Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Education Committee.
The three education committee members, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin, sat behind a long table, listening to Qin Ming, who was standing below, report on the trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.
However, when they learned from Qin Ming that Lin Mo had already reached the Soul King level, the expressions of Meng Shenji and the other two froze simultaneously.
"What did you say?" Meng Shenji suddenly stood up from his seat. " Lin Mo —has broken through to level 50?"
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin also looked up at the same time, their three pairs of eyes fixed on Qin Ming.
Qin Ming took a deep breath and nodded solemnly, "That's right."
A deathly silence fell over the Education Committee.
The twelve-year-old Soul King.
These words kept echoing in their minds, but they could never quite match the image of the boy in their memories.
Six months ago, when Lin Mo broke through to level 40 and became Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, they were already astonished.
Soul Ancestor at the age of twelve is an extremely rare occurrence in the entire history of the continent.
But now— the Soul King?
Meng Shenji even began to doubt whether there was something wrong with his ears.
"Are you sure?" Bai Baoshan's voice became hoarse. " Teacher Qin, this is not something to joke about."
Qin Ming smiled wryly, "Three members of the Education Committee, how dare I speak so presumptuously about such a thing? All members of the Imperial Fighting Team witnessed it with their own eyes."
Beneath Lin Mo's Charizard's feet were indeed five Soul Ring —two yellow, one purple, and two black.
"Two Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring— " Zhi Lin murmured.
Meng Shenji rubbed his temples hard, trying to calm himself down. He looked at Qin Ming and asked, "Where is Lin Mo now?"
"After returning to Heaven Dou City, he went to the Ye Family Medical Hall with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling," Qin Ming answered truthfully. "Afterwards, it seems that Senior Poison Douluo took the three of them to the Dugu Manor together."
It seems they intend for Lin Mo to lay low in the manor for the time being.
Meng Shenji nodded; this was a wise choice.
"Alright, you can go now." Meng Shenji waved his hand. "You've worked hard leading the team this time, go back and get some rest."
Qin Ming bowed and then turned to leave the Education Committee.
The moment the door closed, the atmosphere inside the Education Committee became heavy again.
Bai Baoshan spoke first, "What was Lin Mo's cultivation level when he last met His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Could it be that he had already broken through to level 40, but was just stuck without acquiring Soul Ring, so in other people's perception, he was only at the Quasi-Soul Ancestor Master level?
Meng Shenji pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "That's most likely the case."
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers continuing to tap on the table, "Although we knew Lin Mo's cultivation speed was fast, we didn't expect it to be this fast."
To level up from level 30 to level 50 in just over two years—that's absolutely outrageous.
For the three of them, they were more inclined to believe that Lin Mo had broken through from level 40 to level 50 in just six months.
"A twelve-year-old Soul King? I've never even heard of one before, let alone seen one. Even within the records of the Spirit Hall, this is probably the first time in history."
Meng Shenji took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "This matter must be kept strictly confidential. At least until Lin Mo has grown up, we cannot let him attract too much attention."
"It's probably too late," Zhi Lin said with a wry smile. "Which of the kids in Qin Ming's class doesn't come from aristocratic families? The news has probably already spread."
The three exchanged a glance, and each saw helplessness in the other's eyes.
The vast majority of members of the Imperial Fighting Team come from imperial noble families or Soul Master families.
Yu Tianheng comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Dugu Yan is the granddaughter of Poison Douluo, Ye Lingling comes from the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Clan, and Yu Feng and others also have their own backgrounds.
After resting briefly at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they mostly returned to their respective families.
When reuniting with family, he naturally shared his experiences from the Star Dou Great Forest trip, especially the news of Lin Mo breaking through to Soul King, with his loved ones.
First, it was the high-ranking members within the family, then other families with which they had good relations, and then various forces that learned of the news through different channels.
In just two days, a new wave of public opinion has swept through Heaven Dou City.
At the center of the vortex was Lin Mo, a boy who was only twelve years old but had already stepped into the Soul King realm.
Restaurants, teahouses, various Soul Master associations—almost everyone is talking about this name.
"Have you heard? The Heaven Dou Royal Academy has produced a twelve-year-old Soul King!"
"Are you kidding me? Twelve years old? My son's Soul Power was only level seventeen when he was twelve!"
"Absolutely true! My nephew is in the Imperial Fighting Team, he saw it with his own eyes!"
"Two Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring — the Fourth Soul Ring is ten thousand years old? How is that possible?"
"He has a very close relationship with Poison Douluo's granddaughter, and it's said that Poison Douluo himself values him highly."
"Such a genius is destined to become Titled Douluo!"
Amidst the discussions, there were exclamations of amazement, envy, and jealousy, and of course, scheming hidden in the shadows.
However, at this moment, Lin Mo, along with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, were all taken back to the Dugu Manor by Dugu Bo.
High walls and deep courtyards, shaded by green trees, are rarely visited by people on weekdays. It's not that the environment is bad, but rather that Dugu Bo's reputation as the " Poison Douluo " is too frightening.
Dugu Bo did this naturally for the safety of the three children.
Lin Mo did not object to Dugu Bo's arrangement; he was well aware of Dugu Bo's concerns.
In this era, the attitudes of top-tier powers towards geniuses who don't belong to their ranks are essentially one of two:
First, try to win them over; if that fails, then take action to eliminate them!
This is the most blatant law of the jungle: the strong prey on the weak, and there's absolutely no logic to it.
Three days later.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Prince Xue Xing's office.
Prince Xue Xing sat behind his large desk, sizing up his nephew, the fourth prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng, who was standing in front of him.
Xue Beng was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist, and playing with a gold-inlaid folding fan in his hand.
He had a handsome face, but his eyes and brows revealed the frivolous air typical of a spoiled young master.
At that moment, he was looking at his uncle with a grin, completely unserious.
Prince Xue Xing sighed inwardly.
He knew better than anyone the situation of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family over the years.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is exceptionally capable and enjoys the deep trust of Emperor Xue Ye. Any other princes or princesses who could pose even the slightest threat to Xue Qinghe's position would subsequently die suddenly due to various "accidents".
Of the princes still alive today, besides Xue Qinghe, only the fourth prince, Xue Beng, remains.
To protect Xue Beng and to reduce the threat he posed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, Xue Beng accepted Prince Xue Xing's suggestion to disguise himself as a playboy.
This disguise lasted for many years.
But now it seems—a hint of worry flashed in Prince Xue Xing's eyes.
It seems my nephew has been playing the role of a pig for so long that I'm almost turning into a real pig myself.
"Uncle, what brings you here?" Xue Beng opened his folding fan, his tone casual. "I have an appointment with someone to watch a match at the Great Soul Arena."
Prince Xue Xing composed himself, his expression turning serious. "I've summoned you here today for important business."
Seeing this, Xue Beng toned down some of his nonchalant attitude, but his demeanor remained relaxed. "You may say so."
"You've heard about Lin Mo's matter, haven't you?" Prince Xue Xing said in a deep voice.
Xue Beng paused in his folding fan, then nodded. "I've heard about it. The twelve-year-old Soul King is all over Heaven Dou City now."
"What, does the Imperial Uncle also want to win him over?"
Prince Xue Xing did not answer directly, but said, "You should know Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, right?"
"Of course I know," Xue Beng said. "Our Heaven Dou Empire's only publicly known Titled Douluo, though eccentric in personality, his strength is beyond doubt."
"I once saved his life by chance in my younger days," Prince Xue Xing said slowly, "So over the years, he has given me some face."
Xue Beng's eyes lit up: "You mean—"
" Lin Mo is currently in the Dugu Manor. Poison Douluo values him highly and personally protects him. It's incredibly difficult for outsiders to see him, but I can take you there."
Xue Beng's expression Xue Beng serious. He closed his folding fan and held it in his hand. "What do you need me to do?"
Prince Xue Xing looked at him and said, word by word, "You don't need to do anything. You just need to act as usual."
The Xue Beng was stunned.
"Just like a typical spoiled brat, after learning about Lin Mo's talent, he just goes to him to make himself known."
Prince Xue Xing said sternly, "Remember, never show any intention of trying to win him over, and even more so, never have any thought of competing with your elder brother."
After a moment of silence, Xue Beng asked, "What about Big Brother—"
"Your eldest brother returned a couple of days ago," Prince Xue Xing said. "After learning that Lin Mo had broken through to the Soul King, he showed great interest, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will soon make a move."
He stared into Xue Beng's eyes. "What you need to do now is not to fight with your older brother. What you need to do now is to survive. Understand?"
Xue Beng took a deep breath and nodded emphatically. "I understand."
He didn't want to die.
Prince Xue Xing felt a little relieved when he saw the fleeting clarity in his nephew's eyes. This child hadn't been completely ruined after all.
Prince Xue Xing's feelings were extremely complicated. Titled Douluo- level combat power has always been the biggest disadvantage of their Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Family.
Although the Star Luo Empire, like them, does not have Titled Douluo, the Star Luo Empire has its own strengths.
The Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family have had the Hell White Tiger that can be stably passed down in almost every generation. When the two of them join forces, they can unleash combat power at the level of Titled Douluo.
However, the only Titled Douluo that the Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Family could openly connect with Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo only maintained some semblance of contact with the Heaven Dou Empire out of respect for him.
Thinking of this, Prince Xue Xing's face darkened.
They desperately need to cultivate a Titled Douluo who is loyal to the royal family, a Titled Douluo who truly belongs to their Heaven Dou Imperial Family!
Prince Xue Xing walked back to his desk and patted Xue Beng on the shoulder. "This time when you go to the Dugu Manor, all you need to do is make yourself known, let Lin Mo know that you exist, and that's it! Don't do anything else!"
Xue Beng bowed solemnly. "Nephew understands."
Prince Xue Xing nodded, but a complex emotion flashed across his eyes.
Hopefully, nothing goes wrong this time.