"Next, I will explain the rules." The host paused, building suspense.
"The selection will employ an elimination system. All of you will draw lots via computer to determine your opponents. When there is an odd number of competitors, one lucky participant will directly advance. The chief and deputy captains of the ten major squads will serve as seeded players, directly entering the final round of the elimination tournament. In other words, you will ultimately compete to select twenty individuals to challenge the twenty captains."
Upon hearing these rules, the crowd below instantly erupted. "This is far too unfair! Thousands of us are vying for those twenty promotion spots, while the captains just lie back and stroll in."
"Firstly, this selection process was originally not meant to exist. The twenty chief and deputy captains were simply to attend the assembly directly. The twenty of them were already the most outstanding and leading figures during the initial selection."
"It was merely suggested by someone above to also give others a chance—an opportunity to prove their developmental potential is no less than that of the captains. That is why this selection exists. This is an opportunity for you, and also an assessment for the captains." The host explained dispassionately, as if on the verge of adding, "Actually, none of this really concerns any of you anyway."
"But when it comes to stamina, we competitors are at a huge disadvantage! We'll have fought so many rounds before facing the captains, who will be at full strength." Someone below continued to find fault.
"You can rest assured on that point. This is the latest achievement from the Spirit Energy Research Institute." The host produced a black pill and displayed it to the ability users present. "This is a pill recently developed by the Spirit Energy Research Institute; consuming one can quickly restore the Spirit Energy within your body. Its effect is quite substantial."
Upon hearing this, Bai Mo stopped his work, observed the appearance of the pill, and then quietly logged into the Spirit Energy Research Institute's internal database to check the details.
"Internal name: 'Qi Recovery Pill'. Test completion date: February 12, 2017. Effect: Can restore 60% of Spirit Energy in a Spirit Animation Stage, third layer individual, or 100% in a Spirit Animation Stage, second layer individual. Note: This medicine cannot accelerate the Spirit Energy conversion of the body; it is solely for restoring consumed Spirit Energy."
"The Spirit Energy Research Institute, built with the full might of the nation, is indeed extraordinary. Before I went to Ukraine, I merely added some of my thoughts on cultivation levels to the introduction of Spirit Stones and named the special energy 'Spirit Energy.' Now, barely a month later, they've come up with a complete set of cultivation tiers like something out of a fantasy novel, and even named it 'Qi Recovery Pill'..."
He then searched the Institute's internal database for the characters "Spirit Animation Stage" and obtained the following results.
"Spirit Animation Stage: The first stage of the cultivation system, divided into ten layers, each corresponding to 10%, 20%... up to 100% Spirit Energy conversion of the body."
"However, there is currently no instrument capable of precisely measuring the degree of Spirit Energy conversion. Generally, the completion of Spirit Energy conversion in the first Spirit Hub and the emergence of the first ability are considered the markers for entering the Spirit Animation Stage, while the emergence of a second ability marks the third layer of the Spirit Animation Stage. Further descriptions are pending."
"Note: We thank Mr. Bai Mo for introducing the concepts of Spirit Energy conversion and Spirit Hubs to the research team, allowing this system to begin its establishment."
Upon seeing the note, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but was once again astonished by the Institute's efficiency.
"I wonder what its ingredients are?"
His curiosity piqued, Bai Mo attempted to view the manufacturing materials and process for the Qi Recovery Pill in the database, but was blocked by an "Insufficient Permissions" message.
"Only directors of various departments are qualified to query these secrets. It seems my researcher level isn't high enough; I'm still too far from the true core. After all, the things I submitted weren't technically complex enough, so I'm practically still a half-unofficial member."
He had more or less figured out why he still had such a high degree of freedom after joining the Institute, even being able to participate in competitions abroad.
In truth, after reviewing the core concept of the Spirit Stone candle and his resume, the Institute's high-level officials still considered Bai Mo merely a lucky young man. They didn't regard him as a genuinely senior researcher, despite his official status within the Institute's staff.
Anyway, there were so many people feeding off the system, and the Spirit Energy Research Institute's annual budget was an astronomical sum. Supporting a couple of insignificant individuals was no big deal. A salary of one to two hundred thousand was a mere drop in the ocean compared to a budget counted in hundreds of billions.
Although he had deduced the reason, he felt no sense of disappointment. For a colossal entity like the Spirit Energy Research Institute to grant him a legitimate opportunity to become one of its members was already quite fortunate.
While Bai Mo was busy researching below, the host on stage continued to introduce the Qi Recovery Pill.
"As it is a newly invented product, current production is quite limited. Therefore, starting from the second round of the elimination tournament, the winning party will receive one Qi Recovery Pill as a reward. You may choose to consume it immediately to restore your internal energy and prepare for the next round, or you may choose to save it for future use."
"This item is the culmination of the wisdom of numerous scientists, and it has undergone extensive verification, guaranteeing it to be non-toxic and effective." The host continued to present it like a salesperson.
"Host, is this available for sale?" someone joked from below.
"It should not be available on the market for now; I am not clear on the specifics." The host replied earnestly.
"Next, I will discuss the arrangements for the competition venues. As the number of participants is quite large, we have temporarily erected a significant number of competition grounds in the suburbs. In a moment, all of you will proceed to your respective locations according to the numbers you've drawn. Shuttle buses are already prepared outside; please board the buses according to your drawn number, and they will transport you to your designated positions."
The host then elaborated on the specific layout of the venues, but Bai Mo was no longer paying attention. He was busy sifting through all the content in the entire Institute's database that he had permission to access.
"Finally, the twenty victorious individuals will challenge our twenty captains in the combat testing room on the top floor of the Dao Academy building. I wish you all success, and remember, know when to stop." After the host finished speaking, everyone promptly logged into their Dao Academy accounts on their phones to check their lottery results, then boarded their respective buses.
Soon, almost everyone in the building had left, leaving only the various captains who had been tricked into coming to watch the show.
"So why did the notice make us come so early..." a young man complained, his face full of impatience.
"Probably... it's so the twenty of us can get to know each other." Another burly man said with a laugh, "I am Liang Gong, captain of the Third Squad. A pleasure to meet you all for the first time."
"Hello, everyone. I am Rong Jingya, deputy captain of the Second Squad," a woman in purple clothes introduced herself.
"Hello everyone, I am Yun Jie, deputy captain of the Fourth Squad."
Bai Mo, who was still seated not far away, continuing to use his computer, also shifted his attention to the person introducing himself when he heard the name Yun Jie. This was because Bai Xiao Sheng had just been talking about this very person, and Bai Mo was a little curious if he truly had a pair of phoenix eyes as Bai Xiao Sheng described.
"Although Bai Xiao Sheng is like a storyteller, he pays close attention to crucial details. This Yun Jie really does have a pair of phoenix eyes. It's just that 'eight feet tall' was a bit of an exaggeration; he's only the height of a normal person."
Seeing the group seated here, Bai Mo knew that the people competing outside would likely be fighting for nothing.
All six ability users he had observed who possessed Life Fields were here. Even the most rudimentary Life Field, besides offering incredibly valuable defensive power, could also elevate one's control over their own body to a new level.
Ability users were almost universally characterized by high offense and low defense. A slight increase in defense significantly boosted combat power.
In a fight, unless their abilities were absolutely countered, those relying on merely their initially enhanced bodies would face a near-total rout.
"As for the remaining people, their degree of Spirit Energy conversion is leagues ahead of the others. Unless there's someone among them who can fight above their tier as easily as eating and drinking, there's basically no suspense."