Eternal Thief

Lan didn't ask for Finn's opinion on this and with no hesitation just like Alvin, he hurled a fiery Qi from his finger toward Finn's meridians while using only one percent of his actual prowess. 

Although he wanted to confirm Finn's absolute affinity with the wood element, he didn't want to kill him in the process though. Because if he accidentally killed Finn now Alvin would probably fight him to death! 

If Finn showed even the slightest discomfort, he'll instantly withdraw the Qi strand! 

Ace saw the incoming, fiery Qi streak and thought bitterly, 'And here I thought I didn't have to hurt myself anymore.' 

However, before Ace could cause another Qi deviation, his face changed greatly and turn ashen the moment Lan's fire element Qi come in contact with his body! 

When the fire Qi enter his meridians, Ace felt like a flame has been ignited inside, and an overwhelming burning sensation wash over his entire body. 

The very next moment Ace caught up blood while his face was bloodlessly pale. 

"Stop!" Alvin's face change and yelled in panic when he saw Finn's throwing up blood and knelling both on his knees. 

Lan didn't delay and quickly withdraw his Qi strand while he mumbles to himself, "He indeed can't absorb other elements." 

Alvin had a sigh of relief when he saw Finn was fine and only show lassitude. 

'The dark void can't absorb Qi from someone of Lan's level!' Ace's face was ashen when he thought.

It was all happening because the dark void didn't respond to Lan's Qi or even try to absorb it as if it was helpless against it. 

Before Ace simply thought dark void can absorb any kind of Martial Qi and he didn't have to be afraid of manifesting Martial Qi anymore. However, now that he found about the dark void limitation, he understands how naïve his thoughts were.

Everything has a limitation and the dark void was also the same. It was limited by Ace's cultivation. 

But it was also a good thing because now that he knew about this limitation he'll be more careful when dealing with someone with extremely high cultivation like Lan's. 

Because if he was in a battle or other circumstances and arrogantly took this kind of manifest Qi attack lightly, he'll be doomed and dead by now! 

'Dark void can only neutralize Qi two large realms below me.' Ace mused grimly. 

Nevertheless, he was profited from this since now he knew about this limitation and these two old men also seemed to be convinced; he can't absorb any other element! 

"Young Friend Finn, I apologized about what happened earlier and I hope you could understand we're doing this for your good." Lan wore a kind smile and he even change the way he refers to Finn, "Here eat this pill you'll feel well." 

Ace grimly looked at the Purple-ranked healing pill that Lan was giving him and he took it. He won't reject free EXP even if he was in a foul mood. 

"I understand Elder's concerns and thank you for going easy on me," Finn said faintly and took the purple pill from Lan's, and thanked him weakly. 

"Hahaha, good, very good, a wise mind and humble attitude." Lan's laugh heartedly and praise Finn's attitude. 

Alvin rolled his eyes and thought, 'This old fox changes his colors even quicker than clothes.' But he never going to say it out loud. 

"What do you think Elder? Does he qualify for the final test?" Alvin had a faint smile on his face like a gambler who had just won a big bet. 

Lan smile wider and said, "Of course. Give me a day to prepare and in the meantime, you guys can rest. I'm sure you all will be extremely tired especially young friend Finn." 

"Thank you, elder." Alvin also had a wide smile on his face. 

"Young Friend Finn, wait outside for a moment. I'll have something to talk about with Alvin." Lan gently told Finn. 

"Yes." Finn nodded in understanding and leave the room. Now that he had eaten that pill his complexion was somewhat returned to normal. 

But the truth was Ace was recovering fast because of his heavenly foundation!

After Finn leave, Lan's smile vanished and a grim expression returned to his face as he looked at smiling Alvin, "You know the consequences, right? If he took that bath and can't handle it he'll die!" 

Lan didn't want to throw Finn in that element bath anymore because now even he was fifty percent sure Finn has an element physique. But this element bath was not a laughing matter because there is no returning once you're inside! 

Alvin's face was also stiff and said, "I know, but we don't have any other way. Even if he can absorb my wood Qi but it's not normal for someone to absorb already process Qi. Tell me, do you ever heard of this kind of thing before? And we don't know what it does to him if I keep doing it." 

Lan eyes twitched because he knew Alvin has a point. He knew it was night impossible to absorb someone's Qi, and they just witnessed something out of their understanding. 

"We should probably report this to higher-ups and see what they have to say. Just this ability is enough to make him important even if he didn't have the element physique. Give me one day to contact headquarter." Lan calmly stated his reason for telling them to wait for one day. 

Alvin frowned slightly and said, "If we contact now then Flame Master William will get the hold of this information. He's the only Flame Master out of the forbidden ground and you know his nature very well. Once he got the information, we both know there will be no rewards for us if he got hold of Finn.

"So, it would be much wiser to become sure and then report this matter to my father and he'll awake my grandfather. Once he's out the forbidden ground even Flame Master William can't do a thing and we'll get what we deserve. 

"But we have to be sure before we contact my father or we'll get killed for awakening an Absolute Flaming Elder!" 

Lan's face turned blue to white when he heard Alvin's plan and he exclaimed with horror, "You want to awake an Absolut Flaming Elder?! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Do you have any better idea to bypass Flame Master William? Even my father is helpless against a Flame Master." Alvin grimly questioned.

Lan didn't retort Alvin's because he knew what Alvin just said was the actual truth. 

This Flame Master William was infamous for his unfair and greedy nature in the entire pill flame organization that why Alvin was afraid of telling about Finn's or he might lose his real merits. 

From the start, he planned to report this to his father so he could get his rightful remunerations. 

"Trust me, it's better to kill that boy ourselves than handing him over to William. We're even doing him mercy!" Alvin said with a grave expression. 

"Sigh…" Lan sigh in frustration and he knew this was his only choice since he also knew William very well and was also a victim of his unfairness. 

"Fine, we'll proceed according to your plan but if William knows I help you in this, then I'll die one way or another. So,…." Lan deeply looked at Alvin. 

Alvin know what Lan was asking for and nodded without a second thought before saying, "Don't worry, once we confirmed this you'll be under Elias Clan's protection." 

"Hahaha, then we have a deal." Lan smile with ecstasy. He knew Elias Clan's strength and what their protection means! 

"I'll summon you with Finn in the first light of morning. The sooner we do this the better." Lan solemnly affirmed. 

"I completely agreed with Elder." Alvin nodded in agreement, "I'll be waiting for your words."

"Go, I'll have someone to escort you to your quarters and make sure Finn boy don't wander outside or speak with anyone," Lan warned. 

"Don't worry about him." Alvin coolly said and leave the meeting room. 

Now Lan was alone in the grand meeting room. 

Lan suddenly murmured to himself, "What should I do?" A peculiar glint flickered past Lan's old eyes. 

--- 

Meanwhile, somewhere in the 1st Grand-lands of middle-level lands.

Inside a luxurious chamber, a handsome young man wearing lavishing blue robes seemingly in his twenties was standing in front of an open window watching the golden sky like a peaceful statue. He has a 6-feet tall, tone-built, with long black hair, and his pale face was very handsome. His brown eyes were full of vigor.

Behind him were kneeling five black-cloaked figures waiting for the young man to speak. 

"Where is that thief?" The young man finally spoke in his vigorous voice. 

"That thief didn't appear again for almost five months and from our spies we heard the Flame General of Pill Flame also leave that kingdom a month ago.." One of the clacked fingers answered respectfully.