Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

With a thought, Lin Xia took out a scroll from her storage soul tool.

The scroll is mounted on precious star-patterned silk, with gold emblems of stars symbolizing the royal family inlaid at both ends, exuding a sense of imperial majesty and solemnity.

The scroll unfolded, revealing an official document written in gold ink and stamped with a large jade seal.

Lin Xia didn't say much and directly handed the scroll to Si Long, who was closest to him.

"Look, senior brother. From now on, the good days for our blacksmiths' association are really coming!"

Si Long suspiciously accepted the heavy, exquisitely precious scroll.

The other senior brothers immediately surrounded them, craning their necks.

Si Long took a deep breath, unfurled the scroll, and, under the bright soul-guided lights of the hall, quickly scanned the ornate language and formal official documents.

At first, his eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if he was trying to discern the true intent of this royal document.

Gradually, the muscles in his face began to tense up, and his breathing became heavy.

Then, his eyes widened suddenly, as if he had seen something utterly unbelievable.

The hand holding the scroll, a hand that could easily wield a mighty hammer and was as steady as a rock, began to tremble uncontrollably! The paper made a faint rustling sound in his hand.

"...What...what...what does it say on this?!"

Si Long's voice trembled, hoarse with disbelief. He suddenly looked up at Lin Xia, his eyes filled with extreme shock and a hint of fear that it was all an illusion.

"Within five years... the Empire's procurement... at a 30% premium?! All weapons, armor, and civilian implements?! And... the West Mountain County copper mine, the Black Rock Valley iron mine... a total of ten mines?! The mining rights... the exclusive rights... belong to the Blacksmiths' Guild?!!"

Si Long practically roared it out, each word like a heavy hammer pounding into the silent hall, leaving the other senior brothers completely stunned.

Siyu snatched the scroll away, her eyes practically glued to the paper.

"Boss... Boss, you're not seeing things, are you?! A 30% premium? All categories? Exclusive rights to ten mines?! This... this is unbelievable! Is there really such a good deal in the world?!"

He was so excited that he even blurted out the swear words from his hometown.

Sisi also squeezed over to take a look, repeatedly confirming the jade seal and the format of the writing, her voice trembling.

"It's real... This format, this seal... It can't be faked... But... But how is this possible? When did the Star Luo royal family become so generous?!"

Time seemed to stand still at the entrance of the blacksmiths' association hall.

The men who were once so powerful on the forging platform, who remained unfazed even when faced with molten iron, were now frozen in place, staring intently at the scroll. They then looked up at Lin Xia with eyes filled with awe and questioning, as if they were seeing a god descend to earth.

Silong's hands trembled even more violently. He gripped the scroll tightly, as if he were holding the future of the entire association in his hands. His throat bobbed several times before he finally let out a hoarse voice, with a final, trembling urge for confirmation.

"Xia...you...you tell me quickly! This...this document...is it real?! Emperor Xingluo...Dai Tianxing...he...he signed it?!"

Seeing his senior brothers so excited that they lost their composure, Lin Xia also felt a strong sense of accomplishment and pride.

He straightened his back, a bright smile on his face, a smile that carried a hint of youthful pride yet remained composed, and his voice echoed clearly and powerfully in the hall.

"Of course it's true, Senior Brother! It's absolutely true! Dai Tianxing signed it himself, and the imperial seal is affixed to it!"

He paused, then, meeting the even more fervent gazes of his fellow students, revealed the answer with a resounding voice.

"Because I repaired the Star Luo Empire's national treasure—the Starry Crown! This was the reward he personally promised!" "The Starry Crown? A national treasure?! You repaired it?!"

Silong's exclamation rose again, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Although he didn't know exactly what the Starry Crown was, he knew all too well the weight of the words "national treasure"!

That is a priceless treasure that concerns the fate of a nation!

"That's right!"

Lin Xia nodded, her tone carrying a hint of self-righteous arrogance.

"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."

"Hahahaha! Okay! Okay! Okay!"

Si Long finally snapped out of his utter shock, and an immense surge of joy erupted like a volcano as he roared out three "Good!"s, the sound echoing throughout the hall. He suddenly opened his arms and pulled Lin Xia into a tight embrace, the force almost breaking her bones!

"Good lad! You're really something! Your senior brother knew it! You're a damn genius! No! You're the lucky star of our blacksmiths' association!"

Silong's voice was loud and clear, filled with unparalleled excitement and pride, and his eyes were even a little red.

Siyu and Sidi also realized what was happening, and they were instantly overwhelmed with joy.

"My God! Repairing a national treasure?! Xia, your trip to Xingluo has absolutely blown us away!"

"We've struck it rich! Our association has truly struck it rich this time! We no longer have to put up with those noble lords and soul master sects! We have mines! We have a huge order from the empire!"

The two men were so excited that they were incoherent. They rushed up and, together with Si Long, surrounded Lin Xia, patting his shoulders and back hard. The huge laughter and cheers almost lifted the roof off the blacksmith's association.

Zhu Zhuqing was startled by the sudden burst of enthusiasm and subconsciously took a step back. But when she saw Lin Xia surrounded by her senior brothers with a happy smile on her face, and then looked at the undisguised excitement, admiration and ecstasy in the eyes of those burly men, she seemed to understand something.

A smile slowly spread across her little face as she tightly gripped the small iron sparrow in her hand, quietly watching this scene filled with power and warmth. She knew that she had truly arrived in a different place by following Brother Lin Xia.

Silong finally calmed down from his ecstasy, released Lin Xia, but still tightly gripped the priceless scroll, as if afraid it would fly away.

He glanced around at his excited fellow disciples, then looked at Lin Xia, and roared with boundless pride:

"What are you all standing there for?! Ring the bell! Summon all directors and elders! Tonight is the association's grand banquet! We'll open the best wine cellar! To celebrate our junior brother Lin Xia's triumphant return! He's earned this incredible wealth and future for our Blacksmith Association!!"

"Yes! Ring the bell! Let the banquet begin! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

Cheers erupted once again throughout the hall, and immense joy, like molten iron, instantly ignited the entire Blacksmiths' Guild.

Lin Xia, weary from his journey and accompanied by a newly picked-up little girl, brought back a glimmer of hope that could change his destiny for the organization he deeply loved, the one that represented the backbone of craftsmen.

The night in Gengjin City was destined to be dazzling and exciting because of this windfall.

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

A loud and melodious bell, seemingly imbued with the very essence of metal, rang out from the top of the iconic steel-cast clock tower of the Blacksmiths' Guild, piercing through the evening mist and steam of Gengjin City, and echoing clearly over every street and every workshop where the furnaces roared.

This bell was not an alarm, but the sound of a high-level summons and celebration for the Blacksmiths' Guild! (End of Chapter)