Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were filled with longing, a primal longing born from suddenly glimpsing a dazzling ray of light within endless darkness and despair.
She thought of her clan's cold fate, of Zhu Zhuyun's heavy words, of her father's silent indifference, of the despair in Dai Mubai's eyes.
Become stronger!
Become as strong as Lin Xia gege!
The thought spread through her heart like wildfire, instantly consuming her entire being!
Gathering all her courage, she spoke. Her voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, carrying a childlike determination and a resolve that left no room for retreat.
"Can you teach me how to become stronger? As strong as you!"
Lin Xia lowered his head and looked into the expectation blazing within Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. His heart stirred slightly.
He remembered the lifeless look she once had, the blood droplet that had fallen onto the obsidian floor, the calmness she had forced herself to maintain, and the silent despair she had endured.
This request was the final straw grasped by someone drowning.
Lin Xia crouched down so that his eyes were level with hers, and a gentle yet complicated smile appeared on his face.
He reached out his hand and, just like before, gently rubbed Zhu Zhuqing's soft hair.
"Zhuqing."
His voice was soft, carrying a reassuring warmth.
"If possible, I will."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly lit up brilliantly, as if stars had exploded within them!
However, Lin Xia's next words caused that light to freeze slightly.
"But not now."
The starlight in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes dimmed for a brief moment. Her lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to ask why, but Lin Xia did not give her the chance.
"Getting stronger takes time, the right methods, and most importantly, a path suited to your Martial Soul."
Lin Xia patiently explained, his gaze sweeping over her small frame.
"You're still too young. Your body hasn't fully developed yet. Blindly chasing power will only damage your foundation and do more harm than good. What you need now is to build a solid base and understand the characteristics of your Martial Soul."
Lin Xia paused, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing's slightly confused yet still stubborn little face before adding,
"And teaching you to become stronger also requires the right environment and timing. Right now, here it isn't possible."
Lin Xia pointed toward the devastated forest around them.
The disappointment in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flashed past for only an instant, but she seemed to understand the concern and consideration behind Lin Xia's words. Her determination did not fade—instead, it buried itself even deeper within her heart.
She nodded firmly.
"Mhm! Zhuqing understands! Zhuqing will wait! And I'll properly build my foundation too!"
Lin Xia smiled, then stood up and naturally took Zhu Zhuqing's small hand.
Her hand was cold and soft, trembling slightly.
He said nothing more, simply leading her toward the direction where he had earlier sensed the abnormal energy fluctuations—the very source of the soul tool fluctuations he had noticed before the Shadow Leopard appeared, most likely the location of a mineral vein!
Soon, they arrived before a relatively hidden mountain hollow.
The rocks here were noticeably darker in color and faintly carried a metallic texture. The air was filled with dense earth-attributed energy and a strange, restrained sharpness.
With his powerful spiritual power, Lin Xia could clearly "touch" a pure and massive energy source deep within the mountain, pulsing slowly like a sleeping dragon.
"This is the place."
Lin Xia stopped walking and released Zhu Zhuqing's hand, his eyes fixed intensely on the rock wall ahead.
He turned his head toward Larvitar, who was currently perched on his shoulder, tugging curiously at his collar with its little claws while staring at the mountain as well.
"Larvitar."
Lin Xia's voice carried expectation and trust.
"It's up to you now!"
"Larvitar!"
Larvitar's previously lazy eyes instantly became bright and sharp!
It understood its master's meaning!
The little fellow immediately puffed out its chest covered in dark red magma-like armor, then forcefully pounded its breastplate several times with its short foreclaws, producing crisp metallic clangs. Its tiny head lifted proudly, and its crimson eyes brimmed with confidence and excitement, clearly saying, "Leave it to me!"
Right after that, Larvitar lightly leapt down from Lin Xia's shoulder and landed in front of the rock wall emitting that enticing aura.
It did not act immediately. Instead, it first stretched out a small claw and gently pressed it against the cold rock surface, closing its eyes as if carefully sensing the direction of the mineral vein and the location of the energy core deep within the mountain.
A moment later, it opened its eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through its crimson pupils!
"Yoo—!"
A short yet forceful cry rang out!
Bright yellow-brown light instantly illuminated Larvitar's body!
The light was not dazzling, but it carried a heavy, solid, and immensely powerful fluctuation of Soul Power!
Like a living thing, the glow flowed rapidly over its tiny body, making it resemble a small moving luminous ore crystal!
First Soul Skill, Sand Strom!
The yellow-brown Soul Ring beneath Larvitar instantly lit up!
Surging earth-attributed Soul Power spread out like an invisible shockwave, precisely acting upon the ground before the rock wall.
In an instant, the gravel and dust within several meters ahead seemed to gain life. Without any wind, they violently trembled and rose into the air, forming a small yet controllable cloud of dust.
The dust cloud did not scatter. Instead, it gathered before the rock wall like an invisible giant hand, forcefully stripping away the loose gravel and weathered surface layers attached to the rock face!
Crack-crack-crack!
The hard surface of the rock wall groaned under the strain of the power. Countless tiny stones and particles were forcibly peeled away like shattered eggshells, revealing a darker and denser layer of stone beneath!
Immediately afterward, the light intensified!
The dust cloud stirred up by Sand Strom did not disperse. Under Larvitar's exquisite control of Soul Power, it was granted even greater cohesion and destructive force!
Countless fine earth-attributed particles rapidly rotated and compressed, condensing before Larvitar's small claws into a high-speed rotating sand drill!
The drill was not a physical object, but was instead entirely composed of compressed sand and Soul Power. Its edges were razor-sharp and emitted a shrill screech capable of tearing through stone!
"Larvitar!"
A crimson gleam flashed through Larvitar's eyes!
The rapidly spinning sand drill shot forward like a fired cannon shell, accompanied by a deep tearing roar as it violently slammed into the rock wall that had just been stripped bare!
BOOM! CRACK—!
Before that terrifying penetrating and rotational cutting force, the solid rock was as fragile as tofu!
Fragments of stone exploded outward as dust filled the air! In an instant, an irregular hole over half a meter wide appeared in the rock wall, stretching deep into darkness!
But this was only the beginning!
Larvitar's tiny body seemed to contain endless strength.
Without pausing, it ran forward on its short little legs and fearlessly charged into the newly opened tunnel, still filled with flying stone dust and debris!
The yellow-brown glow surrounding its body acted like a miner's lamp, illuminating the deep passageway.
Once inside the tunnel, Larvitar perfectly combined Sand Strom with Sand Power.
Instead of condensing another drill, it wrapped Sand Power around its entire body, forming a constantly rotating and grinding protective barrier.
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