The carriage wheels rolled over the final stretch of smooth obsidian-paved road, producing a deep, rhythmic rumble that broke the silence which had lingered ever since Tyranitar had fallen asleep.
Half a month had passed since they left the outskirts of the Norton Volcano Range. After traveling at full speed the entire way, they finally arrived at the end of their journey on this night illuminated by countless lights.
Gengxin City.
Inside the carriage, Lou Gao's towering figure leaned slightly forward as he lifted the heavy curtain covering the side window.
His molten gold eyes carried both the eagerness of someone returning home and the weariness forged through the trials of the divine test. He could not wait to see whether the City of Blacksmiths, from which he had been absent for five years, still looked as it did in his memories.
However, the moment Gengxin City's completely transformed silhouette came into view beneath the night sky, Lou Gao froze as though he had turned to stone.
"This is Gengxin City?!"
His deep voice trembled with utter disbelief, every word seeming to force its way out from the depths of his throat.
Instinctively, he rubbed his eyes, almost convinced he was dreaming.
The Gengxin City in his memory had been a furnace of steel and flames, an ancient fortress where the ringing of forging hammers echoed day and night without end.
Chimneys throughout the city belched black smoke, while the air was thick with the rough scent of rust, burning coal, and sweat.
The streets had been narrow, the buildings low and practical, their colors dominated by dark iron gray and earthy ore brown. At night, only scattered oil lamps and the glow of forging furnaces illuminated the city.
But the city standing beneath the stars before him had completely overturned everything he thought he knew.
The first thing that caught his eye was the magnificent city wall encircling the entire city.
It was no longer built from rough, massive stone blocks.
Instead, it had been forged from mirror-smooth special alloy that gleamed with a cold metallic luster, while faint streams of energy patterns flowed across its surface.
The walls were no longer guarded solely by patrolling soldiers. At regular intervals stood elegantly designed, highly sophisticated soul tool sentry towers, their deep blue energy cores pulsing rhythmically in the darkness, silently proclaiming the city's formidable defensive strength.
The city gates were equally massive and imposing.
Gone were the heavy wooden gates reinforced with iron.
In their place stood enormous gates combining solid alloy with energy barriers, shimmering brilliantly with a distinctly futuristic appearance.
Above the gates floated an enormous soul tool projection screen that continuously displayed gentle streams of light.
The messages alternated between:
"Welcome to Gengxin City."
"Blacksmith Association: Forging the Future."
Along with various announcements and directional information, every character appeared bright, crystal clear, and vividly colorful.
Passing through the spacious, brilliantly illuminated gateway, the true shock had only just begun.
On either side of the main avenue, wide enough for ten horse-drawn carriages to travel abreast, the low blacksmith shops and cluttered homes of old had completely disappeared.
In their place stood rows upon rows of multi-story buildings, unified in architectural style while each retaining its own distinctive character.
Most of these structures featured metal frameworks, high-strength glass curtain walls, and specially engineered stone, giving them clean and streamlined designs.
Most dazzling of all were the soul tool lights spread throughout the entire city.
Elegant soul tool streetlamps lined both sides of every road, emitting soft yet brilliant white light that made the streets as bright as day.
The outline of every building was traced by exquisitely crafted soul tool light strips, glowing crimson, silver, gold, sapphire blue, and countless other colors.
The enormous signboards were no longer painted wooden plaques.
Instead, they were embedded with soul crystals or projected through soul power projection technology, their colorful displays constantly shifting and changing.
Behind the display windows of countless shops, lights illuminated every variety of soul tool product imaginable.
Delicate household soul-powered ovens.
Constant-temperature soul tools.
Communication soul tool prototypes with intricate glowing energy circuits.
Dynamic light displays showcasing the performance of newly developed alloys.
The entire city seemed draped in a magnificent robe woven from countless stars and neon lights.
Brilliant streams of light flowed endlessly, colors intertwined everywhere, and the entire city overflowed with vitality and technological sophistication.
Even the air had changed.
The familiar smells of rust and coal smoke had long since disappeared, replaced by the refreshing scent of clean air mixed with an ozone-like energy fragrance and the irresistible aromas of street food.
Replacing the once monotonous chorus of forging hammers was the lively bustle of a thriving city.
Crowds filled the broad streets, people dressed in every imaginable style, their faces carrying expressions of satisfaction or purposeful determination.
The hissing of steam and the rumbling of wheels echoed continuously.
Soul tool-powered public carriages and freight vehicles moved through the streets in orderly fashion.
The crude roadside stalls of the past had been replaced by neatly planned storefronts and beautifully designed mobile vendor carts.
The lively cries of merchants rose one after another, filling the streets with the warmth and vibrancy of everyday life.
"Freshly baked bread from a soul-powered oven! Hot, fluffy, and packed with energy!"
"The newest Gale Series personal soul-powered hoverboard! Save time and effort while experiencing the thrill of speed!"
"Gengxin City's specialty! Mithril-forged jewelry! Master craftsmanship enhanced with constant-temperature soul tool technology!"
"Ice-cold soul-powered drinks! The perfect refreshment for summer! Don't miss out!"
"Take a look at the Bedrock household soul-powered shield generator! Safe, affordable, and protecting your home!"
Even more fascinating were the small engineering soul tool automatons busily cleaning the streets and maintaining the city's public soul tool facilities.
Street performers used portable soul devices to project dazzling illusions while acting out captivating stories.
Children chased softly glowing soul-powered toy balls through the streets, their cheerful laughter echoing in every direction.
The entire city resembled a colossal and exquisitely precise soul tool array.
Efficient.
Brilliant.
Prosperous.
Overflowing with life.
It was utterly different from the rugged, fiery, deafening city of blacksmiths that still existed in Lou Gao's memories.
His mouth hung slightly open.
His molten gold pupils contracted violently from sheer astonishment as his gaze wandered greedily, yet almost lost, across every transformed corner of the city.
Those hands, capable of sensing the precise temperature of divine flames and uncovering the deepest secrets of metal itself, were now trembling ever so slightly.
An indescribable sense of unfamiliarity, mixed with overwhelming shock, swept over him.
"Th... this..."
Lou Gao swallowed with difficulty. His voice was hoarse, carrying the bewilderment of someone nearly at a loss for words.
"...Who did this?!"
He suddenly turned around, his gaze locking firmly onto Lin Xia, who sat opposite him inside the carriage.
Lin Xia was gently comforting Tyranitar, which had just awakened from its deep sleep. Having shrunk back to its smaller size, Tyranitar leaned quietly against him, its eyes still carrying a trace of confusion.
Beside them, Zhu Zhuqing wore a faint expression of relief at finally returning home. Looking out through the window, her cool features softened as she admired the scenery outside.
There was no need for anyone to answer.
Lou Gao already knew the answer.
Five years ago, soul tool technology.
The inheritance of core forging techniques.
These three crucial elements, other than Lou Gao himself, the only person on the entire continent who possessed all of them was the seven-year-old Lin Xia standing before him.
Moreover, Lin Xia had inherited all of his forging knowledge and experience.
This earth-shattering transformation.
This civilization built upon soul tool technology that had become part of the city's very foundation.
These achievements that fused alchemy and forging far beyond even his own imagination.
Who else could have accomplished such a feat besides his monstrously talented disciple?
Yet after the overwhelming shock exploded within Lou Gao's heart, it did not transform into pride.
Instead, it instantly ignited the deep concern buried within him.
A razor-sharp light burst from his molten gold eyes as they fixed on Lin Xia.
His voice rang out like thunder, filled with urgency and carrying an unquestionable demand.
"Lin Xia! Xia!"
---
For additional chapter's
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu