Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 47 Unique Soul Power Patterns!?

"Loyalty to the Spirit Hall?"

Lin Xia silently pondered these words, her eyes filled with a hint of detachment and indifference.

Lin Xia acknowledged that the existence of the Spirit Hall had a positive impact on the continent's order and was grateful for the awakening of the Notting City branch.

But would they completely bind themselves to the Spirit Hall's war chariot and become its loyal henchmen?
That's impossible.

His goal has always been to grow stronger through the unique path of "eating ore" and to explore the limits of power with Larva, ultimately possessing absolute power that allows him to look down on everything.

Joining the Spirit Hall, and even potentially leveraging its power and resources in the future, is merely a matter of cooperation and utilization. It's simply about finding a temporary protective umbrella for the Blacksmith Association and for oneself before one grows stronger.

loyalty?

That was about sticking to one's own path, not sacrificing oneself for an organization.

"Xiao Xia?"

A soft call, tinged with complex emotions, pulled Lin Xia back to her senses.

Lin Xia turned her head and saw that her teacher, Lou Gao, was still standing in the same place, his brows furrowed. His usually bold and ruddy face now looked somewhat ashen and bewildered.

Lou Gao unconsciously rubbed the hem of his craftsman's robe, which was stained with soup, his eyes wandering as he stared in the direction where the ghost had disappeared. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words. He was enveloped in an indescribable, strange atmosphere.

"Teacher, what's wrong with you?"

Lin Xia asked with concern, walking over to Lou Gao's side.

Lin Xia could sense the intense turmoil within her teacher, far from the calm that appeared on the surface.

Lou Gao sighed heavily, a sigh filled with six years of repression, the bewilderment of a sudden change, and a trace of indescribable loss.

Lou Gao looked up at Lin Xia with a complicated expression.

"Sigh...it just feels...something's weird! Very weird!"

Lou Gao scratched his thick beard hard.

"I...I have been fighting against Miles and his Spirit Hall lackeys in this Gengjin City for a full six years! Six years!"

"Openly and secretly, I felt frustrated, angry, and wary... I was on tenterhooks every day, afraid that they would find an excuse to swallow up or destroy the association!"

"This anger, this resentment, is stuck in my chest, it's making this old man almost sick with worry!"

Lou Gao paused, his tone carrying a strong sense of absurdity.

"And what happened? A letter was sent up, the Pope was furious, and he immediately sent down a Title Douluo, saying that he would deal with them severely? Those guys who rode on our heads and acted like bullies are going to be dealt with by their own people in the blink of an eye?"

"The Blacksmiths' Association is going to be affiliated with the Spirit Hall? This...this change is too fast! So fast that I...I can't quite process it!"

"It's like...like throwing a punch, and before you even touch them, they're already down, and then they say they want to become sworn brothers with you? That feeling...is just so damn awkward!"

Lou Gao slapped his forehead hard, as if trying to shake off the feeling of unreality.

"In all my years, I've never encountered anything so... so dramatic! I've disliked them for six years, been on guard for six years, and suddenly they're one of my own? There's something... something unsettling about this!"

Lin Xia listened carefully and nodded in understanding. Lou Gao's feelings were very real; the ingrained mindset formed by long-term hostility and oppression could not be reversed overnight.

Lin Xia comforted her:
“Teacher, I understand your feelings. But from another perspective, this just proves that our previous judgment was correct—the actions of people like Miles are fundamentally unacceptable and completely violate the will of the Spirit Hall's higher-ups, at least His Holiness the Pope. Our choice to submit this petition is to seek justice and also to prevent a more intense conflict from escalating prematurely.”

Lin Xia's tone became serious.

"Think about it, if we let Miles continue like this, his appetite will only grow bigger and his methods will only become more and more despicable. What will happen when he finally breaks all pretense of civility, or when the association can no longer tolerate it and a conflict erupts?"

"In order to maintain the authority of the Holy Temple Bishop, the Spirit Hall is very likely to choose to suppress the association even if it knows he is wrong!"

"The worst possible outcome would be a bloodbath and utter destruction. The way we've resolved this is... strange, but it's the least costly and most effective solution. At least the association is safe, and the disciples and craftsmen can live in peace."

Lou Gao listened silently, his calloused hands unconsciously stroking the cold stone tabletop.

Lin Xia's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the awkward heat in his heart.

Thinking of the exploited artisans, the materials forcibly requisitioned from the association's warehouse, and Miles's despicable face... Yes, compared to the real humiliation and the potential disasters to come, what is this psychological discomfort?

Lou Gao let out another heavy sigh, as if to release all the pent-up frustration of the past six years. The bewilderment and confusion on his face were gradually replaced by a sense of relief and exhaustion.

Lou Gao shook his head, his voice becoming much lower.

"Alright, alright... You're right, kid. What's meant to be will be. As long as I can protect the livelihoods and safety of everyone in the association, my little quirks are nothing!"

Lou Gao waved his hand, clearly not wanting to dwell on the issue any longer and simply wanting his chaotic thoughts to settle down as soon as possible.

Just then, Lin Xia keenly noticed the dark silver spatial soul tool ring on the ring finger of her left hand. A glint flashed in her eyes, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, she said directly:
"Teacher, look at my storage ring."

Lou Gao subconsciously followed Lin Xia's finger and looked in that direction.

Lin Xia continued:
"You mean we've been racking our brains in the forging room for the past ten days or so, staring at those materials, but we just can't figure out the core drive for the soul-guided mecha?"

“Our forging techniques are fine; the Thousand-Folding Metal Hand is capable of handling the most delicate metal components, and our understanding of soul power far surpasses that of ordinary blacksmiths. So, where exactly is the key point…?”

Lou Gao was instantly pulled back to the area that both excited and troubled him by Lin Xia's question.

Lou Gao frowned again and shook his head in distress.

"Yes! Metal fusion, structural design, power transmission... I think I've got it all figured out, but... I'm just missing that final push!"

“When soul power is poured in, it either dissipates, clashes, or becomes lifeless, without any sense of ‘coming alive’! It’s like… like there’s a missing bridge for the soul power to ‘communicate’ with the machine…”

Lin Xia's fingers lightly touched the faint, intricate, and mysterious silver patterns on the surface of the ring, her voice clear and firm.

"Teacher, look at this—these unique soul power patterns!"

"Textures?"

Lou Gao was taken aback, his gaze instantly focusing on Lin Xia's ring.

He had seen the fine, spiderweb-like patterns that shimmered with a faint light countless times, but he had never associated them with that magnificent mecha concept.

Lin Xia's revelation at this moment was like a lightning bolt cleaving through the fog!

(End of this chapter)