This Seat... My Name Is Xiao Cha

"Is that Black Rock City up ahead? I finally found the way. I wonder where Huo Huo is now."

Han Chen looked at the towering black city walls not far away, put away the map in his hand, and slowly descended from the sky before strolling toward Black Rock City.

He had spent almost another month deep in the mountains. Only after the Gold-Devouring Insects were sufficiently raised did he leave.

It was no exaggeration to say that even a shop selling pills might not have as many in stock as he carried on him.

Once he entered Black Rock City, the people around him immediately turned their gazes toward him. In particular, quite a few young women blushed at the sight of him, and many cast flirtatious glances his way.

True to his usual cautious approach, Han Chen naturally would not use his real appearance. The real Han Chen had long since vanished completely from Wutan City.

At the moment, Han Chen wore a blue robe patterned with black, his long black hair tied behind his head. A smile rested on his slightly devilish face, while the red eyeshadow beneath his eyes lent him even more allure.

As a gathering place for alchemists, the Alchemist Association was naturally easy to find. The moment Han Chen entered the city, he spotted the building shaped like a Medicine Cauldron. As he drew closer, a faint fragrance of pills drifted toward him.

Seeing people coming and going at the entrance, Han Chen stepped forward without hesitation, intending to enter the Alchemist Association.

However, as soon as he approached, the guards at the entrance stopped him.

"Stop. This is the Alchemist Association. Unauthorized people are not allowed inside."

Han Chen froze when he was stopped, then recalled that there did indeed seem to be such a rule. Ordinary people were not permitted into the Alchemist Association, and even those taking the alchemist examination needed a recommendation from their mentor.

"I'm here to take the alchemist examination."

Looking at the guards at the entrance, Han Chen coughed once and spoke calmly.

Hearing this, the guard recalled the black-haired young man from a few days ago, who had said the same thing and then become President Frank's honored guest. The man before him looked very young as well.

Thus, the guard decided to let him through. After all, it was better to admit someone than offend them. What if he was another genius? Even if his claim was false, the guard could use the alchemist examination as an excuse to gloss over it.

"Tch, any stray cat or dog can take the examination these days. I refuse to believe Black Rock City really has that many geniuses! One came just a few days ago, and now here's another. Kid, you aren't a plant working for him, are you?"

Just then, a rather grating voice mocked him from the side, making Han Chen's brows crease slightly.

Han Chen turned, about to see what sort of rare specimen dared pull such a stupid stunt, showing off just to get slapped in the face, when another clear voice rang out from inside the Alchemist Association.

"Toke! You're causing trouble here again! This is the Alchemist Association, not your home! Keep this up and don't bother coming back. Wasn't the lesson you learned two days ago enough?"

After hearing the young woman's rebuke, the young man called Toke argued back, his face livid.

"But it's true! There was one two days ago, and now there's another. How could there be such a coincidence?"

Watching the two argue, Han Chen paid little attention to the young man. Instead, he looked at the girl. From their conversation, he could tell that Xiao Yan had visited Black Rock City just a few days ago, which meant he very likely had not left yet.

After all, Xiao Yan needed to find enough ice spirit cold spring and a Naling in Black Rock City. It seemed the gap between his progress and Xiao Yan's had not grown too wide.

As for the girl arguing with Toke, since she knew Xiao Yan and had the authority to reprimand Toke, she was clearly the disciple of either the president or vice president of the Black Rock City branch of the Alchemist Association.

With that fiery temper, she could not possibly be Xue Mei. That left only Lin Fei, the daughter of Black Rock City's city lord.

Seeing the pair argue without end, Han Chen gradually lost patience. Rather than watch two children trade blows, he might as well hurry up and finish the alchemist examination, then go check in with Hai Bodong.

"Hey! You two brats, are you done arguing? If you are, move away from the entrance. I'm in a hurry to get inside."

Lin Fei frowned at Han Chen's words, but she still stepped aside, a hint of apology in her voice.

"Sorry, big brother. I didn't notice you. You're here to take the alchemist examination, right? I happen to know my way around here. I'll take you."

Han Chen's current appearance was closer to that of a young adult, but even at that age, he would still qualify as a genius in the Jia Ma Empire. With Xiao Yan's example from a few days ago, although Han Chen was not as young as Xiao Yan, he was still worth befriending, so Lin Fei decided to introduce him personally.

Seeing how helpful Lin Fei was being, Han Chen did not stand on ceremony with her. Having someone help could not be better, and it would spare him trouble like Toke.

"By the way, big brother, I still don't know your name. Which master did you study under? Our Alchemist Association requires your mentor's name when you take the examination."

As Lin Fei led Han Chen toward the counter inside the hall, she asked for his details.

Hearing her question, Han Chen considered whose name he should use. After all, he had used so many aliases that choosing one on the spot was not easy.

"This... ahem, my name is Xiao Cha."

Having nearly let something slip, Han Chen hurriedly coughed twice to conceal his embarrassment.

When Lin Fei heard that Xiao Cha also had the surname Xiao, her eyes immediately lit up. She looked at him and asked with a touch of delight.

"What! Your surname is Xiao too, big brother? Then do you know Xiao Yan? Could you be from the same family?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's name confirmed Xiao Cha's suspicions. He smiled and shook his head, showing Lin Fei a trace of regret and just the right amount of curiosity.

"I don't know him, actually. Why? Did someone else with the surname Xiao come to take the alchemist examination before?"

Lin Fei nodded at his words, a little excitement in her voice.

"Yes! He's a real genius. He's already a Second-Rank Alchemist at such a young age."

"Is that so... What a coincidence. I'd like to meet him if I get the chance."

"I'm not sure about that. He said he had some things to prepare. I don't know whether he's left yet."

Lin Fei shook her head as she spoke. She did not know Xiao Yan's whereabouts either.

"All right, here we are. Just fill in the required information."

The two arrived at the counter. Lin Fei took a first-rank alchemist examination application form from it and handed it to Xiao Cha.

Looking at the application form in his hand, Xiao Cha shook his head, then turned to the young woman at the front desk and asked with a smile.

"I'm not here to take the first-rank alchemist examination, but rather..."

As he spoke, Xiao Cha raised his hand. A deep blue flame immediately sprang from it, burning the application form in his hand to ashes.

"Rather, I'm here to take the fourth-rank alchemist examination."

"What!"

"This!"

"That can't be!"

The entire hall of the Alchemist Association fell silent for a moment after Xiao Cha said those words, then erupted into all manner of shocked discussions.

Even the young woman at the front desk and Lin Fei, who stood beside Xiao Cha, were left gaping in astonishment at the deep blue flame in his hand, which radiated a terrifying heat.

"A... actual flame. The fourth-rank alchemist examination..."

After taking a moment to recover, the young woman at the front desk looked respectfully at Xiao Cha, her voice full of apology and deference.

"S-sorry, we're unable to conduct the fourth-rank alchemist examination here."