Alchemist Guild

Early the next morning, Xiao Fan rose from bed and had an attendant bring water to his room. After washing up, he planned to ask the innkeeper for the Alchemist Guild's exact location.

He had only just stepped out of his room when an unexpected voice drifted up from the lobby downstairs.

"Innkeeper, could you tell me how to get to the Alchemist Guild?"

That voice?

A flicker of surprise stirred in Xiao Fan's heart. He hid behind a pillar beside the second-floor stairs and peered down through a gap in the stairway. The person asking the innkeeper for directions to the Alchemist Guild was none other than Xiao Yan, whom he had not seen in quite some time!

Xiao Yan carried a broad, heavy, black Xuan Heavy Ruler on his back. Its enormous bulk almost hid him completely.

Although he could only see Xiao Yan's back, Xiao Fan recognized him at a glance. After all, Xuan Heavy Rulers were rare to begin with, and Xiao Yan was probably the only person on the Dou Qi Continent who carried one at all times. At Yao Lao's insistence, he used its tremendous weight and its ability to slow the circulation of Dou Qi within anyone touching it to temper himself constantly.

Xiao Fan had never expected to encounter Xiao Yan and Yao Lao in Black Rock City. The two of them had not arrived here so soon in the original story.

But after a moment's thought, Xiao Fan understood. These changes had all begun with him. Starting with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group in Qingshan Town, Xiao Yan's path of training had quietly shifted.

Then there was the time spent with Yun Zhi in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. The person who ultimately won her affection and obtained the purple flame had become Xiao Fan instead.

Although he was curious about Xiao Yan's experiences and growth, this was not the right time to reveal himself to them.

Ever since deciding to leave Xiao Yan, Xiao Fan had already planned a path of his own. With his physique, he could claim the heavenly treasures he knew about before Xiao Yan reached them and strengthen himself. If he remained by Xiao Yan's side, his own growth would be severely restricted.

The missions the system issued made that clear enough.

Speaking of missions, Xiao Fan could not remember how long it had been since he last heard one from the system. He truly missed them.

He took out the Shadowless Mask and placed it over his face. With a thought, his appearance changed completely.

"To be safe, I'll use this face whenever I travel from now on."

Xiao Fan touched his cheek. Once the cool Shadowless Mask met his face, it became a layer as thin as a cicada's wing, altering his appearance according to his thoughts.

With this face, Xiao Fan no longer had to worry about running into Xiao Yan and Yao Lao.

He waited in the inn a little longer. Only after they had gone far enough away did he set off for the Alchemist Guild.

After winding his way through three or four streets from his lodgings, a magnificent building appeared before him.

The building had been constructed in the shape of an alchemist's medicinal cauldron. Its flame vents had been designed as doors and windows, making it look from afar like a gigantic cauldron standing there.

Looking at the imposing building, Xiao Fan headed toward the Alchemist Guild's entrance.

But as soon as he approached the doors, two fully armed guards stopped him.

Studying Xiao Fan's youthful face, one of them muttered.

"Another young face? Surely this one doesn't have a heavenly flame too."

The other guard also gave Xiao Fan an odd look before cupping his hands and saying.

"Young fellow, you'll need a letter of introduction to enter."

After a moment's thought, Xiao Fan understood.

For ordinary people to enter an Alchemist Guild in the Jia Ma Empire, they needed a letter of introduction from their teacher to prove their identity, unless they held some remarkable status.

Otherwise, if just anyone could enter the Alchemist Guild, its threshold would have long since been worn through by countless feet.

But Xiao Fan had no letter of introduction, so naturally, he could not produce one.

Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he extended his right hand.

At his movement, both guards' eyes lit up.

Whoom!

A purple flame abruptly sprang from Xiao Fan's palm.

The two guards stammered.

"A-another manifested flame?"

Xiao Fan smiled faintly and addressed the two guards with an easy smile.

"I'm here to certify my status as an alchemist. May I enter now?"

The two guards answered respectfully.

"Y-yes."

Xiao Fan walked past them. After taking two steps, he turned back and asked.

"You said 'another' just now. What did you mean?"

One of the guards turned and replied.

"Sir, a young fellow entered just now. He had no letter of introduction either, and he demonstrated a manifested flame just like you did. His flame was white, though."

Xiao Fan nodded. It seemed Xiao Yan had already gone inside. But because of the butterfly effect he had caused, Xiao Yan had not obtained the purple flame and could only reveal the existence of the bone spirit cold flame.

These guards only knew that alchemists of the fourth grade or higher could manifest actual flames. Asking them to distinguish beast flames from heavenly flames would be far too much.

Xiao Fan stepped through the Alchemist Guild's doors. The moment he entered, a rich medicinal fragrance greeted him, lifting his spirits considerably.

There were not many people in the hall. Upon seeing Xiao Fan, a woman emerged from behind the counter and approached him.

"Sir, is this your first visit to our Alchemist Guild in Black Rock City?"

Xiao Fan surveyed the spacious hall before turning his gaze to the woman. She wore a pale green dress. Although she was no devastating beauty, she had bright eyes and pearly teeth, and her manner was neither servile nor overbearing, making her quite pleasant to deal with.

"Yes. I'm here to obtain certification and a badge for my alchemist grade."

At Xiao Fan's words, the woman's eyes brightened. She bowed slightly, then spoke softly.

"So you're an alchemist too. We handle the badge application process over here. Please follow me."

She led Xiao Fan to a service window and took a sheet of parchment from the counter behind it.

Holding a pen, she addressed Xiao Fan respectfully.

"Sir, my name is Ya Si. As part of the procedure, we need to record your name, age, and teacher's name."

Xiao Fan had prepared for this and told Ya Si.

"My name is Mo Shang, and I'm nineteen. My teacher lives in seclusion among the mountains and forests and dislikes being disturbed. I should still be able to receive certification and a badge without listing his name, correct?"

Hearing his reply, Ya Si put away the items on the desk and answered respectfully.

"Yes, but in that case, you'll need to take the examination. You can only receive an Alchemist Badge after passing."

"Then I'll take the examination!"

"By the way, sir, what grade of alchemist are you?" Suddenly recalling the youth Ya Han had received earlier, Ya Si asked Xiao Fan curiously.

A smile curled at the corners of Xiao Fan's mouth as he answered.

"Third grade."

Ya Si's beautiful eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands in disbelief.

A nineteen-year-old third-grade alchemist meant that Xiao Fan possessed enough talent to astonish the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Afterward, Ya Si led Xiao Fan to a set of doors.

She bowed to the guard captain stationed there and spoke.

"Uncle Te Ya, has the examination inside started yet?"

The captain she called Uncle Te Ya smiled at her. "Not yet, but it's about to. Ya Han just brought a young fellow here."

As he spoke, Te Ya turned his smiling gaze toward Xiao Fan, only to feel a faint jolt of alarm. Here was another youth whose depth he could not fathom.

He had thought the youth who had just gone inside was already unusual enough. He had not expected another to appear.

After checking Xiao Fan's information, Te Ya smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Everything's in order, young fellow. Go on in." As he spoke, he pressed something into Xiao Fan's hand. "This is your examination number. Make sure you don't lose it."

Ya Si bowed to Xiao Fan and spoke softly.

"I wish you success in your examination, sir."

Xiao Fan glanced at the examination number in his hand. A large six. Six for smooth sailing?

Xiao Fan strode into the alchemist examination venue.

Upon entering through the examination hall's doors, Xiao Fan saw the people standing inside.

There were two fourth-grade alchemists. Judging by how they were addressed, they were Black Rock City's Otto and Frank. Beside them stood two young women, their personal disciples.

Xiao Fan swept his gaze across the hall. Everyone seemed to have just heard some surprising news.

At the sound of the doors opening, everyone turned to look.

Seeing Xiao Fan's face, Master Otto chuckled.

"Hehe, we were just saying how young Xiao Yan is. It seems this newly arrived candidate is very young too."

Xiao Fan bowed lightly to Master Otto and Frank, then spoke.

"My name is Mo Shang. Sorry for the trouble, teachers."

His greeting clearly pleased the two fourth-grade alchemists. Otto asked with a smile.

"How old are you this year, young fellow?"

Hearing Master Otto's question, Xiao Fan answered.

"Nineteen."

As soon as Xiao Fan spoke, everyone's gazes shifted back and forth between him, Xiao Yan, and Master Otto's and Master Frank's disciples, Linda and Xue Mei.

They seemed to be weighing which of the four would emerge victorious in the end.

Standing in the hall, Xiao Yan studied the disguised Xiao Fan and spoke inwardly to Yao Lao.

Teacher, he's so young!

Yao Lao chuckled. Heh, aren't you only nineteen yourself? Still, reaching the first grade at such a young age gives a glimpse of his talent. You must remember: beyond every great person stands someone greater.

Xue Mei's expression remained cold, as though she did not care. Only Linda looked somewhat unconvinced, especially when she saw Xue Mei's proud demeanor. She believed her own talent for alchemy was no worse than Xue Mei's.

As for Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan, Linda considered them nothing more than a pair of attention seekers. In her view, passing the first-grade alchemist examination at nineteen was simply impossible unless they were gifted disciples from major families.

But the information listed for Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan was unremarkable, and neither was known to be the disciple of any famous alchemist. Naturally, Linda thought little of them. In her eyes, she had only one rival: Xue Mei.