Tricks Meet a Counterattack!

Three days later, having completely familiarized himself with the newly acquired Heavenly Flame, Gu Xia appeared in Black Rock City...

Walking through the morning streets, Gu Xia could not help marveling at the city's bustle. As expected of one of the foremost major cities in the Gama Empire, even at this early hour, the streets remained prosperous and crowded. From time to time, patrols of guards marched past in neat formation, the crisp clatter of their armor ringing through the morning sky like a dawn bell.

"A day's plan really does begin in the morning!"

As he admired the thriving scene around him, Gu Xia searched for a building that looked like it might be the Alchemist Guild.

After turning through several rather long streets, shaking off a group of relentlessly pursuing women, and refusing a pile of overly enthusiastic stall aunties, Gu Xia finally arrived outside an imposing building with his arms full of all sorts of goods that had been forced upon him.

The building had a rather distinctive design. From a distance, its overall shape resembled a medicinal cauldron. Windows resembling the fire ports of a cauldron had been set around the structure, while atop the high roof, an enormous cauldron lid hung down, sheltering the building beneath it.

"The Alchemist Guild should be here."

Clearly, Gu Xia was not illiterate. He recognized the words on the ancient wooden plaque. Without further thought, he carried his pile of things toward the Alchemist Guild's entrance.

As he approached the door, two heavily armed burly men who had long noticed him stretched out their hands to stop him. Though Gu Xia looked dignified and exceptionally handsome—so handsome he had no friends—they still dutifully carried out their responsibilities. One of them said in a gruff voice, "Little brother, this is the Alchemist Guild. You want to go in? Do you have a letter of introduction from your mentor?"

"Um... big brothers, do I need some kind of introduction letter to enter?"

Gu Xia was clearly a little surprised at being stopped. He had not expected that entering the Alchemist Guild would require a mentor's letter of introduction.

"It isn't absolutely necessary. As long as you can prove that you're an alchemist, you can enter..."

The two gatekeepers had obviously noticed that Gu Xia was no ordinary person, and their tone was quite friendly. After all, anyone who was not blind could tell that this fellow was extraordinary at a glance. Being handsome was one thing, but he also dressed so elaborately—folding fan, jade pendant, cap, crown, whatever looked refined, he wore it. Wherever he went, people immediately knew he was different. His elegant and gentle bearing practically rushed at them. It was hard not to notice him... Otherwise, where did they think the huge pile of goods in his arms had come from?

"Prove that I'm an alchemist? Um... let me think..."

Just as Gu Xia was considering how to show off—no, prove himself—in the most appropriate way, a fragrant breeze suddenly swept over from behind him. From what he sensed, the owner of that fragrance did not seem to have any intention of avoiding him...

"Ah, big brother, catch me quickly. Your little sister is about to fall..."

Then, an adorably delicate voice came from behind Gu Xia.

Faced with such an obviously deliberate move, Gu Xia, a super invincible diamond-tier titanium-alloy steel straight man from the twenty-first century who was well versed in all kinds of countermeasures against young ladies' staged-collision schemes, made a dazzling turn while holding his arms full of goods and snacks. With elegance and style, he perfectly dodged the girl's "attack" before her stunned eyes...

Watching Gu Xia's smooth, practiced movement, the two guards could not help silently giving him each an approving nod...

Gu Xia looked at the petite girl who had fallen flat on her face before him, her shapely rear sticking up toward him. He fell silent for a moment without saying anything. The next second, he freed one arm and reached it toward the petite girl lying on the ground...

So he was only startled by my sudden attack and dodged. He's still very gentle... That was what the girl imagined at that moment. Looking at the long, gentle fingers extended before her, the girl, who had already imagined an entire seventy-two-episode romance drama, shyly reached out her own delicate hand...

However, just as she had imagined what would happen after she pinned Gu Xia beneath her and did all sorts of things to him, the hand she extended was ruthlessly ignored by Gu Xia!

Under the girl's doubly stunned gaze, Gu Xia's hand picked up something resembling a walnut that he had accidentally dropped when he turned around...

After picking up that thing which could, at best, be called a walnut, Gu Xia continued carrying his pile of goods and snacks toward the two guards, who had been left dumbstruck by his expert move. A wisp of cyan flame appeared out of thin air before him. The moment it emerged, the two guards felt an incomparably terrifying heat envelop them!

Yet in only an instant, that terrifying temperature vanished, as though it had merely been an illusion!

"So, big brothers? Can I go in now?"

Naturally, Gu Xia was responsible for that heat. After the girl's little stunt, he decided it would be better to enter the Alchemist Guild quickly. Otherwise, who knew how many more staged-collision attempts from random girls he would have to deal with? After all, once one person took the lead, that large group of eager young women nearby could not possibly be content with merely watching...

"Y-yes... Little—no, sir! You may now freely enter and leave our Alchemist Guild!"

Though it had lasted only an instant, they had still served as gatekeepers for a group of alchemists for several years. They possessed at least that much discernment. Based on the young man's exquisite control over temperature alone, they could tell that this refined and modest-looking youth was definitely no ordinary figure! He might even be a powerful high-tier alchemist!

Thus, they let him pass. Ignoring the murderous glares of the group of resentful-looking girls by the roadside, the two guards moved their bodies away from the entrance...

Seeing this, Gu Xia returned a friendly smile before walking into the Alchemist Guild without looking back...

"Hmph! You hateful bastard! How dare you treat this young lady like that!"

The moment Gu Xia entered the Alchemist Guild, the girl immediately sprang up from the ground! She glared furiously at the youth's retreating back as he leisurely walked deeper into the guild, her little face puffed up with anger at Gu Xia's straight-man behavior!

Then she looked at the wooden plaque outside bearing the five words "Alchemist Guild," then at Gu Xia's gradually disappearing figure. A sly glint suddenly flashed through her eyes. Once the corner of her lips curved into a mischievous smile, she hurriedly ran back in the direction she had come from...

Already inside the Alchemist Guild, Gu Xia was utterly unaware of the girl's actions outside. He merely ate some snacks that had been stuffed into his hands by the aunties while searching for a place where he could test his alchemist rank...