97: Fire Elder

Mo Yuhan was startled by the Elder's shriek, and his hand loosened, the light from the Soul Power measuring stone instantly receded, returning to its dusty appearance as it dropped onto the table.

He blinked, looking at the Elder who was trembling with excitement, pointing at him and speaking incoherently, and feigned a bit of confusion: “Old sir? Did I… pass the test?”

“Pass… pass?! More than just pass!”

The Elder suddenly lunged to the table, hands propped on the desktop, body leaning forward, face almost touching Mo Yuhan’s, gasping rapidly, his eyes burning as if looking at a rare treasure.

“Child! No! Little friend, what… what is your name? Mo Yuhan? Right! Mo Yuhan! You wait! You just wait here! Don’t go anywhere! I… I’ll report immediately! It’s a huge matter! Don’t move even if the sky falls!”

He roared incoherently, gesticulating wildly, completely losing his previous stiffness and indifference, ignoring the fallen alchemy formula and overturned chair, stumbling and scrambling out of the side hall.

His speed was completely unlike that of an old man on the verge of death, leaving only a series of rapid, receding footsteps and shouts echoing in the corridor: “Fire Elder! Fire Elder! Something big has happened! Ah—!”

Mo Yuhan was left alone in the side hall, looking at the empty doorway, then lowered his head to look at the Soul Power measuring stone on the table, which had returned to its ordinary state, and scratched his head, feeling a bit helpless. It seemed he had caused quite a stir.

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, a violent gust of wind, carrying a scorching aura, suddenly blasted into the side hall!

Bang!

The heavy wooden door of the side hall was directly smashed open by a brute force, slamming hard against the wall with a loud bang. A fiery red figure rushed in like a burning meteor, his voice arriving before him, as loud as thunder, making the entire side hall hum:

“Which brat dares to fool me?! A nine-year-old kid, his Soul Power reached nine lines, what the hell…”

The roar stopped abruptly.

Fire Elder, this six-grade Alchemist Great Master, renowned in the Pharmacist Department of Canaan Academy and even the entire Black-Corner Region, whose fiery temper was even more famous than his alchemy, was now frozen at the doorway as if under a petrification spell.

His figure was tall and burly, dressed in his characteristic fiery red alchemist robe with six dazzling golden lines embroidered on the sleeves, a head of short, fiery red hair standing on end, paired with a square face that was imposing even without anger, but now looked a bit comical due to extreme shock.

His large, bell-like eyes, which seemed to constantly burn with flames, were now fixed, unblinkingly, on Mo Yuhan.

More precisely, they were fixed on the Soul Power measuring stone on the table in front of Mo Yuhan, which the gray-robed Elder had just carefully picked up again as if holding a peerless treasure.

On the Soul Power measuring stone, nine incomparably clear golden spirit patterns, like nine sleeping golden dragons, though their light was subdued, the lingering, magnificent imprint from the soul level was as clear as a brand, exuding an undeniable majesty.

The air seemed to freeze.

The fury, doubt, and disdain on Fire Elder’s face receded like a tide, replaced by an extreme bewilderment, absurdity, and finally, a nearly stunned shock.

His face, which had been somewhat reddened by years of exposure to fire-attribute Dou Qi, now changed color erratically, finally settling on a strange purplish-brown hue.

He opened his mouth, making gasping sounds like a fish out of water.

“Fire… Fire Elder, this is Mo Yuhan, little… little friend…” The gray-robed Elder held the Soul Power measuring stone, his voice still trembling, speaking cautiously.

Fire Elder suddenly raised his hand, stiffly stopping the Elder’s words.

He walked step by step, very slowly, to the table, each step like treading on cotton.

He lowered his head, leaning extremely close, almost pressing his nose to the Soul Power measuring stone, staring intently at the nine golden patterns.

He extended a thick finger, with a hint of an imperceptible tremor, carefully touching the cold surface of the Soul Power measuring stone. A faint but incomparably pure soul power, full of vitality, instantly fed back, confirming that this was absolutely not an illusion.

“It’s… it’s really… nine golden patterns…”

Fire Elder’s voice was dry and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing, filled with an unbelievable daze.

He suddenly raised his head, his flame-burning eyes looking at Mo Yuhan again, and this time, all emotions were replaced by a nearly fanatical surprise of discovering a rare treasure.

“Kid!”

Fire Elder’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable urgency and excitement, his large palm, carrying a scorching aura, slapped heavily on Mo Yuhan’s shoulder, “You! What’s your name? Mo Yuhan? That name sounds a bit familiar… Good! Good name! From today onwards, you are my old man Huo’s direct disciple! My last disciple! My only successor! Whoever dares to compete with you, I’ll burn him!”

That large, fan-like hand contained powerful strength and scorching heat, and even though Mo Yuhan already had the cultivation of a Dou Master, he was still staggered by the slap, his shoulder aching faintly.

He steadied himself, raised his head, his small face full of seriousness, meeting Fire Elder’s gaze that was so fervent it almost melted him, and said clearly and firmly: “Fire Elder, thank you for your kindness. However, this student already has a mentor, who is the President of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, Teacher Frank. Yu Han dares not forget his roots, nor can he take another master.”

“What?!”

The wild joy on Fire Elder’s face instantly froze, as if a basin of ice water had been poured over his head.

His eyes widened even further, his red hair seemed to stand on end, and a scorching wave of air uncontrollably emanated from him, the temperature of the side hall suddenly rising.

“Frank? That little fellow from Black Rock City? He… he’s merely a four-grade… What right does he have?!”

He practically roared, his voice filled with the shock of being rejected, incomprehension, and a hint of anger at being slighted.

The gray-robed Elder next to him shivered in fright, his hands holding the Soul Power measuring stone trembling even more violently, afraid that the short-tempered Fire Elder would explode on the spot.

Mo Yuhan, however, showed no fear, his eyes clear and open, bowing again, his tone respectful yet with an unshakeable persistence: “Teacher Frank has bestowed upon me the grace of enlightenment and recognition. The dignity of a teacher, Yu Han dares not forget, and I ask Fire Elder for his understanding.”

Looking at the rock-like persistence and sincere reverence for his teacher emanating from this small figure before him, the surging anger and disappointment in Fire Elder’s chest seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, unable to erupt for a moment.

He gasped heavily, his chest rising and falling violently, scorching breath spraying on Mo Yuhan’s face.

After a long moment, the anger on his face receded like melting ice and snow, replaced by an extremely complex expression, with regret, admiration, and even a hint of imperceptible… relief?

“Good… Good indeed, not forgetting your roots! Good indeed, respecting your teacher!”

Fire Elder’s voice deepened, carrying a strange sigh.