Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 33 Joining the Spirit Hall? Preparing to Hunt Souls!

A long time, a long time.

Lou Gao slowly opened his eyes.

The pain, struggle, and confusion in his eyes receded like the tide, eventually settling into an almost tragic determination.

It was as if an invisible mountain had collapsed in his heart, but new pillars were standing strong amidst the ruins.

Lou Gao took a deep breath, the sound of which was long and heavy, as if he wanted to inhale the entire metallic smell of Gengjin City into his lungs.

Lou Gao looked at Lin Xia with an extremely complex expression, a mixture of relief, emotion, and helplessness, but ultimately, only resolute determination remained.

"……perhaps,"

Lou Gao's voice was unusually hoarse, yet it carried a do-or-die power.

"Perhaps... you are right."

Lou Gao raised his rough, large hand and pressed it heavily on Lin Xia's shoulder, the force as heavy as a mountain, conveying a silent trust and entrustment.

"For the association...for the millions of mouths that depend on this line of work..."

Lou Gao's gaze passed over Lin Xia and looked towards the front yard of the association, as if penetrating the wall and seeing those anxious craftsmen.

"These old bones, this meager reputation, and... this bit of brotherhood..."

Lou Gao's voice lowered, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, before rising sharply again, becoming resolute and decisive.

"It's nothing!"

Lou Gao's last sentence, "It's nothing anymore," carries a sense of weariness after unloading a heavy burden, yet also contains a do-or-die determination.

The complex light in his eyes eventually settled, transforming into a calmness that Lin Xia had never seen before, imbued with a heavy sense of responsibility.

Lin Xia looked at the teacher's slightly hunched but still upright back, and her Adam's apple bobbed.

Lin Xia wanted to tell his teacher that things might not be as tragic and complicated as he thought. Joining the Spirit Hall to seek protection was not a betrayal, but for the survival of more people.

But Lin Xia ultimately didn't say it.

Lin Xia understood that standing in this high position, bearing the weight of his friendship with Titan, the responsibility for the safety of hundreds of people in the association, and his decades-long commitment to fighting against the local forces of the Spirit Hall, making this decision at this moment was tantamount to tearing apart the beliefs he had held dear. The torment and sense of abandonment he felt were far heavier than he had imagined.

That was not a simple "cooperation," but rather a proactive step into a previously hostile system for the sake of survival and the future.

Lou Gao seemed to sense the heaviness and understanding in Lin Xia's gaze. He turned around, forced a reassuring smile on his face, and patted Lin Xia's shoulder firmly with his large hand, as if to transfer his strength to her.

"Alright, Xia."

Lou Gao's voice regained some of its usual loudness, but with a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness.

"Don't look at your teacher like that. The sky isn't falling! Your teacher isn't senile yet, I know what to do."

Lou Gao paused, his eyes becoming resolute and full of expectation.

“I will write the letter myself and send Si Long with my token and the association’s resolution to Wuhun City in secret to present it directly to His Holiness the Pope.”

"Explain our intentions, and... the current situation of the Spirit Temple in Gengjin City. The news of the Blacksmith Association joining the Spirit Temple system will also be officially announced after the Pope's approval."

Lou Gao's gaze fell on Lin Xia, and his expectation almost materialized.

"What you need to do now is to focus wholeheartedly and grow up quickly! Your talent and your young Gilas are the true hope and foundation of our association's future! Don't let these troublesome things distract you."

Lou Gao changed the subject, a hint of relief and a caring smile typical of a master finally appearing on his face. "Also, I have good news for you. The people we sent out to gather information on the Yellow Storm Rats have returned, confirming the locations of several active rat groups and the approximate activity area of ​​a thousand-year-old leader. Once I've arranged the most crucial communication matters with the Spirit Hall, I'll personally take you there to hunt souls!"

"Yellow Storm Rat!"

Lin Xia's eyes lit up instantly, like stars ignited in the dark night!

The gloom that had been hanging over my heart for the past two days was mostly dispelled by this sudden good news.

Is the difficult yet promising path of his multi-attribute soul ring plan finally about to take its first substantial step?
An overwhelming surge of excitement and gratitude welled up inside me.

Lin Xia immediately composed herself, bowed deeply to the towering building, and spoke with genuine excitement in her voice.

"Thank you so much for your thoughtful arrangements, teacher!"

"Alright, alright, why be so polite with the teacher!"

Lou Gao waved his hand dismissively, his face displaying the usual cheerfulness.

"You are my disciple, so helping you obtain the most suitable spirit ring is my duty as your master! Alright, get ready and adjust your state. We'll set off after I finish dealing with my urgent matters!"

After Lou Gao finished speaking, he patted Lin Xia's shoulder heavily again, as if to solidify the promise, then said nothing more, turned and strode away from the backyard.
His back view, though carrying a hint of desperate determination, also seemed to have shed the heavy burden he had been bearing alone for so long, and his steps appeared a little lighter.

The next morning.

As the first rays of sunlight, carrying a metallic sheen, bathed the backyard of the blacksmiths' association, Lou Gao's figure reappeared before Lin Xia.

In stark contrast to yesterday's somber and oppressive atmosphere, Lou Gao's brows still showed a hint of fatigue, but his spirits were noticeably lighter, and there was even a faint smile on his lips—a sense of relief that things were on track.

"Teacher, you are here!"

Lin Xia had already gotten up, and Young Gilas, unusually, wasn't gnawing on the ore. Instead, it stood energetically at his feet, its gray-green scales gleaming in the morning light, with faint purple arcs of electricity flashing around it – the residual lightning energy from its days of feasting on purple lightning iron that it hadn't fully absorbed.

"Um,"

Lou Gao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the fully recovered man and beast, his eyes showing even greater satisfaction, and asked directly:
"How are you feeling? Are you ready?"

"Ready to go at any time!"

Lin Xia's voice was full of fighting spirit.

Gao smiled as he looked at the barely suppressed joy and eagerness in Lin Xia's eyes.

"Last night, Si Long, carrying my handwritten letter and token, secretly set off for Wuhun City under the escort of several skilled men. What happens next is up to the Pope. Now, it's time for us, master and disciple, to get down to business!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xia's heart stirred.

"Teacher, have you already sent someone to the Spirit Hall?"

"Ah."

Lou Gao nodded affirmatively, without elaborating on the details, but his relieved expression showed that he was confident in the arrangement.

"Alright, let's put the matter of the Spirit Hall aside for now. Get your mind back on the present!"

As Lou Gao spoke, he took out a rather detailed map of the mineral veins and wasteland surrounding Gengjin City from an inconspicuous storage soul tool at his waist, and pointed to an area marked with a red circle.

"The Yellow Storm Rat Swarm is located seventy miles southwest of the city, deep within a vast expanse of shifting sands next to a small, long-abandoned hematite mine!"

"Our people have confirmed repeatedly that there are several thousand-year-old Yellow Storm Rats and more than a dozen hundred-year-old Yellow Storm Rats inside, which are perfect for your first spirit ring!"

　At the beginning of the month, I'm begging for votes and requests to continue reading. Thank you, brothers!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)