Master and disciple sat facing the preliminary armor framework blueprint, along with several pieces of special metal prepared for testing soul power conduction. More often than not, they would remain seated for half a day at a time, brows tightly furrowed, arguing endlessly.
"No good. Ordinary metal can't withstand continuous soul power impact, it'll collapse…"
"This energy node is in the wrong position. Soul power will bottleneck as soon as it reaches here…"
"The linkage mechanism driving the joints is too complex. It affects flexibility and consumes far too much soul power…"
"The core! The key is the energy core! We need a medium capable of stably storing and releasing soul power—something similar to… a soul bone? But how do we integrate it with metal? How do we control the output…?"
After more than ten days of research, both of them had practically torn out handfuls of hair. At most, they had only gained a pitiful bit of insight into the basic fusion of soul power and metal materials, as well as the preliminary realization of a few simple energy nodes.
That grand vision of a Soul Tool Mecha still felt like a mirage beautiful, yet unattainable.
That evening, the master and disciple finally set aside the headache-inducing Soul Tool research. Together with Si Di and several senior brothers, as well as Larvitar, they enjoyed dinner at a stone table in the rear courtyard.
The table was filled with carefully prepared dishes from the Association's cafeteria, their aroma rich and enticing. Larvitar hugged its exclusive piece of Violet Lightning Iron Ore, chewing away happily. The atmosphere was rare and relaxed.
Lin Xia had just picked up a piece of meat, about to put it into his mouth.
Suddenly
Without any warning, without the sound of footsteps, the open space beside the stone table distorted and dimmed as if soaked in invisible ink.
A cold, profound aura one that seemed to pierce straight into the soul, instantly spread throughout the entire courtyard!
"Cough!!"
Lou Gao had been holding a bowl of hot soup. The moment he sensed that aura, his pupils shrank to pinpoints. With a loud clang, the bowl slipped from his hands and crashed onto the stone table. Scalding soup splashed all over him, yet he felt none of it.
Lou Gao stood up abruptly.
His face was filled with extreme shock and reverence, there was even a trace of disbelief.
Staring fixedly at the figure slowly condensing within the distorted light, a person completely shrouded in a wide black robe, facial features indistinct, he bowed without hesitation, performing an extremely solemn salute. His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.
"G-Greetings… Ghost Douluo, Your Excellency!"
Si Di and the others reacted instantly as well. Their faces turned deathly pale as they hurriedly set down their bowls and chopsticks, bowing deeply along with their master, scarcely daring to breathe.
A Titled Douluo!
And one of the most unfathomable and elusive powerhouses within the Martial Soul Hall Ghost Douluo!
Why would he suddenly appear here?!
Lin Xia's heart sank heavily, his chopsticks freezing midair.
He quickly set them down, suppressing the storm raging in his chest.
Ghost Douluo!
An Elder of the Martial Soul Hall, a super powerhouse at the Titled Douluo level!
Bibi Dong's absolute confidant!
Why was he here? Was it because of the Meyers incident? Or… had Senior Brother Silong's efforts failed?
Lin Xia forced himself to remain calm. He stood up swiftly and, following Lou Gao's example, performed a standard junior's salute toward the shadowy figure.
"This junior, Lin Xia, pays his respects to Ghost Douluo, Your Excellency."
Seeing their reactions, Ghost Douluo spoke calmly.
"No need for such formalities."
Ghost Douluo casually waved his hand.
His deep, tangible gaze swept over the disheveled Lou Gao and the respectful Lin Xia, finally settling on Lou Gao as he got straight to the point.
"President Lou Gao, my visit this time is to resolve the matter you described in your letter—regarding the Chief Bishop of the Gengxin City Soul Hall, Meyers Garcia, and his accomplices, who oppressed the innocent, extorted wealth, and severely tarnished the reputation of our Martial Soul Hall."
Ghost Douluo's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried an unquestionable authority and chilling coldness.
"Her Holiness the Pope is extremely enraged by this matter."
His tone grew heavier, and the invisible pressure caused the air itself to seem frozen.
"This one comes fully representing the Pope's will. President, rest assured this investigation will be conducted with the utmost severity and thoroughness. No matter who is involved, anyone with misconduct or who has damaged the Martial Soul Hall's reputation will be punished without mercy. No exceptions!"
Those ironclad words struck like frozen law, finally allowing the weight that had pressed on Lou Gao's heart for so long to fall away. His face immediately flooded with overwhelming excitement and gratitude. His lips moved several times, yet he found himself unable to properly express his thanks.
"Th-Thank you, Your Holiness the Pope! Thank you, Elder Ghost!"
Ghost Douluo gave a slight nod, accepting Lou Gao's gratitude.
Then, that gaze capable of piercing the soul slowly shifted toward Lin Xia.
Under the hood's shadow, an extremely subtle curve seemed to form, like a smile yet one devoid of any warmth.
"Lin Xia."
Ghost Douluo called his name directly, his voice still drifting and ethereal.
"Back then, at the Martial Soul Hall branch in Notting City, the deacon who helped you awaken your martial soul invited you to join the Martial Soul Hall. Yet you declined under the pretext of 'considering it,' did you not?"
Lin Xia's heart jolted violently, a chill running down his spine as cold sweat instantly seeped out across his back.
For a moment, he did not know what to say. He had thought the matter long settled, never expecting it to be investigated after all though, on second thought, it was only natural.
After all, his innate soul power and external martial soul clearly placed him among the ranks of geniuses!
Even Yu Xiaogang could see his potential—there was no reason the Martial Soul Hall would not.
His original refusal had been for a clear purpose: to pursue the Blacksmith Association, a path better suited for growing stronger by consuming ores, and to draw closer to Lou Gao.
Now that it had been exposed face to face, even with his firm resolve, Lin Xia could not help feeling a wave of awkwardness and tension, as if his little calculations had been seen through instantly.
A perfectly timed trace of embarrassment appeared on Lin Xia's face. He lowered his head, his voice tinged with apology.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, that is indeed the case. This junior was… young and ignorant at the time, with narrow horizons, unaware of the vastness of the Martial Soul Hall. I only thought about… about learning a trade…"
Lin Xia quickly glanced at Lou Gao, attributing his decision to turn down the Martial Soul Hall and join the Blacksmith Association to youthful naïveté.
Ghost Douluo looked at him quietly, that intangible gaze seeming to pierce through every layer of Lin Xia's disguise.
The atmosphere in the rear courtyard once again grew oppressive. Only Larvitar seemed to sense the danger, it stopped chewing on its ore, its crimson eyes fixed warily on Ghost Douluo's figure, letting out a low, warning-filled "Lar…"
Just as the pressure on Lin Xia grew heavier and heavier, his heartbeat pounding like a drum, Ghost Douluo's drifting voice sounded again, breaking the silence.
"There is no need to fear, nor is there a need to explain."
Ghost Douluo's tone seemed to soften ever so slightly, though it remained cold.
"Choices made in the past have their reasons. This one has not come to hold you accountable."
Ghost Douluo paused faintly, his gaze sweeping over Lou Gao and Lin Xia.
"Now, the Blacksmith Association has resolved to submit to the Martial Soul Hall. Bishop Salas is currently conducting a full-scale purge of corruption in Gengxin City. Before long, this matter will be formally announced."
At last, Ghost Douluo's gaze settled on Lin Xia. The shadow beneath the hood carried an inscrutable meaning.
"As President Lou Gao's personally accepted disciple, you are naturally a member of our Martial Soul Hall as well. Past matters need not be mentioned again. From this point onward, loyalty to the Martial Soul Hall will suffice."
"A member of the Martial Soul Hall…"
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