broken through to Spirit Emperor. He also possesses a powerful self-created Spirit Skill. In a duel, he might not necessarily lose to our people.
"There is also Lyra Blaze from Blazing Fire Academy and the Fontaine twins from Heavenly Water Academy. Although they are still Spirit Leaders, Lyra Blaze knows Blazing Fire Academy's secret technique, while the Fontaine twins can use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. If they go all out, they might not be incapable of clashing with Spirit Hall."
Alistair merely smiled and said nothing at Wu Ling's explanation. Those with sharp eyes had long noticed that the changes in those academies over the past year were not normal. Alistair, for instance, already believed there was a ninety-percent chance that those three academies had joined Spirit Hall.
Thinking about it, inside the Polaris Empire, one of the Upper Three Sects had gone into seclusion, one had secretly submitted, and one had been destroyed. Among the Five Elements Academies, Thunder Academy was gone, while the remaining four all had some relationship with Spirit Hall. Even the empire's only imperial consecrator, Poison Sage Erasmus Graves, had a granddaughter who had joined Spirit Hall and become one of the Golden Generation. If someone told Alistair that Erasmus had no relationship with Spirit Hall, he would sooner believe that Xue Qinghe was a woman.
And when one mentioned Xue Qinghe, one had to mention Emperor Noctis. Ever since Emperor Noctis collapsed half a year ago, he had never gotten up again. Alistair had been invited to personally examine him, but he found that not only was there nothing wrong with the emperor's body, it was in extremely good condition. Too good, in fact. In the end, Alistair could only conclude that Emperor Noctis had been over-nourished. But if he thought carefully, this Saint had likely played a role there too.
The Polaris Empire was already in this state. The Star Stripe Empire was not much better. Because the Star Stripe Empire lacked high-level combat power, Spirit Hall, under Wu Ling's guidance, had begun with the lower classes, gradually shaking the foundations of the empire itself.
After a long silence, Wu Ling set down his teacup and said, "Sect Master Jewel, we can count as our own people now. If you have something to say, say it directly. Personally, I prefer people being straightforward."
"I see. Then I was being too distant. In that case, I will obey your preference, Saint."
As Alistair spoke, he placed a storage ring on the table and pushed it beside Wu Ling.
Wu Ling did not ask about it. He simply looked quietly at the teacup in his hand. Left with no choice, Alistair continued.
"After careful consideration, I believe the relationship between our two sides can go one step further. I hope Your Highness can help take care of our Cecilia."
"You want Cecilia Jewel to join Spirit Hall's tournament team? Sect Master Jewel, are you not afraid the Polaris imperial family will come asking questions?"
Wu Ling exposed Alistair's plan in one sentence. Then, after teasing him lightly, he picked up the ring and briefly inspected it.
"Your Highness is joking. Letting one's child attend the best school and receive the highest quality education is the hope of every parent. What does that have to do with the sect?"
Wu Ling glanced at Alistair lazily. Then he suddenly asked, "Sect Master Jewel, do you know what the prizes are for this tournament?"
After a brief pause, Alistair replied, "A Heaven-tier cultivation method personally written by Your Highness, one bottle of Heaven-grade elixirs personally refined by Your Highness for each member, and a set of Soulcraft armor comparable to a Titled Sage."
Wu Ling nodded in silence. Then he pushed the storage ring back.
"There is one month left before the tournament. Have Cecilia come over to practice coordination. Tell her not to complain about being tired when the time comes."
Alistair froze slightly when he saw the ring returned, then quickly understood. He put the storage ring away, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Wu Ling.
"Then, Your Highness, I will take my leave. Cecilia will come visit Your Highness soon."
Wu Ling nodded and waved a hand. He did not even stand up. He simply had the steward see Alistair out.
Only after Alistair left did Blair step forward, replace the entire tea set, including the cup and pot, and brew a fresh pot of tea for Wu Ling.
While pouring tea, Blair asked, "Your Highness, why did you not accept that storage ring? Several elders want to push their descendants onto the team, and some of them have offered extremely high prices."
Wu Ling rubbed Blair's hair. Blair very skillfully activated her Martial Soul. As Wu Ling kneaded those soft cat ears, he felt a quiet pleasure.
"I can refuse it, yes. But does Alistair dare not give?"
"I did not accept it only because it was too little. He wanted to use that bit of payment to freeload a tournament championship and those prizes? Does he think I cannot do math?
"Still, he should understand my hint. Next time, when Cecilia comes, we will see what she brings me."
Wu Ling drank tea while petting the cat. In other people's eyes, his current life was no different from that of an old man enjoying retirement. But only Serena Ivory and the others who had received Wu Ling's guidance knew that even with this way of life, the man before them was still expanding his strength at an absurd rate.