Lou Gao remained standing where he was, still holding up an arm to shield himself. On the calloused back of his hand, several faint white marks could be seen—tiny abrasions left behind by the high-speed sand and gravel.
His weathered face looked as though it had been frozen into a sculpture, shock, bewilderment, and disbelief solidified upon it. A few grains of sand clung to his thick beard, trembling slightly with his heavy breathing.
Those eyes—usually blazing like a furnace, brimming with wisdom and strength—were now wide open, staring fixedly at Lin Xia, who stood calmly at the center of the sandstorm as if he had done nothing more than a trivial thing, as well as at the Larvitar by his feet, which was likewise unbothered and casually pawing at the sand with its small claws.
A doomsday scene spanning five hundred meters… caused by nothing more than the first Soul Ring of one human and one beast?
"Th-this…"
Lou Gao's voice seemed to be squeezed out from deep within his throat, dry and carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
"Is this… the Soul Skill you wanted from the beginning?"
Forcibly suppressing the colossal waves surging in his heart, Lou Gao fixed his blazing gaze on Lin Xia.
"Sandstorm? You… you already knew it would have this kind of effect?!"
Lin Xia withdrew his Soul Power, feeling the surging new strength within his body—closely linked with Larvitar—then revealed a candid smile tinged with mystery.
He nodded and replied,"Yes, Teacher. There's a unique connection between Larvitar and me. When it comes to the type of Soul Ring we need, we have a kind of instinctive premonition."
"What I need isn't just a Soul Skill, but a fundamental trait that can draw upon the power of sand and rock. This Yellow Sandstorm Rat leader's Soul Ring perfectly matched our needs."
"An instinctive premonition…"
Lou Gao murmured the words to himself. The shock in his eyes gradually gave way to realization and deep satisfaction.
He suddenly slapped his thigh with a sharp smack, his face breaking into a hearty grin as his booming laughter echoed across the empty desert.
"So that's it! I knew it! You brat had so many requirements before—controlling sand, rock, earth attributes, sand manipulation, sandstorms… so this was the root of it all! Good! Excellent! This kind of intuition is nothing short of heaven-sent guidance!"
Lou Gao laughed loudly, the sound filled with relief at having his doubts resolved and overwhelming pride in his disciple's talent.
As a master, Lou Gao understood well that the path of a Soul Master came in countless forms, each person with their own encounters and secrets.
There were many mysteries surrounding Lin Xia—his unbelievable method of strengthening himself by "eating ore," Larvitar, this unheard-of and bizarre Soul Beast companion, and now this defiance-of-heaven instinct for choosing Soul Rings.
Yet Lou Gao had no desire to pry. Only pure trust and a determination to protect.
What his disciple wished to say, he would listen to. What his disciple did not wish to reveal, he would never ask.
After his laughter subsided, Lou Gao rubbed his beard, his eyes gleaming with intense curiosity and concern as he raised another crucial question.
"The power of that Soul Skill—I've seen it, truly eye-opening! But what about your Soul Power? You absorbed a full 1400-year Soul Ring. How much did your Soul Power increase? Let this old man celebrate too!"
Hearing this, Lin Xia immediately calmed his mind and turned his attention inward.
The Soul Power vortex that had once been only a rudimentary form had now become solid and vast, like a miniature nebula slowly rotating. Pure Soul Power surged endlessly within it, countless times stronger than before the absorption.
A powerful sense of strength filled his limbs and bones.
Lin Xia raised his head, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. With a trace of excitement that he himself had yet to fully suppress, he answered decisively:
"Teacher, my Soul Power has reached Level Sixteen!"
"Six… sixteen?!"
The smile on Lou Gao's face froze for an instant, then exploded into an even more exaggerated and unrestrained expression of joy.
"LEVEL SIXTEEN!!! Hahahahahaha—!!!"
He forcefully slapped Lin Xia on the shoulder, the heavy blows making Lin Xia grimace slightly as his body swayed.
"Good! Good! Excellent!!"
Lou Gao's face flushed red with excitement, thick brows dancing as wild delight shone in his eyes.
"A thousand-year first Soul Ring! And after absorbing it, you jump straight to Level Sixteen! In all my years, I've never even heard of something like this!"
"Worthy of being my disciple, Lou Gao's disciple! A monster! Both you and this little freak are monsters rarely seen in ten thousand years! Hahahaha! Exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating!!"
Seeing his teacher even more excited than himself—bordering on outright loss of composure, Lin Xia felt both helpless and deeply warmed.
He knew this was not just joy over an increase in strength, but recognition of his choices, praise for surpassing limits, and an emotional release from his teacher.
That unreserved happiness filled Lin Xia with an equally immense sense of achievement and satisfaction.
A multi-trait Soul Ring!
The terrifying might of a sandstorm!
The massive Soul Power boost gained from absorbing beyond his level!
All of it proved that the path he had envisioned… was truly viable.
"Alright, alright, Teacher. If you keep hitting me like that, this newly upgraded body of mine is going to fall apart again."
Lin Xia laughed as he rubbed his shoulder, his tone light.
"Haha, brat, still pretending!"
Lou Gao withdrew his hand, still grinning from ear to ear. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Lin Xia was one of absolute satisfaction.
"Let's go! Home! Today is a day of great joy—we must celebrate properly! Tell the kitchen to add more dishes! No—this old man will cook personally and show you what I've got!"
Lou Gao's bold enthusiasm infected Lin Xia and Larvitar as well.
The little fellow seemed to understand that its master had achieved a tremendous success. It chirped excitedly, "Larvi! Larvi!" while rubbing its small head against Lin Xia's leg.
"Alright, let's go home."
Lin Xia replied with a smile, bending down to pick up Larvitar.
The thick-skinned camel beast pulling the carriage had long been waiting at the edge of the sandy terrain.
Lou Gao leapt into the carriage first, with Lin Xia following close behind, Larvitar in his arms.
The wheels rolled over the soft sand, producing dull, heavy sounds.
Inside the carriage, Lou Gao could not suppress his excitement, occasionally patting Lin Xia on the shoulder as he spoke with deep emotion.
The Association's backyard looked just as it always had. Several half-gnawed chunks of ore still lay scattered across the stone table.
The moment Lou Gao stepped through the courtyard gate, he raised his voice and shouted for Si di and the others, his booming voice ringing like a great bell as he announced the joyous news of Lin Xia's successful Soul Ring acquisition and massive increase in Soul Power.
Several senior brothers rushed out from the workshops at once, surrounding Lin Xia with exclamations of amazement and congratulations, the atmosphere bursting with excitement.
True to his word, Lou Gao personally went to the kitchen. Before long, the enticing aroma of food drifted through the courtyard.
The backyard was brightly lit as a large round table was set up. Lou Gao personally brought out several generous platters of hearty dishes. The master and four disciples sat together, raising cups and exchanging toasts amid constant laughter and cheer.
Lin Xia became the undisputed focus of the gathering, with his senior brothers taking turns to toast him. Larvitar also received a large chunk of Purple Lightning Iron Ore and gnawed away at it with great delight.
The celebration lasted well into the night.
After stimulating his brain slightly with Soul Power to sober himself up, Lin Xia finally began to think seriously about the road ahead and how he should proceed next.
Especially his second Soul Skill.
And the trait he would choose.
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