Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

The heavy alloy hatch slid open silently, and Lin Xia's figure appeared at the cockpit entrance.

The pallor on Lin Xia's face, a result of intense mental concentration, had not completely faded, but her deep eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like starlight refined in a furnace, radiating an indescribable excitement and a sense of complete control.

He leaped lightly down and landed in front of Si Long, whose burly body was still trembling slightly from the shock of witnessing the steel giant "come alive," his large, iron-like hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white.

"Senior brother."

Lin Xia's voice carried the lingering resonance of the successful experiment, deep yet full of power.

"Basic performance verification shows that it far exceeds expectations!"

Si Long took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the shocking scene he had just witnessed. He slammed his fist heavily on the steel support beside him, making a loud "bang" that shook off some dust. His voice was hoarse but filled with ecstasy.

"Far beyond! Xia, this is...this is a miracle! It's our artisan's path to heaven! If Master could see this..."

Lin Xia raised her hand and gently placed it on Si Long's arm, which was trembling slightly with excitement, interrupting his impending outpouring of emotion.

His gaze instantly sharpened, like a quenched blade, sweeping across the metallic "furnace" workshop before finally settling on Si Long's face. His voice was extremely low, carrying an undeniable gravity:
"Senior brother, as you may be happy, we must remain calm for now."

He touched the storage soul tool with his fingertip, and a flash of light appeared. The huge mecha "Crimson Sky", which had just been as imposing as an ancient beast, disappeared instantly, as if it had never existed, leaving only the lingering warmth and metallic smell in the air.

The once empty workshop suddenly became much quieter.

“This matter!”

Lin Xia spoke slowly and deliberately, her gaze sharp and intense.

"This concerns the life and death of the Blacksmiths' Association, and the future of all of us. It must be kept strictly confidential! Apart from you and me, no one else should know about the existence of 'Crimson Sky' until the core team is formed and we have enough strength to protect ourselves. Not even our closest fellow disciples can be revealed to us for the time being!"

The excitement on Silong's face receded quickly like a tide, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He was not a reckless man. As the actual person in charge of the association, he was all too aware of how turbulent the situation on the mainland was.

Lin Xia's worries were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly calming his boiling blood.

A flicker of lingering fear crossed his eyes, which quickly transformed into an iron will.

"I know!"

Silong's voice was resolute, with a metallic clang.

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime! If such a creation, capable of changing the landscape of the continent, is leaked, the Star Luo, the Heaven Dou, and even the lofty Spirit Hall... their spies will swarm like vultures smelling blood!"

"Forget about saving the mechs, the entire Gengjin City could be engulfed in a monstrous wave!"

Lin Xia patted her chest forcefully.

"Don't worry, Xia, I'll keep this to myself! Even if you hold a knife to my throat, you won't be able to pry a single word out of me! The future of the association, the backbone of us craftsmen, rests on this!"

Lin Xia looked into Si Long's eyes and saw the understanding and determination that resonated with her own feelings. Only then did her tense nerves relax slightly. She nodded.

“Alright! Senior brother, let’s go out. Tonight is the association’s celebration banquet. I, the main character, have been gone for too long. The brothers cheering outside might not think much of it, but there are always eyes watching from the shadows.” The two exchanged a glance, needing no further words. They tacitly straightened their slightly disheveled clothes, concealing the earth-shattering secret deep in their eyes, and put on the joyful yet slightly “tired” faces of those attending the celebration. They pushed open the heavy workshop door and rejoined the roaring sounds outside, like a boiling furnace.

When they reappeared in Furnace Square, the raging heatwave instantly engulfed them.

Deafening cheers, the clanging of anvils, the sizzling of grilled meat, and the intense aroma of molten liquor mixed with the smell of sweat assaulted the senses.

Silong was quickly surrounded by several members, who excitedly discussed the specifics of the Imperial Mining Rights, as if nothing had happened in the workshop just now.

Lin Xia instantly became the absolute focus of the crowd.

"Lord Lin Xia! Let's raise a glass to you! You are our association's lucky star!"

"Junior brother, drink this bowl! From now on, we craftsmen can stand tall!"

"Master Lin! I'll be relying on your guidance for purchasing ore from now on!"

Countless faces, covered in coal dust and oil stains yet radiating pure joy, crowded around, their rough hands holding all sorts of containers—iron bowls, wooden cups, even the open end of a wine barrel, filled with golden, glistening lava liquor.

Their eyes burned with passion, filled with the most sincere gratitude and admiration.

Lin Xia was surrounded in the center, with a perfectly timed smile on her face, a smile that conveyed the humility of a young man, yet also his composure and confidence.

He accepted the wine vessels offered to him without hesitation, whether they were old craftsmen with white hair and beards or young apprentices with muscular bodies.

He would sometimes tilt his head back and drink heartily, the spicy liquor sliding down his throat, drawing even louder cheers.

He would occasionally take a sip, then chat with the person offering the toast, discussing everything from the specific types of goods in the imperial orders to the characteristics of the ore in a certain mine, and then to the possibility of improving a certain forging process.

His voice wasn't loud, yet it strangely carried clearly to the ears of those around him amidst the noise. It was articulate, insightful, and full of convincing power.

Facing the veteran craftsmen, he respectfully addressed them as "seniors," patiently listened to their insights on traditional techniques, and skillfully incorporated his new ideas on combining soul guides with forging. His approach was neither offensive nor thought-provoking, which brought a look of surprise and admiration to the eyes of the old men.

When faced with excited young apprentices, he acted like a friendly older brother, patting them on the shoulder, inquiring about their training progress, and encouraging them to build a solid foundation. His words were full of expectations for the future, making the young people so excited that their faces turned red, and they couldn't wait to rush back to the workshop and swing their hammers a thousand times.

He moved through the crowd with an upright posture and a composed gait.

The firelight illuminated his young yet already angular face, and the sweat slightly dampened his temples, adding to his vibrant energy and sense of responsibility.

Those deep eyes sometimes shone with wisdom when discussing technical details, and at other times revealed a gentle smile when they felt the enthusiasm of the crowd.

He was no longer the boy who walked on thin ice in the Star Luo City palace, nor the Soul Master who was completely focused in the workshop, but the well-deserved young leader of this steel-forged kingdom, a man who embodied hope and strength.

Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly by a barbecue grill on the edge of the square, her small body almost half-hidden by the huge lamb roasting rack next to her.

She held half a salt and pepper iron helmet sesame seed cake in her hands, but forgot to eat it. Her deep, cold eyes followed the radiant figure in the crowd without blinking.

Her heart was filled with an unprecedented, surging emotion—adoration. (End of Chapter)