Chapter 97: Background Investigation and Prince Xue Xing's Frustration
While Lin Mo and his two companions were working together on a Spirit Hunt in the Sunset Forest, an uninvited guest arrived at the Teaching Committee of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Prince Xue Xing.
As the royal family member responsible for handling the affairs of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Prince Xue Xing's relationship with the three Committee Members was not especially close. However, both sides had always maintained a surface harmony, each keeping to their own sphere.
Today, however, Prince Xue Xing's face clearly showed a trace of displeasure.
He held the hot tea served by an attendant, blew on it lightly, but did not rush to drink. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Esteemed Committee Members, I have come this time, once again, because of that child named Lin Mo."
He set the teacup down, his tone somewhat frustrated.
"A few days ago, that boy Xue Sheng kept pestering me, saying his Heaven Dou Intermediate Academy had produced an extraordinary genius and insisting that I come see him for myself."
"At the time, I was extremely busy with official affairs and could not get away. Finally, when I found some free time and came 2 or 3 times in a row, I did not even get to see the child's face!"
"What? Am I not worthy of meeting our academy's future pillar?"
Hearing this, Chief Meng Shenji immediately put on a warm smile and hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, you speak too seriously. Your concern for the academy's students is an honor for the academy."
"It is only unfortunate that Lin Mo does indeed have some special circumstances."
He paused, observing Prince Xue Xing's expression before continuing, "Your Highness must have heard that Poison Douluo holds Lin Mo in extremely high regard, even going so far as to address him as a sworn brother."
"Currently, Lin Mo is cultivating under Poison Douluo's guidance. In the short term, I'm afraid he will not be living at the academy regularly."
Hearing the words "Poison Douluo," Prince Xue Xing's displeasure instantly faded by quite a bit, and a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.
He knew the temperament of that old freak, Dugu Bo, very well. He was arrogant, eccentric, and aloof. How could such a person possibly treat a child under 10 as a sworn brother?
Seeing this, Meng Shenji struck while the iron was hot. "Moreover, just the day before yesterday, Lin Mo briefly returned to the academy to report in. We took the opportunity to test his spirit power. Your Highness, guess what?"
Without waiting for Prince Xue Xing to answer, he continued, his astonishment barely concealed, "His spirit power has already broken through to Rank 32! He has become a Spirit Elder!"
"Rank 32?!"
Prince Xue Xing's hand, which had just picked up the teacup again, trembled slightly, nearly spilling the tea.
"He... he is not even 10 yet, is he?"
"To be precise, nine and a half years old," Second Seat Bai Baoshan added from the side, his tone equally filled with emotion. "At such a young age, with such cultivation... I dare not say there will never be another like him, but within the records of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy, this is absolutely unprecedented."
"Even Spirit Hall might not have a record of someone advancing faster than Lin Mo."
Prince Xue Xing immediately fell silent.
The slight frustration in his heart had long since been swept away by this shocking news, replaced by an indescribable excitement.
Their Heaven Dou Empire had actually produced such a monster?
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart, and asked another crucial question.
"His background... has it been thoroughly investigated? Is he truly unrelated to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
This question had, in fact, also been lingering in the minds of the three Committee Members.
Although Lin Mo had given an explanation back then, it had not truly put them completely at ease.
A dragon type Spirit, and a rare External Beast Martial Soul at that. With these two traits combined, it was all too easy to associate him with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects famous for its dragon Spirits, as well as that clan's Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.
Furthermore, according to the records in Lin Mo's Spirit Master handbook, he came from a small village near Nuoding City.
After conducting a little investigation, they also discovered that Yu Xiaogang was currently living long term in Nuoding City.
Judging by the timing and location, it was not impossible for Lin Mo to be Yu Xiaogang's illegitimate descendant.
Precisely because of this doubt, out of "concern" for Lin Mo, and more importantly, out of responsibility for the academy's future, the three Committee Members had used some connections to conduct a rather meticulous investigation into Lin Mo's origins.
The investigation results came out quickly, but they were vastly different from their initial speculation.
They even uncovered the fact that Lin Mo was originally an orphan found by the village elder, Old Man Lin, by the roadside in Emperor Village.
At Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy, they also obtained confirmation from Principal Wang Zongchang and several teachers that Lin Mo had indeed interacted with Yu Xiaogang during his time at the academy.
However, their relationship was far from close. One could even say it was somewhat distant.
According to Wang Zongchang, Yu Xiaogang had once intended to take Lin Mo as his disciple, but Lin Mo had politely refused.
After that, the two had no further interaction.
It was this detailed investigation, one that had nearly dug through Lin Mo's entire past, that truly convinced the three Committee Members that Lin Mo had absolutely no connection to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
He was simply a wild genius, one whose luck was heaven defying and whose talent was equally heaven defying.
Collecting his thoughts, Meng Shenji looked at Prince Xue Xing, who was waiting for an answer, and replied with certainty, "Your Highness, rest assured. We have investigated in detail. Lin Mo's background is clean, and he is absolutely unrelated to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"His talent is genuine. He is a genius cultivated... no, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he emerged on his own within our Heaven Dou Empire."
At this point, Meng Shenji could not help but exchange a glance with Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin beside him. All three saw a trace of helplessness and regret in one another's eyes.
"It's just..." Meng Shenji sighed softly. "Those two old fellows, Ye Linyuan and Dugu Bo, acted far too quickly."
"One took Lin Mo as his disciple early on, tying him to the Ye Family Medical Hall. The other even treats him as an equal and personally took him under his wing for guidance. Our academy was one step too slow."
After listening, Prince Xue Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"Ye Linyuan has an excellent reputation in Heaven Dou City. Him taking a disciple is a good thing. As for Dugu Bo..."
A hint of a smile appeared on his face.
"He has a good personal relationship with me and can be considered a Titled Douluo aligned with our Heaven Dou Empire."
"For Lin Mo to gain his favor is not a bad thing for our Heaven Dou Imperial Family. On the contrary, it may even be a good thing."
He stood up and straightened his robes.
"Since I did not get to see him again today, I shall take my leave for now."
He walked to the door, then stopped and turned back to look at the three Committee Members. His tone was half joking and half serious.
"I hope that the next time I visit, the three of you will let me meet this little freak you hold in such high regard, the one even Dugu Bo treats differently."
"Do not make me come all this way for nothing again!"
With that, Prince Xue Xing strode out of the Teaching Committee.
The three Committee Members watched his departing back and shook their heads with wry smiles.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after 2 days of careful searching in the outskirts of the Sunset Forest, Lin Mo and his companions had also discovered a Spirit Beast perfectly suited for Ye Lingling.
A Tree of Life with a cultivation between 2,400 and 2,700 years!
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]