On the second day, as the first rays of morning light touched the earth, Xiao Yan had already stepped out of the inn and, on his way out, casually inquired about the location of the Alchemist's Guild. Walking along the bustling streets of the early morning, Xiao Yan recalled the owner's astonished and flattery-filled expression when he had first asked about the guild's location—something that now made him quietly amused and reflective. It was clear that the esteemed status of alchemists had truly taken root in the hearts of every person on the Continent of Qi. Otherwise, they would not have shown such deep reverence when mentioning the Alchemist's Guild. Blackstone City, indeed, was one of the leading cities within the Gamma Empire. Though it was still early morning, the streets were vibrant and lively, filled with the constant hum of voices. Occasionally, the orderly footsteps of the guard troops passed by, their armor clinking in rhythmic harmony, producing a crisp, resonant sound that rang out like a morning bell. Following the route described by the innkeeper, Xiao Yan slowly turned down several long, elegant streets, walking for a while before finally stopping and looking up at the grand, imposing building now before him. The building featured a distinctive design, resembling a medicinal cauldron in overall form. Windows arranged around it resembled the flame ports of a cauldron, and a large lid of the cauldron arched down from the high roof, sheltering the rooms beneath. On the building's exterior, a delicate plaque of pale purple sandalwood bore five ancient characters, slightly blurred but glowing with a soft, faint luminescence. "Medicine Master's Guild!" "Softly murmured a phrase, Xiao Yan turned his head and glanced around, noticing that most people passing by this elegant building cast a respectful glance toward the plaque. Of course, some pedestrians also stared in surprise at Xiao Yan, who stood dumbfounded outside the Herbalist Guild's entrance. Ignoring the surrounding glances, Xiao Yan gently ran his hand along the back of his Xu Zhong Chi, then proceeded steadily toward the Herbalist Guild. As he approached the entrance, two fully armed men who had been observing him for a while stepped forward to block his way, speaking in a hushed, urgent tone, "Young sir, this is the Herbalist Guild. You wish to enter? Do you have a letter of introduction from your mentor?" "...This, I don't know either. On the Qi Continent, each empire has its own pharmacy guild, and their regulations differ from one another. I've rarely visited the Jima Empire before, so I'm not quite sure what this is." The elderly pharmacist within the ring likewise expressed astonishment. Xiao Yan slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping toward the elderly man walking slowly and leisurely toward him. After a moment's glance, his eyes settled on the badge on the elder's chest. On the ancient, rustic cauldron, four delicate silver waves were meticulously drawn. "Fourth-rank alchemist," he murmured, slightly astonished. Then, he turned his head again, looking at the purple-robed woman standing a little distance away beside him. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, with a charming, youthful face that was both beautiful and appealing. Though her figure was somewhat petite, her development was surprisingly well-formed—her curves and contours perfectly balanced, exuding a mature, full-bodied grace. She wore a tailored, form-fitting alchemist's uniform in deep purple, giving off a sense of refined elegance. After all, alchemist attire was no ordinary garment. Yet, despite wearing such formal robes, there was no insignia denoting her rank on her chest. A woman with long, flowing hair was bound by a purple sash, which cascaded down to her full, rounded, lush hips. As it swayed, it gently tapped against her firm, elegant buttocks, producing a soft, quiet sound—like the delicate rustle of cat paws—that continuously stirred the attention of the men whose gaze had wandered or been distracted. "Don't worry, once I officially become a master apothecary, I'll never let you down!" The woman smiled warmly, then casually glanced at Xiao Xian, who was dressed simply by the side. Though her teachers and father often emphasized that one should not judge a person by appearance, after carefully observing the young man from head to toe, she still couldn't detect any notable difference. In terms of looks, Black Rock City had many more handsome men than him. As for strength, even if he were a star-ranked warrior above seven stars, in her eyes, he still didn't stand out much. In Black Rock City, even a warrior would respectfully address her as Miss Linfei. Gently shifting her gaze, Linfei shook her head slightly, finally drawing her full attention away from Xiao Xian. Though she didn't feel any disdain upon their first meeting, she simply regarded him as just another ordinary passerby. "Oh well, come on, young lady. Don't let me down today, or Frank will never stop using this bit to tease me." Finally, the elder from behind made his slow way forward, chuckling at the young woman. "Master Otto!" Upon seeing the elder, the two guards promptly bowed respectfully. "Hm." Master Otto smiled warmly at them, nodded, and then took a step forward. His gaze swept over the room, pausing suddenly on Xiao Xian, who had been idly waiting by the side. He found himself slightly taken aback—though he couldn't quite place where exactly the young man seemed different, nor could he articulate just what it was. "Don't worry, Master," Lin Fei smiled, pulling at Master Otto's arm with a coquettish air, "It's just about refining a properly shaped pill. How could anything like that challenge my beloved student?" The affectionate one patted Linfei's head, while Otto smiled warmly at Xiao Yan beside him, then pulled Linfei toward the interior of the Medicinal Master's Guild. "Teacher, why are you so kind to that person? It doesn't quite match your usual style," Linfei remarked with a look of curiosity as they entered. "Hmm, I always feel that little guy is a bit special—though I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's just a fantasy," Otto chuckled, speaking casually. Upon hearing this, Linfei shook her head in resignation and followed Otto swiftly toward the inner areas. "Young sir, have you secured your mentor's introduction letter?" As Otto entered the guild, a large guard approached Xiao Yan with a warm smile, though his skeptical gaze suggested he didn't believe Xiao Yan would be able to produce it—indeed, the situation was exactly as he expected. "I'm sorry, but I don't have it," Xiao Yan said, spreading his hands helplessly and nodding toward the guard. "The young lady I just spoke to—she didn't seem to have checked our introduction letter either." "Master Otto, a fourth-rank alchemist, is Miss Linfei's mentor—haven't you heard of him?" Hearing Xiao Yan's question, the large man stared at him as if he were a fool. With a sigh of resignation, Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand. "What do you want?" As soon as he did this, both large men instantly stiffened, gripping their weapons at their sides and shouting. Ignoring them, Xiao Yan kept his gaze fixed on his palm. A moment later, a surge of vibrant purple flame erupted from his palm, its intense heat causing both men to pale. "Concentrating real flame? A fourth-rank alchemist?" "A voice of astonishment spilled from both of their mouths, utterly incredulous. With their frequent experience guarding the Herbalist's Guild, they naturally knew that gathering solid flame was no easy feat—requiring at least a fourth-rank Herbalist. Yet... if the person summoning solid flame were an elderly man on the verge of passing away, they could have remained composed. But the one before them... was clearly just a young man in his twenties!" "Of course, of course, younger brother... Oh, no, sir, please enter!" The two guards exchanged a glance, then promptly bowed low, speaking with deference. Faced with such formalities just to gain access to the door, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. How could it be that he, who always preferred to remain humble, now not only lacked the seal of a Medic, but also had not even secured a single rank badge from the Guild? Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan lightly tapped his sleeve and then stepped steadily into the building—almost a residence for the highest-ranking profession in Black Rock City!