The molten Star Essence Gold swirled in Lin Xia's palm, continuously absorbing the power of the stars. Under the ultimate refinement of the Divine Flame, its volume gradually shrank, yet the energy fluctuations and metallic luster it emitted became increasingly pure and powerful!
Finally, when the Divine Flame withdrew and the starlight receded inward, what remained in Lin Xia's palm was a Star Essence Gold ingot only one-third of its original size. However, liquid starlight flowed across its entire surface, and both its density and energy level had increased severalfold.
"Success!"
A burst of ecstatic joy erupted in Lin Xia's eyes.
This kind of high-level material refinement and fusion, completed directly through internal energy guidance, was far more efficient than traditional forging!
It meant that the speed and quality with which he could manufacture new mecha core components and critical structures would undergo a qualitative leap!
Larvitar also came over curiously. It sniffed the ingot shimmering with starlight and seemed to find it even more attractive than its previous "snacks." It lightly tapped the ingot with a small claw, producing a crisp and pleasant metallic resonance.
"Don't be impatient. In the future, I'll use this to make even stronger armor for you."
Smiling, Lin Xia stored away the "divinely refined" Star Essence Gold, his confidence greatly boosted.
He picked up another piece of ore and once again activated both the power of the stars and the Phoenix Divine Flame, immersing himself in cultivation and forging.
Inside the room, starlight sparkled brilliantly while divine flames flickered softly. The glow of smelted ore intertwined with the patterns on Larvitar's armor, creating a dazzling scene.
Time flew by like a galloping horse.
In the blink of an eye, an entire month had passed!
The outline of Star Luo City gradually faded into the distant horizon.
The carriage wheels rolled along the official road, producing a steady, rhythmic rumble while kicking up clouds of dust.
Inside the carriage, Lin Xia sat with his eyes closed, seemingly resting. Yet his thoughts were immersed in the storage Soul Tool, where mountains of rare ores filled him with immense satisfaction.
During this month, under the pretext that repairing the Star Radiance Crown required special materials, he had made several more trips to the Vault.
Each time, he selected his targets with precision and, under the increasingly numb gazes of the guards, swept through the empire's centuries-old reserves of top-grade ores like a ravenous beast.
As for Larvitar, it had eaten until its belly was round and full. The dragon and phoenix patterns on its armor had become increasingly vivid and brilliant, while its aura grew deeper and more restrained, clearly indicating tremendous gains.
Everything had proceeded exactly as Lin Xia expected.
Although Dai Tianxing was a suspicious ruler by nature, Lin Xia's nearly obsessive greed for ores, combined with his apparent indifference toward jewels, secret manuals, heavenly treasures, and precious artifacts, had greatly lowered the Star Luo Emperor's guard.
As long as the Star Radiance Crown could be repaired, those "rocks" were nothing more than stepping stones in Dai Tianxing's eyes.
Eventually, after deciding he had taken enough advantage of the situation, Lin Xia delivered the already repaired crown, now fitted with Larvitar's high-quality imitation of the Tear of the Star Core to the Star Hall.
Dai Tianxing's inspection was extraordinarily thorough.
Stars seemed to appear and vanish within his eyes as vast Soul Power swept across every corner of the crown like flowing mercury.
Outwardly, Lin Xia remained calm.
Inwardly, however, he felt as though he were walking on thin ice.
The Phoenix Divine Flame circulated quietly within his body, ready to respond to any unexpected development.
Fortunately, Larvitar's craftsmanship was truly heaven-defying.
Whether in appearance, aura, or the pure and boundless fluctuations of stellar origin energy, the imitation was virtually flawless.
The only flaw was that its energy intensity was merely half that of the original.
Fortunately, Lin Xia had already prepared an explanation:
During the repair process, the artifact had suffered unknown corrosion, resulting in a slight loss of its original essence.
The excuse perfectly concealed the discrepancy.
After repeatedly confirming that everything was in order, Dai Tianxing finally revealed a relieved smile.
That smile contained both the joy of recovering a lost national treasure and the reassurance that his own cultivation foundation remained secure.
"Good! Excellent! Lin Xia, you truly did not disappoint me!"
Dai Tianxing was overjoyed and immediately fulfilled his promise.
In fact, he proved even more generous than expected.
"Pass down my decree! For the next five years, all weapons, armor, and civilian tools produced by the Blacksmith Association shall be purchased by the Empire at a thirty percent premium! Furthermore, the mining rights to Xishan Commandery's Red Copper Mine, Blackrock Valley's Refined Iron Mine, and ten other high-quality mining sites shall be granted exclusively to the Blacksmith Association!"
Lin Xia's heart stirred.
This reward exceeded all expectations.
While it meant little to him personally, it was an enormous blessing for the entire Blacksmith Association.
It meant that the living standards of tens of thousands of blacksmiths and their families would improve dramatically.
It meant the association would gain a stable and abundant source of income.
It meant they would finally have the resources to cultivate talent, develop new techniques, and free themselves from the lowly social status traditionally associated with blacksmiths.
Lin Xia bowed respectfully, a perfectly measured expression of gratitude on his face.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's great grace. The entire Blacksmith Association will forever remember Your Majesty's kindness and will forge even finer equipment for the Empire."
After politely declining Dai Tianxing's symbolic offer for him to stay longer, Lin Xia departed the palace with light, cheerful steps.
The bustling excitement of Star Luo City seemed entirely irrelevant to him.
All he wanted was to return to the Zhu Residence, pack his belongings, and begin his journey home.
The atmosphere within the Zhu Residence was somewhat subtle.
His farewell to Zhu Zhan was brief and restrained.
The clan leader's gaze was complicated, but in the end it condensed into a single sentence.
"Take care of yourself. If you ever have need of assistance in the future. The Zhu Clan may be able to offer some support."
Lin Xia understood the unspoken meaning.
Until he truly possessed the power to overturn the chessboard, the Zhu Clan would not openly choose a side.
However, neither would they completely sever ties with him.
Lin Xia smiled and accepted the sentiment, both parties understanding each other perfectly.
Nearby, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Lin Xia and the carriage with a trace of envy.
She seemed to want to say something, but ultimately shook her head and spoke seriously:
"I hope that the next time I see you, you'll be even stronger."
Lin Xia merely nodded calmly in response.
However, as his gaze swept across the area, he realized he still hadn't seen that cold yet stubborn figure.
After asking a servant, he received an answer.
"Young Miss Zhuzhuqing left early this morning. She said she was going to Serenity Lake in the western part of the city to take a walk and clear her mind."
A faint trace of regret passed through Lin Xia's heart.
He looked toward the Western Courtyard. It remained as cold and quiet as ever.
He understood Zhu Zhuqing's choice. Perhaps she did not want to face this farewell scene, or perhaps she was still quietly accumulating strength within that cold and lonely environment.
Lin Xia smiled faintly and did not force the matter, nor did he deliberately wait for her.
Some roads ultimately had to be walked by her alone. What he could offer was merely a possible foothold whenever she needed one.
"Let's go."
Lin Xia instructed the coachman as he boarded the spacious royal carriage with Larvitar.
The wheels began to turn.
The carriage departed from the grand gates of the Zhu Clan estate, leaving behind both the prosperity and oppression of Star Luo City.
The carriage traveled steadily along the official road leading toward Gengxin City.
More than two hours had already passed since they left Star Luo City.
On both sides of the road stretched endless farmlands and sparse woodlands. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the carriage windows, bringing with it a lazy and relaxing atmosphere.
Having eaten its fill, Larvitar curled up at Lin Xia's feet, letting out soft snores as its round belly rose and fell with each breath.
Lin Xia also relaxed his mind, closed his eyes, and quietly reviewed the gains from this trip to Star Luo City, as well as his plans for the future.
Just as this peaceful atmosphere was about to drift into even deeper rest.
Knock... Knock... Knock...
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