Chapter 220: What the heck did I just give birth to?

Passing through several imposing inner gates.

Lin Mo and Principal Guhe followed Zhang Qi into an extremely spacious reception hall.

Lin Mo's gaze swept across the surroundings.

The decor here was not the gold-and-jade splendor and luxury of an imperial palace that the outside world might imagine.

Yet everywhere it exuded a grandeur and rustic simplicity, settled by the passage of time.

Heavy rosewood furniture gave off a faint, lingering fragrance.

The potted plants placed in the corners were all rare exotic flowers and herbs unseen in the outside world.

Understated, yet revealing an endless depth of heritage.

"Please, you two, sit anywhere."

Zhang Qi walked to the main seat and gestured toward the guest seats on either side.

Then he looked at Lin Mo and asked with a smile:

"Lin Mo, would you like something to drink? Or perhaps something to eat?"

Lin Mo politely shook his head.

"No need, thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Principal Guhe also waved his hand.

"Secretary-General Zhang is too kind; some plain water will do for us."

Very soon.

A staff member brought in a few cups of hot tea, then withdrew.

Principal Guhe picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

Then he turned his head to look at Lin Mo sitting beside him, a teasing glint flashing in his eyes.

"Lin Mo, in a moment you'll be seeing your father."

"Your father and Elder Nie and the others haven't been within Dragon Nation's borders lately; they've been traveling all over the place."

"His impression of you is probably still stuck on the day you went to Tianbei City."

At this, Principal Guhe couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"When he finds out his precious son is already this strong, his jaw will probably drop to the floor."

Hearing this, Lin Mo also rubbed his nose a little sheepishly.

"Sigh…"

"Principal, you're flattering me to death again."

"How could it be that exaggerated?"

"I'm only a mere Four-System Dharma King; compared to my father's strength, I'm still far behind."

"Pfft—"

Hearing Lin Mo's words.

Zhang Qi, who had just been lifting his teacup to drink, gave a sudden violent jerk of his wrist.

"'Mere'?"

Zhang Qi's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Lin Mo…"

"An eighteen-year-old Dharma King, a Four-System Dharma King."

"Pull either one of those two things out at random, and it's enough to scare a whole bunch of people to death."

Zhang Qi set down his teacup, his tone serious:

"And you are an eighteen-year-old Four-System Dharma King! Don't be so modest."

Hearing Zhang Qi's protest.

Lin Mo let out a hearty laugh.

"Uncle Zhang, you flatter me."

"I'm just afraid that complacency breeds defeat."

"Besides, in front of elders, one ought to keep a bit of a low-profile virtue, no?"

The three exchanged glances, and waves of relaxed laughter erupted in the reception hall.

……

About ten-odd minutes later.

The great doors of the reception hall were pushed open from outside.

Accompanied by a burst of bold, hearty laughter.

Two figures strode in.

Walking in front was Elder Nie, his head full of silver hair.

Though he wore a simple Zhongshan suit, every gesture carried a heavy, commanding presence that awed without anger.

And half a step behind Elder Nie.

Was the burly, fiercely-faced Lin Tianhao.

The moment Lin Tianhao entered, his gaze instantly locked onto Lin Mo in his seat.

He completely ignored Principal Guhe and Zhang Qi beside him, striding with great steps toward Lin Mo.

Seeing this, Lin Mo quickly stood up as well.

Slap!

Lin Tianhao's hands came down heavily on Lin Mo's shoulders.

"Hahaha!"

"Son!!!"

"Missed you so much!"

Having said that,

he gave Lin Mo a rough and enthusiastic hug.

Those solid muscles, that violent strength.

Almost squeezed Lin Mo's bones to breaking.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Lin Mo rolled his eyes back from being squeezed.

"Let... let go!"

"Old man, are you trying to strangle your own son or what!"

Hearing Lin Mo's complaint, Lin Tianhao finally laughed and let go.

He sized up Lin Mo.

"Brat, not bad!"

"Haven't seen you in a few days, but your spirit and energy feel different, much more solid!"

Afterwards, Lin Tianhao raised an eyebrow:

"Speak."

"How many mid-tier skills have you learned these past few days? Let your old man guess, given your talent, one mid-tier skill a day isn't too much to ask, right?"

"Four? Five?"

"All together, there should be seven or eight, right?"

"My son is truly awesome!"

Hearing his father's question,

Lin Mo started counting on his fingers.

"Mid-tier skills, huh..."

"For the Fire element, there are Blazing Fire Pillar, Blazing Wind Wings, Flame Storm, Flame Roar..."

"For the Earth element, there are Quicksand Domain, Earth Tremor · Thousand Rock Spears, Death Thorn Rock Spear, oh right, and also a scattered variant of the Death Thorn Rock Spear..."

"For the Thunder element, there are Lei Lin Descending, Thunder Chain Prison..."

"For the Ice element, there is the Frost Sky Shattered Ice Array..."

While counting, Lin Mo nodded to confirm.

"Hmm, mid-tier skills, all together currently, should be around eleven or twelve."

"..."

The smile on Lin Tianhao's face stiffened slightly.

"Whoa?"

"Awesome!"

"Truly damn awesome!"

"No wonder he's my son! This talent is just like mine!"

Lin Tianhao's mouth stretched almost to the sky.

Just then,

Old Nie standing behind simply couldn't hold back anymore.

He suppressed his laughter, his gaze darting back and forth between Lin Mo and Lin Tianhao.

"Hehehe..."

Old Nie chuckled softly twice.

"Tianhao, as a father, your perspective is still too small."

"Why don't you ask your precious son... how many high-tier skills he knows now?"

"High-tier skills?"

Hearing this, Lin Tianhao first froze for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly.

"Stop joking, Old Nie!"

"I know my son has extraordinary talent, unmatched in the world."

"But he only awakened a few days ago? Old Nie, please don't make fun of us father and son."

Speaking of this,

Lin Tianhao finally realized, grabbed Lin Mo, and pointed at Old Nie.

"Come, son, let me formally introduce you."

"This is one of the Five Elders of the Dragon Nation's Tianshu Prefecture, Nie Zhen Guo, Old Nie."

"Quick, call him Old Nie!"

Lin Mo's expression turned serious, and he nodded slightly.

"Greetings, Old Nie."

"Good, good child."

Nie Zhen Guo nodded with a smile.

Afterwards, he looked at Lin Mo and said gently:

"Lin Mo."

"Come on, satisfy an old man's curiosity—tell me yourself, how many high-level skills have you mastered now?"

Hearing Nie Lao ask this question again.

Lin Tianhao's smile slowly faded.

He glanced at Nie Lao's utterly serious expression, then at Guhe, who stood beside him, smiling but silent.

A profoundly absurd feeling suddenly surged in his heart.

No way?

You're serious?

Lin Mo scratched his head and said calmly:

"Emmm... about seven. One fire, one earth, two lightning, and... three ice."

"Hmm, seven in total."

"???"

Lin Tianhao's eyes widened.

Not just Lin Tianhao.

Even Nie Lao, upon hearing the number "seven," couldn't help but jerk his hands behind his back.

"What... what the hell?!"

Lin Tianhao's voice trembled.

"Son, don't mess with your old man!"

"Seven high-level skills?!"

"I'm Lei Di, the God of War! After half a lifetime, I've barely mastered three high-level lightning skills!"

"You're eighteen and you've got seven? And spread across four elements?!"

Nie Zhenguo also took a deep breath and let out a bitter laugh.

"A few days ago, when Principal Guhe reported to me, Lin Mo had just mastered three high-level skills."

"At the time, I already thought that was pure fantasy."

Nie Zhenguo shook his head, his face filled with disbelief:

"I never expected..."

"In just a few short days, you've already mastered seven?"

Beside them, Guhe stroked his beard and burst into laughter:

"Hahahaha!"

"After all, he's a once-in-ten-thousand-year genius—mastering four high-level skills in a few days isn't unreasonable, is it?"

Hearing Nie Zhenguo and Guhe's words,

Lin Tianhao's gaze swept across the faces of Nie Lao, Guhe, and Zhang Qi.

Clearly,

they were all serious.

It's real!!

Lin Tianhao turned his neck, staring at the handsome boy before him.

What the hell...

What kind of thing did I give birth to?