Alchemist Guild

"Hehe... Big Brother can even refine Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pills now. He'll definitely be fine." Upon hearing that Xiao Se was going to take the alchemist examination, Long Kui's beautiful eyes immediately filled with admiration.

This was her brother—a genius not yet thirteen years old, yet already a Dou Shi, and capable of refining Tier 3 Pills.

Hearing Long Kui's praise, Xiao Se merely smiled without saying anything.

The reason his alchemy had improved so rapidly without anyone's guidance was entirely thanks to the memories of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. Later, he had obtained the soul cultivation method, the Returning Origin Soul Art. Having broken through to Dou Shi, if he still could not refine Tier 3 Pills, he might as well die.

As he walked through the streets, he asked around for the location of the Alchemist Guild. Whenever people learned that Xiao Se was headed there, they all revealed looks of astonishment and envy, which Xiao Se found rather amusing.

After turning through several streets, Xiao Se soon stopped before a building shaped like a Medicine Cauldron.

"Alchemist Guild." His gaze shifted slightly and slowly settled on the golden plaque above the entrance. He murmured to himself, then stepped inside.

As he approached the entrance, Xiao Se was, unsurprisingly, stopped by two fully armed guards. "Young man, this is the Alchemist Guild. Do you have a letter of recommendation from a teacher?"

Xiao Se shook his head. His right hand suddenly extended flat, and a cluster of purple-blue flames rose from his palm. He said calmly, "I don't have a letter of recommendation, but I have this."

"Condensed Solid Flame—a Fourth-Rank Alchemist? Heavens!" The two guards' mouths fell wide open. They rubbed their eyes in disbelief, their gazes instantly turning vacant.

"I'm not a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. I'm only here to take the alchemist examination. May I enter now?" Xiao Se casually flicked his right hand, drawing the Beast Flame back into his body.

"Yes, of course, sir!" The two guards snapped out of their shock. When they looked at Xiao Se again, their eyes now held awe and fawning respect as they hurriedly replied.

Whether the youth before them was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist or not, the ability to condense Solid Flame alone was beyond what ordinary alchemists could achieve. They had no choice but to revere him.

Xiao Se nodded slowly and walked through the entrance. Just as he stepped inside, a crisp and pleasant female voice rang out behind him, drawing closer from afar. "Teacher, hurry up! You said you'd take me to watch the Alchemist Guild examination today."

"Sigh... Why are you in such a hurry, girl? Are you rushing off to reincarnate?" An elderly voice laughed and scolded helplessly from behind.

Xiao Se turned his head and saw a fat old man and a pretty young girl slowly approaching.

The old man ambled along lazily. Perhaps because he was too fat, he had to stop and gasp for breath every few steps. Yet none of the surrounding pedestrians dared mock him. The reason was simple: on his chest was an alchemist badge engraved with four silver lines.

A Fourth-Rank Alchemist, a fat old man... Could he be Otto from the original story?

Slightly surprised, Xiao Se shifted his gaze to the purple-clad girl constantly urging the old man onward. She looked around seventeen or eighteen. Her fair, tender face was quite beautiful, and though her figure was petite, she had curves where they mattered. In terms of looks and figure, she might not compare to Long Kui, but she was still a rare beauty. Her round, pert hips in particular tugged at the hearts of the men around her at every moment.

Xiao Se slowly withdrew his gaze. He had no intention of greeting them and continued walking inside.

Naturally, the girl noticed Xiao Se's scrutinizing gaze. But when she saw him withdraw it without the slightest lingering interest, anger immediately rose in her beautiful eyes.

Her beauty, which she had always been so proud of, had actually been ignored. She quickly walked to the entrance and snapped at the two guards, "Hey, who was that brat who just went in? My teacher came over, yet he didn't even bother to greet him."

"Uh, Miss Lin Fei, that gentleman went in to take the alchemist examination. We just saw him condense Solid Flame." Although the girl's tone was extremely rude, the two guards did not dare lose their tempers. She was Lin Fei, the newly accepted disciple of Otto, the Fourth-Rank Alchemist and vice president of the Black Rock City branch.

"Solid Flame? Keep bragging. Only someone at my teacher's level can do that. I'd say you were probably fooled by that brat." Lin Fei scoffed at the guards' claim that Xiao Se could condense Solid Flame. Xiao Se looked several years younger than she was. Forget condensing Solid Flame—even becoming a First-Rank Alchemist was practically impossible for someone like him.

"Girl, are you throwing your weight around again?" At that moment, the fat old man finally caught up.

"Grandmaster Otto." Upon seeing the old man, the two guards hurriedly cupped their hands in greeting.

"When did I do that? Those two said that the brat who went in before us could condense Solid Flame. He looked no older than fifteen or sixteen at most. How could that be possible?" Lin Fei shrugged disdainfully.

Otto smiled and nodded at the two guards, then said earnestly to Lin Fei, "One should not judge a person by appearance. If he truly can condense Solid Flame, then even if he is not a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, passing the alchemist examination will not be a problem."

"Oh." Lin Fei answered perfunctorily, clearly not taking Otto's words to heart.

Otto did not mind. Facts spoke louder than words. If that youth truly had the ability, Lin Fei would put away her contempt without needing him to say anything. He then affectionately rubbed Lin Fei's head and stepped into the guild.

Meanwhile, Xiao Se had already entered the guild. Under the guidance of a woman in green, he arrived before the registration counter.

Taking out a yellowed sheet of parchment from the counter, the woman in green elegantly held her pen. She raised her head and smiled at Xiao Se. "Sir, please state your name, age, and teacher's name. Bo Duo will register you."

"Xiao Se, sixteen years old. My teacher... hm... Luo Lao." After hesitating briefly, Xiao Se still lied about his age.

"S-Sixteen years old..." The woman in green was visibly stunned. She marveled at Xiao Se's age but did not doubt him. Although Xiao Se was already over 1.7 meters tall, his face was still youthful. She would have believed he was fifteen or even fourteen, let alone sixteen.

After thinking for a moment, just as she was about to write, she realized that among all the alchemists in the Gama Empire, there was no one named Luo Lao on record. She said somewhat awkwardly, "Sir, there is currently no registered alchemist named Luo Lao within the Gama Empire."

"His old self is indifferent to fame and fortune. It is normal that you do not know of him. What, isn't it enough to pass the examination to obtain an alchemist badge?" Xiao Se frowned, pretending to be angry.

"Of course, of course..." Seeing Xiao Se grow angry, Bo Duo panicked and hurriedly said, "It is fine even without your teacher's name. As long as you pass the examination, that will be enough."

At those words, Xiao Se's brows relaxed. He smiled and nodded, quietly waiting.

Before long, Bo Duo finished filling out the registration form. She deftly put away the items on the desk, then respectfully led Xiao Se to the examination area. After receiving his examination number, he entered the testing room.