"I can clearly feel the connection to that sacred will transmitted through the mark. Though it remains distant and unfathomable, the trial of 'Bathe in Fire'—I have passed it!"
"This grace of rebirth, this grace of guidance, this grace of ascension in the Dao of artifacts…"
Lou Gao looked at Lin Xia once more, his gaze blazing.
"Xiao Xia, all of this exists because of you!"
Lou Gao suddenly spread his arms wide, as if embracing this newly reborn world. His voice echoed through the cavern like an oath:
"I, Lou Gao, only today truly understand what it means to be 'reborn and remade'!"
"This body, this martial soul, this soul all have stepped onto a path never walked before!"
"The Phoenix God's trial, I will devote everything I have! I will not betray this fate, nor the divine grace, nor the fortune you fought for with your life on my behalf!"
Before his words even faded, the Phoenix mark on his arm flared once more, this time with an even deeper and more profound crimson-gold radiance. It flickered several times, as if responding to his vow and notifying this reborn Divine Craftsman of the next divine trial.
Watching this scene, Lin Xia felt his heart churn like magma in the deepest depths of Mount Norton.
Although he had exhausted himself to secure that sliver of hope for his teacher, and had even witnessed the heart-stirring nirvana within the soul furnace with his own eyes.
Now that everything had settled, seeing his teacher rise from a weary Level 75 Soul Sage to a Level 80 Soul Douluo with vast soul power, an evolved martial soul, divine bones, and an ascended soul, the impact was still so powerful it nearly robbed him of speech.
"Teacher! This is simply a miracle!"
Lin Xia's voice trembled with irrepressible excitement and heartfelt joy. His dark-gold eyes gleamed with exhilaration.
"Level 80! Martial soul evolution! And this… this body!"
He stepped forward, unable to resist lightly touching Lou Gao's arm, dark-gold in luster, resilient as refined gold, yet containing the force of a volcano. It was warm to the touch, as though holding inexhaustible energy within.
"Congratulations, Teacher! Truly congratulations! The Phoenix God indeed did not misjudge you! You really achieved it!"
His joy for Lou Gao was completely sincere.
A powerful teacher meant more than gaining a formidable protector; more importantly, Lou Gao's lifelong dream to touch the pinnacle of the Dao of artifacts, even to reach the domain of the divine, finally had the possibility of realization!
Nothing was more important than that.
As a disciple, witnessing his teacher reborn in flames and ascending to a new summit, the sense of accomplishment and relief nearly washed away all previous fear and anxiety.
However, in the face of Lin Xia's heartfelt congratulations and excitement, the wild joy on Lou Gao's face seemed to freeze, as if sealed by an invisible force, and quickly faded.
Those eyes that had burned like furnace flames were now clouded by complex shadows. He stared fixedly at Lin Xia, his expression filled with confusion, helplessness, and even, a trace of barely perceptible anxiety.
Though his towering frame still radiated formidable strength, the overwhelming power he had just gained now seemed weighed down by sudden worry.
Lin Xia immediately noticed this unusual reaction.
His heart skipped a beat, joy instantly replaced by concern.
"Teacher?"
His voice carried confusion and a trace of tension as he frowned slightly.
"What's wrong? You've just experienced such tremendous fortune, your martial soul evolved, your soul power broke through to Level 80, even your soul underwent nirvana and ascension! Isn't this a joyous occasion? Why do you seem unhappy instead?"
Lin Xia carefully observed Lou Gao's expression, trying to find an answer on that newly transformed yet visibly troubled face.
The cavern fell into brief silence, broken only by Larvitar's crisp crunch, crunch as it gnawed on ore.
The little fellow seemed utterly unaware of the adults' shifting emotions, happily clutching a dark-red fire crystal ore and chewing away. The runes on its shell flickered brightly with each pulse of absorbed energy.
Lou Gao took a deep breath. Even the scorching air seemed to carry the weight of his thoughts.
He avoided Lin Xia's concerned gaze and looked toward the depths of the cavern, where the core of the Sun Essence vein still flowed with liquid golden light. Then he slowly raised his left arm, staring at the vivid crimson-gold Phoenix mark radiating sacred authority.
"Happy… of course I am, Xiao Xia."
His voice lowered, heavy with complex emotion, as though he had just descended from the clouds back to reality.
"For this grace of rebirth, this power, this possibility of walking the divine path in my heart there is only gratitude to you, and to the Phoenix God."
He paused, his fingers unconsciously brushing the edge of the mark.
"It's just…"
"Just what?"
Lin Xia pressed, unease growing in his chest.
Lou Gao turned to look at him again. The helplessness in his eyes was even more apparent now, tinged with a trace of… apology.
After a moment of silence, as though organizing his thoughts, he finally spoke in a near-sigh.
"It's just my divine trial. The second trial, it has arrived."
Lin Xia froze for a moment, then understanding dawned.
"The second trial? That's a good thing, Teacher! Having passed the first trial, 'Bathe in Fire,' this second one is precisely the next step to consolidate your foundation and continue climbing! What is the trial's content? No matter how difficult, I believe you can surely—"
Before he could finish his encouraging words, Lou Gao raised a hand to stop him.
"Difficult may not be the most difficult."
His voice carried a heavy weight.
"But this time, the trial is somewhat special. What it demands is not a short burst of power or battle, but time."
"Time?"
Lin Xia's heart lurched. A foreboding feeling surged within him.
"Yes. Time. A very long time."
Lou Gao gave a bitter smile that looked somewhat out of place on his newly resolute face.
"The Phoenix mark has just transmitted the content and requirements of the second trial: 'Root in the furnace, forge the soul for five years. Until the work is complete, you may not leave this mountain by even half a step.'"
"Five years?!"
Lin Xia's voice shot upward, echoing sharply through the cavern. Even Larvitar, absorbed in chewing its ore, startled and lifted its head, letting out a puzzled "Larvitar?"
Five years!
The number struck Lin Xia's heart like a massive boulder.
He had never expected the divine trial to demand such an extended span of time.
Divine trials were indeed varied and the will of a god unfathomable, but this restriction of "five years without leaving the mountain" was excessively harsh and utterly unexpected.
"Five years, a full five years you must remain in Mount Norton?"
Lin Xia repeated, disbelief and rapid calculation flashing through his eyes.
"Teacher, what exactly does 'Root in the furnace, forge the soul for five years' mean? Is it to continue cultivating here, adapting to your new body and soul power, consolidating your Level?"
Lou Gao nodded heavily.
"The intent transmitted by the mark is very clear. For these five years, I must remain within Mount Norton more precisely, near the core region of this Sun Essence vein—and enter deep seclusion."
"As for 'forge the soul,' it means fully fusing the reborn soul power after nirvana, the foundation of divine bones, and the evolved Phoenix Divine Chisel martial soul into one unified whole, achieving a state where they move as naturally as an arm, flawless and perfectly integrated."
"At the same time, I must gain deeper comprehension of the fire laws and the true meaning of nirvana contained within the Phoenix Divine Runes."
"This is a crucial step in solidifying the foundation. It cannot be done by another, nor accelerated through external means."
"'Furnace' refers precisely to the environment of this volcanic ley line. If I leave here, the divine trial cannot proceed—and may even result in all previous efforts being wasted."
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