Flame Emperor Takes a Master

"It's actually an Earth-Rank Dou Weapon, and a rare soul-type one at that. I feel completely revitalized!"

Yao Lao laughed heartily several times, studying his soul body, now solid and lifelike, with delight written all over his face.

Then, with gratitude on his face, he clasped his hands toward the figure ahead and bowed.

With this Soul-Calming Jade Cauldron, he no longer had to worry about insufficient soul power, nor would he fall into slumber from exhausting his soul strength.

What did this mean? It meant that Yao Chen had finally risen to his feet!

Only now did he truly begin to believe that the young man before him had not been feeding him empty promises. After all, he had even given him such a precious Dou Weapon. What was there left for him to worry about?

"No problem."

Xiao Dongchen waved his hand indifferently, then snapped his fingers. Ancestor Xiao Xuan shattered through space and vanished.

Right afterward, he leaned closer and discussed the specifics of the ten-year agreement with Yao Lao, focusing especially on Xiao Yan's future path.

Knowing the plot so well, he naturally knew how to help Xiao Yan grow stronger efficiently, as well as how to avoid those tempting romantic entanglements.

As the old saying went, with no women in your heart, your sword would naturally become divine! The first page of the sword manual: forget the one you loved!

As for him, he was not practicing swordsmanship anyway.

He could only bear the pain of being surrounded by beauties of every kind himself. After all, if he did not enter hell, then whoever loved it could go in, right?

"Hehehe!"

Just as he was grinning wickedly and chatting more enthusiastically with Yao Lao, the sound of someone stepping on a small stone caught their attention.

"Nani?"

Xiao Dongchen turned his head and saw a dirty, disheveled Xiao Yan climbing up. The wind lifted the young man's hair, revealing an expression as though he had seen a ghost.

"Brother Chen, is that person beside you... a ghost?"

Xiao Yan stared dumbfoundedly, his trembling finger pointing at Yao Lao's soul body floating in midair.

"More or less. That's not important."

Hearing that, Xiao Dongchen could not help smiling. He spread his hands, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Ah, then perhaps I came at a bad time."

Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly shrank. He could not help taking a step back, looking ready to run at any moment.

Talking to a ghost? Had Brother Chen lost his mind? Did he have some serious illness or something?!

"Hehehe! No, little one, you came at exactly the right time."

Seeing the usually composed Xiao Yan so frightened, Yao Lao could not help giving a strange laugh as he teasingly spoke.

"You... you two..."

After trembling slightly for a moment, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted between the man and the soul. His good brother had not really been bewitched by a ghost, had he?

"Hey, Old Chen, stop scaring him. Business comes first."

Xiao Dongchen shook his head helplessly and beckoned to the young man by the cliff. "Come over, Xiao Yan. Your timing really is perfect. I was just about to introduce him to you."

Old Chen?

Yao Lao's eyelid twitched. This young master was far too good at this.

When he needed him, he called him Old Chen. When he did not, he was just a lackey. The difference was too damn big!

"What are you doing?!"

"If you have something to say, say it from there!"

Xiao Yan had transmigrated here. He had heard plenty of stories about demons and ghosts in his previous life, so he still had to stay on guard under normal circumstances.

"Fine, then. Didn't I tell you there was an evil spirit inside your family heirloom ring? He's that evil spirit. But after some guidance from me, he has already turned over a new leaf."

Xiao Dongchen did not hide anything and pointed at Yao Lao as he spoke softly.

"An evil spirit?"

Xiao Yan blinked in confusion. A moment later, he realized what that meant. His face abruptly darkened, and cold, resentful words squeezed out through his teeth.

"It was him? Him! It was actually him?!"

"This old bastard secretly siphoned off my Dou Qi for three years and made me the laughingstock of the entire clan. He deserves to die!"

"Three years! Do you know how I spent those three years?!"

"Old ghost, fuck your mother!"

After that furious outburst, he viciously raised his middle finger.

He was not afraid of this old ghost now. With his rage fully stacked, he was even more terrifying than a ghost!

"Little one, don't get so worked up. I know everything you went through, and I did it for your own good."

Yao Lao spoke with a smile. In front of his generous benefactor, no matter how fiercely Xiao Yan cursed him, the boy was still a little cutie to him.

"For your mother's good. Screw you, I don't want to talk to you."

Xiao Yan's mouth twitched, and he chose silence.

"Think about it yourself. During those three years of mockery, didn't you grow? At the very least, your temperament became much steadier, didn't it?"

"Besides, although I absorbed your Dou Qi, your foundation also became much more solid. When you cultivate Dou Qi in the future, you will get twice the result with half the effort."

"So I wasn't lying to you. I really did it for your own good."

Yao Lao spoke in a patient, guiding tone, sitting upright with a solemn expression.

Xiao Yan was immediately stunned after hearing that. Once he calmed down and thought it over carefully, it did seem to make some sense. At the very least, he could not find any fault with it.

But Xiao Dongchen stood off to the side with his hands behind his back, barely holding back his laughter.

Old man, that might fool a newbie. You were clearly draining his Dou Qi to replenish your soul power, yet you still pretended to be such a good person. You were nearly as shameless as he was.

"Yes, yes, I did it for your own good too. That's why I planned to ask him to become your teacher and teach you how to grow stronger quickly."

"I even paid quite a price for it."

Xiao Dongchen sighed and glanced at the young man nearby, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"Old man? Teacher? Brother Chen, are you serious?"

Xiao Yan looked deeply suspicious. If not for his trust in Xiao Dongchen, he would have run away long ago.

"Of course, Xiao Yan. Don't underestimate Old Chen. He's a genuine Alchemist, and his rank isn't low either."

Xiao Dongchen smiled as he dropped the bombshell.

"An Alchemist? Really? If he takes me as his disciple, does that mean... I have the potential to become an Alchemist too?!"

Xiao Yan blinked in disbelief, stepped closer, and looked Yao Lao up and down. His eyes gradually lit up.

He had always been a smart person. With Xiao Dongchen's strong recommendation, he also realized that the old man was no ordinary person.

A high-ranking Alchemist was practically a giant panda among rare species...

Brother Chen treats me so well. I'm... so moved!

"Enough nonsense. I'm the real deal!"

Yao Lao straightened his chest, his expression radiating dignity and pride.

"Your talent barely qualifies. If it weren't for his sake, I wouldn't bother with you."

"One question: are you going to learn or not?"

Xiao Yan turned his head and saw the handsome young man before him smiling and nodding at him. He no longer hesitated, and his gaze gradually turned firm.

"I'll learn! I'll learn!"

He nodded repeatedly. After all, taking a noble Alchemist as his master could never be a loss!

"Hehe, since you're willing, come and acknowledge me as your master."

Yao Lao looked smug and beamed with delight, shooting a meaningful look at Xiao Dongchen beside him.

Well done!

Xiao Dongchen met his gaze, and the two understood each other without a word.

"I have to formally take a master too? Then... all right."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan nodded. He then stepped forward and respectfully performed the disciple ceremony before Yao Lao.

"Ah, the ceremony is complete!"

"There's nothing left for me to do. I'll be going now. You two chat."

Xiao Dongchen watched the scene, nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand and turned to leave.

At the same time, the system notification sounded by his ear.

["Ding! Congratulations to the host for facilitating the Flame Emperor taking a master achievement and earning his immense gratitude. Protagonist luck -666. One chance to draw a destined inheritance!"]

["Ding! Draw successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Heavenly Tier reward—the Alchemy Compendium of a Hundred Explanations!" (Contains all Pill Refining insights and experience of a ninth-grade Alchemist)]

["Note: Once fully comprehended, future Pill Refining will only require a pill formula, materials, and a flame seed for one-click automated management!"]

Awesome!

With this Pill Refining Compendium and the Flame Mantra, wouldn't he be able to crush Alchemists at will in the future?

Mm-hmm, farming experience like this felt amazing!

Humming a little tune, Xiao Dongchen headed back down the mountain path, leaving behind only his retreating figure for the master and disciple.