Faced with Ning Fengzhi's probing, Lin Nuo's thoughts raced, but outwardly, he immediately composed himself without revealing the slightest flaw.
A perfectly timed look of complex emotions—self-abasement mixed with longing—appeared on his face as he slowly replied,
"Uncle Ning, logically speaking, Spirit Hall brought me out of a remote little place like Nuoding City. Joining Spirit Hall Advanced Academy truly would have been the best path for me."
"But I'm only an orphan who grew up on a hundred-family meal, with no background whatsoever.
Even if I went to a place like Spirit City, where geniuses gathered, what could I use to compete with the descendants of bishops and elders for resources?"
Lin Nuo gave a self-mocking smile and turned his gaze toward Xue Qinghe beside him.
"But His Highness the Crown Prince is different.
Your Highness does not disdain my lowly origins. Not only do you treat talented people with humility, you are also willing to spend a fortune to pave the way for me.
How could I possibly refuse such recognition and kindness?"
Lin Nuo's words were brimming with emotion, perfectly embodying the practical attitude of a lowly commoner who had never seen the world and was "afraid of being poor." Logically, they were utterly flawless.
After hearing his declaration, the gentle smile on Ning Fengzhi's face did not diminish in the slightest, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Secretly, however, he calmly sent a voice transmission to Chen Xin.
Uncle Sword, what do you think?
*Fengzhi, the boy's reaction does not seem false. It makes sense for a commoner from the bottom to covet immediate benefits.
But this matter is important. We must have our people thoroughly investigate Nuoding City and Spirit City before reaching a conclusion.*
Ning Fengzhi deeply agreed.
So long as the subsequent intelligence confirmed that Lin Nuo's background was clean, then forget allocating him some resources—even marrying Ning Rongrong to him and firmly tying this unparalleled genius to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's chariot would be a deal with guaranteed profits.
"To claw your way up from the bottom to where you are now through your own efforts, Lin Nuo, you truly deserve the title of genius."
Ning Fengzhi nodded approvingly, finally revealing his true aim.
"However, Uncle Ning is quite curious. Soul Masters have always followed strict iron rules regarding the age of Soul Rings they absorb.
Could you clear up my doubts? How exactly did your second Soul Ring successfully surpass the age limit?"
The fox's tail had finally been exposed.
He wanted to freeload the secret technique for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's rank?
Lin Nuo sneered inwardly.
Way of Seeking Death warning!
"Uncle Ning, you misunderstand. What secret technique could there be?"
Lin Nuo put on a perfectly matter-of-fact expression.
"Different Martial Souls naturally alter the body to different degrees.
For example, the physical gap between support-system Soul Masters and battle Soul Masters with top-tier beast Martial Souls is as vast as heaven and earth. Naturally, the age limits they can withstand differ as well."
"Before coming to Heaven Dou City, Bishop Salas of Spirit Hall personally tested my physical strength and confirmed that I could endure the impact of a Millennium Soul Ring. Only then did he dare let me absorb it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xin, who had remained silent all along, suddenly made his move.
A large hand landed on Lin Nuo's shoulder without warning. A sharp, tyrannical surge of Soul Power instantly entered his body and began probing him without restraint.
The humiliation of being forcibly searched by someone in a higher position made Lin Nuo's eyes turn slightly cold, but he suppressed his instinctive resistance and allowed the other party to do as he pleased.
At this moment, the only thing Lin Nuo felt fortunate about was that
he had not directly absorbed the Blue Silver Emperor's hundred-thousand-year right leg bone back then.
Otherwise, what followed would not have been so easy to resolve...
Of course, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin understood that beast Martial Souls possessed formidable physiques.
But being strong enough to absorb a Millennium Soul Ring as one's second ring went beyond all common sense.
They immediately suspected that Lin Nuo might be hiding an extremely high-quality Spirit Bone within his body, one that had greatly enhanced his physical constitution.
However, Chen Xin's Soul Power traveled through Lin Nuo's extraordinary meridians and eight channels. Aside from sensing that violent spider Soul Power, he detected no fluctuations from any Spirit Bone.
Chen Xin withdrew his hand and gave Ning Fengzhi an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Noticing the gesture, Ning Fengzhi understood that he likely would not be able to squeeze any useful information out of Lin Nuo today.
He could not help feeling disappointed.
However, as someone skilled at maintaining appearances, Ning Fengzhi continued his performance.
He rose to his feet naturally, his smile still as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Little friend Lin Nuo, if you ever grow tired of academy life, you may come visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Qinghe at any time.
Uncle Ning looks forward to our next meeting."
With that, Ning Fengzhi nodded to Xue Qinghe, then turned and left the private room with Chen Xin.
Only after the door had fully closed did Qian Renxue's taut nerves finally relax.
Chen Xin's rash move just now had practically been stomping all over her forbidden ground.
Even taking a step back, if Lin Nuo truly possessed a secret technique for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's rank, it would still be an absolute secret belonging to Spirit Hall.
No matter what, it was not something the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had any right to seize by force!
And what had Chen Xin's action just now meant?
Did he suspect that her "younger brother" possessed an exceptional Spirit Bone?
If that were confirmed, would they not murder him and seize his treasure?
This time, Ning Fengzhi had truly crossed the line.
"Brother Lin Nuo, keep this token safe."
Xue Qinghe removed a golden token symbolizing the Crown Prince's status from his waist and stuffed it into Lin Nuo's hand without allowing him to refuse. Her tone carried unmistakable recruitment and reassurance.
"If you encounter any trouble in Heaven Dou City in the future, simply bring it directly to the Eastern Palace and seek me out.
If there are any cultivation resources you fancy that require spending, simply charge them to the Eastern Palace as well."
"Ultimately, you were wronged by what happened today."
Naturally, Lin Nuo had no reason to refuse.
He casually tucked the golden token into his clothes and replied with an unchanged expression,
"Your Highness, you overstate it. What happened today cannot really be considered a grievance."
Lin Nuo was telling the truth. Given the current situation, he had practically won everything. No matter how one calculated it, he had not lost out.
But when those words reached Qian Renxue's ears, their meaning changed completely.
Looking at this extraordinarily gifted "younger brother" before her, who had suffered the lofty probing search of one of the Upper Three Sects,
yet still had to put on such a cautious, submissive posture, Qian Renxue felt an inexplicable Evil Fire surge through her chest, nearly burning through her reason.
What the hell had that damned woman been doing?!
It was one thing for her to have ignored Qian Renxue since childhood and heartlessly thrown her into the Heaven Dou Empire to carry out an undercover mission.
But now, she was treating the younger son she had given birth to with the same irresponsible, hands-off attitude!
He clearly possessed such heaven-defying talent, yet she had not even arranged a protector to guard him in secret.
She had forced an eight- or nine-year-old child to endure being pushed around outside, bowing his head and swallowing his anger!
She was utterly unworthy of being a mother!
"Ah, Brother Lin Nuo, what happened today was also my fault as your elder brother. I did not consider things carefully enough beforehand. If there is anything you want, simply tell me."
"There is nothing I will not grant."
Before you continue