Chapter 129: Qian Renxue's Self-Doubt: Is It Worth It?
Hearing Lin Mo's words, the corners of Qian Renxue's mouth visibly twitched.
If she were not currently showing her true face as Qian Renxue, she truly would have wanted to grab this little fellow by the collar, bring up his appearance back in Heaven Dou City, and confront him properly.
Aside from the fact that his cultivation had reached a Bottleneck and he urgently needed a spirit ring, everything else was complete nonsense.
Mo Ling? An eighteen-year-old loose cultivator?
If she had not seen Lin Mo with her own eyes half a year ago and grasped some of his background, she might really have been fooled by his shy appearance today.
Qian Renxue felt somewhat speechless. She sized up Lin Mo's still-childish face, unsure whether to be angry or amused.
Lin Mo seemed to notice the strange look flashing in Qian Renxue's golden eyes. He pretended to look down at himself shyly and smiled awkwardly.
"My family was poor when I was young, and I didn't get enough nutrition, so my development was a bit slow. That's why I look younger than my actual age," he explained naturally, without the slightest hint of guilt.
Qian Renxue forcefully controlled her expression, preventing herself from laughing, and did not expose Lin Mo's fragile lie.
Looking at Lin Mo's face, which still carried a trace of childishness, a wave of helplessness rose in her heart.
When this little fellow lied, he truly did not even blink.
However, when her gaze swept over the majestic Dragon Beast beneath Lin Mo and that pitch-black ten-thousand-year spirit ring, ripples still stirred in her heart.
Rank 50, Quasi Spirit King. Lin Mo had not lied about that.
However, the gap between a twelve-year-old Spirit King and an eighteen-year-old Spirit King was worlds apart.
The former was enough to shake the entire Spirit Master world and attract the frantic pursuit of countless factions. The latter, while still outstanding, seemed far less shocking by comparison.
Qian Renxue sighed inwardly.
She was nearly ten years older than Lin Mo, already in her early twenties, and her cultivation had only just broken through to the Rank 60 Bottleneck.
With her top-tier talent of Innate Rank 20 spirit power, she was undoubtedly a leader among her peers.
But compared to Lin Mo, that pride suddenly seemed to pale.
He had only started with Innate Rank 6 spirit power, yet at twelve years old, he had already reached a height that many Spirit Masters could never touch in their entire lives.
Qian Renxue suddenly felt a little dazed.
A rare trace of self-doubt quietly crossed her heart.
She could not help but wonder whether the choices she had made over the past few years had truly been correct.
She had paid a tremendous price to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, replace Xue Qinghe, and play another person's role day and night, all just to wait for Emperor Xue Ye's death so she could successfully take over the Heaven Dou Empire.
Was doing this truly worth it?
With her talent, if she had not been delayed by this long-term infiltration mission, would she not have already reached the threshold of Spirit Saint by now?
Was this infiltration mission truly worth spending more than a decade on, especially the most important years of her life, all to play the role of someone else?
The price she had paid was immense. Not only had her cultivation been delayed, even showing her true face like today had become a luxury.
Was it worth it?
Qian Renxue could not help but ask herself this question again and again.
"Miss?"
Lin Mo's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Qian Renxue raised her eyes and met Lin Mo's gaze.
"I have already told you everything you wanted to know," Lin Mo said. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave. I still need to find a suitable Spirit Beast to break through my Bottleneck."
Qian Renxue returned to her senses. She did not answer immediately. Instead, she asked, "Do you know what kind of Spirit Beast is hidden beneath this lava lake? Do you know its exact age?"
"I'm not sure," Lin Mo shook his head and answered truthfully. "The reason I came here is simply because my Spirit sensed a Spirit Beast in this place whose attributes are extremely compatible with mine."
"That is why I rashly came here. If I have caused any disturbance, please forgive me, Miss."
Qian Renxue shook her head. "You dared to barge in here alone without knowing anything?"
She looked at Lin Mo. "You haven't even obtained your fifth spirit ring yet. You are only at the Quasi Spirit King level. How is such a reckless action any different from seeking death?"
Hearing this, Lin Mo's gaze swept over Qian Renxue and finally landed on the five spirit rings slowly rotating at her feet.
He did not speak, but the meaning in his eyes could not have been clearer.
You, a Quasi Spirit Emperor, are not that much higher in cultivation than me. If you can come, why can't I?
Of course, Lin Mo only thought this in his heart and did not say it out loud.
Qian Renxue naturally understood the meaning in Lin Mo's gaze.
But she could not tell Lin Mo that Snake Lance Douluo, a Titled Douluo, was secretly protecting her. In the end, she only shook her head and said in a flat tone, "I have my own means of dealing with it."
Hearing this, Lin Mo did not argue.
"If I really can't beat it, I'll just run. I can't say much else, but I do have some confidence in my ability to escape."
Having said this, he looked at Qian Renxue again.
"Miss, I have told you everything you wanted to know. Now, may I leave? The matter of finding a Spirit Beast cannot be delayed."
To Lin Mo's surprise, the originally serious aura around Qian Renxue suddenly softened, and a gentle smile appeared on her beautiful face.
"Meeting is fate," Qian Renxue said, her voice clear and melodious. "Since the attributes of the Spirit Beast beneath this lava seem so compatible with your Spirit, I will let you have it today."
"I appreciate your kindness, Miss," Lin Mo replied cautiously. "But since you found this Spirit Beast first, how could I..."
"There is no need to decline," Qian Renxue interrupted him. "The sixth spirit ring I need leans more toward holiness and light. It does not perfectly match the Spirit Beast here. Letting you have this Spirit Beast is no pity."
This decision was not made on a whim.
As early as half a year ago, when she had first seen Lin Mo's profile at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and personally made contact with him under the identity of Xue Qinghe, the seed of recruitment had already been planted in Qian Renxue's heart.
And today, after meeting him again deep within the Star Dou Great Forest and witnessing his shocking cultivation as a twelve-year-old Spirit King, that seed instantly broke through the soil and grew into a towering tree.
Half a year ago, she had thought Lin Mo was gifted and would definitely have the potential to become a Titled Douluo in the future.
But now, her evaluation of Lin Mo had risen infinitely.
If this child did not die young, he would definitely become a Peak Douluo in the future, someone at the level of Qianjun, Jiangmo, or even Golden Crocodile of the Spirit Hall Consecration Hall.
It was not even impossible for him to go further.
If she could successfully recruit him under her command, it would not only add a future pillar to Spirit Hall, but also lay an important foundation for her to take charge of Spirit Hall in the future.
Giving up one Spirit Beast in exchange for a favor from a future super powerhouse, as well as an opportunity to build a relationship with him.
In Qian Renxue's view, this deal was simply too worthwhile.
Hearing this, Lin Mo pondered for a moment.
Since Qian Renxue had already said this much, if he continued to decline, it would seem hypocritical and might even arouse suspicion.
Moreover, although Qian Renxue did not say it explicitly, he could roughly guess what she was thinking.
Most likely, it was still the same old routine of trying to recruit him to her side.
Furthermore, Spirit Beasts suitable for Charizard were difficult to find. If he could obtain one here, it would save him a great deal of time.
Thinking of this, Lin Mo no longer hesitated. He immediately nodded.
"Since that is the case, I will respectfully accept."
.....
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