This Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament had ended.
The final match had been between Spirit Hall's team and a combined team formed from Heavenly Water, Divine Wind, and Blazing Fire Academy.
Although the alliance of the three academies had rapidly narrowed the gap in combat strength, they still suffered a narrow defeat against Spirit Hall's team in the end.
Today was the award ceremony.
"Please welcome the pope!"
Following Salas's announcement, Pope Bibi Dong descended from the sky in gorgeous robes amid the crowd's cheers, shining like a goddess.
At Cassian Glaive and the others' urging, Serena Ivory stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and received the prize.
In the shadows of the special seats, Wu Ling calmly watched the scene below.
This time, most of the prizes were related to him. As Spirit Hall's current Saint, especially after his overwhelming display of strength the day before, Bibi Dong had even hinted that he could present the prizes this time if he wanted. Without needing to think carefully, Wu Ling had refused.
Why? Mainly because it was troublesome. These were things he had casually made. Personally appearing just to hand them out felt like too much effort. Besides, it was not as though he would have no chance to appear today. He simply needed to wait a little longer.
"After the awards, Teacher still has her speech. About ten minutes, I suppose. That is enough."
As he spoke, Wu Ling's gaze gradually moved toward the Worship Hall behind the Pope Palace.
In moments, Wu Ling vanished from his original place. In only two minutes, he had opened the Worship Hall's doors.
"Old Golden Crocodile, Old Lucius will see me this time, right?"
As he entered the Worship Hall and passed Golden Crocodile Sage, Wu Ling asked casually.
This time, Golden Crocodile Sage only nodded and said nothing else.
This was not Wu Ling's first visit. He had come once the previous night. However, according to Golden Crocodile Sage, Lucius Cross had been praying and would not receive anyone, so Wu Ling had not been able to meet him.
Wu Ling pushed open the door at the deepest part of the Worship Hall. The first thing he saw was an enormous angel statue shining with holy light. Lucius Cross stood before the statue in white robes, hands clasped as he prayed.
Wu Ling did not disturb him. He simply stood there and looked at the statue at his leisure. In Wu Ling's eyes, the statue itself was just an ordinary statue. Around it, however, there was a mysterious power wrapped and winding. Wu Ling understood that this was what people called faith.
One minute passed like that before Lucius finally spoke.
"You came because of what happened yesterday, did you not?"
Because Wu Ling had his back to Lucius, he did not nod this time. He only said, "That is right. Tang Hao's behavior was practically trampling Spirit Hall's face into the dirt and preparing to smash it with a hammer. If I had not acted, that hammer would truly have landed. I do not believe that you, old man, who once served as Judgment Elder and killed so many people for Spirit Hall in your youth, have become too old to kill now."
Lucius did not react to Wu Ling's mockery. He only answered calmly.
"Yesterday, I heard a divine oracle."
Hearing that, Wu Ling instinctively glanced at the Angel God's statue, then continued listening in silence.
"The oracle said that this was a trial. I needed not to act, and the rest of Spirit Hall needed to cross it themselves. Only then could Spirit Hall's future continue to grow stronger and greater."
"Heh. Old Lucius, I respect you. That does not mean you can treat me like an idiot... Fine. I understand this matter. I will find time to take a look."
After saying that, Wu Ling turned and left. As he walked away, the fingers tucked into his pocket moved slightly. Several nearly imperceptible threads of faith power carrying the Angel God's aura were collected by him.
Lucius sensed Wu Ling's little movement, but he said nothing.
After several decades without divine oracles, the Angel God had suddenly delivered one. Worse, it had happened under yesterday's special circumstances. It was hard not to think too much about it, even for a believer of the Angel God.
Because of Lucius's position, he was destined to know certain things ordinary people did not. He did believe in the Angel God. But among those who had reached his level, how many truly believed with absolute devotion? Everything ultimately came down to the word power.
Since Wu Ling had just said he understood, then no matter what Wu Ling planned to do, this matter had passed. Lucius now trusted Wu Ling even more firmly than he trusted himself. The root of that trust was also the power inside Wu Ling that even he could not see through.
"Speaking of which, yesterday, two more powerful auras flashed briefly in that boy Wu Ling's courtyard..."
After leaving the Worship Hall, Wu Ling quickly returned to the tournament grounds. Bibi Dong happened to be reaching the last few lines of her speech.
Bibi Dong's eyes shifted slightly as she sensed Wu Ling's return.
"...and now, I declare this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament successfully concluded!"
Thunderous applause immediately filled the entire competition venue. Without the original storyline's interruption from Tang Hao, everyone excitedly enjoyed the final moment.
After a while, the applause gradually faded. Some spectators wanted to leave, but when they saw Bibi Dong still standing on the stage, they looked up and discovered in surprise that many Spirit Hall soldiers had already sealed every passage.
The clever ones who sensed something was wrong quietly sat back down. Before the rest of the ordinary spectators could erupt into noise, Wu Ling had already stepped forward and amplified his voice with Spirit Power.
"Please remain calm, everyone."
Hearing Wu Ling's voice, every gaze once again turned to the figure who had displayed such divine might yesterday.
"It is His Highness!"
"Ah, His Highness!"
"Saint! Saint!"
Deafening cheers rang through the venue again. Wu Ling merely raised his hand slightly, and within moments, everyone fell silent. Even the pope could not match this level of appeal, yet Bibi Dong had no unnecessary thoughts about it.
Over the years, because of Wu Ling, her desire to take revenge on Spirit Hall had gradually calmed. If Wu Ling wanted the pope's seat, she might be the first person in all of Spirit Hall to agree.
"Thank you all for your support. I will not waste words. I came here to say only two things."
"First, congratulations on the successful completion of this tournament."
At that, some people wanted to clap and cheer again, but Wu Ling quickly pressed the sound back down.
Then Wu Ling's expression turned serious. He pondered for a long time. As the atmosphere shifted, the crowd gradually realized that something was wrong.
"And now, the second matter. I hereby announce: war has begun."
End Of Volume 6.