"I believe the two of you are familiar with each other by now." Elder Lei stated inquisitively.

"Yes, Master. We went to the market together yesterday evening and talked a lot," Qin Yao answered.

"Mhm," Elder Lei nodded when he heard this, and the next moment said while turning towards Yi Chen, "So you should be aware that Qin Yao has been nominated by me to participate in the sect's entrance test, right?"

Yi Chen nodded when he heard him, "Yes, Elder Lei. I heard about it from someone else's mouth in the market yesterday. However, I still don't know about the details."

'Does Brother Chen also want to participate in the entrance test?' Qin Yao thought with furrowed brows the next moment and turned towards him.

"I understand." Elder Lei nodded while observing both their reactions.

He was able to decipher from this little exchange that Yi Chen had not informed Qin Yao about his true reason for coming here.

Realising that Yi Chen was someone who was capable of controlling his mouth, his impression of him subtly improved.

The next moment, he said.

"I, as the Ninth Elder, have the authority to nominate two disciples who would represent our clan in the Azure Sect's entrance test.

Qin Yao is already in the second level of Meridian Refinement Stage at the age of 12 and can be considered a genius among his peers, so nominating him was only natural.

That, however, isn't the case for you, who's already eighteen years old and has just entered the first level recently.

Nominating you would be seen as an abuse of authority from my side. Therefore, the onus of whether I should be recommending you or not completely lies on you. You must do something that even Qin Yao is unable to do right now."

Elder Lei finished his words with a meaningful glint in his eyes.

'What would I need to do to win your trust, Elder Lei?" Yi Chen asked with a serious expression.

At the same time, a question rose in his mind.

'Didn't he already inform Father-in-law that he would be checking my proficiency in the Crimson Fire Arts…why isn't he just stating that directly?'

Worried that there would be additional changes to the requirements, Yi Chen waited for Elder Lei's answer with an anxious heart.

However, Elder Lei's next words dissipated that worry.

"Your proficiency in the Crimson Fire Arts,"

When Elder Lei finished his words, an acrid smell exuded around him, and the next moment, four rings of fire formed around him.

Each of those rings was the size of one's head and was burning with such blazing intensity that it became difficult to look at.

As a result, both Yi Chen and Qin Yao couldn't help but put their hands in front of their eyes to allow their gaze to stabilise.

It was then that Elder Lei's voice echoed in their ears.

"Three months. In three months, if you're able to form one of these rings, then I'll nominate you for the test."

The very next moment, the rings of fire collapsed and disappeared into nothingness as if they never existed in the first place.

However, the acrid smell still present around them was a clear reminder of what just happened.

With his brows creased, Yi Chen asked with a hint of confusion and worry, "In just three months…? Is that really possible?"

"Whether it's possible or not completely depends on the individual. I'll be teaching you all that you need to know to be able to complete the given task. The rest would depend upon your own comprehension.

However, if you already think that it's not possible for you, then it's better that you return. I don't want to waste my efforts on something that has already lost."

Elder Lei stated bluntly.

'Why is Master sounding harsher than usual?' Qin Yao thought to himself when he heard those words and worriedly glanced towards Yi Chen. At the same time, he couldn't help but frown at the difficulty of Elder Lei's test.

As for Yi Chen, Elder Lei's words had successfully poked him where it hurts.

'To think I would start doubting myself after coming so far…' A sense of anger rose in his heart towards himself, and the very next moment, he answered with clenched jaws, "I have to just create that ring, right? I'll do it! I'll create those rings."

"Very well then. Stabilise your thoughts then. The class is going to begin now," Elder Lei said, satisfied by the response.

Hearing him, both Yi Chen and Qin Yao removed all unnecessary thoughts from their mind and focused their attention on Elder Lei.

"Fire sustains life and takes it. To understand the Crimson Fire Arts to a deeper level, one must try to understand the very essence of the art…"

Elder Lei began his lecture with the very basics for Yi Chen's convenience before delving into a particular topic, which he was going to expand upon in today's session.

"Can water extinguish the fire? No. A fire with a will to burn forever will continue blazing no matter what.

Each grain of fire contains this will to burn forever. To resonate with this will is what one needs to do if they have to cross the boundary of absurdity and turn impossible into possible…"

Both Yi Chen and Qin Yao were completely engrossed in Elder Lei's words. The complexity increased with time, but despite that, the two of them found his words to be a treat to their ears and tried their best to absorb as much as they could from whatever they were able to decipher.

Without the two of them realising, two hours had elapsed.

It was only when Elder Lei stopped speaking and stood up from his seat that the two of them woke up from their entranced state.

Standing up, the two immediately bowed respectfully towards him.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master."

"Thank you for your teachings, Elder Lei."

Elder Lei nodded at their words and said, "I'll be leaving then. Slowly think over what was taught for the rest of the day,"

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