Fire Elder

Before Xiao Qing could think it through, another knock came from the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

Xiao Qing had no choice but to get up and walk to the door.

When he opened it, Ge Long's burly figure filled his view.

"Mentor Ge Long, why are you here?"

Xiao Qing asked in surprise.

Ge Long crossed his arms and said helplessly,

"You still have the nerve to ask? If I hadn't heard several students say they saw you leaving Vice Principal Hu Gan's office, I would've thought something had happened to you!"

Hearing that, Xiao Qing suddenly remembered that he seemed to have forgotten to ask for leave. He explained awkwardly,

"Mentor Ge Long, I broke through to the Dou Zhe realm in my dormitory this morning. I didn't skip class on purpose."

"You broke through to Dou Zhe! So quickly!"

Ge Long's face was filled with shock. Although he had long grown used to Xiao Qing's monstrous talent over the past two months, he was still astonished by Xiao Qing's cultivation speed.

"That's right. I was only able to break through thanks to the Qi Gathering Powder my family gave me."

Facing Ge Long's astonished gaze, Xiao Qing nodded firmly, attributing most of the credit to the Qi Gathering Powder.

"Good! As expected of the prodigy I, Ge Long, recruited!"

Ge Long excitedly patted Xiao Qing's shoulder, a proud smile appearing on his face.

Though it was not his own cultivation that had advanced, he was still happy about it.

"In that case, stay in your dormitory for the next few days and consolidate your cultivation. I'll approve a few days of leave for you."

"Thank you, Mentor Ge Long." Xiao Qing nodded repeatedly.

"You brat, are my classes really that boring?"

Seeing his reaction, Ge Long said irritably.

Xiao Qing rubbed his nose somewhat sheepishly and chose not to respond.

You call that boring? It was practically a lullaby!

Ge Long's fists clenched, but when he recalled the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill that had raised his cultivation by two stars, he abandoned the thought of lecturing him.

"Alright, since you're fine, I won't disturb you any longer. Go back and cultivate properly!"

With that, Ge Long gave Xiao Qing a slight nod before turning and leaving.

Xiao Qing watched Ge Long's departing back until he disappeared from sight, then withdrew his gaze and headed back inside.

The next morning, a ray of dawn shone through the window into the room.

Xiao Qing woke from cultivation. Remembering what Hu Gan had said before, he immediately planned to visit Fire Elder from the original work at the Alchemy Department.

He would also see whether he could join it and learn some alchemy techniques.

After all, he possessed a fire-and-wood affinity and had the talent to become an alchemist. There was no reason for the Alchemy Department to reject him.

With that in mind, Xiao Qing rose, straightened his robes, and walked out the door, his short little legs carrying him toward the Alchemy Department.

Ignoring the curious looks from the surrounding students, which he had long grown accustomed to, Xiao Qing calmly arrived before the building housing the Alchemy Department.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in alchemist robes walked out. When he saw the youthful Xiao Qing at the entrance, his eyes lit up. He had clearly recognized the prodigy whose name had recently spread throughout the Outer Academy.

The middle-aged man stepped forward and asked Xiao Qing kindly, "Little friend, do you have some business with our Alchemy Department?"

Seeing how easygoing the man appeared, Xiao Qing was somewhat surprised. Weren't alchemists supposed to be arrogant and eccentric?

Why did this man seem so approachable?

Xiao Qing could not help checking the middle-aged man's robes once more.

That was right, they were indeed alchemist robes. Had he misunderstood something?

Suppressing his doubts, Xiao Qing nodded to the man before him. "Hello, Mentor. I came to see Fire Elder."

The middle-aged man looked somewhat surprised, seemingly not expecting Xiao Qing to have come to the Alchemy Department specifically to seek Fire Elder.

However, Fire Elder was not someone one could meet whenever one wished.

Just as the man was about to refuse, his expression suddenly changed. He was secretly startled, not expecting Fire Elder to pay such close attention to Xiao Qing.

Remembering the voice transmission he had just received, the middle-aged man nodded kindly at Xiao Qing. "Little friend, follow me."

With that, he led Xiao Qing toward the highest floor of the building.

Xiao Qing kept his eyes straight ahead and followed closely behind him.

He followed the middle-aged man all the way to the highest floor, where they stopped outside a room.

The middle-aged man turned around and said to Xiao Qing with a smile,

"Little friend, Fire Elder's office is here. You may enter on your own."

Xiao Qing bowed to the middle-aged man and thanked him. "Thank you, Mentor."

The middle-aged man hurriedly waved his hand. "There is no need to thank me, little friend. Fire Elder ordered me to bring you here."

Xiao Qing immediately understood. He had wondered why the man, who had initially looked ready to refuse him, had suddenly agreed. So he had received Fire Elder's order.

It seemed Fire Elder had been paying attention to him?

Xiao Qing secretly guessed as he gently knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!" A deep, gentle voice came from within the room.

After nodding to the middle-aged man, Xiao Qing pushed the door open and entered.

Inside was an exceptionally spacious room. Several rows of bookshelves stood against the walls, while an old wooden desk sat in the middle.

An old man in red robes stood before the bookshelves with his back to the door, carefully reading a scroll in his hands.

As Xiao Qing approached, a rich medicinal fragrance washed over him, instantly refreshing his spirits.

"Junior Xiao Qing pays his respects to Senior!"

Fire Elder returned the scroll to the shelf and slowly turned around. A gleam flashed through his eyes when his gaze landed on Xiao Qing.

"Not bad. Hu Gan sent you?"

As a Peak Fifth-Rank Alchemist, nothing around the Alchemy Department could escape his soul perception. Thus, he had noticed Xiao Qing the moment he arrived.

Thinking of how Hu Gan had casually asked him yesterday to take better care of this kid, Fire Elder grew somewhat curious.

He could not help using his soul force to examine Xiao Qing before him.

"Hiss!"

"Is this even human?"

Fire Elder began to question his life after sensing the information revealed by his soul force.

He finally understood why Hu Gan had looked at him so strangely yesterday.

He only knew what Xiao Qing looked like; he had not known the boy was this monstrous!

A five-year-old Dou Zhe, a fire-and-wood soul affinity, and such powerful soul force—he was simply born to become an alchemist!

"Hu Gan, that bastard! He had such an outstanding prospect and didn't tell me sooner!"

Fire Elder complained inwardly.

As Jia Nan Academy's only Peak Fifth-Rank Alchemist, he had to personally handle a great many matters in the Alchemy Department and was usually extremely busy.

Moreover, he still needed to find a way to break through and become a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.

Naturally, he had not known about Xiao Qing, the prodigy whose name had recently spread throughout the Outer Academy.

Looking at the youthful Xiao Qing before him, Fire Elder's heart burned with excitement. He could not wait to accept him as his final disciple on the spot!