บท 52: Chapter 52: Meeting Elder Huo

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window opening, forming a beam of light that shone on the table in the room.

In bed, Xiao Ming, who was sleeping, slightly moved his eyelids.

Suddenly, his eyes opened and he sat up.

When he could clearly see his surroundings, Xiao Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

Truth be told, he hadn't slept peacefully since he had entered the Black-Corner Region, and it was still too risky for a Dou Grandmaster to travel alone in the Black-Corner Region and be on guard at all times.

Xiao Ming was able to return unharmed, and that was also because he was attentive enough.

Being alert all the time and then returning to the safe environment of the academy, this first sleep was a little too deep.

It made him think that he was still outside the academy.

Perhaps it was the aftermath of going through fighting and killing for a while.

However, compared to the harvest, this was only a minor problem that would disappear in a couple of days.

Xiao Ming's harvest this time was unexpectedly huge, not only had his strength gone from a one-star Dou Grandmaster to a seven-star Dou Grandmaster, he had also harvested a Ten Thousand Beast Flame.

Only a month had passed.

If Xiao Ming had stayed at Jia Nan Academy and cultivated peacefully, he wouldn't have been able to break through to a seven-star Dou Grandmaster so quickly.

It can only be said that there were both dangers and opportunities.

Xiao Ming lifted the blanket and got up to wash and dress.

After finishing getting ready, Xiao Ming left his room and headed to Elder Huo's residence.

As the head of the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo's residence was deep within the Jia Nan Academy, and only after walking along the path for half an hour did Xiao Ming finally arrive.

Elder Huo's residence was not luxurious, but a small courtyard made entirely of green bamboo.

Looking at the quiet courtyard in front of him, Xiao Ming pushed the courtyard gate and slowly walked to the door of the room, and before he could speak, an old voice came from inside.

"The deputy headmaster sent you here to deliver a message? The door is unlocked, come in."

A trace of dismay appeared on Xiao Ming's face as he pushed open the door and entered.

The room was decorated very ordinarily, and only some precious medicinal materials placed on those seats could reflect the room owner's identity as an alchemist.

Elder Huo was currently holding an ancient book, leaning back in a reclining chair made of bamboo while looking at it with great interest.

"Say what you have to say, and when you finish and leave, remember to leave the door open for me."

Looking at his master who didn't even turn his head.

Xiao Ming knew he was mistaking him for someone else, but it was no wonder Elder Huo made a mistake.

Xiao Ming had directly increased six stars in less than a month, no one would believe it if they didn't see it with their own eyes.

Moreover, Xiao Ming probably hadn't noticed that he himself was less gentle and had a fiercer aura than in the past, a product of this training session.

With the two of them overlapping, it could be said that Elder Huo, who was more familiar with Xiao Ming, would not recognize him.

Looking at Elder Huo who was lying on the reclining chair swaying, like an ordinary old man.

Xiao Ming said softly, "Master, I have returned."

Hearing Xiao Ming's voice, Elder Huo's movements stopped and he quickly turned his head to look behind him.

Clearly seeing that it was his beloved disciple standing in front of him, whom he had been worried and fearful that he would have an accident all these days, Elder Huo stood up and stood in front of Xiao Ming.

"Stinky boy, you haven't suffered any injuries outside, have you?" Elder Huo's tone was not very pleasant, but one could hear the concern in him.

"No, I'm quite fine now."

After taking a careful look at the precious disciple in front of him and making sure that he really hadn't suffered any injuries, Elder Huo suddenly sneered.

"Yes, you are very good, too good, hadn't you told me that you were hanging around the academy? why can't the Law Enforcement Unit find any trace of you? you brat ran away to the Black-Corner Region, right?"

Obviously, Elder Huo was very dissatisfied with Xiao Ming's behavior of lying and deceiving him.

Although the area around Jia Nan Academy was also the Black-Corner Region, it was not as chaotic and much less dangerous than the rest of the Black-Corner Region due to the suppression of Jia Nan Academy's Law Enforcement Unit.

Only when Xiao Ming said that he would go to those places for training did Elder Huo reluctantly agree.

This was because he thought that he could let Jia Nan Academy's Law Enforcement Unit take care of Xiao Ming, and if he was in danger, Xiao Ming could also turn to the Law Enforcement Unit.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ming had directly fled to another place, which made him furious.

"I know you like to cultivate and become stronger, and normally you will know how to temper yourself, but you are still young and it is too dangerous to rush near the Black-Corner Region, why are you hurrying with your talent?"

Xiao Ming did not feel bored with Elder Huo's scolding, although he was not too old before he died in his previous life, he was only twenty years old, he also understood that no one would scold you so much unless they really cared about you.

Actually, it was quite good that someone cared about him, so when he faced Elder Huo, he just smiled and nodded, indicating that he wouldn't do it next time.

Looking at Xiao Ming's bright smile, Elder Huo sighed helplessly.

"I'll forget it for this time, next time... no, there is no next time, before you reach adulthood or until your strength breaks through to Dou Spirit, unless something happens to your family, I won't let you out again."

Having said that, Elder Huo suddenly felt that something was wrong, he suddenly remembered why he had not recognized his disciple a moment ago.

After taking a closer look, Elder Huo lost his voice in disbelief, "When did you break through to a Seven Star Dou Grandmaster!"

"Eh, a few days ago, and I also got this when I came out." At that moment, Xiao Ming waved his palm and a flame shot out from the center of his hand.

Elder Huo looked at this red flame that emitted a terrifying heat and vaguely gave him a sense of menace, his pupils shrank and he said in a low voice, "This is a Heavenly Flame? There are images of magical beasts present in the flames as they churned and swirled, this is the twenty-second in the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame!"

"That's right, hehe, this Ten Thousand Beast Flame is something I obtained during this trip" Xiao Ming's face showed obvious joy, being able to obtain the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the secret realm this time was something he had not expected, there had been no mention of this Heavenly Flame in the previous simulations.

"You..." Elder Huo remained silent.

At this moment, Elder Huo's feelings were complicated, he didn't know whether he should reprimand Xiao Ming for his risky move or celebrate Xiao Ming's good fortune.

The move of devouring the Heavenly Flame was exceptionally dangerous, unless one was strong and not afraid of danger, the other 90% of those who dared to devour the Heavenly Flame, had died.

Devouring the Heavenly Flame also required the preparation of many things, all rare things, and he didn't know how Xiao Ming had managed to gather them, but he had probably suffered a lot in this month anyway.

Then, after a moment of silence, Elder Huo suddenly stroked Xiao Ming's head.

"Although Heavenly Flame is precious, in the future, don't take such risks again."

Xiao Ming, who expected his master to ask him many questions and had already prepared his answers, was dumbfounded.

He looked at the old man in front of him, then gently nodded his head, "Master, I understand."

"It's good that you understand, it's just that sometimes you're too stubborn, you're not at all like a child, and you're not as cute as Hu Gan's granddaughter Hu Jia, sigh."

Elder Huo, who had never had children in his life, was in a predicament with his only disciple.

Hearing Elder Huo said this, Xiao Ming looked down, he was not really a child, of course he could not be as cute with Elder Huo every day as Hu Jia was with her grandfather.

Thinking of that scene, Xiao Ming shuddered fiercely.

Inwardly, he secretly thought, 'No, there's no way I can do that, I'm already a mature adult.'

Looking at Xiao Ming, who was bowing his head, Elder Huo suddenly laughed, "In the past few days you were away, that Hu Jia girl came looking for you several times, what did you do to provoke her?"

Xiao Ming came to his senses and muttered, "I didn't provoke her, it's just that I'm too famous and people automatically come to my door to make friends."

Xiao Ming really had a bit of a headache regarding Hu Jia.

At first, he did not meet Hu Jia until one day when he met Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan at the place of his master, Elder Huo, and he was followed by Hu Jia at that time.

Xiao Ming and Hu Jia were of the same age, and both parties naturally introduced themselves and got to know each other a little.

When she learned that the person in front of her was Xiao Ming, who was famous in Jia Nan Academy, Hu Jia was immediately interested and enthusiastic about him.

According to Hu Jia, it was the first time she had met someone better than her.

With Hu Jia taking the initiative, the two parties became familiar with each other over time.

However, there were actually very few people within Jia Nan Academy who were similar in age to Hu Jia, so it was possible that Hu Jia also intended to find a playmate, which was why she tended to annoy Xiao Ming the most.

Xiao Ming had always been very unwilling because of this.

Xiao Ming used to see children like Hu Jia when he was in the Xiao family.

The children themselves were still playful.

Not to mention the children, Xiao Ming often saw Xiao Yan, who was also an adult, hanging around among them.

This made Xiao Ming clutch his forehead speechlessly, all these people had not yet suffered the severe beatings of the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Ming had not suffered severe beatings either, but he wanted to be someone who did not get beaten up, so he had always been rather superficial with those children who came to him to play house.

Thinking of Hu Jia who might be looking for him, Xiao Ming had already thought of an answer.

'Just ignore her, what could a little girl do to me, hehe?'

Leaving Hu Jia's matter behind, Xiao Ming said to Elder Huo, 'Well, master, this time I brought a strange medicinal herb from outside, I can't recognize it, you are very knowledgeable, I'll let you have a look.'

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A/N:

Extra chapter thanks to GoldenLionKing, who managed to guess the previous chapter's riddle.