Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Dai Tianxing reached out his hand with a hint of anticipation, wanting to take the crown. A tiny, golden-white wisp of soul power even gathered at his fingertips—the unique stellar power of the Star Crown Martial Soul. He seemed to want to try to activate the crown and see if he could feel the great power that connects with the stars of the nine heavens again.

At this critical moment!
"Your Majesty, wait!"

Lin Xia's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear and firm, carrying an undeniable sense of urgency, instantly breaking Dai Tianxing's actions.

Dai Tianxing's hand stopped in mid-air, and the soul power light at his fingertips quietly dissipated.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, looked at Lin Xia, and a hint of doubt and displeasure at being interrupted flashed in his eyes.

Lin Xia's heart was pounding in her chest, but her face showed a look of "loyalty" and urgency.

"Your Majesty! Please forgive my overstepping my bounds! Although the crown's appearance has been restored and the core gem has been stabilized, the repair of its internal magic array is still in the crucial energy bridging stage!"

"To rashly inject soul power at this moment, especially Your Majesty's pure and powerful stellar power, could very well destroy the fragile balance that I have painstakingly established!"

"At best, all previous efforts will be wasted, and the core magic array will once again become disordered and collapse. At worst... it may trigger a backlash from the stellar power contained within the gem, with unimaginable consequences!"

Lin Xia's tone was resolute, her eyes filled with worry about the "serious consequences," as if a craftsman was desperately protecting his unfinished masterpiece from being recklessly destroyed.

At the same time, the words subtly emphasized the "backlash of the star power contained within the gem," pointing the potential danger directly at the "Tear of the Star Core" itself, rather than his restoration work.

As Dai Tianxing looked at Lin Xia's anxious and serious expression, the displeasure in his eyes slowly faded.

He was not an unreasonable person, and he understood the complexity and danger of repairing top-level soul tools.

Lin Xia's reasoning sounded reasonable, especially when it involved that incomparably precious gem containing terrifying energy.

The two unusual movements he sensed earlier, one in the mine and one in the Zhu family workshop, could also be explained as fluctuations in unstable energy during the repair process.
"Um……"

Dai Tianxing withdrew his hand and slowly sat back on the Star Throne, his imperial aura slightly diminished.

"It was my haste that led me to do this. When it comes to repairing national treasures, the most important thing is to proceed with caution."

His gaze toward Lin Xia held a hint of approval.

"You are meticulous, that's good."

Dai Tianxing paused, his fingertips twitched slightly, and a stream of light flew out from his sleeve, landing precisely in Lin Xia's hand.

It was an antique-looking key, made entirely of dark gold star gold. A small, constantly rotating nebula emblem was inlaid on the key handle, emitting faint and mysterious spatial fluctuations.

"This is one of the keys to the Imperial Treasury, the 'Starry Sky Treasury'."

Dai Tianxing's voice returned to its previous gentle tone.

"The materials needed for the repair, no matter how rare, are all available in the vault. You may take them yourself. Someone will guide you there shortly."

Dai Tianxing glanced at the list Lin Xia handed him and added:
"As for the items on the list, if there are any items that are temporarily missing from the treasury, you can list them, and I will order people to search for them with all their might and make sure to replenish them as soon as possible. The restoration of the Starry Crown is the most important matter for the empire, and all resources will be given to you first."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

Lin Xia took the keys with both hands; they were cold and heavy to the touch. Suppressing her excitement, she bowed deeply.

The value of this key far surpasses any verbal reward.

This means he will have the opportunity to access the most precious and rare minerals and materials accumulated by the Star Luo Empire over hundreds or even thousands of years!
This is an unparalleled opportunity for his future mecha project, for the development of the Blacksmith Association, and even for paving the way for his own future! "Go."

Dai Tianxing waved his hand, his gaze once again falling on the Starry Crown in Lin Xia's hand, his eyes filled with deep anticipation.

"I await good news. I hope you will live up to my expectations and restore the glory of the nation as soon as possible."

"Your subject will certainly do everything in his power!"

Lin Xia bowed again, and then, guided by an elderly eunuch whose aura was as deep and profound as a bottomless abyss, she grasped the heavy Star Key and turned to leave the Star Crown Hall.

The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind him, shutting out the vast, illusory starry sky.

Lin Xia took a deep breath; the starlight permeating the air seemed to carry the scent of freedom and opportunity.

The young Gilas beside him seemed to sense its master's surging emotions, nuzzling Lin Xia affectionately with its little head and making a low "yoji" sound, its scarlet eyes sparkling with anticipation for the unknown "delicacy".

"go!"

Lin Xia whispered, her voice carrying the excitement and caution of a hunter stepping into a treasure trove.

"Let's go and see just how many 'hard-hitting' treasures the Star Luo Empire has accumulated over hundreds of years are hidden away, treasures that could shake the world!"

Led by silent eunuchs, they passed through heavily guarded corridors and headed towards the "Starry Sky Treasury," the deepest part of the palace protected by a powerful spatial barrier.

Meanwhile, inside the Star Crown Palace behind him, Dai Tianxing sat on his throne, gazing in the direction where Lin Xia had disappeared. The stars that had just faded from his eyes flickered intensely once more. His slender fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of the Star Throne, producing a low, rhythmic sound.

"The crucial link in repairing the magic array... energy backlash..."

He repeated Lin Xia's words in a low voice, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Two clear stellar anomalies... Lin Xia... how many secrets are you still hiding? That gem... was it really just energy loss?"

The emperor's suspicious nature and keen sense of power meant that Lin Xia's plausible explanation did not completely ease his mind. The key to the Starry Sky Treasury was both bait and a test.

He needed to see the final results Lin Xia would produce, and he also needed to gain a deeper understanding of this young man during this period.

The heavy, colossal gate, seemingly forged from the stars themselves, slid silently inward, revealing a crack, after Lin Xia inserted the Star Key into its core.

There is no dazzling golden light, nor an overwhelming sense of luxury. Instead, there is an extremely restrained sense of tranquility, which is imbued with the weight of time and power, like the breath of a sleeping behemoth, carrying a hint of the primal scent of cold metal and minerals.

"Master Lin, please."

The old eunuch who was leading Lin Xia turned to the side, his voice low and calm. Behind him, two treasure vault guards, dressed in dark star-patterned armor and exuding an aura as deep as an abyss, stood like statues on either side of the door.

Their gazes were sharp as hawks, fixed firmly on Lin Xia. Their eyes were not hostile, but rather a pure, emotionless scrutiny and vigilance, ensuring that every move of the entrant was under their control.

Lin Xia took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anticipation and a hint of caution in her heart, and stepped across the threshold that symbolized the Star Luo Empire's accumulation over hundreds or even thousands of years.

The moment you step inside, the world seems to switch places abruptly.

The sight that came into view was so shocking that even Lin Xia, who had lived two lives and was well-informed, was deeply shaken. His mind went blank for a moment, and he was frozen in place as if he had been struck by an invisible giant hammer!

"Hiss..." (End of Chapter)