Characteristic Combination, Spirit Hall!

Lin Xia's thoughts drifted through a sea of Characteristic Combinations.

The core concept of the Sandstorm Team gradually became clearer in his mind.

Sand Raising had already been successfully acquired. That was the foundation.

Then the choice of the Second Soul Skill would determine his and Larvitar's future fighting style.

Sand Raising + Sand Force!

This was the ultimate offensive combination.

Larvitar could summon a sandstorm itself and immediately gain a boost to the power of its same-type skills.

This would make Larvitar's future Rock Slide and Sharp Stone Attack unimaginably terrifying, easily tearing through an opponent's defenses.

This combination would instantly elevate it from a Weather Starter into the most destructive core Output Hand under weather conditions.

Sand Raising + Sand Rush!

Its speed would double in a sandstorm, compensating for Larvitar's current weakness of relatively low speed. It would gain the initiative and combine speed with strength, creating an unstoppable force.

Or even... Sand Veil, Sturdy, Shell Armor, Intimidate, Pressure, Heavy Metal, Pure Body, or even Guts?

The characteristic Guts flashed through Lin Xia's mind. The terrifying boost of directly doubling physical attack power was deeply tempting.

But Lin Xia quickly shook his head. This characteristic was too overpowered. It would probably be extremely difficult to find a compatible Soul Beast, and it might even bring unpredictable trouble.

Besides, its synergy with the sandstorm environment did not seem as close as the previous few.

"Right now, the most important thing is balancing growth speed and Combat Power, as well as compatibility with the sandstorm system."

Lin Xia muttered softly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping against the Stone Table.

"Sand Force and Sand Rush are the best choices. One pursues ultimate burst damage, while the other pursues Speed Suppression. Hard Rock is the safer choice, improving the Fault Tolerance Rate. As for Guts... I'll set it aside for now."

Lin Xia firmly engraved these core characteristics into his mind—Sand Force and Sand Rush.

With his direction clear, Lin Xia felt a weight lift from his heart.

Lin Xia looked at Larvitar, which was gnawing on a small piece of Purple Lightning Iron Ore by his feet. The Little Guy's Scarlet Eyes glittered brightly, as if it had sensed its Master's determination.

"Yoji!"

Larvitar patted the ore with its Small Claws, as though echoing him.

"Good. The goal is clear, so let's keep working hard!"

Fighting spirit ignited in Lin Xia's eyes. He sat cross-legged and once more immersed himself in cultivating Soul Power and absorbing the energy from mineral ore.

Larvitar immediately followed his example, lying beside him and taking small bites out of the ore. Faint purple sparks danced across its gray-green scales.

Time flowed quietly, like the ever-burning furnaces of Gengjin City.

Half a Month passed in the blink of an eye.

During that Half a Month, Lin Xia's life was orderly and fulfilling.

In the Early Morning, he studied the Forging Experience and Soul Beast Encyclopedia provided by Lou Gao. During the day, he underwent more in-depth forging instruction and fine Soul Power control training under the guidance of his Senior Brothers.

At night and during most of his spare time, he and Larvitar held mineral ore feasts that others would have found utterly unbelievable.

Purple Lightning Iron Ore remained their staple food. The lightning energy within continuously tempered and strengthened Lin Xia's Meridians and Physical Body.

Lin Xia could clearly feel that every bite, every recovery after the stimulation of electric currents, made his body a little tougher and the circulation of his Soul Power a little smoother.

Thanks to this practically cheating method of cultivation through eating, Lin Xia's Soul Power broke through another barrier in just Half a Month, advancing from Level Sixteen to Level Seventeen!

This terrifying rate of improvement left Lou Gao and several Senior Brothers utterly amazed, all calling him a Monster.

Larvitar's changes were equally obvious.

Its body seemed to have grown another size larger, while its gray-green Rock Carapace had become thicker and faintly gleamed with a metallic luster.

The Purple Arcs around its body had become denser. When it swung its tail, the electric sparks it kicked up crackled sharply, their power clearly increased.

It ate mineral ore faster and had an even greater appetite, like a bottomless pit, continuously turning the ore's essence into its own strength.

Just as Lin Xia was immersed in the joy of his steadily increasing strength, a meeting concerning the fate of the Blacksmith Association was taking place in distant Spirit City.

Spirit City, conference hall of the Pope's Palace side hall.

Si Long, Lou Gao's eldest disciple and one of the future pillars of the Blacksmith Association, stood solemnly with his hands lowered at one side of the grand and austere hall.

He forced himself to remain calm, but his slightly damp palms and somewhat hurried breathing still revealed the tension and excitement in his Inner Heart.

Travel-worn from the journey, he had avoided the possible eyes and ears of the Martial Soul Holy Hall in Gengjin City under the cover of several capable men arranged by Lou Gao. Traveling day and night, he had finally reached this city that symbolized the highest center of authority in Spirit Hall.

The moment he entered Spirit City, the omnipresent magnificent buildings, solemn guards, and dense Soul Power pressure permeating the air made him deeply feel the insignificance of himself and even the entire Blacksmith Association.

Only after layer upon layer of strict reports and identity verification was Si Long permitted to stand within this side hall.

Angelic holy images were painted across the towering dome, while enormous stained-glass windows cast down cold, sacred columns of light.

The air seemed frozen. Only the faint sound of guards' armor occasionally rubbing together could be heard.

A figure sat upon the Pope's throne.

Bibi Dong.

She did not deliberately release any Pressure, yet the nobility, majesty, and aura of absolute control she naturally exuded were enough to make the air throughout the hall stagnate.

She wore a magnificent Pope's Robe and a Purple Gold Crown. Her breathtakingly beautiful face showed neither joy nor anger, only a deep calmness like an abyss.

Her Phoenix Eyes were slightly lowered as she reviewed the mountain of documents before her. Whenever her jade-white fingers occasionally brushed across a page, countless fates were decided.

Si Long did not even dare stare at the throne for too long, only waiting respectfully from the corner of his eye.

He could even clearly hear his own heart pounding like a drum within his Chest Cavity.

Time passed bit by bit, each minute and second exceptionally long.

Finally, after Bibi Dong finished reviewing a memorial concerning tax reforms in a certain province and gently closed it, the Handmaiden standing nearby bowed and reported at the proper moment.

"Your Holiness the Pope, Si Long, eldest direct disciple of Lou Gao, the Divine Craftsman and President of the Gengjin City Blacksmith Association, has come at his Master's command bearing a Secret Letter to Request an Audience."

Bibi Dong finally raised her gaze and let it fall upon Si Long.

Her gaze was calm and without ripples, yet it seemed to possess the power to see through people's hearts, making Si Long feel as though everything about him had been instantly laid bare.

"Present it."

Her cold, majestic voice echoed through the hall, carrying an unquestionable command.

Si Long took a deep breath, suppressed his churning emotions, and stepped forward several paces before stopping more than ten steps away from the throne. He dropped to one knee.

He carefully took out a Metal Letter Tube sealed with special wax from his Storage Soul Tool and raised it above his head with both hands.

A stern-faced Palace Guard Knight silently stepped forward, took the letter tube, and carefully inspected its seal before respectfully presenting it upon the Red Velvet Desk before Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong extended two slender fingers and effortlessly crushed the sturdy layer of sealing wax.

She withdrew the letter within. The paper was the Blacksmith Association's specially made Dark Silver Metal Foil Paper, covered in Lou Gao's uniquely vigorous and forceful handwriting.

The hall was silent enough for a pin to drop. Only the Faint Sound of the letter unfolding could be heard.