Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 96 The Western Desert, Choosing the Second Soul Ring!

Inside the scorching mine, the air felt like solidified magma.

Deep within the Norton Volcano, Lin Xia and Young Kiras spent three extraordinary days with their teacher, Lou Gao, who had just completed the first stage of the Phoenix God Trial, "Burning in Fire," and undergone a complete transformation.

These three days were a time of consolidation, farewell, and, more importantly, a handover of the torch.

Lin Xia eagerly absorbed Lou Gao's insights and sharing of newfound power, martial spirit, and deeper understanding of the Phoenix Divine Mark after his rebirth.

He was no longer merely an observer, but rather, through the essence of Lou Gao's lifelong craftsmanship imprinted deep within his soul, he attempted to understand and simulate the forging intent of the "Phoenix Divine Chisel" that had merged with divine fire.

He practiced repeatedly the "finger carving of minerals" technique that he had demonstrated in front of his teacher that day. Although his soul power was weak and his skills were immature, the charm that originated from Lou Gao's marrow had begun to emerge.

He even combined Lou Gao's experience with his advanced knowledge to conduct a deeper deduction and refinement of the sketches for the design of future soul guide devices, especially that epoch-making soul guide mecha.

Young Gilas was completely immersed in the small mountain of minerals "gifted" by the Phoenix God.

These associated minerals, containing pure fire attributes and solar essence energy, are an excellent supplement for it, which possesses rock/ground attributes but unexpectedly gained the talent for fire manipulation due to the Phoenix Divine Mark.

The crunching sounds of the molten lava shell became almost the background noise in the mine. Under the continuous nourishment of energy, its dark lava shell became increasingly lustrous, and the crimson-gold phoenix runes flowing between the shell's crevices became clearer and brighter, occasionally even sparking tiny sparks.

Its small body contains a surging power, like a small volcano about to erupt.

"Alright, Xia, little one."

Lou Gao's loud voice broke the focused atmosphere.

His imposing physique resembled a newly cast statue of a god, his dark gold skin exuding a powerful aura, and his eyes sharp and resolute.

"Three days is enough time to see, to say, and to practice what needs to be done. My five years of 'forging my soul in the furnace' have only just begun; I cannot afford to be lazy or distracted. And you..."

Lou Gao looked at Lin Xia with eyes full of trust and expectation.

"You've reached the bottleneck of level 20. You won't find a suitable spirit beast for your second spirit ring in this volcanic area. Your path lies outside, in a wider and more dangerous world."

Lin Xia put away the metal plate containing the complex soul-guiding structure sketch he was working on, and nodded solemnly. He walked to the tower and bowed deeply.

"Teacher, please rest assured and continue your seclusion here. During the five-year period, your disciple will do his utmost to live up to your teachings and the opportunity bestowed upon him by the Phoenix God."

"On the path of soul tools, your disciple will continue in your place, and for our shared dream. When you have mastered your divine skills, your disciple will come to fetch you from the mountain!"

"Yoji!"

Young Gilas put down the half-eaten red crystal ore, ran to Lin Xia's feet, barked at Lou Gao, and wagged its little tail as if saying goodbye.

A hint of satisfaction and pride flashed in Lou Gao's eyes. He patted Lin Xia's shoulder forcefully, the force causing Lin Xia to sway slightly, yet he felt incredibly secure.

"Alright! Remember, no matter what happens, survive and become stronger! Your martial soul is special, so you must be extremely careful when choosing your spirit rings! Go!"

Without any further emotional words, Lin Xia took another deep look at her teacher, as if trying to etch the image of this revitalized master craftsman into her mind.

He bent down and picked up the heavy, scorching hot young Gilas. He took one last look at the magical mine that had changed their fate, and the brilliant vein flowing with liquid solar essence. He resolutely turned around and strode out along the passage he had come from.

Stepping out of the crater, a wave of scorching heat hits you, but compared to the lingering power of the divine fire deep inside the mine, it's like a gentle breeze.

The distinctive sulfurous smell and dark reddish-brown earth of the far south volcanic belt once again came into view.

Lin Xia didn't turn around. He knew that his teacher's divine sense might be watching this place, but he also knew that he had to forge his own path ahead.

He took out the detailed leather map provided by Lou Gao, which marked the dangerous areas of the mainland. His fingertips traced the crimson volcanic cluster markers representing their current location, heading west until they finally stopped at a vast area rendered in a withered yellow and marked with countless tiny swirling symbols—the far western desert.

"The far western desert... a place where wind and sand form bones, where death and opportunity coexist..."

Lin Xia murmured to herself, a determined light flashing in her dark golden pupils.

"King of the Sandstorm Worms...you are it!"

This was a target he had already set his sights on.

A unique soul beast that exists only in the deepest part of the western desert, in the desolate land of quicksand.

It is not a powerful predator in the traditional sense, but rather a "scavenger" and "shaper" of the desert.

Its core capabilities are the ability to control sandstorms, shape quicksand, and possess unparalleled sand defense and regeneration power.

These abilities perfectly align with the development direction of Lin Xia's martial soul—stronger environmental control, more resilient defense, and more unpredictable attack methods.

Absorbing its spirit ring could very likely grant Lin Xia the characteristic he had always wanted: the power of sand!
With her goal clear, Lin Xia no longer hesitated.

He placed the young Kiras on the ground, and the little guy immediately bounced around excitedly, seemingly also looking forward to leaving the sweltering volcano.

Lin Xia took a deep breath, determined the direction, and, with Young Gilas in tow, plunged into the vast outer perimeter of the volcanic cluster, heading west, beginning a long and arduous trek.

The journey across the edge of the volcanic zone took more than ten days.

The rugged lava landscape, the lurking hot springs and poisonous swamps, and the fire-attribute soul beasts adapted to the extreme environment all posed considerable challenges.

Lin Xia's level 20 soul power, combined with his increasingly skillful control of sandstorms and his resilient physique tempered by the essence of the sun, is enough to handle most troubles.

If all else fails, Lin Xia also has firearms to clear a path.

We didn't encounter any danger along the way.

After a month and a half of trekking.

As the soil beneath their feet was gradually replaced by coarse yellow sand, and the horizon at the edge of the wilderness turned into an endless expanse of withered yellow, they finally reached the edge of the far western desert.

The moment you step into the desert, the environment changes abruptly.

heat!
The daytime sun poured down without any obstruction, and the sand underfoot was so hot that it burned even through thick-soled boots.

The air distorted in the heatwave, and the distant scenery rippled like water—a deadly mirage.

The wind was no longer a gentle breeze, but a dry desert wind carrying sand and grit, so dry it could suck away all moisture, stinging the face.

cold!
As the massive fireball sank below the horizon, the temperature plummeted at an alarming rate.

The daytime furnace instantly transformed into a bone-chilling ice cellar.

The icy sand seemed to suck away the warmth from the depths of one's soul, and the howling wind, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, whipped up fine sand that lashed against exposed skin, bringing a knife-like chill.

The extreme temperature difference between day and night is the desert's cruelest warning to outsiders.

(End of this chapter)