Su Mo called out to the Flaming Ghost Sage a couple more times, but he continued to ignore him.
Su Mo shook his head resignedly and stopped calling him. He started contemplating on his own.
He did not bother to think about the Heavenly Punishment since it had no impact on him. He needed to figure out what to do in his current situation.
After giving the matter some thought, he thought it would be best to go to the inner mansion of Huoyuan Peak. It was a much better option than joining other factions.
Moreover, with Grand Master Huoyuan backing him up, even the Taishi Family could not lay their hands on him easily, let alone Taishi Xuan and You Tianhan.
This would give Nie Qian and Han Ying better protection as well.
However, Instructor Mu Li had told him before the fight with Leng Jiang that he had only a month to think about the offer. He will lose the chance after the deadline.
Now that a month had passed, he was not sure if Grand Master Huoyuan would still take him in.
Of course, he would have to try.
Su Mo then left his tower and headed for Instructor Mu Li's place.
He would have to use Instructor Mu Li as an intermediary since he could not go to Huoyuan Peak directly.
Su Mo soon arrived at the courtyard in front of Instructor Mu Li's place. He quickly knocked on the door.
However, there were no reply. Instructor Mu Li was not here.
Su Mo started waiting resignedly in front of the door.
After six hours, Instructor Mu Li finally came back!
"Swish!"
Accompanied by a gust, Mu Li flew in in her elegant white dress and landed beside Su Mo.
"What are you doing here?" Mu Li asked coldly.
"Um... Instructor Mu Li, I wanted to ask if Grand Master Huoyuan is still willing to take me in?" Su Mo mumbled with an awkward expression.
Having turned down Grand Master Huoyuan's offer before, it was embarrassing to accept him again.
"Have you thought it through?" Mu Li asked, poker-faced.
"I've thought it through!" Su Mo said and nodded.
"Follow me!" said Mu Li in a light voice, turning around and flying away.
Su Mo followed immediately.
They soon arrived at the gate of inner mansion and went inside.
Though it was not the first time Su Mo had entered the inner mansion, he was still astonished by the countless mountains floating in the vast sky. They were full of a majestic aura.
"Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Mu Li and Su Mo flew towards Huoyuan Peak where Grand Master Huoyuan was.
They quickly landed on the summit of Huoyuan Peak.
The gigantic Huoyuan Peak was bigger than all the Nine Peaks of the Celestialspirit Sect, but it was extremely quiet due to its sparsely inhabited state.
Led by Mu Li, they arrived at the central hall.
Then, they proceeded to wait quietly in front of the door.
"Come in!" a deep voice came from the palace a little later.
Mu Li pushed the door open and led Su Mo into the palace.
Inside the palace, a slightly overweight, white-headed man sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes closed. He had not changed at all since the last time Su Mo met him.
"Instructor, Su Mo's here!" Mu Li bowed as she walked towards Grand Master Huoyuan.
"A pleasure to meet you, Sir!" Su Mo also bowed. He had to be polite since he was asking for help.
Grand Master Huoyuan's eyes widened on his wrinkled face. He gazed silently at Su Mo with a deep and mystifying look.
"You would only come to me when you have nowhere else to go?" Grand Master Huoyuan asked calmly.
"Err... "
Su Mo felt a little awkward. It seemed that the Grand Master was well aware of his situation, knowing that he only came because of desperation.
"I am indebted to you for holding me in high regards. I was too rude and disrespectful!" Su Mo said, cupping his hands together.
"You are the only one who had rejected to become my disciple in these last few thousand years!" said Grand Master Huoyuan.
Others always begged for his acceptance, but the situation was reversed with Su Mo. He had to go and invite Su Mo to be his disciple many times.
Not knowing what to reply, Su Mo smiled awkwardly.
Grand Master Huoyuan thought for a while and said, "Find yourself a place to stay on the mountain!"
Su Mo's heart was filled with joy. He did not think that the Grand Master would agree so easily.
He had thought that the Grand Master would purposely make things difficult for him—like forcing him to apologize or doing things like that. He had not expected such generosity.
"Thank you, Sir!"
Su Mo cupped his hands together and asked tentatively, "Sir, I have two very good friends. Can they stay with me on the mountain?"
Grand Master Huoyuan's face showed a slight frown.
Seeing his expression, Su Mo's hopes looked to have been dashed. If the Grand Master did not agree, he would be safe but Nie Qian and Han Ying would be in trouble.
"Sure!" Grand Master Huoyuan said a few moments later, uncreasing the furrow on his brows.
"Thank you very much, Sir!" Su Mo was very pleased. Now that Grand Master Huoyuan had agreed, he, Nie Qian, and Han Ying would have nothing to worry about.
All three of them would nominally be disciples of Grand Master Huoyuan, living on Huoyuan Peak. No matter how insolent Taishi Xuan and You Tianhan were, they would not dare to come at them brazenly.
"Go now!" Grand Master Huoyuan said. He casually waved his hand, sending Su Mo away.
"Farewell, instructor!" Su Mo bowed toward the Grand Master and left the palace.
After Su Mo was gone, Mu Li looked at Grand Master Huoyuan and complained, "Instructor, you're going to agree that so easily?"
Mu Li was a little sulky inside. They had invited Su Mo to Huoyuan Peak multiple times, but he had rejected every single offer.
How could Grand Master Huoyuan just take in such an arrogant and rude person so casually!
Mu Li respected Grand Master Huoyuan very much. That was why she felt irritated by Su Mo's disrespect.
If she was the one making the decision, she would never allow Su Mo to stay in Huoyuan Peak. Let him suffer and reflect on his mistake!
"It's normal for young people to be proud!" Grand Master Huoyuan chuckled as he shook his head.
"You were too easy on him!" Mu Li grumbled.
"His talent is way higher than yours, whether in martial arts or craftsmanship!" said Grand Master Huoyuan. He had only agreed to take Su Mo in because he thought highly of Su Mo's talent.
He was not aware of Su Mo's special body constitutions, or he would have taken him in as a pro-disciple.
Although he was a craftsman looking for an outstandingly talented heir, he also saw talent in martial arts as an important requisite.
If someone was not supremely gifted in martial arts, he could not be an expert. How then could he become a Master Craftsman?
Mu Li became recalcitrant upon hearing the Grand Master's words and asked, "Is he really that strong, Instructor?"
Mu Li questioned Grand Master Huoyuan's judgement. She did not accept Su Mo's high talents.
She was an outstanding genius in both martial arts and craftsmanship. Was Su Mo much more talented? How could that be possible?
Forget about his talent in craftsmanship. Let's just talk about gift in martial arts!
Su Mo was indeed extraordinary. He had a special body constitution and an extremely strong combat prowess. But she was more or less his match.
She had reached Lvl 5 Martial Honored Realm in her fifties, and had almost become a Holy Son when she was a disciple of the Academy.
Su Mo's talents were much higher than hers?
That was a huge exaggeration!
Grand Master Huoyuan did not respond to Mu Li. He let out a sigh, shaking his head and saying, "It's a shame that he is not ambitious in craftsmanship. What a shame!"