Chapter 102: 'Xue Qinghe' and the Banquet Invitation
The group entered the spacious living room of the Dugu Residence and took their seats.
Lin Mo did not waste time on small talk. He looked directly at Dugu Bo, who was seated in the main seat, and asked straightforwardly, "Senior, are you free recently? I'd like to trouble you to take me to the Soul Hunting Forest."
There was a faint trace of urgency in his voice.
Lin Mo had started preparing for his fourth spirit ring long ago. Whether it was the Whale Glue that improved physical fitness or the gaze through autumn water dew that enhanced mental force, all of it had been preparation for this very moment.
Unlike others, Lin Mo had long planned to absorb his first ten thousand year spirit ring in his fourth spirit ring position.
Compared with hundred year and thousand year spirit rings, a ten thousand year spirit ring was a true qualitative change.
Not only did it provide a far greater amount of spirit power, but the power of the attached Spirit Ability would also undergo a leap in strength.
At the same time, a ten thousand year spirit ring would hammer a Spirit Master's foundation even more firmly, allowing their future path to become much smoother.
Just thinking of this made Lin Mo's heartbeat quicken slightly.
However, upon hearing his request, Dugu Bo slowly shook his head. He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip before looking at Lin Mo, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness.
"There's no problem taking you to hunt spirit rings, but I'm afraid it will have to wait a few days. The matter of obtaining your fourth spirit ring will likely need to be postponed."
Lin Mo froze for a moment. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked in confusion, "Wait a few days? Is there something keeping you busy lately, Senior?"
"It's not my business." Dugu Bo put down the teacup and lightly tapped the table with his fingers. "Xue Xing just sent word. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is hosting a banquet and specifically named you as someone he wants to meet. The time is set for tomorrow evening."
"Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?"
Lin Mo's heart sank abruptly.
The thing he had been worried about had finally appeared.
Almost subconsciously, he made one last attempt, his voice carrying a trace of hope. "Senior, this banquet... can I not go?"
Seeing Lin Mo's obvious resistance, Dugu Bo could not help chuckling before shaking his head again.
"Not this time."
Dugu Bo's tone was firm, leaving Lin Mo no room to maneuver.
"Regarding Prince Xue Xing's previous invitations, I saw that you were truly unwilling and pushed them off for you. I only made you attend the very first one. But this time is different. This is a verbal summons from Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and it represents the will of the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family."
He paused, looked at Lin Mo, and advised him earnestly, "Xue Qinghe is, after all, the future Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire. No matter what, you must give him this respect."
Dugu Bo had some understanding of why Lin Mo wanted to refuse.
He knew Lin Mo was indeed afraid of trouble by nature, especially unwilling to waste too much time on social dealings and the twists and turns between those in power.
In Dugu Bo's eyes, Lin Mo seemed more willing to spend every moment cultivating and improving his strength.
That was why, for the previous invitations from Prince Xue Xing, Dugu Bo had seen through Lin Mo's thoughts and helped block them, only letting him show his face once at the very beginning.
But this time, the other party was the Crown Prince. His status was completely different. If Lin Mo continued avoiding him, it would truly be inappropriate.
Hearing Dugu Bo's definite answer, Lin Mo fell silent for a moment. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and nod.
"I understand." His voice clearly carried a trace of gloom. "Then... I'll go."
Although he said that, his heart was filled with annoyance.
If he really could not refuse, then he truly did not want to go!
Compared with the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Family, where the inheritance system was simple, brutal, and almost like raising Gu, practically Xuanwu Gate style, the situation on the Heaven Dou Empire's side seemed even more complex and dangerous to him.
There was the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, who appeared to be a playboy but was actually pretending to be foolish in order to survive. There was also the seemingly gentle and elegant Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had in fact already been replaced in secret by Spirit Hall's Young Lord, Qian Renxue.
And then there were the other princes who had unfortunately died due to various "accidents."
It could be said that the predicaments faced by the imperial heirs of these two great empires were both quite troublesome.
The only difference was that the Star Luo side leaned toward open martial struggle, while the Heaven Dou side focused more on hidden political undercurrents.
But the cruel common point was the same. The winner took all, while the losers could not even keep their lives.
The twists and turns within were too complicated. The waters were far too muddy and deep.
Lin Mo knew very well what Qian Renxue, who was wearing the skin of "Xue Qinghe," was planning.
Her ambition was enormous. She wanted to deceive everyone and seize the Heaven Dou Empire's territory directly from its very foundation.
It was precisely because of this that Lin Mo did not want to get too deeply involved with them.
He only wanted to cultivate properly, continuously improve his strength, and seek that faint possibility of longevity. He did not want to be swept into a political vortex that could crush him in his current state.
With past lessons in mind, he had always kept this kind of "excitement" at a distance, avoiding it whenever he could.
Unfortunately, right now, he could hardly find a reasonable excuse to refuse.
After all, he was a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Heaven Dou Royal Spirit Master Academy was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family. The academy's dean was even the current Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Now, the successor appointed by Emperor Xue Ye, the future Emperor of the Empire, had specifically named a mere student like him to meet. What reason or confidence did he have to refuse?
Furthermore, the one issuing the invitation this time was Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe," not Prince Xue Xing, whom he could still block through his relationship with Dugu Bo.
Against this heir apparent, the shield known as Dugu Bo was clearly no longer effective.
Looking at it now, he had no choice but to go.
Lin Mo raised his hand and rubbed his brow, trying to suppress the lingering helplessness and vigilance in his heart.
He looked at Dugu Bo and tried to make his tone sound calmer. "Senior, regarding the banquet, I'll have to trouble you. Do I need to prepare anything on my end?"
"It's good that you can understand." Seeing Lin Mo agree, Dugu Bo's expression immediately softened considerably.
Naturally, it was best that Lin Mo was willing to go.
He waved his hand and said, "There's no need to prepare anything special. Just arrive on time. Be a little mindful of your words and actions."
"His Highness the Crown Prince likely only wants to meet the student known as the most outstanding talent since the academy's founding."
"As soon as the banquet is over, I will immediately take you to the Star Dou Great Forest and help you find the most suitable ten thousand year spirit ring."
Lin Mo nodded and said nothing more.
It was just that the anticipation he had felt toward soon obtaining a ten thousand year spirit ring had been diluted quite a bit by tomorrow night's banquet.
He only hoped that this banquet would truly be as Dugu Bo said.
If it was just a simple meal and a matter of going through the motions, that would naturally be for the best.
.....
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