Chapter 81: Red Flame Sacred Body

Yang Yu asked suspiciously, "Master, are these... my fellow disciples?"

It was a perfectly normal question, yet it made the crowd even more agitated and dissatisfied:

"He called him Master again, I didn't hear wrong."

"Master Liang has very high standards for taking disciples."

"Could he really have gained Master Liang's approval?"

"We've worked so hard for so long, and none of us could catch Master Liang's eye."

Liang Shitong said loudly, "Enough, all this noise. If your hearts cannot settle, how can you refine pills? You heard correctly, Yang Yu is indeed my disciple."

"Ah? It's true."

The crowd looked at each other; some faces showed envy, some jealousy, and some unwillingness.

They had all come to learn alchemy.

But they weren't considered Master Liang's disciples, only barely "apprentices."

As apprentices, their greatest goal was to gain Master Liang's approval and become "disciples."

Unfortunately, among the dozens of apprentices here, not one had succeeded.

Instead, this kid from the outside, who popped up from nowhere, had jumped straight to the top!

How could they be reconciled?

"Alright, you don't need to worry. Even if I have taken a disciple, I won't be chasing you away."

Liang Shitong sensed the shift in everyone's emotions and reminded them.

"But... everyone wants to be a disciple, not an apprentice," said someone who was a bit bolder.

Liang Shitong said sternly:

"At my age and energy level, Yang Yu will likely be my last disciple. However, you can still continue to learn here; I will still teach many things as usual."

Many people sighed deeply and said:

"Sigh, forget it."

"Don't have that fate."

"Don't have that ability."

"We don't have the master-disciple connection with Master Liang."

"At least Master Liang is still willing to keep us as apprentices."

"Yes, be an apprentice for a few years, and once we can refine pills ourselves, we can go out and make our own way."

Although many were unwilling, Master Liang had already made his choice, and it couldn't be changed.

They were just a group of apprentices; they weren't qualified to point fingers at Master Liang.

Being able to continue as apprentices was already quite good.

Soon, most people let it go.

At this moment, however, an abrupt voice appeared:

"Master Liang, among the dozens of apprentices here, is there really not one who compares to this Yang Yu? This junior asks presumptuously, what are your standards for taking a disciple?"

The speaker was a young man in his twenties with phoenix eyes and blade-like brows, quite conspicuous in the crowd.

As soon as he spoke, several apprentices nearby couldn't help but whisper in admiration:

"It has to be Ding Yan; he even dares to say that."

"But he does have the confidence for it."

"Still, I'm quite curious about the question he asked."

Ding Yan was considered the most outstanding among so many apprentices.

The young people who could come here, even just as apprentices, were one-in-ten-thousand talents.

When everyone gathered together, no one was willing to submit to anyone else.

But Ding Yan was someone everyone submitted to.

Because Ding Yan possessed the legendary "Red Flame Sacred Body."

This was the most suitable physique for alchemy; no one could compare.

It is no exaggeration to say that someone with this physique, as long as they don't die too early, will definitely reach the level of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

Therefore, everyone believed that Master Liang would definitely take Ding Yan as a disciple.

Ding Yan himself was also full of confidence.

But in reality, he had been here for months, and Master Liang had never mentioned taking him as a disciple; he seemed not very satisfied with him.

Ding Yan had thought that Master Liang might be old and didn't intend to take anyone as a formal disciple anymore.

That would have been fine.

But he hadn't expected Master Liang to take someone else!

What kind of goods was this Yang Yu, to be able to compare to the Red Flame Sacred Body?

Ding Yan wanted an explanation!

"You're asking me about my standards for taking a disciple?" Liang Shitong frowned and asked.

"That's right." Ding Yan pretended to be humble, "This junior wants to know where I am lacking, so I can correct and improve myself."

Liang Shitong pondered and said:

"If you are truly interested in improving yourself, I can speak on it."

"Ding Yan, you possess the Red Flame Sacred Body; you are born as alchemy material. But to become an excellent alchemist, talent alone is not enough."

"The Red Flame Sacred Body has given you too much confidence, confidence to the point of arrogance. This kind of temperament will make it very difficult for you to go far."

"Talent, experience, technique, temperament... and even luck, these are all necessary for an alchemist. The Red Flame Sacred Body is a huge advantage, but it is not everything..."

Liang Shitong genuinely felt that if this child Ding Yan could change his temperament, even if he had half of Yang Yu's steadiness, his future achievements would not be low.

That was why he said these words earnestly.

"Master Liang is right, hehe." Ding Yan said with a forced smile.

As soon as Liang Shitong saw this expression, he knew the other party hadn't taken it to heart.

An arrogant person cannot listen to unpleasant advice.

If they could listen, they wouldn't be arrogant.

"Suit yourself then."

Liang Shitong didn't want to say anything more.

Ding Yan, however, retorted and continued:

"If I don't meet Master Liang's standards for taking a disciple, could this Yang Yu possibly meet them? In terms of talent, experience, technique, temperament, and so on, is he truly excellent enough?"

As soon as these words were out, the other apprentices became even more spirited.

That's right!

If none of them are good enough, is Yang Yu really good enough?

"Are you questioning me?"

Liang Shitong's expression turned ugly.

"This junior wouldn't dare, just humbly asking for guidance." Ding Yan feigned humility.

Yang Yu, however, stepped forward and, without a word, backhanded a slap across his face.

Slap!!

Liang Shitong was caught off guard and was hit squarely.

Accompanied by a loud sound, his face turned red instantly...

"Master, an apprentice, and he dares to speak to you like that?" Yang Yu said to Liang Shitong.

Liang Shitong laughed dumbly: This Yang Yu always did things unexpectedly.

"You, you dare to hit me!!"

Ding Yan covered his face, his eyes wide with rage.

He possessed the noble Red Flame Sacred Body; even Liang Shitong had never hit him.

This damn disciple actually dared to make a move?

Simply damnable!

In a fit of rage, Ding Yan's right fist, carrying a scorching Xuanqi, roared toward Yang Yu like a fireball.

Yang Yu's heart stirred: Is this the Red Flame Sacred Body? It can easily produce such strong fire-type power; I must have this entry!