Seeing this, Si Yu, Si Di, and Si Kai did not hesitate to extend their hands, stacking them together.
Five hands, one large, four small yet they contained an incomparably firm will and an unspoken trust between brothers.
Larvitar also seemed to sense this solemn yet passionate atmosphere. It poked its head out from Lin Xia's arms and let out a short, forceful cry.
"Larvitar!"
As if making its own vow.
Deep within the Blacksmith Association of Gengxin City, inside Lou Gao's largest forging chamber, filled with all kinds of strange metal components and complex blueprints, the air was scorching and heavy, permeated with the scent of molten metal and the unique energy of soul tool cores.
Lin Xia's figure was almost swallowed by the shadows of the vast workshop. Only his dark golden eyes shone astonishingly bright in the dim light, fixed tightly on the core component floating in midair before him, assembled and guided by countless threads of spiritual power.
A month had passed.
Ever since he had concealed the truth of Lou Gao accepting the inheritance of the Phoenix God—explaining it as "Teacher entering seclusion to handle a top-secret matter" and gained the complete trust and support of his four senior brothers, Lin Xia had devoted all his energy to the blueprint before him, known as "Divine Craft", a soul tool mecha.
His senior brothers' consideration filled him with gratitude.
Si Long and the others had taken on all the tedious management and daily forging tasks of the Association. Si Di handled precise scheduling, while Si Kai ran errands and kept watch, leaving the most valuable resource—time to Lin Xia, whom they all agreed "should not waste his time on trivial matters."
"Junior Brother, just focus on researching what Teacher left behind! Leave the Association to us!"
Si Long's promise, made while patting his chest, still echoed in his ears.
This trust was heavy, but it also gave Lin Xia the space to concentrate fully.
However, although forging techniques were perfectly preserved within Lou Gao's inherited memories, actually bringing those exquisitely intricate, era-defying soul tool structures from theory into reality was a whole different level of hellish difficulty.
Every step of circuit fusion, every calibration of energy pathways, every forging of load-bearing frameworks and engraving of soul tool runes, each required extreme precision, as well as immense soul power and spiritual power.
Countless times, violent soul power lost control within the energy circuits, exploding and leaving Lin Xia covered in soot.
Countless times, the primal powers contained within divine materials like dragon bones and Sun Essence clashed and repelled each other, nearly tearing apart the fragile prototype he had painstakingly constructed.
Sweat soaked through his coarse cloth shirt, only to evaporate quickly in the intense heat, leaving behind a thin layer of white residue.
Larvitar lay quietly nearby atop a massive block of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Iron that emitted chilling cold, something Lin Xia had specially moved there to help it cool down.
The little one's crimson eyes were half-closed. Most of the time, it slept, digesting what it had gained from the Dragon Graveyard. Occasionally, it would wake, glance at Lin Xia's busy figure, and let out a soft "Larvitar," carrying a hint of concern and encouragement.
On its chest, the dark-gold dragon pattern and red-gold phoenix pattern alternated in emitting a faint glow in the dim light, signs that two god-level bloodlines were slowly merging and stabilizing within the safe environment Lin Xia had created.
The materials used were unprecedentedly luxurious.
The few divine-level dragon bones brought from the Dragon Graveyard.
A fractured silver-white flying dragon wing bone shimmered with a sharp edge capable of cutting through space.
An obsidian-like lava leg bone contained explosive fiery might.
Dark-gold chest bone fragments were as heavy as mountains.
These were repeatedly refined and shaped by Lin Xia using Divine Craftsman-level techniques, becoming the core support for the mecha's main frame and critical joints.
The Sun Essence was divided and smelted into crimson armor modules covering the dragon bones. The extreme solar flame power within not only provided terrifying physical defense, but also served as the foundation for future energy weapon systems.
Other rare materials, such as Star Sand and Patterned Black Gold were used without restraint, filling various functional modules.
Time passed in a cycle of monotony, failure, adjustment, and repeated attempts.
Finally when the last crimson chest armor module, engraved with complex soul tool circuits, fit perfectly into the main body with a crisp resonance of soul power connecting flawlessly with the dragon bone core and Sun Essence armor.
Buzz!
The entire forging chamber shook violently!
An invisible force field erupted outward from the silent construct standing at the center, instantly filling the entire space!
Dust was swept away in an instant, and the air itself seemed to freeze for a moment.
A scorching wind surged through, carrying the lingering heat of molten metal and the aftershocks of surging soul power.
It was complete!
A steel giant over ten meters tall stood majestically in the center of the forging chamber.
Its entire body was covered in crimson armor that seemed forged from solidified magma and blazing sunlight. Even under the not-so-bright illumination of the soul tool lamps in the workshop, it still emitted a deep, restrained red glow, like a dormant volcanic beast.
Smooth yet powerful lines outlined an immensely oppressive silhouette. At its joints, the exposed precision structures—crafted from silver-white dragon bones—gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, forming a stark visual contrast against the blazing armor.
Its massive metal feet sank deeply into the specially reinforced ground. Its sheer weight and the pressure it exuded made the entire space feel cramped.
It stood there silently, motionless yet radiated a terrifying aura born from its very materials: a primordial dragon's might intertwined with scorching solar flames.
Its mere existence seemed to drain the surrounding air, bringing a suffocating sense of oppression.
The heavy steel doors of the forging chamber were suddenly pushed open, and the broad figure of Eldest Senior Brother Si Long appeared at the entrance.
He had rushed over, drawn by the unusual energy fluctuations and tremors from earlier.
However, when his steady gaze passed over the piled materials and tools and landed upon the crimson steel colossus at the center of the chamber.
Clang!
The forging hammer he had carried for years—treasured like his own life, slipped from his grasp without warning and crashed heavily onto the ground, producing a dull, jarring sound.
Sparks burst from the collision between the hammerhead and the steel floor, illuminating his face, now completely devoid of expression, filled only with boundless shock.
It was as if an invisible hammer had struck him squarely on the head. He froze in place, his mouth slightly open, yet unable to utter a single sound.
His pupils contracted violently, reflecting that cold, massive, inhuman construct, like witnessing a mythical Titan descending into a mortal workshop.
He subconsciously swallowed, his throat bobbing with difficulty. The faint gulp sounded unusually loud in the deathly silent forging chamber.
"Li.. Little Junior Brother…"
Si Long's voice was hoarse, trembling noticeably, as if each word required all his strength to force out. He raised a hand to point at the towering creation, his finger trembling slightly.
"Th-this… this is what Teacher left behind th-that thing? Y-you actually built it?!"
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