After a long while, Lou Gao's towering figure trembled ever so slightly, as though he had finally awakened from a long and surreal dream.
He drew a long, deep breath, one so heavy it seemed to take in the noise and transformation of the entire city.
Lou Gao asked no further questions about the City Lord's Command Token or the balance of power between the various factions. Instead, he simply fixed his eyes, tempered by Divine Fire and capable of discerning the very essence of metal, upon Lin Xia's face, one that was far too young, yet as steady and unshakable as solid bedrock.
"You've grown up..."
Lou Gao's voice was low and hoarse, carrying the emotion of someone who had weathered countless years. Every word seemed to have been lifted from the heart of a blazing forge, burning hot and immensely heavy, yet filled with indescribable relief and pride.
"You've truly grown up."
He suddenly slapped his iron-like thigh with a loud smack, as though sealing an important decision and dispersing the last trace of doubt lingering in his heart.
"In that case, this old teacher has nothing more to say!"
Without the slightest hesitation, his tone became firm and decisive. The bold spirit worthy of the King of Steel once again dominated him.
"Let's head back to the Blacksmith Association first! I want to see with my own eyes just what kind of miraculous place you've turned this old blacksmiths' headquarters into!"
Hearing that, Lin Xia smiled exactly as expected, with a hint of mischief.
He gently patted Tyranitar, who had become slightly restless from the carriage's movement, then winked at Lou Gao as he spoke in a relaxed tone that carried a hidden meaning.
"Then, Teacher, you'd better prepare yourself."
He deliberately dragged out the last few words, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"When you see what's waiting ahead, don't be too shocked."
Lou Gao raised an eyebrow. His molten-gold eyes ignited with a competitive fire as he boldly patted his broad chest, producing a dull metallic clang.
"Shocked? I've seen every storm imaginable! I survived tempering my body with the Phoenix Divine Fire back then. You think I'm afraid of seeing a few new buildings? Bring it on!"
The carriage rolled onward, racing across the broad, perfectly smooth alloy road etched with glowing soul tool patterns.
The scenery in Gengxin City's central district grew increasingly magnificent. Enormous soul tool projection billboards displayed stories of alloys, soul tools, and the future beneath the night sky. Sleek soul-powered vehicles streamed through the streets, while the air itself was filled with vibrant energy and prosperity.
Lou Gao's gaze swept greedily across everything outside the window. Each new sight shook him even more than the last.
Finally, the carriage smoothly rounded a massive circular plaza before coming to a stop in front of an unprecedented architectural complex.
When Lou Gao lifted the carriage curtain, stepped onto the warm, jade-like paving stones made from incredibly durable soul tool materials, and looked up at the sight before him.
He froze completely, as though an invisible giant hammer had struck him head-on.
That was the Blacksmith Association?!
Standing before him was no mere collection of "a few new buildings."
It was a colossal steel fortress worthy of being called a divine miracle!
The entire structure was built from a special alloy that shimmered with a deep azure glow, as though fragments of stars had been forged into the metal itself. Its lines were sleek yet overwhelmingly powerful, resembling both a gigantic mountain rising from the depths of the earth and a slumbering metal beast.
It towered over every surrounding building, standing proudly at the heart of Gengxin City like the city's very steel heart.
The main structure featured a futuristic geometric design. Countless enormous floor-to-ceiling soul tool crystal curtain walls were embedded throughout the metallic structure like dazzling gemstones, radiating layers of soft, brilliant light from within.
The exterior was far from smooth. It was covered with intricate soul tool circuits resembling living veins. Azure energy slowly flowed through them in rhythmic pulses, releasing an awe-inspiring aura of power.
Its summit was not crowned with spires. Instead, several enormous floating platforms formed an energy matrix, upon which the outlines of massive soul tool artillery turrets and flashing signal beacons could vaguely be seen.
How could this possibly still be the rough workshop that Lou Gao associated with blacksmithing and forging furnaces?
This was clearly an immortal fortress that perfectly combined majesty, technology, and overwhelming power!
It was the ultimate embodiment of alchemy and forging elevated to their absolute peak!
It was a magnificent sanctuary beyond the wildest dreams of blacksmiths from the old era!
"T... This..."
Lou Gao's mouth hung open. His throat bobbed several times, yet he could not force out a complete sentence.
Those eyes that could perceive the deepest mysteries of divine weapons now held nothing but blank astonishment, completely overwhelmed by the breathtaking spectacle before him.
Standing beneath the shadow of the colossal structure, even his massive frame seemed remarkably insignificant.
Lin Xia's earlier warning not to be "too shocked" now seemed laughably understated.
"Teacher, welcome home."
Lin Xia's smiling voice sounded beside him as he made a courteous gesture inviting him forward.
Snapping out of his daze, Lou Gao drew a deep breath, suppressing the overwhelming waves crashing through his heart. With heavy footsteps, he followed Lin Xia toward the gigantic entrance, which resembled the gateway to an interstellar fortress.
The massive alloy doors, covered in glowing energy patterns, silently slid apart to either side, revealing the interior.
The instant he stepped inside the "fortress," Lou Gao felt as though he had crossed through time itself.
The scorching heat he had expected.
The deafening hammering.
The smell of rust and sweat.
Every bit of it had vanished without a trace.
The first-floor hall was as vast as a giant's palace. Far above, the ceiling was formed from countless diamond-shaped soul tool crystals that bathed the entire space in soft, natural light, as bright and gentle as daylight itself.
Beneath his feet stretched a flawless, mirror-like floor made of a special stone, polished so perfectly that it clearly reflected everyone's figure.
But what left Lou Gao's mind completely blank was the sight before him.
This did not resemble a blacksmith's workshop in the slightest!
Rather than being an empty hall, the space had been skillfully divided into several exhibition areas with an elegant, modern design.
Massive transparent soul tool crystal pillars stood throughout the hall, each radiating a gentle guiding glow.
Inside every crystal pillar floated an item that emitted powerful energy fluctuations.
One section displayed dazzling soul tools of every imaginable design, each engraved with intricate circuits.
There were compact communication devices, precision-crafted energy cores, soul tool ray guns gleaming with a cold metallic light, and even streamlined flying wing prototypes enveloped in shimmering energy shields.
Each item was displayed like a priceless work of art within its crystal pillar, while a holographic projection beneath it clearly listed its name, purpose, and core specifications.
The neighboring exhibition area was an equally breathtaking display of armor and weapons.
Gone were the heavy iron suits covered with hammer marks.
In their place stood masterpieces that perfectly combined beauty with practicality.
There were form-fitting light armor sets with smooth, flowing lines, as light as wings, their surfaces shimmering with rippling energy like water.
There were massive heavy plate armor sets as solid as mountains, covered with savage ramming spikes and energy-conducting channels, making their astonishing defensive capabilities obvious at a glance.
There were longswords and giant battle axes whose icy edges looked sharp enough to slice through space itself.
Not only were these pieces forged from materials Lou Gao had never seen before, but their designs also perfectly integrated ergonomics, Soul Power transmission efficiency, and the ultimate pursuit of powerful defensive and offensive soul tool formations.
They floated silently in the air, wordlessly proclaiming the Blacksmith Association's unrivaled supremacy in the field of equipment manufacturing.
---
For additional chapter's
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu