Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 140 Dai Tianxing!
Lin Xia nodded, put away the meteorite fragment in her hand, and picked up Young Giras.

"I'm not in a hurry for the benefits. I'd rather see the legendary Starry Crown as soon as possible and see if it's really as magical as the rumors say."

Lin Xia spoke casually, but a burning desire was hidden deep in his eyes—the secrets of the soul-guiding array and the enormous energy contained in the core gem that could potentially awaken the mecha were his ultimate goals for this trip.

"See you soon."

Zhu Yu smiled slightly, said no more, and turned to lead the way.

The carriage was already prepared, pulled by two magnificent spirit beasts with snow-white manes. The interior was covered with soft snow-white carpets and exuded a faint, calming fragrance.

The carriage moved smoothly and swiftly away from the Zhu residence, passing through the bustling streets of Gengjin City, and heading towards the magnificent architectural complex in the city center that symbolized the supreme power of Xingluo.

As the majestic outline of the Star Luo Imperial Palace rose from the ground into view, even Lin Xia, with her resolute will, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight before her.

The entire palace is not simply a pile of bricks and stones, but rather composed of countless huge pieces of star rock that have been precisely cut and infused with energy using soul guidance technology.

The walls are not a monotonous gray and white, but rather have a deep, cosmic, starry background with countless fine runes flowing across them, like the trajectories of stars.

The enormous archway resembles a rift in the starry sky, its edges shimmering with eternal starlight.

The palace's eaves and brackets are inlaid with countless star stones of varying sizes, which refract sunlight during the day and are dazzling. At night, it must be as if the entire starry sky has been brought to earth.

A strange energy fluctuation permeated the air, cool and vast, carrying the pressure of stars, completely different from the pure metallic and fiery heat of Gengjin City.

The ground is not paved with ordinary stone slabs, but with a kind of warm and smooth jade-like material called "Starry Jade" that contains starlight. Stepping on it feels like walking on a solidified sea of ​​stars.

Young Gilas perched on Lin Xia's shoulder, its scarlet eyes wide open warily, a low gurgling sound emanating from its throat. It instinctively felt a sense of unease about the vast environment brimming with powerful energy, and the dark gold dragon mark on its chest was slightly warm, as if resisting the omnipresent pressure of the stars.

Zhu Yu keenly noticed the subtle reactions of Lin Xia and Young Gilas, a reserved smile playing on her lips, a smile that appeared unfathomable under the starlight.

"How about it? Little one, the 'Starry Sky Palace' of the Star Luo Imperial Palace is much more... pleasing to the eye than your blacksmith's guild's forge, isn't it?"

She paused, then said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Are you interested in staying? With your talent and status as a disciple of the Divine Craftsman, His Majesty will surely treat you well. Or... recognize me as your godmother, and no one in this palace will dare to mistreat you in the slightest."

Lin Xia withdrew her slightly "amazed" gaze, suppressing her calm assessment of the vast resources and power behind this extravagance. She then feigned childlike helplessness, spreading her hands and saying:
“Sister Zhu Yu, please stop joking with me. My master is traveling all over the world and his return date is uncertain. Such an important matter must be discussed with him after his return. Right now, I'm only thinking about doing the job I promised His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu's eyes flashed with understanding, but her smile remained unchanged.

"Indeed, the opinion of the master craftsman is naturally important."

Zhu Yu had only casually inquired, but he knew that Lin Xia was determined and far more than an ordinary child. He didn't mind the expected polite refusal and didn't say anything more, but simply led Lin Xia to continue forward.

Passing through layers of starlight portals driven by soul power, and bypassing the misty spiritual energy emanating from rare plants that permeated the corridors and waterside pavilions, the guards along the way were all clad in armor, their auras deep and their eyes sharp as eagles.

Finally, they stopped in front of a particularly magnificent hall. The plaque above the hall's entrance was cast in starlight gold, and the three ancient and vigorous characters flowed with a rich starlight.

"Starlight Hall".

The palace doors slid silently open to both sides, releasing a purer and more powerful stellar energy mixed with an indescribable sense of majesty. The palace's dome was extremely high, seemingly connected directly to the cosmos, and the star gems inlaid on it formed a real star map that slowly rotated.

The massive pillars supporting the main hall are carved from a single piece of starstone, with intricate and dazzling circuits engraved on their surfaces, flowing with a liquid starlight-like brilliance.

The starlight jade ground beneath your feet is so smooth it reflects the star map on the dome, making walking on it feel like strolling through the Milky Way.

At the far end of the main hall, atop nine tiers of star jade steps, stood a colossal throne carved from a single massive star core crystal. Seated atop the throne was a figure.

It was Dai Tianxing, the ruler of the Star Luo Empire.

He was not wearing an elaborate dragon robe, but rather a simple yet exceptionally high-quality black casual dress, embroidered with a star crown and a spirit cat totem in dark gold thread, understated yet dignified.

He looked to be around forty years old, with a resolute face, features as if carved by a knife and axe, sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards into his temples, a high nose bridge, and tightly pursed lips, exuding an air of authority and profundity that comes from long-held positions of power.

What is most unsettling are his eyes, as deep as an endless starry sea, seemingly able to see into people's hearts, and beneath their calm surface lies a vast power that controls the fate of billions of living beings.

Just by being swept by his gaze, ordinary people would feel their souls tremble and would involuntarily want to submit.

At this moment, the emperor who controlled the vast empire was looking at Lin Xia, who had just stepped into the palace.

Lin Xia felt a slight chill run down her spine.

This was the first time he had faced the Star Luo Emperor so closely.

During Zhu Zhuqing's awakening ceremony, he only caught a glimpse of her from afar and felt a kind of collective pressure.

At that moment, that gaze, like the tangible gravity of stars, pressed down heavily, attempting to penetrate his childlike appearance and peer into the secrets deep within his soul.

This oppressive aura was even more aggressive than Zhu Yu's profound and unfathomable nature, filled with the domineering power and desire for control of an emperor.

However, Lin Xia's back remained ramrod straight.

Young Gilas sensed its master's emotions and let out a very low, warning hiss. The dragon mark on its chest suddenly lit up with a barely perceptible halo, and an unyielding will from ancient dragon blood quietly spread, relieving some of the pressure on Lin Xia.

More importantly, Lin Xia's mind flashed back to the supreme divine might he felt when facing the projection of the Phoenix God in the Dragon Tomb—a might that burned the heavens and looked down upon eternity!

Compared to the terrifying pressure of the Phoenix God, which seemed capable of instantly evaporating souls and freezing time and space, the mental pressure exerted by Dai Tianxing at this moment, although incomparably powerful enough to inspire awe even in Title Douluos, was fundamentally different, like a mountain compared to the stars of the universe.

Lin Xia's gaze did not waver in the slightest. Her dark golden pupils remained clear, carrying a hint of childlike curiosity, but more so an almost transcendent calmness.

Lin Xia bowed slightly, performing a respectful but not servile gesture.

"Lin Xia, from the Gengjin City Blacksmiths Association, greets His Majesty the Emperor."

The voice was clear and resonant, echoing in the vast and magnificent hall without trembling in the slightest.

(End of this chapter)