The deafening laughter and triumphant declaration still echoed through the scorching air. Every word of, "Good! Good! Good! Xiaoxia! This old man has returned!!!" struck Lin Xia's heart like molten lava crashing into a tranquil lake, sending towering waves surging skyward.
Five years!
A full five years!
Through countless days and nights, beside the roaring furnaces of the Blacksmith Association, before the cold mechanical frame of the mech in the Earthcore Furnace workshop, and amid the bustling streets of Gengxin City, he had imagined this very moment over and over again.
He had imagined his teacher returning triumphantly through blazing flames.
He had imagined that familiar figure, carrying the scent of rust and burning charcoal, appearing before him once more.
He had envisioned countless reunions, filled with excitement, choked emotions, celebratory drinking, or conversations that lasted until dawn.
But now that the moment had truly arrived, as Lou Gao's body, reborn within the golden flames of Nirvana, resembling a Fire God descended to the mortal world while still carrying that deeply familiar presence, appeared clearly before his eyes, Lin Xia realized every one of those imagined scenes had collapsed.
A scorching torrent of emotion, impossible to suppress, instantly shattered the dam of his composure and rushed straight into his eyes.
"Teacher!!!"
A hoarse cry burst from Lin Xia's throat, carrying endless longing, overwhelming joy, grievance, and the relief of finally laying down a burden that had weighed upon him for five long years.
He was no longer the calm, composed young leader who commanded respect throughout the Blacksmith Association.
At this moment, he was simply a child who had finally found his dearest family again.
Like an arrow released from its bow, like a moth flying fearlessly into a flame, he ignored the terrifying heat surrounding Lou Gao, hot enough to melt gold and steel. He ignored the instinctive awe inspired by that overwhelming divine pressure.
His entire body became a blurred gray streak as he charged toward the figure floating above the furnace of divine flames with reckless determination.
Watching the figure rushing toward him, the overwhelming majesty faded from Lou Gao's crimson-gold, flame-burning eyes, replaced by nothing but boundless affection, emotion, and fatherly warmth.
Not only did he keep his arms spread open, he opened them even wider, welcoming his disciple, the child he had always regarded as his own son.
Bang!
Lin Xia crashed heavily into Lou Gao's embrace, wrapping both arms tightly around his teacher's waist.
Though Lou Gao's body was now as solid as divine metal, it still felt incomparably familiar.
The force of the embrace seemed intent on crushing five years of worry, waiting, and self-blame into nothingness.
Lou Gao staggered back ever so slightly from the impact before immediately wrapping his blazing crimson-gold arms tightly around Lin Xia.
His broad hands repeatedly patted Lin Xia's back with heavy, powerful thuds, as though reassuring himself that this was no dream.
"Good lad! Good lad! You've grown taller and stronger! Let your teacher get a good look at you!"
Lou Gao's booming voice remained as loud as ever, though a faint trace of emotion crept into it.
Even his lava-like eyes shimmered with warmth.
He could clearly feel the vigorous vitality and unwavering strength contained within the young man in his arms, and it filled him with immeasurable satisfaction.
Carefully, he looked at Lin Xia's upturned face.
The childish features were gone, replaced by sharp, handsome features, sword-like brows, bright eyes, and the bearing of a young hero.
Years of hardship and experience had carved a maturity and determination far beyond his age.
Yet at this moment, tears streamed uncontrollably from those deep, brilliant eyes like pearls from a broken necklace.
They flowed freely down his youthful face before dripping onto Lou Gao's dark-golden chest, which radiated scorching divine heat, instantly evaporating into faint wisps of white steam.
"What are you crying for? You're a real man! Isn't your teacher standing here perfectly fine? I've even obtained a tremendous blessing!"
Lou Gao deliberately put on a stern expression, but he could not hide the affection and pride in his eyes.
His rough fingers awkwardly tried to wipe away the tears from Lin Xia's face.
Lin Xia merely shook his head.
He could not utter a single word.
Instead, the tears flowed even harder.
Five years of longing the burden of carrying the Blacksmith Association.
Countless plans for the future the endless anxiety over his teacher's safety.
Every emotion that had accumulated over those years finally found an outlet.
Like a true child, he buried his head against his teacher's broad shoulder, allowing his tears to soak the crimson-gold hair that radiated a sacred aura.
Warmth welled up within Lou Gao's heart as countless emotions surged through him.
This child had grown into someone so exceptional, someone who shone with dazzling brilliance.
Yet before him, he was still the same sincere, genuine boy.
Gently patting Lin Xia's back, Lou Gao quietly savored the warmth of this reunion that had been delayed for five long years.
However within that heartfelt embrace, Lou Gao's senses tempered to perfection by the Phoenix Divine Flame and as precise as the finest soul tool, naturally and effortlessly pierced through the aura Lin Xia had instinctively concealed.
They came into direct contact with the very source of the Soul Power surging within his body.
Boom!
The warmth and affection on Lou Gao's face instantly froze.
His pupils, burning with golden divine flames, suddenly contracted into pinpoints.
It was as though he had witnessed something even more unbelievable, even more world-shattering, than the Phoenix's Nirvana itself.
"W-What?!"
Lou Gao's arms suddenly stiffened, and the motion of patting Lin Xia's back froze in midair.
An invisible shock, rising from the very depths of his soul, was so overwhelming that even the golden flames of Nirvana flowing around his body flickered violently, as though a massive boulder had been hurled into a tranquil sea of molten lava!
He lowered his head in disbelief, his gaze becoming as tangible as a probing needle. It pierced through Lin Xia's body and locked firmly onto the endlessly surging core of Soul Power, which radiated immense vitality and incomparably pure stellar energy.
The intensity of that Soul Power...
Its purity...
Its boundless, abyss-like foundation...
A Soul King!
And not just any Soul King...
A peak Soul King?!
Only a single step away from becoming a Soul Emperor?!
Lou Gao's mind exploded with a loud buzz, as though an invisible warhammer had struck him squarely on the head!
He abruptly pushed Lin Xia back a step and gripped his shoulders tightly with both hands.
His crimson-gold eyes widened to their limits, filled with utter disbelief, confusion, and the absurd sensation that his entire understanding of the world had just been shattered.
"X-Xiaoxia?! Your Soul Power?!"
Lou Gao's voice had completely changed.
Gone was the hearty, booming laughter from moments before.
Instead, it had become hoarse and nearly shrill with utter disbelief.
"A a Soul King?! A peak Soul King?!"
He stared fixedly at Lin Xia's astonishingly youthful face, the tear stains not yet dry, his voice trembling uncontrollably from overwhelming shock.
"Y-You're how old are you now?!
"Twelve?!
"A twelve-year-old Soul King?!"
Every word seemed to be forced through clenched teeth, each one carrying disbelief that had reached its absolute limit.
Almost instinctively, Lou Gao even raised one hand and silently counted the years on his fingers, making sure that the divine trial hadn't distorted his sense of time.
Twelve years old!
Never in the entire history of the Douluo Continent had such a record existed!
Even the legendary reincarnations of gods had never been known to achieve such a horrifying rate of cultivation while still mortal!
The further one advanced in Soul Power cultivation, the more difficult every breakthrough became.
Advancing from a Soul Grandmaster to a Soul Elder was one major hurdle.
Advancing from a Soul Ancestor to a Soul King was an even greater chasm, one that countless Soul Masters would never cross in their entire lives.
Among the most astonishing geniuses, reaching the Soul Ancestor realm before the age of twenty was already extraordinarily rare, earning them the title of peerless prodigy.
Yet his disciple Lin Xia was only twelve years old!
Not only had he broken through to the rank of Soul King, he had even reached its very peak!
This could no longer be described as mere extraordinary talent.
It had completely shattered the ironclad laws of Soul Master cultivation that had stood since time immemorial across the Douluo Continent!
It was revolutionary.
It was a miracle beyond miracles!
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