Within Larvitar's body, a similar transformation was also taking place.
At its core, a miniature "Earth-Core Heart"—pulsing with golden flames—condensed into existence, driving a brand-new and even more powerful energy circulation system.
The entire process appeared slow, yet in reality was completed within just several dozen breaths!
As the light gradually withdrew, what Lou Gao saw was an entirely new Lin Xia!
Lin Xia stood naked before the mineral vein, his figure seemingly taller and more well-proportioned than before, with explosive power contained beneath every inch of his skin.
Short black hair regrew, each strand carrying a healthy sheen.
Lin Xia's face remained youthful, yet between his brows there was now an indescribable depth and majesty.
When his eyes reopened, the pupils were no longer the golden flames of before. Instead, they had transformed into two slowly rotating dark-gold vortices containing molten lava and fragments of stars—calm, yet unfathomably profound.
On the inner side of Lin Xia's left forearm, a lifelike phoenix pattern outlined in crimson-gold flames appeared clearly, branded into his flesh.
The phoenix spread its wings as if about to take flight, its posture noble and majestic, its tail feathers flowing with eternal golden flames, emitting a faint yet searing aura drawn directly from its origin.
Beside him, Larvitar had also completed its transformation.
Its body size seemed to have increased by a full circle. The armor covering its entire body displayed a settled, dark crimson-gold hue, like cooled stellar magma, heavy and restrained.
Deep within its crimson pupils, the golden flames had condensed into two eternally burning star cores.
On the armor near the base of its left forelimb, an identical crimson-gold phoenix mark, matching the one on Lin Xia's arm shone brilliantly as well!
The phantom of the Flame Giant Bird silently observed everything.
When the reshaping was complete and the phoenix marks fully stabilized, it seemed to nod slightly, its complex gaze lingering for a brief moment on the phoenix imprints of Lin Xia and Larvitar.
Then, it gently flapped its wings once more.
This time, no streams of light shot forth.
Instead, an invisible, gentle yet irresistible force swept across the entire mine like a warm tide.
The mountain-like piles of ten-thousand-year soul beast remains—whether shattered bones or energy cores not yet fully dissipated, were instantly decomposed and refined, transforming into countless tiny golden motes of light.
Like fireflies answering a summons, these motes gathered into a golden ribbon of light, softly coiling around the phantom of the Flame Giant Bird. Together with the phantom, they slowly sank into the center of the ancient formation, disappearing into the depths of the flowing liquid-gold mineral vein.
As though they had never existed at all.
Within the mine, only the faint hum of the Sun Essence mineral vein's flowing liquid-gold light remained, along with the subtle crackling of flames burning against rock.
The suffocating pressure receded like a tide, leaving behind only the scorching stillness of survival after catastrophe.
No one knew how much time passed.
Only then did Lou Gao's stiff body suddenly loosen, as though all his bones had been removed, nearly collapsing within the narrow rock fissure.
He gasped for breath in great gulps, each inhale carrying the scent of sulfur and the searing pain of survival.
Cold sweat instantly soaked through his tattered clothes.
"Al… alive?"
His voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper scraping together.
Lou Gao cautiously—almost crawling—clambered out of the rock fissure, his legs still trembling uncontrollably.
His gaze immediately locked onto the core of the mineral vein.
Lin Xia and Larvitar stood there quietly, like two flame-forged divine statues just completed.
Their newly reborn flesh and skin glowed with healthy, powerful vitality under the mineral vein's golden light. The terrifying heat of the Sun Essence seemed to pose no harm to them anymore—rather, it felt like warm sunlight.
Lou Gao let out a long breath of turbid air. The tightly stretched strings of his nerves finally relaxed completely, as overwhelming exhaustion and relief washed over him.
No matter what bizarre and unfathomable events had occurred, at the very least… they were alive!
And judging by appearances, they had gained an unimaginable stroke of fortune!
Over the next dozen or so days, Lou Gao remained near the entrance of the mine, choosing a relatively stable location far from the core's extreme heat. While tending to his injuries, he kept watch with constant apprehension.
Deep within the mine, the sounds of gnawing rang out once more.
Crack… crack…
The sound was still crisp, yet it carried less of the former madness and more steadiness—and… efficiency.
Lin Xia and Larvitar seemed to have transformed into two tireless furnaces, devouring the flowing liquid-gold Sun Essence ore at an astonishing pace.
Large chunks of ore were torn free by Lin Xia's bare hands. The newly reborn, seemingly ordinary flesh of his palms would immediately reveal crimson-gold veins beneath the skin upon contact, gently yet efficiently drawing out and absorbing the ore's violent energy.
Larvitar was even more direct. Each bite from its lava-like fangs tore away dazzling bursts of golden light, with the ore fragments directly merging into its body.
Lou Gao watched as the radiant mineral vein visibly dimmed and shrank before his eyes—ultimately being devoured by nearly one-third!
Finally, at a certain moment
The cracking sounds came to an abrupt halt.
Within the core region of the mineral vein, Lin Xia slowly raised his head, his movement carrying a clear trace of sluggishness and confusion.
In those dark-gold eyes, like swirling vortices of molten lava and stellar fragments, the former greed, instinct, and desire for destruction receded like a tide. Replacing them was a deep, heavy bewilderment, as if he had just awakened from a long dream.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What happened?
The final fragments of memory were of pain so extreme it could burn away the soul, of the tearing agony when he stuffed the Sun Essence into his mouth… and then nothing but a boundless sea of golden flames.
Lin Xia subconsciously lowered his head and looked at his hands.
They were no longer charred, withered bones, but long, powerful palms with intact skin.
In disbelief, Lin Xia touched his own cheek—warm, real to the touch.
His chest was smooth, his heartbeat steady and powerful. That "Flame Heart" throbbed strongly beneath his skin, yet no longer brought pain, only an overwhelming sense of power.
"I… I didn't die?"
Lin Xia's voice was hoarse and dry, thick with confusion.
He looked around at his surroundings. The devastated mine, collapsed rock walls, and the lingering scent of scorched destruction and violent energy in the air all spoke of a terrifying battle that had once taken place.
Yet all of this was disconnected from the endpoint of his memories.
Lin Xia's gaze then fell upon Larvitar beside him.
"Larvitar?!"
The companion before him had changed drastically!
The heavy armor, dark and heavy like stellar magma, had replaced its former rocky texture. The runes flowing across its armor brimmed with ancient power, while the golden-flame star cores deep within its crimson eyes radiated a heart-stopping sense of authority.
How could this still be that small, slightly clumsy rock monster from before?
This was clearly a Lava Lord that had already begun to take shape!
Wasn't he supposed to be raising a Sandstorm Sovereign?
Why did it feel like things had gone completely off track now?!
Lin Xia looked at the scene before him and, for some reason, found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Larvitar also lifted its head and looked at Lin Xia.
Within those eyes of golden-flame star cores, the same bewilderment and confusion were reflected.
It gently tapped its new armor with a small claw, producing a dull metallic clang, as if it too was puzzled by how it had ended up like this.
"Th-This… what is going on?"
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