"Hey, brother, how do I get to the Alchemist Guild?"
At her question, the soldier turned to look Xiao Yan over. Although her veil concealed her face, she was clearly very young.
Besides, her clothes cost at least several thousand gold coins, she wore a Storage Ring, and a medicinal fragrance seemed to linger around her. She might as well have written "I'm an alchemist" across her face.
Even if she wasn't an alchemist, she was at least an alchemist's apprentice-and a young lady with powerful backing.
He hurriedly put on a friendly expression. "Please wait a moment, miss... We have dedicated staff to assist alchemists."
Xiao Yan nodded indifferently and calmly surveyed the long queue beside her, thoroughly enjoying the pleasure of being a cut above everyone else.
Soon, a curvaceous female guide hurried over.
Without exception, the guides assigned to alchemists were beautiful women. They might even offer certain special services to male alchemists.
Since Xiao Yan was also a woman, however, this guide didn't try anything and simply did her job quietly.
In fact, with this uniformed guide beside her, Xiao Yan even saved on transportation fees-those heading to the Alchemist Guild had a "private carriage" to ferry them there.
Although Xiao Yan didn't care about such pocket change, this little privilege of being "a cut above the rest" gave alchemists considerable face.
And indeed, every alchemist found it quite gratifying.
"Motherfucker, so this is privilege. Power born from money..."
Sitting on the carriage's spacious seat, softly padded with exquisite plush, Xiao Yan couldn't help letting out another quiet sigh at its softness.
After that moment of reflection, Xiao Yan closed her eyes to feign sleep and bantered with Apothecary.
"Miss, we've arrived at the Alchemist Guild. Would you like me to continue accompanying you?"
"No need."
Ignoring the guide's attempt to help her down, Xiao Yan jumped straight out of the carriage in her eighteen-centimeter heels.
Amid the curious or scrutinizing looks of those around her, Xiao Yan made a show of generosity and tossed the guide an ordinary first-grade Jade Skin Pill.
"Here. It's for your complexion."
Then, under the guide's astonished, delighted gaze and the crowd's looks of "more money than sense," Xiao Yan received a warm welcome.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan raised her left hand, and a pink peach blossom flame rose from her palm.
The pink flame danced in her hand. Although it was fifth-tier beast fire, it was utterly docile in Xiao Yan's grasp.
Playing with the flame, Xiao Yan said, "I'd like to take the first-rank alchemist examination."
She only displayed her peach blossom flame because this was, after all, the headquarters of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild, whose president was a fifth-rank alchemist.
Her "fused beast flame" possessed the characteristics of several beast flames at once, and a fifth-rank alchemist would certainly know a fair amount about flames.
Using her "fused beast flame" might invite some unnecessary trouble.
The peach blossom flame was enough. It was only a first-rank alchemist examination, after all; this flame was more than sufficient.
Everyone watching was startled by Xiao Yan's words.
Although Xiao Yan wore a veil that concealed her face, she was definitely very young. They hadn't expected someone so young to go straight into an alchemist examination.
Still, after seeing the pink flame rising from Xiao Yan's palm and her earlier attitude of "not making much of pills," no one voiced doubts or mockery.
"My lady, you'll need to register before taking the alchemist examination," said a woman dressed as an attendant, squeezing through the crowd with difficulty to reach Xiao Yan.
"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded, withdrew her peach blossom flame, and followed the attendant to what looked like a reception desk.
"Name?"
"Xiao Yan."
"Age?"
"Fifteen."
The attendant's pen stopped. She looked up at Xiao Yan in shock. "...H-how old?"
Xiao Yan considered it and decided that wasn't quite right either. "Fifteen and a half."
Six Kun-years and another 2.4 Kun-months.
"Hiss~~" × N
A chorus of sharp, hissing gasps immediately filled the room, followed by a storm of discussion.
After all, becoming an alchemist required cultivation at the Dou Zhe level or above. Only after becoming a Dou Zhe and cultivating a Dou Qi method could one begin learning alchemy.
An eighteen-year-old whose strength exceeded eighth stage Dou Qi could enter Jia Nan Academy to cultivate. Back when Xiao Yan had become a Dou Zhe at eleven, she had already qualified as a "genius."
Even Pill King Gu He, at fifteen, had merely been an "alchemist's apprentice," learning to identify medicinal herbs and memorize their properties and principles.
Most of those present were alchemists. Seeing how obediently Xiao Yan controlled her peach blossom flame, they knew passing the first-rank alchemist examination wouldn't be difficult for her.
Now... this was getting interesting.
If Xiao Yan really was fifteen, didn't that mean her talent surpassed even Pill King Gu He's?
After all, few people dared to use false identities when taking an alchemist examination, especially here at the Alchemist Guild headquarters.
That was why they hadn't sneered at or mocked Xiao Yan. Instead... a faint sense of anticipation stirred within them.
They wanted to see whether this young girl could truly pass the alchemist examination!
The attendant swallowed with difficulty and asked in a trembling voice, "Y-your teacher?"
"Anonymous."
"Very well, my lady. Please wait a moment..." The attendant began checking the records.
"No need to look," Xiao Yan interrupted her. "My teacher never registered with the empire's Alchemist Guild."
"Well..." The attendant faltered briefly, then said, "My lady, although we have no record of your teacher, as long as you pass the examination, you can still..."
"I know. I understand the whole procedure-let's skip the unnecessary parts. Can I begin the examination?"
"Are you confident you can pass the alchemist examination?"
An aged voice rang out rather abruptly. Then an old man in purple robes walked up to Xiao Yan.
He tilted his head back to look at Xiao Yan.
There was no helping it. Xiao Yan was already tall, and today she was wearing those towering eighteen-centimeter heels...
"President!" The attendant respectfully stepped aside and said nothing more.
Hearing the attendant address the old man as "President," Xiao Yan guessed his identity and decided to give the esteemed president due respect.
"I'm confident."
Sincerity was the ultimate finishing move.
Fa Ma: "..."
Fa Ma studied Xiao Yan with a scrutinizing gaze. He, too, had serious doubts about her age and identity.
Yet his senses told him that the young girl's soul power was remarkably strong, and she was indeed very young.
He just couldn't confirm whether she was fifteen.
Age actually mattered a great deal. The younger someone was, the greater their potential and talent, and the more attention they deserved.
After a moment's hesitation, Fa Ma said, "...I'll personally oversee your examination!"
As for this "Xiao Yan's" true identity, he could investigate after the examination-the Alchemist Guild's intelligence-gathering capabilities were quite formidable.
"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, President." Xiao Yan cupped her hands in greeting, her etiquette impeccable.
"...Follow me."
Spectators were allowed at first-rank alchemist examinations, so a large crowd of "Pure Bystanders" promptly followed them...
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