The heavy alloy hatch slid open silently, and Lin Xia's figure appeared at the entrance of the cockpit.
The paleness on his face, left behind by the intense concentration of his spiritual power, had not yet completely faded. However, his deep eyes were astonishingly bright, like Star Metal refined within a furnace, shining with indescribable excitement and the radiance of complete control.
He lightly leaped down and landed in front of Silong. The latter's burly body was still trembling slightly from the shock of witnessing the steel giant come to life. His iron-like hands were tightly clenched, the knuckles turning white.
"Senior Brother."
Lin Xia's voice still carried the lingering excitement of a successful experiment. It was low but filled with power.
"The basic performance tests have far exceeded our expectations."
Silong took a sharp breath, as if he wanted to completely absorb the shocking scene he had just witnessed. He slammed a heavy punch into the steel support beside him, producing a loud clang that shook loose a little dust.
His hoarse voice was filled with ecstasy.
"Far exceeded? Xia, this is a miracle! This is the path to greatness for us craftsmen! If Master could see this—"
Lin Xia raised a hand and gently placed it on Silong's slightly trembling arm, interrupting his outburst of emotion.
His eyes instantly became incomparably sharp, like a tempered blade. He swept his gaze across the metal-scented Core Furnace workshop before fixing it on Silong once more.
His voice dropped to an extremely low tone, carrying unquestionable seriousness.
"Senior Brother, it's fine to be happy, but right now, we must remain calm."
He brushed a finger across his storage Soul Tool. A flash of light appeared, and the enormous mecha, Crimson Sky, which had looked like an ancient beast just moments ago, instantly disappeared as though it had never existed, leaving behind only a trace of warmth and the lingering scent of metal.
The spacious workshop suddenly became much quieter.
"This matter!"
Lin Xia spoke each word distinctly, his gaze blazing.
"It concerns the survival of the Blacksmith Association and the future of all of us. It must be kept absolutely secret! Aside from you and me, before we establish our core team and possess enough strength to protect ourselves, no third person can know of Crimson Sky's existence. Not even our closest senior brothers can be told for now!"
The excitement on Silong's face quickly receded like a falling tide, replaced by unprecedented gravity.
He was no fool. As the de facto leader of the association, he knew all too well how turbulent the continent's situation truly was.
Lin Xia's concerns were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly cooling his boiling blood.
A trace of lingering fear flashed through his eyes before turning into ironclad determination.
"I understand!"
Silong's voice was resolute and carried the ring of steel.
"A man is innocent, but possessing a priceless treasure invites disaster." If news of a creation capable of changing the continent's balance of power were to leak, the spies of the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire, and even the lofty Spirit Hall would descend like vultures that had smelled blood!
"Forget protecting the mecha, even the entire Gengxin City could be swept into a monstrous storm!"
He forcefully pounded his chest.
"Don't worry, Xia. This secret will die with me! Even if a blade were held to my throat, no one would pry a single word from me! The future of the association, the pride of us craftsmen, it all depends on this!"
Seeing the understanding and determination in Silong's eyes that perfectly matched his own, the tightly strung chord in Lin Xia's heart finally relaxed slightly.
He nodded.
"Good. Senior Brother, let's head outside. Tonight is the association's celebration banquet. As the guest of honor, I've been gone for too long. The brothers outside, cheering in excitement, may not think much of it, but there's no guarantee there aren't eyes watching from the shadows."
The two exchanged a glance.
No more words were needed.
With perfect understanding, they straightened their slightly disheveled clothes, hid the earth-shattering secret deep within their hearts, and put on expressions of joy mixed with a little "fatigue" appropriate for a celebration.
Then they pushed open the heavy workshop doors and once again merged into the roaring sea of noise outside, which resembled a boiling furnace.
As soon as they reappeared in Furnace Plaza, the tumultuous wave of sound instantly swallowed them.
Thunderous cheers, the ringing of anvils, the sizzling of roasting meat, and the rich aroma of Molten Lava Liquor mixed with the scent of sweat rushed toward them.
Silong was quickly surrounded by several members, excitedly discussing the practical matters brought about by the Empire's mining rights, as though nothing had happened inside the workshop.
Meanwhile, Lin Xia instantly became the absolute center of attention.
"Master Lin Xia! Let me offer you a toast! You're the lucky star of our association!"
"Junior Brother, drain this bowl! From now on, we craftsmen can finally stand tall!"
"Master Lin! We'll be relying on your guidance when purchasing ores in the future!"
Countless faces, smeared with coal dust and grease yet overflowing with pure joy, crowded around him. Rough hands raised all kinds of drinking vessels iron bowls, wooden cups, and even the openings of entire barrels, each filled with golden, shimmering Molten Lava Liquor.
Their eyes burned like fire, filled with the sincerest gratitude and admiration.
Surrounded at the center of the crowd, Lin Xia wore a perfectly appropriate smile, one that carried both a young man's humility and a calm confidence.
He refused no one.
With composed ease, he accepted one drinking vessel after another, whether it was offered by a white-haired old master craftsman or a muscular young apprentice.
Sometimes he tilted his head back and drank deeply, the fiery liquor sliding down his throat and drawing even louder cheers from the crowd.
Other times, he merely took a sip before chatting amiably with the one offering the toast. Their conversations ranged from the specific categories of the Empire's orders to the characteristics of ores from certain mines, and even to possible improvements in particular forging processes.
His voice was not loud, yet somehow it carried clearly through the noisy plaza.
His thoughts were organized, his insights unique, and his words possessed a convincing power that naturally inspired trust.
When speaking with the old master craftsmen, he respectfully addressed them as "Senior" and patiently listened to their opinions regarding traditional techniques. Then, with subtle skill, he incorporated his own ideas about combining Soul Tools with forging. He neither offended them nor dismissed their experience, but instead gave them much to ponder, causing even several stubborn old masters to reveal looks of surprise and approval.
When speaking with the excited young apprentices, however, he was like an elder brother from next door. He patted their shoulders, asked about their training progress, and encouraged them to build solid foundations.
His words were filled with hope for the future, leaving the young men so excited that their faces turned red, as though they wanted to rush back to the workshop and swing their hammers a thousand times.
He moved through the crowd with an upright posture and calm, steady steps.
The firelight illuminated his youthful yet increasingly sharp features. Sweat slightly dampened his temples, adding even more vigor and a sense of responsibility to his appearance.
His deep eyes sometimes shone with wisdom when discussing technical matters, and at other times revealed a gentle smile in response to everyone's enthusiasm.
He was no longer the boy treading on thin ice in the Star Luo Imperial Palace, nor merely the Soul Engineer completely absorbed in his work inside the workshop.
He had become the unquestionable young leader of this kingdom forged from steel, a figure embodying hope and strength.
At a relatively quiet barbecue pit on the edge of the plaza, Zhu Zhuqing sat silently, her small body almost half-hidden behind a massive roasting rack.
She held half of a Pepper-Salt Iron Helm Flatbread in her hands, yet had forgotten to eat it.
Her deep, cold-pool-like eyes remained fixed, unblinking, on that radiant figure among the crowd.
Her heart was filled with an emotion she had never experienced before, an overwhelming and surging feeling of admiration.
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