When these words were spoken, Meyers—who was kneeling on the ground—shuddered violently. A suppressed, despairing rasp escaped from his throat, and the final glimmer of luck in his eyes was completely extinguished, leaving only utter ashen defeat and a bone-deep terror.
A trial before the Pope in the Papal Hall meant there would be no chance for him to rise again, and he might even face a fate far more dreadful than death.
"There is something else."
Ghost Douluo's voice remained calm, as if he were stating an ordinary matter. His wide sleeve flicked slightly, and a beam of dark light shot out, flying precisely toward Lou Gao.
Lou Gao instinctively reached out to catch it. In his palm lay a cold, ancient-looking storage Soul Tool ring with no obvious markings—clearly not the one Meyers used in daily life.
"These were confiscated after settling accounts with Meyers and his followers, part of the wealth they had illegally seized from the Blacksmith Association over the years."
Ghost's tone was still indifferent.
"They are returned to their rightful owner."
Lou Gao clenched the ring tightly, his fingers turning pale from the force. Though he did not check it immediately, the foul breath that had weighed on his chest for six years finally found a release, making his hand tremble.
This was delayed justice, the attitude shown by the upper echelon of the Spirit Hall.
Ghost did not give Lou Gao time to offer thanks or ask for details. He continued.
"As for the formal matters of the Blacksmith Association joining the Spirit Hall, the subsequent cooperation charter, and the guarantees of rights, the newly appointed bishop of the Gengxin City Spirit Hall will discuss them with you in person. The Pope has already taken notice, and the new bishop will arrive shortly."
Having said all this, Ghost appeared to have completed his mission.
Ghost turned slightly, and the two officials immediately understood. They stepped forward and rudely hauled Meyers—who was now limp as mud, off the ground.
"Take him away."
Ghost's voice was utterly without warmth.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The officials answered and prepared to escort the dispirited Meyers out.
At that moment, Ghost's deep gaze settled once more upon Lin Xia, carrying a faint, almost invisible inquiry.
"Lin Xia."
Ghost Douluo spoke again.
"You possess decent talent. Your martial Soul is unusual, and your progress is not slow. Yet what can be learned in this Gengxin City is ultimately limited."
He paused briefly, then directly offered recruitment.
"Are you willing to return with me to the Spirit Hall? In Spirit City there are the finest mimic cultivation environments, the most outstanding mentors, and the richest resources. Only there can your potential be unearthed at greater speed."
This sudden invitation made Lou Gao tense. His grip on the storage ring tightened.
Lou Gao glanced subconsciously at Lin Xia, his expression complicated—worried, yet with a trace of hope.
Si Di and the others held their breath.
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint friction of clothing as Meyers was dragged across the floor.
Facing Ghost's penetrating gaze, Lin Xia showed no hesitation. He bowed slightly and answered loudly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty Ghost Douluo, for your kind regard. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's appreciation."
He raised his head, eyes clear.
"However, I have already taken Lou Gao the Divine Craftsman as my teacher. A teacher for a day is a father for life. My teacher has treated me with immeasurable kindness, teaching without reserve, and I remain thankful for that grace."
"The path of blacksmithing is broad and profound. I have only begun and still need to study countless skills under my teacher. At present I have no plan to leave Gengxin City or depart from my teacher's side."
His words were plain and resolute, expressing respect toward Ghost while emphasizing the bond between teacher and disciple.
Ghost observed Lin Xia quietly. The invisible pressure lingered for several seconds.
Larvitar shifted uneasily beside Lin Xia and murmured a soft "Larvitar."
Finally Ghost Douluo spoke.
"Very well. Everyone has his own aspiration."
Ghost offered no further comment, as though the refusal were trivial. For the Spirit Hall, a genius of innate Level Eight Soul Power was precious, yet not one of a kind.
Ghost cast a final glance at the peculiar detached-body martial Soul Larvitar. His form blurred like ink dispersed by wind, twisting and fading away together with the officials and Meyers, vanishing completely, as if he had never been there.
Only a cold aura remained for a moment before dissolving.
"Farewell, Ghost Douluo, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Lou Gao hurried forward a step and, facing the direction where Ghost had vanished, bowed once more in deep respect, his loud voice echoing through the hall.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for upholding justice! The Spirit Hall has shown keen insight and investigated with perfect clarity—Lou Gao and every member of the Blacksmith Association are profoundly grateful!"
Whether the titled Douluo could still hear him or not, this gesture of thanks had to be made in full measure.
Si Di immediately followed his teacher and bowed as well.
Only after that icy aura had entirely disappeared and the front hall was left solely to the master and disciple and the gathered blacksmiths did Lou Gao straighten up and let out a long breath. His strained nerves finally relaxed.
Lin Xia, watching his teacher's solemn manner, could not help giving a soft laugh. He stepped forward and said.
"All right, Teacher—he is a Titled Douluo who can cross a thousand miles in an instant. By now he must have already left the borders of Gengxin City with Meyers in tow. No matter how loudly you call, he will not hear you."
Lou Gao's face reddened again at these words. He coughed awkwardly, then suddenly remembered the storage Soul Tool ring in his hand. In a flash his embarrassment turned into blazing fury.
"Humph! That scoundrel got off too easily! Let me see exactly how much blood Meyers has sucked from our association over these years!"
Lou Gao cursed bitterly while sending Soul Power straight into the ring.
The moment his Soul Power entered, the rage on Lou Gao's face first froze, then erupted like a volcano, becoming even more intense.
Lou Gao's eyes widened and his beard bristled.
"Damn it! So much?!!"
"Gold Soul Coins, this must be piled into a mountain!"
"Purified iron, cold iron, copper ingots, ton after ton of top-grade material! That dog!"
"There is mithril and fine gold as well! Though the quantity is not huge, these were the core strategic reserves of the Blacksmith Association!"
"Cursed Meyers! Six years full years! I always knew this bastard was plundering us, but he has practically drained the very marrow of the Blacksmith Association! Back then I should have—"
Lou Gao paced in circles, his mouth pouring out endless curses, each sentence filled with decades of anger.
His heart ached to see these recovered possessions. These coins and materials were the sweat of the association's blacksmiths, forged hammer blow by hammer blow.
Lin Xia was equally shocked by the numbers and categories Lou Gao listed. He stepped closer, curious, and also sent his Soul Power into the ring to inspect the internal space.
Hiss—!
Even with mental preparation, Lin Xia was dazzled by the towering heap of Gold Soul Coins and the many minerals and metal ingots gleaming in different lusters.
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