Elder Huo
Battle Through the Heavens: The Wholesale Supplier of Pocket Grandpas
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Elder Huo (火长老) |
| Alias(es) | Old Man Huo 21 |
| Gender | Male 19 20 |
| Affiliation | Jia Nan Academy, Alchemy Department 13 19 |
| Occupation/Role | Head of the Alchemy Department; academy elder 13 19 |
| Cultivation Realm | Peak Dou Huang (Dou Emperor) 19 |
| Alchemist Rank | Fifth-Rank Alchemist 19 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 13 13 |
Personality
Elder Huo normally presents a solemn, authoritative manner, but exceptional alchemical talent draws out his enthusiasm. He reacts with shock when fifteen-year-old Wu Bai requests a Fifth-Rank examination, then confidently predicts his success. When Wu Bai passes, Huo bursts into laughter and celebrates him as the finest student in Jia Nan Academy’s history 19 20.
He is generous without dismissing personal boundaries. When Wu Bai refuses a valuable flame seed out of concern that Huo should use it himself, Huo appreciates the boy’s propriety and reveals that he has retained a superior flame. He also favors making exceptions for extraordinary students, openly defending Wu Bai’s early access to the Inner Academy 20 21.
Abilities & Skills
Alchemy
- Holds Fifth-Rank Alchemist status and leads Jia Nan Academy’s Alchemy Department 19.
- Recognizes the exceptional quality of Wu Bai’s Qi Gathering Powder and grants him a Fourth-Rank badge, despite the demonstration not being a formal examination 13.
- Understands the demanding Soul Power and fire-control requirements of using additional fire seeds to refine a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill 30.
Dou Qi Cultivation
- Possesses Peak Dou Huang cultivation, reinforcing his standing alongside his alchemical rank 19.
- Can fly while carrying another person; he takes Wu Bai directly into the Inner Academy 22.
Perception
- Initially can discern aspects of Wu Bai’s strength, but later admits that the youth’s increased Soul Power has made him impossible to see through 29.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Crimson-gold flame — His retained flame produces a faint dragon’s roar when manifested. He reveals it to reassure Wu Bai that gifting the Flood Dragon Flame Seed will not deprive him of his best fire 20.
- Seventh-tier Flood Dragon Flame Seed — A blue-white beast flame with a tiny flood dragon circling at its center. Huo describes it as superior to ordinary seventh-tier beast fires and gives it to Wu Bai after his Fifth-Rank examination 20.
Relationships
- Wu Bai — Talented student whom Huo supports through rank recognition, resources, cultivation guidance, and exceptional academy privileges. Wu Bai promises to help him obtain a Sect Breaking Pill in return for the flame seed 13 20 21 22 23.
- Hu Gan — Fellow academy authority. They jointly announce Wu Bai’s early admission to Inner Academy cultivation and later discuss his alchemical methods together 21 30.
Story Role / Major Arcs
Recognizing Wu Bai
Having heard of Wu Bai’s talent, Huo asks him to refine Qi Gathering Powder before the Alchemy Department’s students. The result convinces him to award Wu Bai a Fourth-Rank Alchemist badge. Rather than insist on basic lessons, he encourages independent study, offers access to the department’s formulas and herbs at cost, and points out his residence so Wu Bai can seek help if trouble arises 13.
Fifth-Rank Examination and Reward
When Wu Bai requests the Fifth-Rank examination, Huo summons every academy alchemist of Fourth Rank or above to attend. Wu Bai successfully refines the difficult Dragon Strength Pill on his first attempt, becoming the academy’s youngest Fifth-Rank Alchemist at fifteen 19 20.
Huo then fulfills his promise of a gift with the Flood Dragon Flame Seed. Wu Bai’s insistence on acknowledging the favor leads to a friendly agreement concerning Huo’s future Sect Breaking Pill 20.
Early Inner Academy Cultivation
Huo and Hu Gan announce the academy’s unanimous decision to let Wu Bai cultivate in the Inner Academy ahead of schedule. This arrangement is intended to improve his Dou Qi cultivation rather than require immediate combat participation 21.
Huo provides a secluded villa, introduces important academy locations, and guides Wu Bai through his first encounter with the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower’s Heart Flame Projection. He supplies a purple crystal card holding 10,000 days of Fire Energy 22 23.
His tower instructions include:
- Avoid excessive cultivation and accumulated fire poison 23.
- Keep a Pulse-Protecting Pill ready because the ninth-floor Heart Flame Projection can burn meridians 23.
- Account for the room’s cost of thirty days of Fire Energy per day 23.
- Consider entering the selection tournament for its top-five rewards 23.
Supporting Sixth-Grade Alchemy
On Wu Bai’s return before the selection tournament, Huo is astonished by his increased Soul Power. After hearing that Wu Bai is confident about refining a Dou Ling Pill, he lends him all four Sixth-grade recipes inherited by the department, including a specialized fire-poison remedy later identified as the Zen Heart Pill 29 30.
Notable Quotes
“Rules can be broken, especially for a once-in-a-generation talent like you.” 21
“All right, then! I'll be counting on you for my Sect Breaking Pill!” 20