Lou Gao pointed at Larvitar, who was pushing the ore back and forth with its small claws, clearly in low spirits.
Lin Xia looked at his teacher's expression—the kind that obviously meant he very much wanted to go, yet felt awkward saying it directly, and had even dragged Larvitar out as a shield. Thinking back to Lou Gao's earlier solemn warning that "mining is dangerous," Lin Xia suddenly found it rather amusing.
He deliberately stretched his tone, a teasing smile on his lips.
"Oh? Prospecting, Teacher? Teacher~, didn't you previously say that entering mines was extremely dangerous, especially those unexcavated sites with rare mineral deposits? You said the geology would be unstable, the tunnels complex, and there might even be powerful earth-attribute Soul Beasts entrenched within. I remember that warning very clearly."
Lou Gao was left speechless by these words, his old face flushing even redder, like a cooked prawn.
He straightened his neck and waved his heavily muscled arm, trying to regain the dignity befitting a divine craftsman.
"Ahem! That… that was meant for your past self! Back then your Soul Power was weak, and you lacked experience. Entering a mine alone would of course have been dangerous. Now the situation is completely different!"
"With me personally accompanying you, how could anything happen? Would I allow my own disciple to come to harm?"
"Is this body of mine merely for show? Is my Level as a Soul Saint just decoration?"
"Relax! With your teacher here, you could walk sideways through Gengxin City ah, no, I mean you will be absolutely safe!"
Lou Gao thumped his chest with confidence, shaking loose clouds of dust from his forging uniform.
Seeing his teacher argue stubbornly in such a forceful yet oddly endearing manner, Lin Xia's earlier teasing mood faded away.
He understood that Lou Gao's enthusiasm for researching Soul Tools had been completely ignited. Going out to prospect for minerals was now inevitable, and indeed the only viable path to solving the shortage of materials.
Lin Xia turned serious and said.
"Teacher is right. It was your disciple who failed to consider things properly before. With you personally providing protection, the danger of prospecting will naturally be greatly reduced."
"Besides, Larvitar has been muttering about going out to hunt for food for a long time now. Living on stored supplies day after day has probably made it tired of the taste. Continuing to consume without replenishment is not a solution. When shall we depart?"
The moment Lou Gao heard Lin Xia agree, all embarrassment vanished from his face, replaced by overflowing joy. His expression glowed as if he had become ten years younger.
"Ha ha ha! Good! That is my sensible disciple!"
"Excellent, let us go at once!"
"I will prepare the prospecting tools and provisions immediately. You tidy up and bring Larvitar along, and we—"
Before Lou Gao could finish speaking, a hurried series of footsteps echoed from outside the forging room. Then Si Di's tense voice penetrated the thick metal door.
"Teacher! Teacher! Are you inside? This disciple has urgent matters to report!"
The interruption made Lou Gao frown slightly. He had yet to realize the seriousness of the situation and responded with some impatience.
"What is it? Why such panic? I am discussing important affairs with your junior!"
Outside, Si Di's voice carried obvious reverence and an almost imperceptible tremble.
"Reporting to Teacher! It is… it is Ghost Douluo!"
"He has personally arrived and is waiting in the front hall. And… and he has brought Lord Meyers, with him!"
"Meyers?!"
Lou Gao and Lin Xia cried out in unison.
The excitement on Lou Gao's face instantly froze, turning into disbelief and shock.
He looked fiercely at Lin Xia, his eyes full of questioning.
Lin Xia's heart also trembled violently—Ghost Douluo had personally escorted Meyers here?
Had they come to demand accountability?
Or to judge them?
"Ghost Douluo… arrived with Meyers?"
Lou Gao repeated subconsciously, as if to confirm he had not misheard.
"Yes, Teacher!" Sidi answered firmly.
"Bishop Meyers… he appears in terrible condition!"
"He was being held under guard by two Spirit Hall officials. His aura is weak, and it seems his Soul Power has been sealed!"
The air inside the forging room suddenly congealed.
Lou Gao inhaled deeply, forcibly suppressing the waves in his heart. His expression quickly returned to the calm that belonged to a divine craftsman.
Glancing at Lin Xia, who looked equally grave, Lou Gao said in a low voice.
"Understood. We will go over immediately!"
He then rapidly instructed Lin Xia.
"Stay calm and adapt to the circumstances."
"Remember, certain things must never be exposed!"
Lin Xia nodded solemnly, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the space Soul Tool ring that stored the firearm.
Larvitar seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere as well. It stopped playing, quietly lying at Lin Xia's feet, its crimson eyes staring alertly at the doorway.
Lou Gao straightened his craftsman's robe—damp with sweat and stained with soup—trying to appear as presentable as possible. After another deep breath, he reached out and pulled open the thick metal door that separated the forging room from the noisy outside world.
Beyond the door, Si Di waited anxiously.
Teacher and disciple exchanged a glance, stepped out, and walked toward the front hall of the Blacksmith Association.
When Lin Xia and the others entered the spacious yet somewhat untidy front hall of the Blacksmith Association, a chilling and murderous aura instantly rushed at them, overwhelming the usual warmth of fire and the smell of metal.
All craftsman apprentices had already been dismissed. In the vast hall, only several figures remained.
Most striking of all was Meyers, kneeling in the center.
This bishop of the Soul Master Hall, who once strutted arrogantly and tyrannized Gengxin City, now looked utterly miserable.
His magnificent Soul Master robe was torn askew and covered in dust, his carefully groomed hair plastered in disarray against his sweat-soaked forehead.
His hands were twisted behind his back, his wrists bound by shackles flickering with Soul-restricting light. His formerly powerful Soul Power was completely sealed, leaving only a feeble trace, like a candle in the wind.
No hint of pride could be seen on Meyers' face. What replaced it was thick resentment and fury. Those eyes that once brimmed with schemes and greed now stared fixedly at the smooth floor tiles.
He glared so hard at the ground that it seemed he wished to burn through it. His teeth ground together, his body trembling slightly from extreme humiliation and fear.
Behind him stood two Soul Masters dressed in Spirit Hall official attire, expressionless, their gazes as sharp as hawks, locked firmly on Meyers.
Before them, the tall figure shrouded in a wide black robe was none other than Ghost Douluo, Ghost.
Lou Gao's heart tightened. He hurried forward several steps and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Ghost Douluo!"
Lin Xia and Si Di followed closely behind to offer greetings.
"President Lou Gao."
Ghost's cold and drifting voice sounded, like an icy spring dripping into a deep pool, devoid of any emotion.
He did not glance again at the kneeling Meyers, as though he were nothing but inconsequential trash. His eyes rested directly upon Lou Gao.
"The matter has been fully investigated by the Spirit Hall."
His voice echoed clearly through the empty hall, each word carrying undeniable weight.
"Meyers Garcia and his accomplices abused authority, extorted wealth, oppressed the innocent, and defiled the glory and reputation of the Spirit Hall. Evidence is conclusive."
Ghost paused briefly, his shadowed gaze sweeping across the hall.
"Such vermin cannot be tolerated. I have come to inform you that this man will be personally escorted back to the Papal Hall to stand trial before His Majesty the Pope."
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