Lou Gao's expression was a sight to behold.
Shock, confusion, realization, speechlessness… a storm of emotions flashed across his weathered face one after another, finally settling into a long sigh filled with both awe and deep frustration.
"Hiss… you brat… your Martial Soul is absolutely unreasonable!"
Lou Gao ruffled his already messy hair with both hands, as though trying to dig out every bit of soul master logic buried inside his skull and throw it away.
"A Martial Soul Possession sharing part of its abilities, that I can understand… but sharing Soul Skills? Never heard of such a thing! Sharing Soul Rings? That's pure fantasy! But now—great heavens— even moves can be shared and comprehended together?! And you're telling me… you both comprehended them on your own?!"
Lou Gao glanced at the arcs of lightning dancing around Lin Xia's fist, then looked again at Larvitar, who had sensed the electric aura and was equally excited—letting out a spirited "Larvitar!" as stronger purple sparks crackled over its little claws. Lou Gao's mouth twitched uncontrollably several times.
"Alright! I've seen enough!"
Lou Gao waved his hand self-mockingly, his tone carrying both helplessness and a wry smile.
"With a monster of a disciple like you, this old man's basically unemployed in the field of soul master training! Other than giving you a few ores to snack on, what else can I even do? There's not even a shred of that 'teacher's satisfaction' left for me!"
Yet despite his words, the joy and pride in his eyes were impossible to conceal.
The stronger his disciple became, the happier he felt.
"But still…"
The helplessness in Lou Gao's eyes was soon replaced by an even fiercer, brighter excitement, brighter than when he had first revealed his Soul Guidance formations!
"Thunder Punch, huh? You learned it by eating Purple Thunder Iron Ore?"
Lin Xia withdrew the lightning arcs and nodded.
"It should be. After devouring a large amount of Purple Thunder Iron Ore, perhaps the accumulated energy, combined with the impact from the Void Stone's power, triggered its manifestation."
Lou Gao's breathing suddenly turned heavy.
An extremely bold and enticing idea erupted within his mind like molten lava!
He suddenly grabbed Lin Xia's shoulders, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Xia'er! Did you just say… that by consuming ores of different elemental attributes, there's a chance to comprehend corresponding elemental moves? Like—fire, ice, even wind or water?"
"In theory, yes."
Lin Xia confirmed with a firm nod, his eyes blazing with intensity, this was exactly the direction of his earlier thoughts.
"Purple Thunder Iron Ore contained lightning energy, and we comprehended Thunder Punch."
"So, if we can find ores imbued with pure fire essence… or ones containing extreme ice power, or other elemental minerals, then there's a high chance that Larvitar and I could comprehend other elemental moves!"
In Lin Xia's mind, vivid scenes flashed—Larvitar breathing fierce flames, using Flamethrower, Flare Blitz, Sunny Day, Fire Punch, and Fire Fang in rapid succession.
"Brilliant! Simply brilliant! Hahahahaha!"
Lou Gao burst into thunderous laughter, shaking the entire forge; even the anvils hummed in response.
All the earlier "teacher's frustration" vanished instantly into thin air.
The problem that had plagued him, the need for top-tier materials for the Soul Guidance Mecha, had now perfectly aligned with Lin Xia's need to grow stronger!
"Talk about the heavens sending me exactly what I need! No—this time, the heavens just smacked me in the face with a pillow!"
Lou Gao rubbed his rough hands together vigorously, pacing back and forth, eyes gleaming with the excitement of a prospector who had just discovered a rare vein of ore.
He suddenly stopped and looked at Lin Xia and Larvitar with blazing determination.
"Xia'er! Larvitar! You two have fully recovered and you both need elemental ores to enhance your strength! As for me, I've been searching for top-grade, power-infused materials to forge the Mecha's core and armor! This is simply heaven's will!"
Lou Gao swung his arm dramatically toward the south, as if his gaze could pierce mountains and see through to the fiery lands beyond.
"Perfect timing! I know of a place! An ancient, legendary ore vein lies deep within the Extreme Southern Volcanic Belt, the Norton Volcano!"
"Norton Volcano?"
Lin Xia's eyes gleamed sharply, his heartbeat quickening beyond control!
A volcano! Molten lava! Wasn't that the most ideal environment for the birth of fire-element ores?!
Moreover… the Extreme Southern Volcanic Belt—
If Lin Xia remembered correctly, there was said to be a god's inheritance somewhere in that region.
"Yes! Norton Volcano!"
Lou Gao's tone was firm and decisive, carrying the weight of absolute certainty.
"The earthfire there rages endlessly, the magma flows without rest and it's said that deep within the volcanic strata lie numerous rare ores infused with pure fire energy!"
A blazing ambition burned in Lou Gao's eyes.
"If we can find them, I'll be able to forge Mecha components capable of withstanding the violent energy of a Void Stone core and even ones that can actively absorb and convert earthfire power to enhance attacks!"
"And that environment is also the most likely place to nurture top-tier fire-attribute ores for you and Larvitar! Killing two birds with one stone!"
Lin Xia felt his blood boiling, and he couldn't help but ask eagerly,
"Teacher! Then when do we set out?!"
Seeing the impatience nearly bursting from his disciple's eyes, so much like his own younger self, Lou Gao burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Good! I like that drive! Exactly like me back in the day!"
Lou Gao reined in his laughter and patted Lin Xia on the shoulder.
"Haste makes waste—especially when it's tofu soaked in earthfire magma! Norton Volcano lies in the Extreme Southern Volcanic Belt, far from Gengxin City, and the environment there is extremely dangerous."
"And prospecting deep within a volcano's core is no easy task. We must be prepared for prolonged operations and fierce battles!"
Lou Gao's expression turned solemn and serious.
"So, we need to prepare! I'll need one full day to archive my most critical research data, assign several key pending orders within the Association to Silong and the other senior disciples, and make arrangements for the Association's operations during our absence."
He looked at Lin Xia with a meaningful gaze.
"This trip could last one or two months at the shortest or half a year, maybe even longer! We must eliminate all worries from behind."
Then Lou Gao turned to Lin Xia, his tone firm with instruction.
"Xia'er, the same goes for you! Don't get carried away by excitement. Start preparing immediately!"
He began counting on his fingers, listing items one by one, his speech fast yet clear.
"Go to the marketplace and buy as much high-energy, easily stored dry rations and food as possible—salt and sugar too. Take as much as you can carry! And fresh water—at least a one-month supply! Clean water is extremely scarce in volcanic regions!"
"Also, find Old Liu from the Association's medicinal department. Take the best antidotes, anti-inflammatory medicine, hemostatic powders, heat-relief cooling medicines, internal injury treatments—everything you can think of that he can provide! Especially strong fire-burn prevention and fire-toxin resistance medicines! The more, the better! In a volcano, those things are life itself!"
"And check the firearms we developed earlier as well. Make sure the ammunition is fully stocked—no room for error."
Lin Xia listened attentively, committing every instruction firmly to memory.
"Rest assured, Teacher. I'll take care of it immediately!"
After saying this, Lin Xia bent down and scooped up the equally excited Larvitar, who was chirping "Larvi Lar-vi!"
"Larvitar, let's go! We're going on a massive shopping spree and then… off to the volcano for a grand feast!"
----
For additional chapter's
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu