Lou Gao's burly frame occupied one side of the carriage. His crimson-gold eyes still burned with intensity as his gaze swept back and forth between Lin Xia, the shrunken Tyranitar, and Zhu Zhuqing, who sat quietly beside Lin Xia. His expression was filled with impatient curiosity.
He took a long swig from the wineskin at his waist. The pungent aroma of strong liquor spread through the carriage, as though fueling the flames of curiosity burning in his heart.
Setting the wineskin aside, Lou Gao slapped his knee with his broad palm.
Smack!
The crisp sound echoed through the carriage, causing it to sway slightly.
"Xia! Tell me everything, in detail! Over these five years, just how many earth-shattering things have you done? One by one, don't leave out a single thing! Start with that terrifying Soul Power of yours and how that big fellow ended up becoming so unbelievably monstrous!"
Seeing the eager look on his teacher's face, Lin Xia smiled faintly.
He adjusted his posture, allowing Zhu Zhuqing, whose body had unconsciously tensed to relax a little before slowly speaking. His voice was calm and steady, as though recounting an epic filled with magnificent adventures that nevertheless felt perfectly natural.
"Please don't rush, Teacher. Since you wish to hear it, I naturally won't hide anything."
His gaze became distant, as if looking far beyond the walls of the carriage and into the past.
"It all began during that hunt for a Soul Ring."
"At the time, we were searching for a suitable Soul Ring for Larvitar while also trying to improve my own strength. By pure chance we stumbled into the Dragon Graveyard."
"The Dragon Graveyard?"
Lou Gao's crimson-gold pupils contracted sharply. Even he had only seen a few scattered references to it within the inheritance memories of the Phoenix God.
"The legendary resting place of the Dragon Clan? You actually found it and made it out alive?"
"Yes, Teacher."
Lin Xia nodded, a trace of solemnity and lingering fear appearing in his voice.
"It was a realm filled with deathly silence, overwhelming dragon might, and boundless resentment. Dragon skeletons as massive as mountains covered the land. Even after ten thousand years, the lingering aura they emitted was enough to suffocate a Soul Douluo."
"Tyranitar and I were fortunate enough to absorb and refine a portion of an extremely pure source of Dragon-type origin energy."
Lin Xia raised a finger.
A faint stream of crimson-gold energy wrapped around his fingertip, carrying an aura of majesty and ancient desolation.
The moment it appeared, the temperature inside the carriage seemed to rise several degrees. It even stirred the Phoenix divine flames within Lou Gao, creating both resonance and an almost imperceptible sense of rejection.
"This was the 'gift' of the Dragon Graveyard. It's also the source of the Dragon-type power within Tyranitar and me, the very power that even Phoenix divine power instinctively finds repulsive."
"It not only tempered our bodies, but also greatly strengthened the very foundation of our power, laying the groundwork for every breakthrough that followed."
At the perfect moment, Tyranitar let out a low rumbling growl.
A trace of remembrance flashed through its dark red eyes as memories of those difficult days resurfaced. The obsidian-like diamond-shaped armor on its chest faintly glowed as well.
"And just as the Dragon Graveyard's repulsive force forcibly expelled us"
Lin Xia's expression became somewhat mysterious.
"I saw an egg."
"An egg?"
Lou Gao leaned forward, his interest completely captured.
"Yes. An egg."
Lin Xia nodded.
"It floated within the turbulent energy currents at the very core of the Dragon Graveyard. Its surface was covered in strange dark-gold dragon-scale patterns that seemed almost alive, radiating an indescribable aura where vitality and death coexisted."
"The feeling it gave me was older and more mysterious than even those mountain-sized dragon skeletons. Unfortunately, I only caught a glimpse of it. A spatial rift expelled us the very next instant, and we never had the chance to see it again."
Lou Gao drew in a deep breath.
Lin Xia's experiences were even more unbelievable than the wildest legends.
"The Dragon Graveyard, ancient dragon remains and a mysterious dragon egg. Kid, your fortune is simply heaven-defying! What happened after that?"
"Afterward..."
Lin Xia continued his story.
"Carrying the 'gift' of the Dragon Graveyard, we left that dangerous place. But unexpectedly, we encountered someone..."
"Queen Zhu Yu of the Star Luo Empire."
The moment he spoke her name, Lin Xia felt Zhu Zhuqing tense noticeably beside him.
He gently took her hand to comfort her before continuing.
"She seemed to be investigating something, and our appearance drew her attention. She noticed our unusual condition and was even more surprised to learn that I was your disciple. After finding out that you had entered seclusion, she invited me, on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, to repair one of the imperial family's most important inherited Soul Tools, the Star Radiance Crown."
"Repair the Star Radiance Crown?"
Lou Gao was visibly moved once again.
"That's one of the symbols of the Star Luo royal family! Its significance is extraordinary! She actually trusted a mere youngster like you to repair it?"
"Yes, Teacher."
A trace of confidence flashed through Lin Xia's eyes.
"I was fortunate enough not to disappoint. Not only did I successfully repair the damaged core formation, but I also optimized parts of its structure."
"His Majesty Dai Tianxing was extremely pleased with the result. As both a reward and an investment in my potential, he opened the imperial treasury to me."
Lin Xia spoke calmly, but the amount of information contained in those few words was enough to leave Lou Gao speechless.
"I received an enormous quantity of rare metals, as well as the mining rights to several rich mineral deposits within the empire. Those resources became the most crucial foundation for both the Blacksmith Association's rapid rise and my creation of the mecha legion."
Lou Gao listened with his blood surging in excitement. Unable to hold himself back, he slapped his thigh hard.
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent! The Star Luo Empire certainly has sharp eyes! That deal was worth it absolutely worth it!"
He looked at Lin Xia with unmistakable pride.
"As expected of my disciple! No matter where you go, you always leave people astonished!"
Lin Xia smiled faintly before turning toward Zhu Zhuqing beside him. His tone became noticeably gentler.
"It was also after that journey to the Star Luo Empire that Zhuqing came with me. After awakening her Hell Civet Martial Soul, life in the Zhu family wasn't easy for her."
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head.
Her cool eyes were filled with gratitude as she looked at Lin Xia before turning somewhat nervously toward Lou Gao.
Lin Xia did not elaborate on everything Zhu Zhuqing had gone through, but from their earlier conversation and Zhu Zhuqing's reaction, Lou Gao had already guessed most of it.
"So I brought her back to Gengxin City."
Lin Xia's voice was firm.
"For the past five years, Zhuqing has lived and cultivated in the Association as though she were part of my family. Teacher, you've already seen her talent and dedication for yourself."
Lou Gao's gaze rested on Zhu Zhuqing.
There was no longer any scrutiny in his eyes only the warmth and approval of an elder.
"Mmm. An eleven-year-old Soul Elder with the Hell Civet Martial Soul. Truly outstanding! Following Xia is your good fortune, and having you by his side is proof of his ability! Hahaha!"
The tension in Zhu Zhuqing's body finally disappeared completely.
A faint shimmer of tears appeared in her eyes as she nodded firmly.
"As for the days after returning to Gengxin City..."
Lin Xia continued, his tone returning to its calm, steady cadence.
"They were actually much simpler."
"While gradually assimilating everything we had gained from the Dragon Graveyard, making use of the resources provided by the Star Luo Empire, and relying on Tyranitar's greatly enhanced mineral-detecting abilities after its evolution, I simply followed a steady routine."
"I cultivated my Soul Power, researched Soul Tool technology, refined my forging skills, led the Association's core members in exploring new mineral veins, accumulated resources, and secretly trained personnel while constructing the mecha legion."
"Day after day. Year after year."
"We never once slacked off."
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