Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 51: The Ghost has brought Miles?
Lou Gao pointed at Young Gilas, who was pushing the ore around with his little claws and was clearly in low spirits.

Lin Xia looked at the teacher's expression—clearly wanting to go but too embarrassed to say so directly, and even using Young Gilas as a shield—and then recalled his earlier stern warning about the dangers of going down into the mine, and suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

Lin Xia deliberately dragged out her words, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Oh? Prospecting? Teacher~ Didn’t you say before that going into the mine is very dangerous, especially those rare unexploited mineral deposits, with unstable geology, complex mine tunnels, and possibly powerful earth-attribute soul beasts? I remember it very clearly.”

Lou Gao's face turned even redder, like a boiled shrimp, after being choked by Lin Xia's words.

He stiffened his neck, forced himself to remain calm, and waved his muscular arm, trying to regain the dignity of a master craftsman.

"Cough! That...that was for your past! Back then, your soul power was weak and you had no experience, so it was certainly dangerous for you to go mining alone! Now it's different!"

"With me personally accompanying you, how could anything happen to you? Do you think I'm all that tough for nothing?"

"Is my Soul Saint cultivation just for show? Don't worry! With your teacher here, you'll be safe and sound!"

The towering building thumped its chest, shaking so much that dust fell from the forging suits.

Seeing the teacher's awkward and somewhat endearingly evasive demeanor, Lin Xia's initial teasing dissipated.

Lin Xia understood that Lou Gao's enthusiasm for researching soul tools had been completely ignited, and that this mineral exploration was imperative, and indeed the only way to solve the material shortage.

Lin Xia put away her joke and said seriously:

"Teacher is right. I did not consider this carefully before. With you personally protecting me, the danger of this mining exploration has been greatly reduced."

“Young Gilas has been talking about going out to forage for a long time. It’s probably tired of eating our stockpiles all the time, and it can’t just keep going out without bringing in anything. When shall we set off?”

Upon hearing Lin Xia's agreement, Lou Gao's embarrassment was instantly replaced by immense joy, his face glowing red, as if he had become ten years younger.

"Haha! Good! That's my good apprentice! So sensible! Let's go right now! I'll go prepare the prospecting tools and supplies! You pack your things, take this little guy with you, we're..."

Before Lou Gao could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the forge, followed by Si Di's slightly nervous voice piercing through the heavy metal door.

"Teacher! Teacher! Are you there? I have something urgent to report!"

Lou Gao's voice was interrupted, his brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't yet realize the seriousness of the situation, and replied somewhat impatiently:
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? Your master is discussing important matters with your junior brother!"

Outside the door, Sisi's voice, tinged with obvious awe and a barely perceptible tremor, clearly stated:

"Reporting to the teacher! It's...it's His Majesty Ghost Douluo! He's come in person! He's in the front hall right now! And...and he...he's brought Bishop Miles with him too!"

"Miles?!"

Lou Gao and Lin Xia both gasped in shock.

Lou Gao's excitement froze instantly, replaced by incredulous astonishment.

Lou Gao suddenly looked at Lin Xia, his eyes full of questions.

Lin Xia was also shocked. Ghost had actually brought Miles here in person?
Are they here to demand an explanation?

Or... a trial?
"Your Majesty Ghost Douluo... is he with Miles?"

Lou Gao subconsciously repeated it, as if trying to make sure he hadn't misheard.

"Yes, teacher!"

"That's what C'estbon said with certainty."

“Bishop Miles… he… he looks terrible. He’s being held captive by two deacons from the Spirit Hall, his aura is weak, and his soul power fluctuations seem to be… sealed!”

The air inside the forging chamber seemed to freeze. Lou Gao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and quickly regained the composure befitting a master craftsman.

Lou Gao glanced at Lin Xia, whose expression was equally grave, and said in a deep voice:

"Okay, we're on our way!"

Lou Gao quickly gave Lin Xia instructions in a low voice.

"Stay calm and act according to the situation. Remember, some things must never be revealed!"

Lin Xia nodded solemnly, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over the spatial soul tool ring where she stored the gun.

Young Gilas seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere, stopped playing, and quietly lay down at Lin Xia's feet, its scarlet eyes warily looking towards the door.

Lou Gao straightened his craftsman's robe, which was soaked with sweat and splattered with soup, trying to make it look more presentable. Then he took a deep breath and reached out to pull open the heavy metal door that separated the forging room from the noise of the outside world.

Outside the door, Sisi was waiting anxiously.

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance, then stepped out and headed towards the front hall of the blacksmiths' association.

As Lin Xia and his companions stepped into the Blacksmith Association's spacious yet somewhat cluttered front hall, a chilling and stern atmosphere instantly enveloped them, overshadowing the original smoky and metallic smells.

All the apprentice craftsmen had long been dismissed, and only a few figures remained in the vast hall.

The most jarring sight was Miles kneeling in the center.

The once arrogant and domineering bishop of the Martial Soul Temple, who used to lord it over Gengjin City, now looked utterly disheveled.

The magnificent Soul Master's robe was torn askew and covered in dust, and his meticulously styled hair was disheveled and stuck to his sweaty forehead.

With his hands tied behind his back and his wrists fastened with shackles that shimmered with the light of a soul power restriction, his powerful soul power fluctuations were completely locked off, making him as weak as a candle in the wind.

The arrogance on Miles' face was gone, replaced by an intense resentment and anger, his eyes that had once been filled with calculation and greed.

He stared intently at the smooth floor tiles, as if trying to burn them through, his teeth grinding together, his body trembling slightly from extreme humiliation and fear.

Behind him stood two Soul Masters dressed in the uniforms of Spirit Hall deacons, their faces expressionless, their eyes sharp as eagles, fixed firmly on Miles.

And in front of them, the figure shrouded in a wide black robe was none other than Ghost Douluo, Ghost Phantom.

Lou Gao felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

"Your Majesty, Ghost Douluo!"

Lin Xia and Si Di followed suit, bowing and greeting them.

"Chairman Lou Gao."

The ghostly, icy voice rang out, like a drop of cold spring water falling into a deep pool, without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.

Ghost ignored Miles kneeling on the ground, as if he were just an insignificant piece of trash, and fixed its gaze directly on Lou Gao.

"The Spirit Hall has investigated the matter thoroughly."

The ghostly voice echoed clearly in the empty hall, each word carrying undeniable weight.

“Miles Garcia and his cronies have abused their power, embezzled public funds, and oppressed the innocent. The evidence is conclusive, and they have seriously desecrated the honor and reputation of the Spirit Hall.”

The ghostly figure paused, its deep gaze seemingly sweeping across the entire front hall of the blacksmiths' guild, before continuing:
“Such parasites are unforgivable. I have come here to inform the president that I will personally escort this person back to the Papal Palace for His Holiness the Pope to judge and convict him.”

(End of this chapter)