Without the slightest warning, the entire Norton Volcano Range began to shake violently!
It was as though an ancient beast slumbering beneath the earth had been completely enraged!
The black volcanic ground beneath their feet heaved and split apart violently, while countless fragments of rock tumbled down.
The deep, thunderous rumbling did not come from the depths of the volcano. Instead, it crashed in from every direction, as though the earth itself were groaning in agony.
"Be careful!"
Lin Xia reacted instantly. He pulled Zhu Zhuqing behind him in one swift motion as Soul Power surged through his body, forming a pale blue barrier of starlight around the two of them. After five years, his mastery over the power of the stars had already reached perfection.
Zhu Zhuqing also entered combat mode immediately. Although she did not release her martial soul, her body was already taut like a drawn bow, her sharp eyes sweeping the surroundings in search of the source of the tremor.
However, this was not the sign of an enemy attack!
The next moment, a radiance so magnificent and majestic that words could not describe it suddenly erupted from the depths of the tallest volcano before them!
Cry—!!!
A clear phoenix cry capable of splitting metal and shattering stone, as though echoing from the primordial ages, suddenly tore apart every sound between heaven and earth!
The cry carried supreme majesty and divine holiness, blazing with an aura capable of burning away all impurity and making every soul tremble as it soared into the heavens!
A colossal crimson-gold pillar of light, indescribably brilliant, shot skyward like a divine sword that had split apart heaven and earth itself, smashing through the thick volcanic rock and the leaden clouds above!
At the center of the pillar, the faint silhouette of an enormous phoenix composed entirely of pure flames could be seen. Its wings stretched wide enough to blot out the sky. Every beat of those wings scattered endless streams of golden divine radiance, and wherever it passed, space itself emitted strained hums as it twisted violently under the overwhelming power!
A terrifying pressure swept downward like a tangible tsunami, instantly enveloping the entire Norton Volcano region!
Before this absolute divine might, the barrier of starlight Lin Xia had created with his refined power of the stars swayed violently like a candle in the wind, creaking under the immense strain.
Lin Xia let out a muffled grunt as his face turned pale. Every bone in his body seemed to be bearing the weight of a mountain.
The Tear of the Star Core he carried with him spun frantically, pouring out its vast stellar energy. Only then was he barely able to stabilize the barrier and firmly shield Zhu Zhuqing behind him.
Zhu Zhuqing felt an overwhelming terror rising from the depths of her soul.
That terrifying pressure from a higher existence nearly suffocated her. Her Hell Civet martial soul let out a frightened growl from the depths of her soul.
Had it not been for Lin Xia's barrier and the equally unfathomable aura emanating from him blocking the vast majority of the pressure, she had no doubt she would have collapsed to her knees immediately.
She tightly grasped the corner of Lin Xia's clothing, her fingers turning white, yet her eyes remained fixed upon the phoenix phantom that had burst through the volcano and soared into the heavens, filled with absolute shock.
"Th-This is the power of a god?!"
Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled uncontrollably.
"The Phoenix Nirvana!"
Lin Xia stared fixedly at the awe-inspiring phoenix phantom filling the heavens. Every trace of worry in his eyes was completely replaced by indescribable excitement, overwhelming joy, and reverence!
The divine aura before him originated from the very same source as the aura he had sensed when undergoing the tempering of the Phoenix Divine Flame, yet its majesty and vastness exceeded it by millions upon millions of times!
This was absolutely not the sign of failure!
This was the declaration of success!
The ultimate sign of the Phoenix's Nirvana, its rebirth through fire!
The phoenix phantom circled the heavens several times. Every beat of its wings scattered endless divine flames, as though proclaiming the birth of a new deity to heaven and earth.
Finally, it released an even more resounding cry, one capable of cleansing the soul itself. Its colossal form suddenly condensed into a single crimson-gold beam that pierced the heavens before plunging straight back into the volcano, where divine flames continued to erupt!
Boom—!!!
It was as though the volcanic crater had been infused with supreme divine power. Instead of magma and smoke, what erupted forth was crimson-gold divine flame as pure as liquid gold, flowing with countless profound runes.
The entire crater instantly transformed into an enormous golden furnace!
At the very center of that world-destroying eruption of energy, a figure slowly rose from within the heart of the furnace.
He stepped upon the flowing divine flames, his entire body bathed in dazzling golden flames of Nirvana.
The slightly stooped, weathered figure that had entered the volcano five years earlier had completely disappeared!
In its place stood a tall, spear-like figure whose streamlined muscles contained explosive power. Every inch of his skin seemed to be forged from the purest crystallized energy, shimmering with a dark golden luster.
His snow-white hair, once a symbol of age and hardship, had completely transformed into blazing crimson-gold.
Every strand resembled flowing magma, dancing wildly amid the divine flames.
His once-clouded yet wise old eyes had become as deep as a sea of molten lava. Within his pupils burned two eternal golden divine flames, and wherever his gaze fell, space itself distorted.
Upon his forehead blazed an ancient divine mark formed from pure fire, the sacred symbol of the inheritance of the Phoenix God's divine position, radiating supreme divine might capable of commanding all flames.
A boundless, majestic aura, so overwhelming that every soul instinctively wished to worship it, spread outward from him in steady waves, washing over heaven and earth.
"T-Teacher?!"
Lin Xia's voice trembled in disbelief as his pupils contracted in overwhelming shock.
The being before him, who resembled a God descending into the mortal world, was completely different from the stooped old master devoted to blacksmithing whom he remembered.
Yet the incomparably familiar aura emanating from the depths of that soul and the fleeting trace of kindness and satisfaction unique to Lou Gao that flashed deep within those majestic divine eyes as they looked at him, allowed Lin Xia to recognize him instantly.
Lou Gao!
His teacher!
The pillar that held up the Blacksmith Association!
He had truly, successfully completed the Phoenix God's Second Trial!
"Grandmaster Lou Gao succeeded!"
Zhu Zhuqing was equally overwhelmed by the miraculous scene before her. Her cherry lips parted slightly as she murmured to herself.
She looked at the awe-inspiring figure bathed in golden flames, radiating divine majesty, then turned to Lin Xia beside her, who was so overcome with emotion that he could barely contain himself. An indescribable sense of excitement and pride welled up within her heart.
Lin Xia's faith and five years of waiting had not been in vain!
Their strongest pillar of support had returned!
And in such a breathtaking fashion!
Lou Gao hovered above the divine furnace of flames, his majestic gaze slowly sweeping across the volcanic region before finally settling upon the two familiar figures standing atop the distant rocks.
Especially when he saw Lin Xia's youthful face filled with excitement, with five years of worry finally transformed into overwhelming joy, the face that had been tempered by divine flames until it seemed carved from steel slowly broke into an unmistakable smile.
It was a smile filled with boundless satisfaction, immense relief, and blazing warmth, as radiant as the sun itself.
Five years of hellish tempering.
Countless trials that had brought him to the brink of having his soul completely destroyed.
At this moment, seeing that his most outstanding and most cherished disciple was safe and sound, and had grown into such a dependable young man, every hardship had become worthwhile.
He spread his arms wide, as though embracing heaven and earth themselves.
From the depths of his throat erupted a long roar that shook the world,va roar of absolute exhilaration, pouring out five years of suppression and the overwhelming joy of ultimate success.
"Hahahahaha—!!! Good! Good! Good! Xia'er! This old man has returned!!"
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