She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes and brows filled with a lively smile.
"Alright, alright, it was this big sister who misspoke."
She actually crouched down, completely unconcerned about the scorching sand and dust. Extending her slender, jade-like hand, she gently patted Larvitar's hard yet smoothly contoured little head with a natural sense of warmth and affinity.
Her movements were soft, carrying a subtle, soothing power.
Larvitar, which had been puffed up in anger just moments ago, was instantly thrown off by this sudden gentle apology and tender touch.
Its small body stiffened, and a trace of obvious panic and confusion flashed through its crimson eyes. The bit of "fierce" aura it had just shown vanished in an instant.
As if embarrassed by this sudden kindness, it let out a short "Lar…"
Then, with a swift whoosh, it nimbly darted behind Lin Xia, only peeking out half its head. With wide eyes full of curiosity and a hint of shyness, it secretly observed this beautiful big sister who had just "offended" it and now made it feel a little embarrassed.
Seeing Larvitar's "secretly observing" adorable behavior, the smile in the woman's eyes deepened, like they were filled with starlight.
She stood up and looked at Lin Xia again, her gaze becoming much gentler, carrying a trace of amazement.
"A martial soul that not only possesses a completely independent physical form, but also such clear intelligence and emotions… little one, your martial soul has truly broadened my horizons."
She paused, her smile fading slightly as her expression turned serious.
"Since you've come here to obtain a soul ring, would you like this big sister to help you? I don't see any elders by your side. It's far too dangerous for you to be moving alone in the depths of this far western desert."
Her suggestion was sincere and full of goodwill. Clearly, she regarded Lin Xia as a gifted yet unprotected child recklessly adventuring on his own.
A trace of warmth rose in Lin Xia's heart, but his vigilance did not lessen. He decisively shook his head. His young face carried polite courtesy appropriate for his age, yet his tone was unusually firm.
"Thank you for your kindness, big sister. But I've already successfully obtained my soul ring, so I won't trouble you."
To dispel any doubts or potential trouble, Lin Xia added, deliberately emphasizing his words.
"Also, my elders are nearby investigating other matters. They'll be back to find me soon, so there's really no need to worry."
Lin Xia cleverly fabricated the presence of "elders nearby," both to make her cautious and to politely express that he didn't need accompaniment.
The woman's eyes flickered with understanding.
She nodded, seemingly accepting his explanation.
A child with such a unique martial soul having elders secretly protecting him made sense.
Looking at Lin Xia's calm and composed demeanor, a trace of admiration appeared in her eyes. She couldn't help but extend her hand again, intending to gently ruffle his hair just like she had patted Larvitar, as a gesture of farewell.
"What an incredible little one, to be able to…"
Her fingertips carried a faint coolness. At the very instant they were about to touch the top of Lin Xia's head.
Buzz!
Like the overload of the most precise soul power detector, a vast, condensed, and unimaginable surge of soul power suddenly awakened beneath her fingertips, like a dormant volcano erupting without warning!
This soul power—so pure, so immense—produced a violent feedback the moment it came into contact with the trace of probing intent in her fingers!
The gentle smile on the woman's face froze instantly, like a lake sealed in ice!
Her movement stopped completely, her outstretched hand hovering just an inch above Lin Xia's head!
Those clear, star-like eyes, like a cold pool had their pupils shrink to pinpoints in extreme shock!
How was this possible?!
Seven years old!
Under her transcendent perception, which surpassed the mundane and saw everything in detail, Lin Xia's bone age was unmistakably clear.
Seven years old!
But this soul power…
Level 25?!
A Level 25 Soul Grandmaster?!
These two pieces of information struck her mind like twin bolts of divine lightning, carrying destructive force capable of shattering the heavens!
In an instant, they obliterated her past knowledge, common sense, and even her understanding of what defined a genius in the Soul Master world!
A seven-year-old Soul Grandmaster?!
Since the establishment of the Spirit Hall and the beginning of recorded history, the Douluo Continent had never seen such an absurd and terrifying record!
Even a legendary reincarnated god, at the age of seven when the body and meridians were far from fully developed would never be able to withstand the soul power of a Soul Grandmaster!
This completely defied the most fundamental laws of soul power cultivation!
For the first time, her breathing lost its usual calm and steadiness, becoming rapid and disordered under the overwhelming shock.
Her full chest rose and fell violently, as if gripped by an invisible hand around her throat. Every breath carried a scorching sense of disbelief. She could even clearly hear her own heartbeat pounding in her chest like a heavy drum—thump, thump!—as if it might burst out at any moment!
Shock!
An unparalleled shock!
It surged through her entire mind like a raging storm!
This was no longer something that could be described with the word "genius"!
It completely overturned the universally accepted, ironclad laws of the Soul Master world!
This was a taboo existence that had broken the very rules of life and soul power!
"You…"
The woman's voice was dry, carrying a trace of trembling that even she herself did not notice.
She forcefully suppressed the surging blood and the stormy turmoil within her heart. Her gaze, like the most precise probe, focused once again on Lin Xia with unprecedented seriousness and scrutiny.
This time, her eyes were no longer gentle, but filled with piercing intensity, as if she intended to see through him completely, inside and out!
She had to confirm it!
Confirm this unbelievable truth!
Her spiritual power spread out like an invisible tide, instantly enveloping Lin Xia.
This was not an attack, but the purest and highest level of perception and detection.
Soul power Level 25!
Refined like liquid mercury!
His foundation was unbelievably solid!
There was absolutely no sign of forced growth!
Bone age—seven years old!
Beyond any doubt!
Every trace within his bones declared the youth and authenticity of this body!
Seven years old, Level 25 Soul Grandmaster.
The impact of these two facts combined completely shattered her worldview!
She looked at the boy before her, that youthful yet unusually calm face. Those dark golden pupils, carrying a depth and composure far beyond his age.
And beside him, that equally mysterious Larvitar, cautiously yet curiously glancing at her.
At this moment, she finally understood
Why this child could appear alone in the core region of this death desert!
Why his "martial soul" was so different!
All the unreasonable things now seemed to find a shocking explanation in the face of this heaven-defying talent.
The woman slowly, solemnly withdrew her hand that had been frozen midair.
She straightened her posture. The lazy, casual aura around her vanished completely, replaced by an indescribable seriousness and a blazing light, as if she had discovered a peerless treasure.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the still-surging emotions within her. Her gaze became extremely serious, even carrying a hint of reverence.
Looking at Lin Xia, she spoke word by word, her voice clear and solemn:
"Little one, my name is Zhu Yu. I come from the Star Luo Empire. May I know your name? What force do you belong to? And your elders which Your Eminence do they serve?"