Shock

Though the soldier's words were extremely rude, Xiao Yu saw that the people behind him had no complaints. Instead, when they looked at the fat alchemist, their eyes held a trace of reverence!

Xiao Yu immediately understood. It seemed that they respected alchemists from the bottom of their hearts. Not only that, once an alchemist had obtained a rank within the guild, they enjoyed conveniences in many areas. Xiao Yu began to wonder whether he should visit the Alchemist Guild and take the alchemist examination as well. With his alchemy skills, obtaining a Third-grade Alchemist badge might not be difficult!

However, Xiao Yu was in a hurry to enter the city and buy supplies, so he decided it would not be too late to do so after returning from the desert. Behind him, Xiao Yi Xian sized up the Second-grade Alchemist, then glanced at Xiao Yu. It seemed that he was an alchemist too!

Xiao Yi Xian thought to herself, Although Xiao Yu is an alchemist too, he's far more easygoing than this fatty. That fatty's tone is truly irritating!

This was not really Xiao Yi Xian's fault. After all, alchemists were a noble profession on this continent. In such an environment, any alchemist would inevitably possess a measure of arrogance.

Xiao Yu could not be bothered to argue over such things. With the mindset that less trouble was better than more, he took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and prepared to move aside. At that moment, after looking Xiao Yi Xian up and down, the fat alchemist revealed a hint of greed.

Before entering the city, Xiao Yi Xian had already put on a white veil. Yet when the fat alchemist saw her delicate body with its clearly defined curves, he still entertained improper thoughts!

The fat alchemist walked over to Xiao Yi Xian, his gaze falling upon her alluring figure. He could not help but praise, "What a superb beauty. Looks like my luck is quite good today!"

Then, putting on the air of a gentleman, the fatty smiled and said, "I am Kelei, a Second-grade Alchemist of the Desert City Alchemist Guild. May I have the honor of inviting this young lady for a stroll? Rest assured, in Desert City, whatever you desire, I can provide it!" As he spoke, he displayed the Second-grade Alchemist badge on his chest. His pudgy features carried an arrogant look, as though he had already decided that the woman before him would agree.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yi Xian found the way he looked at her extremely repulsive. She took a step back and said coldly, "No need."

Xiao Yi Xian's rejection made Kelei's expression darken. He said coldly, "Do you know the consequences of rejecting me? Don't go looking for trouble!" The threat in his words was unmistakable!

The fat man's gaze had already made Xiao Yu uncomfortable, and now he was speaking such threatening words. A chill flashed through Xiao Yu's eyes. He was only a Second-grade Alchemist—in Xiao Yu's eyes, he was nothing much!

Xiao Yu shifted slightly and shielded Xiao Yi Xian behind him. Her heart stirred as she looked at the tall figure before her, feeling an immense sense of security. She tucked the poison in her hand back into her sleeve.

Seeing Xiao Yu block his view, Kelei glared at him with a somewhat twisted expression. "And who the hell are you, daring to block me?"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "I'm merely a nobody. But just as you said, don't go looking for trouble. Since we've made way for you, you should go first, lest you bring disaster upon yourself!"

Xiao Yu's indifferent gaze and faint smile made Kelei's heart tremble. He did not dare meet his eyes. But once he came to his senses, he grew angry again. He had actually been frightened by a single look from some nobody! If others found out, they would laugh him to death!

"Courting death!" Kelei furiously threw a punch at Xiao Yu. A thin layer of Dou Qi formed a Dou Qi Garment over his fist, carrying a faint scorching aura.

Xiao Yu casually caught Kelei's incoming fist. As the Dou Qi within his body circulated, a rebounding force burst from his palm. Kelei's expression changed, and his entire body was sent flying backward. He retreated more than ten meters before barely managing to steady himself.

The enraged Kelei knew that the youth before him was also a Dou Master, and that his strength was definitely above his own. He did not dare rush forward to get beaten again. Instead, he roared at the nearby soldiers, "You bunch of trash! Didn't you see that he dared attack an alchemist? Get him!"

The soldiers who had been standing to the side immediately reacted upon hearing Kelei's roar and surrounded Xiao Yu.

Kelei stared at Xiao Yu with a venomous expression. "Aren't you arrogant? You dare oppose me? Just watch how I make your life worse than death! Let's see whether you dare make an enemy of the entire Jia Ma Empire!"

As long as Xiao Yu attacked these soldiers now, it would mean he was attacking the entire Jia Ma Empire. The Empire would never permit anyone to challenge its authority. Even the Misty Cloud Sect would not deliberately go against the entire Jia Ma Empire!

Many passersby around them secretly shook their heads and sighed as they looked at Xiao Yu. Why did he have to oppose an alchemist? That was clearly unwise, especially when this alchemist was a Second-grade Alchemist!

Xiao Yi Xian, standing behind Xiao Yu, did not feel much concern. If they dared come forward, the poison in her hands would show no mercy. At worst, they could simply go to the Chuyun Empire. The continent was so vast—was there really nowhere for them to settle?

Yet Xiao Yu showed no sign of panic. Looking at the soldiers who had already surrounded him, he asked with a smile, "Are you sure you want to stand up for him?"

Xiao Yu's calm demeanor made the soldiers hesitate slightly. The leading soldier frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Before Xiao Yu could answer, Kelei, standing behind the soldiers, arrogantly shouted, "What the hell are you wasting time for? Take that man down for me! I'll make his life worse than death! As for that little beauty, I'll keep her for myself!" As he spoke, a lecherous grin appeared on Kelei's face.

Hearing Kelei's words, the soldiers did not dare delay any longer. Between a Dou Master and a Second-grade Alchemist, they could still tell which was more important!

Xiao Yu stopped wasting words as well. The Dou Qi within his body began to circulate, and a surging Bone Spirit Cold Flame suddenly rose from his palm. Strangely enough, when the flame appeared, the surroundings seemed to grow slightly cooler!

Seeing the flame in Xiao Yu's palm, the leading soldier's expression changed drastically.

"Th-this... condensed true flame? You're a Fourth-grade Alchemist?"

The surrounding soldiers also stared at Xiao Yu in shock. They served as guards at the Alchemist Guild as well, so they naturally knew something about the different alchemist ranks. Only a Fourth-grade Alchemist or above could condense true flame. Yet how old was this youth? This was simply unheard of!

Kelei, standing behind the soldiers, had not seen the flame in Xiao Yu's hand. When he saw that the soldiers had stopped advancing again, he said dissatisfiedly, "Your execution is truly terrible. I'm going to report this to your superiors!"

Hearing Kelei's threat, the leading soldier shifted aside and looked at him with a trace of mockery. "Sorry, but this lord's alchemist rank is higher than yours, so I cannot arrest him!"

Only then did Kelei see the pale white Bone Spirit Cold Flame in Xiao Yu's hand. His face abruptly turned deathly pale. As an alchemist, he naturally knew more than these soldiers and understood even better what it represented!

"F-Fourth-grade Alchemist?" Kelei spat out the words in horror.