Larvitar Is the Darling of Earth and Rock, So It

The shock on Lou Gao's face was practically overflowing.

That casually spoken sentence was like an invisible heavy hammer, smashing brutally into the mental defenses Lou Gao had only just managed to build around the concept of "Ten Levels in a Month."

"Half... half a month?!"

A harsh sound came from Lou Gao's throat, as though he had choked on his own breath.

After taking a deep breath, Lou Gao looked at Lin Xia with an expression so complicated it had reached the extreme—there was the numb confusion of overwhelming shock, the horror of witnessing a monster being born, and an immense emptiness brought on by having his understanding overturned.

Yes, half a month... the impact of that timeframe made him feel even more absurdly powerless than "Ten Levels in a Month" had.

One month was already unimaginable. Half a month... that simply defied the Laws of Heaven and Earth and ground the Common Sense of Cultivation for Soul Masters beneath its heel!

However, perhaps because the shocks Lin Xia had given him had come one after another—from Chewing Raw Ore to Martial Soul Manifestation to appraising Star Gold Essence—Lou Gao's nerves had long since been Tempered into something incomparably tough.

When this final, most ferocious hammer fell, it instead gave him a strange calmness: Of course. Could it get any more outrageous?

It was the blankness that came after one's understanding had been completely shattered, leaving no choice but acceptance.

Only after a long while did Lou Gao slowly let out a breath, so heavy it seemed to bear a thousand pounds.

When he spoke again, his voice had fully regained the steadiness of a forging Master. It was even deeper and more solemn than usual, carrying a trace of concern.

"Xiao Xia... is your foundation still stable?"

Lou Gao did not question the speed. Instead, he went straight for the most crucial weakness of any cultivator—had the explosive growth of Soul Power left his foundation unstable?

This concerned him more than the mere increase in level.

Although he could sense that Lin Xia's Soul Power was exceptionally solid, Lin Xia was an anomaly after all. If there was something Lou Gao did not know about, it would be best to say it now so they could remedy or resolve it in time!

Lin Xia met Lou Gao's gaze without the slightest evasion, his eyes clear and resolute.

"Teacher, rest assured. I can feel that my Soul Power has not become hollow or bloated. It is like Fine Iron formed after mineral ore has been repeatedly hammered, compressed, and Tempered—condensed and weighty, yet flowing freely."

"Each time I devour mineral ore, the energy seems to be directly Smelted into my tendons, bones, flesh, and blood, rather than merely filling my Soul Power."

Lin Xia clenched his fist, and a solid Sense of Power gathered between his fingers.

"My physical body has also been greatly strengthened in the process."

A Flash of Light passed through Lou Gao's eyes. He extended his senses once more, this time with far greater care and precision. He was no longer merely examining Lin Xia's Soul Power Level, but deeply sensing the "quality" of his Soul Power and the condition of his meridians, bones, and skeleton.

After a while, his tightly drawn jaw relaxed slightly, and an undisguised trace of amazement and... relief flashed through his eyes.

"Good! What an excellent Smelting of tendons, bones, flesh, and blood!"

Lou Gao nodded, and the worry hanging over him finally eased by more than half.

Yet the way he looked at Lin Xia now was no longer merely the way one looked at a disciple with Extraordinary Talent. It was more like he was looking at a Mysterious Ore Embryo that appeared only once in a Thousand Years, containing limitless potential!

After pondering for a moment, Lou Gao seemed to think of something and directly asked Lin Xia:

"Then, Xiao Xia, next... do you intend to Obtain a Soul Ring?"

"Yes, Teacher!"

Lin Xia answered without hesitation, intense longing blazing in his eyes.

"My Soul Power has reached Level Ten, and obtaining my First Soul Ring is urgent! It is just that..."

A trace of worry appeared on Lin Xia's face.

"My Martial Soul, Larvitar, is extremely special. I fear it has unusual requirements for the attributes of its Soul Ring as well. This disciple is truly lacking in knowledge about Soul Beasts and urgently needs Teacher to Guide the Way!"

"Haha, what is so difficult about that!"

Hearing this, Lou Gao felt a Burst of Heroism rise in his chest. His Fan-like Big Hand forcefully slapped his Solid Chest, producing a Muffled Sound.

"You are this Old Man's Closed-door Disciple. Your Soul Ring is this Old Man's Top Priority! Tell me, what kind of Soul Beast do you need? A Power Type? A Defense Type? Or a Speed Type?"

"This Old Man has been established in Gengjin City for many years. I would not dare say my Connections and Resources Reach the Heavens, but finding a suitable Soul Ring for you would be Easy as Pie!"

Seeing how forthright and dependable his Teacher was, Lin Xia felt Greatly Reassured.

After giving it some thought, Lin Xia recalled the traits of the Larvitar Martial Soul and his plans for its future development, then said in a deep voice:

"Teacher, since Larvitar is the Darling of Earth and Rock, it is naturally close to earth, stone, and sand. This disciple believes that its First Soul Skill should preferably be related to 'sand' or 'rock,' able to control or strengthen its ability to command earth elements."

"Therefore, this disciple wishes to find an Earth Attribute Soul Beast capable of releasing sand or rock attacks, or one with powerful Sand Control and Digging Ability! Best of all... a Soul Beast capable of controlling vast amounts of quicksand or Sandstorms!"

"Controlling sand, rock... Earth Attribute... Sand Control... Sandstorms."

As Lou Gao listened to Lin Xia's description, his Thick White Eyebrows drew tightly together. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the stubble on his chin as he fell into deep thought.

The vast Forge Room fell silent once more. Only Lou Gao's low murmurs and the Faint Sound of Larvitar gnawing on mineral ore in the corner remained.

Time passed bit by bit.

Lin Xia held his breath and watched the light in Lou Gao's eyes flicker constantly, as though countless pieces of information were being filtered and colliding within his mind.

Suddenly, Lou Gao Slapped His Thigh, and his eyes Burst into Bright Light, like the White-hot Core that suddenly lit up within a furnace.

"Got it! Yellow Storm Rat!"

"Yellow Storm Rat?"

Lin Xia's spirits lifted. That name alone sounded Sandstorm Related.

"That's right!"

Lou Gao spoke faster, his tone carrying both excitement and the satisfaction of solving a difficult problem.

"This beast is an anomaly among Earth Attribute Soul Beasts! They are naturally cunning and live year-round deep within the vast shifting sands southwest of Gengjin City, near the edge of the Crimson Gold Stone Ore Vein!"

Lou Gao's description instantly painted a scene in Lin Xia's mind: endless golden dunes rising and falling beneath the blazing sun, while fierce winds swept up dust and sand into a hazy curtain.

"This Yellow Storm Rat is extremely rare and exceptionally skilled at hiding!"

Lou Gao continued, his tone carrying a trace of gravity.

"They are not especially large, but their yellow-sand-colored fur blends perfectly with the desert. They also possess an innate mimicry ability. When they lie still, they are nearly indistinguishable from grains of sand."

"They are best at burrowing beneath the sand and traveling through it. Their speed is astonishing, like fish in water!"

"Their innate Soul Skill is controlling quicksand, stirring up small Sandstorms, and even instantly creating deadly Quicksand Traps beneath the sand to silently swallow their prey!"

"After their claws are infused with Soul Power, they can condense sand and stone into hard Sandstone Claws, sharp enough to Split Stone! The attributes of their Soul Rings perfectly match the 'Sand Control' and 'rock' abilities you need!"

Lin Xia's heart surged with excitement. This was exactly the kind of ability direction he had dreamed of!

If Larvitar could obtain such a Soul Beast as its First Soul Ring, its potential would be greatly developed. Perhaps his Multi-Characteristic concept could succeed as well!

Thinking of this, Lin Xia could not help but ask:

"Teacher, then what age are these Soul Beasts..."