Chapter 23

"Thud, thud, thud..."

Outside the chamber, a steady set of footsteps slowly approached. Everyone turned in shock, only to see the Pavilion Master had arrived at some point, his face stern as he walked toward Xiaoluan.

"Pavilion Master..."

"Pavilion Master, you finally made it..."

The alchemists, still reeling from the shock, were overjoyed to see the Pavilion Master. They all heaved a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Zhou Lu also instinctively looked up. The man was a middle-aged figure with a stern expression, his square face exuding authority without a word, making people feel an involuntary fear. Most incredibly, this man was not dressed in the usual cloth robes of the alchemists but in a set of military leather armor, radiating a solemn and lethal aura.

It was clear that this Pavilion Master not only had remarkable achievements in alchemy but also possessed considerable strength in the cultivation of the Totem Heart Sutra. Otherwise, how could he wear the attire of a warrior?

Zhou Lu secretly glanced at the third senior brother he had beaten into a daze and then looked at the Pavilion Master, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

The Pavilion Master waved his hand to stop Huan's report and walked straight to Zhou Lu and Xiaoluan. His brows furrowed as he stared directly at Zhou Lu and asked in a deep voice:

"Are you Zhou Lu?"

Zhou Lu was startled. It seemed that his embarrassment at the Sacrifice Square had made him well-known. He deliberately put on a confused expression and nodded:

"Yes, how do you know me?"

The Pavilion Master snorted coldly and asked sharply:

"How did you learn the Fire Control Technique? Who taught you?"

Clearly, the Pavilion Master had seen Zhou Lu's flashy display earlier.

Zhou Lu opened his mouth wide, feeling indignant. Saving Xiaoluan should count as a great achievement, right? Even if he had caused a commotion at the Array Fire Pavilion and beaten the third senior brother, he could at least make up for it. Was it a capital offense to know the Fire Control Technique?

Zhou Lu's stubborn side came out, but he maintained a confused expression:

"Fire Control Technique? You mean I used the Fire Control Technique? Oh my, could what I used just now be the legendary and extremely difficult Fire Control Technique? When Xiaoluan was forging, I learned a few moves just by watching. It didn't seem that hard to learn..."

Zhou Lu looked at the group of alchemists with a simple-minded expression: "Do you usually use these tricks to deceive people outside?"

The alchemists' faces turned bright red, a mix of embarrassment and anger. They all glared at Zhou Lu with a mix of shame and fury.

Zhou Lu had belittled their miraculous Fire Control Technique to nothing, and they had no grounds to refute him.

They knew that the Array Fire Pavilion's techniques were never taught to outsiders. The Fire Control Techniques were only known to the alchemists in the tribe. Moreover, without the Spirit Cauldron, learning the Fire Control Technique was useless.

So, did Zhou Lu really learn the Fire Control Technique by偷学 just now?

Huan covered her mouth in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at the sleazy fat man.

To learn the Fire Control Technique to such a high level in just a short while? Was this man even human?

Even Xiaoluan looked at Zhou Lu with astonishment.

The Pavilion Master, clearly disbelieving, snorted again: "You say you just learned the Fire Control Technique?"

"Yes, I just learned it!"

Zhou Lu's tone was firm, standing his ground against the Pavilion Master.

"Ha ha ha, good, good..."

The Pavilion Master suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with surprise and joy.

Earlier, he had been in the back mountain when an alchemist reported that Xiaoluan's fourth-degree fire had exploded the cauldron. He had been terrified, thinking of how he would explain to the Second Elder if anything happened to Xiaoluan.

But when he rushed back to the cave, he was surprised to find that the cauldron fire was being controlled by a fat man.

The Pavilion Master was so delighted that he couldn't describe it. Upon closer inspection, he realized that this was Huerle's grandson.

The Pavilion Master and Huerle were close friends, and he had seen Zhou Lu at the Sacrifice Square.

When Zhou Lu was sent to the Eagle Wing Army, Huerle had even visited the Pavilion Master's tent, asking him to take care of Zhou Lu when possible.

The Pavilion Master knew the Huerle family well. He knew that Zhou Lu had never had the opportunity to learn the Fire Control Technique. Therefore, the only explanation for the miracle just now was that Zhou Lu was a prodigy in the field of alchemy.

To learn the Fire Control Technique to such a high level in just a short while, and to summon a flame war soul when others couldn't...

Regardless of whether the flame war soul was a waste, it at least indicated that Zhou Lu had a natural affinity for fire and an incredible control over it. Otherwise, how could he have extinguished the fourth-degree fire and saved Xiaoluan?

To join the Array Fire Pavilion and become an alchemist, one had to pass three rigorous tests, each with bizarre fire control requirements. Therefore, alchemists not only had to genuinely love weapon design but also had to have a fire attribute and be extremely sensitive to fire energy.

The alchemists in the Array Fire Pavilion were all geniuses, selected from thousands for their sensitivity to fire.

This was why alchemists held such a high status and were so proud.

Zhou Lu's display just now far exceeded the requirements of the three tests.

Such a genius, the Array Fire Pavilion could not let slip away.

Looking at the stunned Zhou Lu, the Pavilion Master was extremely excited. He smiled kindly and patted Zhou Lu's shoulder affectionately:

"To learn the Fire Control Technique in just a short while, I didn't expect you to be a fire control prodigy."

"Zhou Lu, in recognition of your great achievement in saving Xiaoluan, I decide that from today, you will be a formal alchemist of the Array Fire Pavilion."

The cave fell silent, and all the alchemists were stunned.

The Pavilion Master continued: "From today, you can wear the alchemist's robe and freely refine and smelt minerals in the Array Fire Pavilion."

The Pavilion Master smiled at Zhou Lu.

It was important to note that a noble alchemist walking through the tribe would be greeted with respect even by a thousand-man commander. Transferring from the Eagle Wing Army to the Array Fire Pavilion, Zhou Lu's status would be elevated several levels.

Qiu, the steward, swallowed hard, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Was it so easy to become a formal member of the Array Fire Pavilion? Zhou Lu had practically ascended to the heavens. A random laborer he had brought in had suddenly become a formal alchemist?

Qiu was still just a temporary member of the Array Fire Pavilion.

The alchemists looked at Zhou Lu with envy and jealousy.

However, Zhou Lu's achievement was indeed unimaginably great. Saving Xiaoluan was like saving the Second Elder's entire faction.

Such a reward was justified, and no one could argue.

Huan, hearing that this sleazy little rascal would now be living and working with them, felt a mix of emotions. Recalling how Zhou Lu had pressed against her earlier, she bit her lip in anger and frustration.

Xiaoluan was also stunned but then her eyes sparkled, her curved smile fixed on Zhou Lu.

Zhou Lu's lips trembled, as if overwhelmed by the sudden happiness. Xiaoluan was worried and urged him: Speak up, thank the Pavilion Master.

After a long pause, Zhou Lu finally managed to say:

"Why should I work for you for free? Why should I refine and smelt minerals for you without pay?"

Everyone was stunned.

Zhou Lu was still feeling aggrieved: "Why should I work for you for free? If you want me to work, you should at least pay me."

"I... damn!"

The alchemists were almost ready to explode, and even Xiaoluan was so angry she wanted to strangle Zhou Lu.

This damn rascal, how could he be so ungrateful?

The Pavilion Master looked at Zhou Lu with a strange expression, both amused and exasperated. He and Huerle were close friends, and he knew this little rascal well. He didn't expect him to try to take advantage of the situation even in front of him.

The Pavilion Master knew that Zhou Lu had seen his eagerness for talent and was trying to maximize his benefits.

"Little rascal, wait until you get back to the tribe, and see how your grandfather will deal with you."

The Pavilion Master thought to himself, but he smiled: "I can provide you with a dedicated Spirit Cauldron for your use, and Xiaoluan can be your guide, systematically teaching you the Fire Control Technique. Additionally, as an alchemist, you will receive a daily salary of 160 ox knives..."

The Pavilion Master paused and smiled at Zhou Lu again:

"How about it? Do you agree? If not, I can have someone escort you out now..."

"Deal!"

Zhou Lu eagerly agreed. 160 ox knives a day? That was like getting two sheep for free every day.

Zhou Lu beamed, but more importantly, he had successfully gotten close to the Spirit Cauldron. His demonic fire would finally have enough to eat, which was exactly his goal in infiltrating the Array Fire Pavilion.

Zhou Lu hadn't expected to achieve his goal so easily.

"Zhou Lu... Junior Brother?"

Xiaoluan savored the words "Zhou Lu," her eyes curving into two clear crescent moons.