A Brand-New Path of Growth Filled with Infinite Possibilities

Lin Xia looked at Larvitar, his expression turning utterly serious.

"Larvitar, I have an idea. From now on, we can study the knowledge Teacher teaches us while also trying to go underground... treasure hunting!"

"We'll find more and tastier ore! But we have to be careful. We can't dig around recklessly—we need to follow Teacher's guidance and stay away from dangerous places. Understand?"

"Yō Jī! Yō Jī Yō Jī!"

Larvitar understood "treasure hunting" and "more tasty food," immediately becoming so excited that he danced around and thumped his chest in assurance, his little head bobbing like a pecking chick.

As long as there were tasty rocks, he would dig wherever he was told!

He even used his Small Claws to mimic a vigorous digging motion, full of enthusiasm.

Seeing the Little Guy so fired up, Lin Xia could not help rubbing his Blunt Horn again, a hopeful smile appearing on his face.

With Dig, this crucial ability, Larvitar's potential had been completely unleashed!

This was no longer merely a combat or support move. It opened up a brand-new path of growth filled with infinite possibilities—becoming an explorer of the earth and a conqueror of underground treasures!

Endless Ore Veins and the profound Underground World would all become the stage upon which they grew stronger!

"All right, little genius."

Lin Xia stood up and dusted off his clothes.

"Come on, let's go back and keep reading. The more we learn, the more efficiently we'll find tasty ore! Tomorrow, perhaps we can mention this idea to Teacher and see whether we can try it on a small scale near the Association's mines..."

Early Morning in Gengjin City was still shrouded in a thin veil of mist, while sparkling dew clung to the plants in the Blacksmith Association's Backyard.

Lin Xia was already seated beside the Stone Table in the courtyard, flipping through the thick Basic Continental Ore Compendium (Lou Gao's Annotated Edition) beneath the rising Morning Sun, his expression focused.

Larvitar lay at one corner of the Stone Table, hugging a fist-sized piece of Black Iron Ore that gleamed with a dull metallic luster.

He crunched away at it with relish, his cheeks puffing in and out while his Little Tail swayed contentedly.

Ever since arriving at the Blacksmith Association, Larvitar's mouth had never stopped moving. His stomach was like a bottomless pit!

Before long, Lou Gao's tall figure appeared at the entrance to the Backyard, the morning light outlining his sturdy frame.

Lou Gao spotted Lin Xia and Larvitar in the courtyard at once. Seeing Lin Xia absorbed in his reading and Larvitar peacefully munching on ore, a gratified smile involuntarily surfaced on his weathered face, stained with iron filings and coal dust. He nodded to himself.

Not only did this child possess Extraordinary Talent, but his diligence and eagerness to learn were even rarer.

Lou Gao approached with softened footsteps.

Lin Xia seemed immersed in the world of the book. Only when Lou Gao's shadow blocked the sunlight did he suddenly come to his senses. He immediately set down the book and rose to his feet, his face respectful.

"Teacher, you're here..."

Lou Gao merely smiled and waved a hand, signaling that he need not stand on ceremony. Instead, his gaze fell with great interest upon Larvitar, who was still intently working on his Black Iron Ore.

The Little Guy looked truly amusing while eating. Completely immersed in the world of delicious food, he was utterly unaware of the movement around him.

"The Little Guy sure is enjoying his meal."

Lou Gao chuckled. On a whim, he bent down and extended his large, callused hands, gently preparing to pick up this seemingly tiny gray-green Little Dinosaur for a closer look.

Lou Gao instinctively used the strength he would use to pick up an ordinary small beast. He exerted force through his wrist—hm?

It did not budge at all!

Larvitar had been chewing at a critical moment. Feeling his body lifted slightly before dropping back down, he stopped in confusion, turned his little head, and looked at Lou Gao with ruby-red eyes, half a piece of ore still clamped in his mouth as he let out a muffled question.

"Yō Jī?"

His gaze was clear yet slightly bewildered, as if asking:

Old man, what do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?

The smile on Lou Gao's face froze for a moment before being replaced by a trace of astonishment.

He was a Divine Craftsman, his strength Far Exceeding that of ordinary people. Though he had not used much force, this Little Guy's weight... Far Exceeded his expectations!

Lou Gao immediately put in more strength, only then managing to lift Larvitar securely.

He felt incredibly heavy in his arms!

Lou Gao weighed him in his hands, the astonishment on his face deepening. Holding Larvitar, he turned to Lin Xia, his tone full of disbelief.

"Xiao Xia, your Martial Soul... isn't light at all! Holding him feels like he weighs at least as much as a fully grown Strong Man! And he's still so small?"

Seeing Teacher holding his own heavy Larvitar with such a shocked expression, Lin Xia could not help laughing. He pointed at the half-eaten Black Iron Ore on the Stone Table, as well as the other scattered ore fragments, and explained:

"Teacher, don't forget what we usually 'eat.' These are real mineral ores. Their density is far greater than that of an ordinary Flesh and Blood Body."

"Since Larvitar and I can digest them, our body structure and density naturally change as well. We weigh much more than we look. That's perfectly normal!"

Hearing this, Lou Gao lowered his head to look at Larvitar's gray-green body, covered in a rock-like shell, then at the hard Black Iron Ore on the table. He came to a Sudden Realization.

"Exactly! Exactly! This Old Man had been thinking about it all wrong! With an ordinary mortal body, let alone digesting these things, one probably couldn't even bite through them! If he can eat and digest them, how could his body not change?"

Thinking of Larvitar's teeth, comparable to top-grade Quenched Steel, and Lin Xia's feat of chewing Star Gold raw, this change in weight truly was not worth mentioning.

The little surprise in Lou Gao's heart instantly turned into understanding. He even found it only natural.

Lou Gao stopped dwelling on the issue of weight and carried the heavy Larvitar to sit beside the Stone Table.

Larvitar was rather easygoing. Since he had previously been fed Star Gold Essence, he had a favorable impression of this Big Guy old man. He found a comfortable position in Lou Gao's arms and continued hugging his ore as he chewed.

In high spirits, Lou Gao casually took out a fist-sized piece of ore from an inconspicuous Storage Pouch at his waist. It was entirely Deep Blue, with starlight seeming to flow within it.

The moment this ore appeared, the surrounding air seemed to carry faint waves of chill. It was clearly no ordinary item.

"Come, Little Guy. Try this Star Cold Iron and see whether it suits your taste."

Smiling, Lou Gao held the precious ore to Larvitar's mouth.

Larvitar's Small Nose immediately twitched keenly, and his ruby-like eyes lit up at once.

"Yō Jī!"

Larvitar cried out excitedly. Without Hesitation, he tossed aside the half-eaten Black Iron Ore, grabbed the piece of Star Cold Iron that emitted enticing cold air and pure Metal Energy with both Small Claws, and eagerly took a crunch out of it, an incomparably satisfied expression appearing on his face.

Even Lin Xia felt a little envious of that treatment.

Honestly, he wanted to eat some too!

After feeding Larvitar, Lou Gao turned his gaze to Lin Xia, his eyes carrying both a test and kindly affection.

"Xiao Xia, I saw you reading when I came in. How is it going? Which part were you reading? Is there anything you don't understand?"