Accepting a Master

The moment Wen Ran knew he was safe, he moved quickly, his steps sure and confident as he reached the top. His eyes met the figure seated before him: an old man, sitting cross-legged, surrounded by an aura of fire that felt sacred, as if the flames themselves bent to the man's will. The energy radiating from him was unlike anything Wen Ran had encountered, its purity and power almost overwhelming.

"Congratulations, junior," the old man said, a smile stretching across his aged face. There was something in his eyes—a tinge of madness, but also something more. A vitality that seemed impossible for a man of his age. "You have successfully passed my trial and become my third disciple in this lifetime."