Lin Xia stood quietly to one side with a smile, watching his teacher surrounded by a group of excited old subordinates as he felt the entire Blacksmith Association headquarters erupt into celebration at the return of this legendary figure.
He, too, felt deeply satisfied.
Lou Gao felt the excitement and warmth conveyed through the rough hands of his old companions. Listening to the deafening cheers, he raised his eyes toward the magnificent headquarters hall, grand enough to resemble the halls of a divine kingdom and filled with countless creations beyond imagination. Finally, his gaze settled on his disciple, Lin Xia, who stood beside him with a gentle smile.
The overwhelming sense of unreality, immense pride, and the shock brought by the changing times merged together like molten steel boiling within a furnace, surging violently inside his chest.
His molten-gold eyes swept across the floating Soul Tools, the dazzling suits of armor, and the towering Soul Tool ceiling high above.
In the end, all those emotions transformed into a heartfelt laugh so powerful that even the Soul Tool crystals throughout the hall seemed to resonate with it.
"So, during the five years I was gone you all turned the Blacksmith Association into the holy land of blacksmiths?! Damn it, you've done an incredible job!!!"
Lin Xia stood nearby with a gentle smile, patiently waiting for the excitement of the reunion to subside.
Only when Lou Gao's molten-gold eyes once again filled with curiosity as they turned toward the floating stairways leading to the higher floors, glowing with a faint azure radiance, did Lin Xia step forward at the perfect moment.
"Teacher."
His clear voice carried a hint of playful amusement as it reached Lou Gao's ears.
"This is only the beginning."
Lou Gao abruptly turned around, his thick brows rising.
"Hm? What are you trying to say, brat?"
The smile on Lin Xia's face deepened as he pointed toward the immeasurably high ceiling, which seemed to lead into another world.
"This is only the first floor. It's merely the façade, the 'present' displayed for every visitor to see. The real 'core,' our 'foundation,' and our home are above."
He deliberately paused. Watching the astonishment that had only just begun to settle in Lou Gao's eyes gather once again, he leisurely added,
"How about you follow me and see the upper floors first, then decide whether you want to be shocked?"
His words were filled with absolute confidence, even carrying a hint of playful provocation.
Lou Gao was momentarily speechless.
He looked at the youthful face of his disciple, who had already mastered the art of leadership beyond his years, then glanced back at the first-floor hall that had completely overturned everything he knew.
For the first time, the confidence behind his usual attitude of "I've seen every storm the world has to offer" wavered in the face of this completely unknown "future."
And in its place rose an overwhelming curiosity.
After a moment of silence, his Adam's apple bobbed before he finally waved his hand decisively. His booming voice remained as loud as ever, though now it contained less certainty and far more anticipation.
"You little brat, trying to use reverse psychology on me, huh? Fine! This old man wants to see what other heavenly wonders you've hidden away! Lead the way!"
Lin Xia smiled and made an inviting gesture.
Master and disciple, one calm and composed, the other bold and heroic, stepped onto the streamlined floating staircase that radiated a gentle halo of Soul Power. Under the watchful gazes of countless people filled with awe and curiosity, they ascended toward the unknown higher levels.
Passing through an invisible membrane of energy, the sight before them caused Lou Gao to unconsciously hold his breath once again.
If the first floor was a magnificent museum and marketplace open to the public, then the second floor was completely different.
It was spacious, tranquil, softly illuminated, and possessed an indescribable sense of sacred grandeur.
Although the area was much smaller than the first floor, the ceiling remained just as lofty, making the space feel even more open and majestic.
There were no bustling crowds here.
Only a handful of masters, dressed in special dark-silver uniforms and wearing at least Master-level badges upon their chests, worked before enormous operation tables crafted from pure crystal.
Some were completely absorbed in calculating intricate energy circuit blueprints.
Others carefully assembled microscopic components, almost invisible to the naked eye, using delicate Soul Tool tweezers.
The air carried a precise scent, blending the cool fragrance of rare metals with the pure aura of energy crystals.
Very few items were displayed here.
Yet every single one was treated like a sacred relic, enclosed within its own independent Soul Tool barrier that shimmered with light corresponding to a different attribute.
"This is the Hall of Essences."
Lin Xia introduced it softly. His voice echoed clearly throughout the quiet space.
"It is reserved solely for the storage, research, and manufacture of the finest, most advanced, or completely unique Soul Tools and alloys. Entry is restricted to core members of Master rank or above, as well as specially authorized guests."
Lou Gao did not respond.
His attention had already been completely captured by the treasures within the barriers.
Barrier One (Ice Blue): A nearly transparent suit of soft armor, as thin as cicada wings, floated silently inside. Upon closer inspection, countless delicate liquid energy patterns flowed across its surface, sometimes condensing into fine scales and at other times spreading like a galaxy. The information display beside it identified it as the Starlight Soft Scale Armor.
Barrier Two (Blazing Gold): Instead of a finished artifact, it contained a mass of crimson-gold liquid metal constantly rolling and fusing within a special force field. It seemed almost alive, transforming into a razor-sharp blade one moment and a sturdy shield the next. The intense heat it emitted distorted the air even outside the protective barrier.
Barrier Three (Emerald Green): A fist-sized emerald crystal radiating dense life energy. Deep within the crystal, it appeared as though an entire miniature forest had been sealed.
Barrier Four (Dark Violet): Instead of a physical object, it displayed an extraordinarily intricate three-dimensional design projection. At its center slowly rotated a dark-violet tetrahedral crystal no larger than a walnut.
Every single item represented the pinnacle of Soul Tool technology and forging craftsmanship in its respective field.
They were no longer products for sale.
They were the crystallization of craftsmanship and the seeds of the future.
Lou Gao's molten-gold pupils contracted violently. As a Divine Blacksmith, every instinct within him had been completely ignited.
Subconsciously, he stepped toward the crimson liquid metal that churned within its barrier. His fingers traced its movements through the air outside the protective shield as he muttered to himself.
"Active properties, self-repair, Divine Flame characteristics.This, how did they balance the material's malleability and toughness? And the energy conduction circuits."
He became utterly immersed in it, seemingly forgetting the passage of time, until Lin Xia gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Teacher, the Materials Research Institute has a dedicated section on the top floor. Senior Brother Silong is currently in charge there. He can give you a detailed report later."
He smiled faintly.
"Shall we continue?"
Lou Gao finally came back to his senses.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly tore his gaze away from those mesmerizing creations and looked toward the staircase leading to the third floor.
The look in his eyes was no longer merely one of astonishment.
It now carried the solemn reverence of a pilgrim approaching a sacred sanctuary.
He nodded, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Let's go."
The entrance to the third floor was even more imposing, its massive doors engraved with intricate reliefs of intertwined stars and gears.
The moment the doors opened, a completely different wave of noise and heat washed over them.
Unlike the bustling liveliness of the first floor, however, the "heat" here carried an air of sophistication, restrained yet simmering with excitement.
What entered Lou Gao's sight was an enormous circular amphitheater.
Its scale far surpassed the exhibition hall on the first floor.
At its center floated a circular display platform suspended in midair, constructed entirely from high-strength transparent Soul Tool crystal.
Beneath the platform, hundreds of comfortable individual seats were arranged in neat rows.
Every seat was occupied by elegantly dressed guests of extraordinary bearing. They conversed quietly among themselves, their eyes fixed intently upon the platform suspended above.
---
For additional chapter's
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu