"Pfft!" Under a wave of astonished glances in the trading area, Obba was sent reeling like one struck by a blow, spewing out a fountain of blood that splattered across the ground, finally coming to a stop after tracing a streak of over ten meters. Witnessing how casually Xiao Yan had dispatched Obba with a single palm strike, several onlookers were struck by surprise—though Obba had a notoriously poor temperament, he was still a strong contender on the verge of becoming a Great Combatant. No one expected him to be outmatched so swiftly by this young man in black robes. Yet, after the initial shock, the crowd began to cast sympathetic glances toward Xiao Yan. His strike had certainly been impressive, but did he not know that Fu Yan—the elderly man—was famously protective of his own? Within the Alchemy Guild, aside from a few individuals he dared not offend, most members held a certain level of respect and caution for the rigid, defensive old man. "You... Oh, you've caused a mess! Hurry—come with me, and get out of here!" Xue Mei was startled by Xiao Yan's sudden intervention, gazing at the distant Obah lying on the ground, writhing and howling in pain. She quickly turned to Xiao Yan, speaking in a low, anxious tone, then hurriedly pulled him along as they moved off. Though Xiao Yan didn't resist much, he glanced at Obah, still howling in the distance, and followed Xue Mei as she led them away from the bustling crowd. As they pushed through the crowded trading district, Xue Mei never paused, pulling Xiao Yan toward the outer gates of the Alchemist's Guild. Seeing this, Xiao Yan only sighed and finally broke free, smiling at her, "He's just a useless, second-rate heir—does he really need such a fuss?" "He is indeed a useless one, but his teacher is a senior elder of the Guild, wielding considerable influence and having wide recognition throughout the Imperial Capital. He's also fiercely protective of his students. Once that man goes to file a complaint, he'll certainly not spare you." Hearing this, Xue Mei only hurried to explain in a more urgent tone. "Master Fuyan seems to be one of the senior elders of the Council as well, doesn't he? Why are you still afraid of him?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. "Currently, my teacher holds only the rank of Fourth-Class Alchemist, while Fu Yan is a genuine Fifth-Class Alchemist. His alchemical skills are on par with even the Vice President's, making his status far superior to mine." Xue Mei sighed. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. Among the Garde Empire's Fourth-Class Alchemists, though relatively rare, there are at least a dozen, while Fifth-Class Alchemists are even fewer—only a handful exist. Advancement within the alchemical ranks is particularly difficult, and some alchemists may spend their entire lives stagnating at a certain level. Alchemists like Xiao Yan, who rely on unique flames and the extensive experience of their senior mentors, might be truly unique—perhaps the only ones on the entire continent. The gap between Fourth and Fifth-Class Alchemists is much like the difference between a Battle Spirit and a Battle King—a significant hurdle. Thus, the disparity in status between the two ranks is substantial. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I was only just忍不住 to step in and help you a bit earlier—haha, everything's fine..." Seeing the concern and anxiety etched on Xue Mei's face, Xiao Yan found himself helpless. He hadn't expected that after stepping in to assist, she would become even more anxious. With a smile, he offered her reassurance. "Haha, everything's fine? That's quite a bold claim, young man! In the Imperial Capital, I can't think of many people who would say that injuring my student is nothing—especially not someone who's just stepped in to help!" As Xiao Yan's words had barely finished, a sharp laugh echoed through the vast guild hall. Suddenly, a group of people rushed in with great urgency. Leading them was an elderly man dressed in a pharmacist's robe. On the chest of his robe was a badge depicting a cauldron, with five shimmering silver waves radiating from it. As the robe swayed, the light burst forth, dazzling and intense. A Fifth-Rank Pharmacist! Staring at the emblem symbolizing honor, the flowing crowd in the hall instantly paused, their faces filled with reverence and admiration. Gazing at the elder, Xue Mei's delicate features subtly changed, then her mind filled with growing frustration—how could this eternal youth move so swiftly? "He is the Fu Yan, isn't he?" Ignoring the spectators who were watching with keen interest, Xiao Yan turned to Xue Mei and smiled. "Yes." Looking at the elderly man who walked with a cold expression and a hint of anger, Xue Mei sighed internally, nodded firmly, and then murmured, "Try to speak as little as possible from now on. This elder, in such a public setting, shouldn't be overly difficult to us young ones." Hearing this, Xiao Yan remained silent. Over the past three years, he hadn't returned, and now he found the Herbalist's Guild growing increasingly strained—truly, he had no idea how Fahu had managed to maintain such a level of administration. As Xue Mei and Xiao Yan were speaking softly, Fu Yan had already arrived before them with a large group of people, his demeanor stormy and imposing. The old man glanced sideways at Xue Mei, then gently narrowed his eyes toward Xiao Yan, turning to the pale-faced Obah standing beside him and asking, "Was it this one who did it?" "Yes, Teacher. I was originally competing with Xue Mei to purchase a medicinal herb, intending to prepare a pill for your birthday celebration as a gift. But unexpectedly, this man stepped in and not only seized the herb outright, but also dealt me a heavy blow, leaving me in this condition. Teacher, you must surely intervene!" Hearing Fu Yan's question, Obah immediately fell into a distressed expression, naturally seeking a highly dignified and compelling reason for his predicament. "Fu Yan Elder, this matter..." Upon hearing Obah's sudden shift in account, Xue Mei's delicate features instantly changed, and she quickly interjected. Yet before Xue Mei had finished speaking, Fu Yan merely waved his hand and said softly, "Xue Mei, this matter has nothing to do with you. Just let it be—otherwise, you'll end up dragging Frank, the old man, into a fuss. You were the one who stepped in just now, weren't you? I didn't expect someone so young to act so decisively. Who is your teacher?" His gaze shifted to Xiao Yan, and with a calm, seasoned tone, he added, "Now, let's see how you're going to handle this." "Such a sharp-tongued youngster!" As expected, Fu Yan's face quickly darkened, and with fury in his voice, he laughed bitterly, saying, "If you can leave the Herbalist Guild without a single mishap today, then what face shall I have in the Imperial Capital?" "Really, that old man is so annoying!" Hearing Fu Yan's complaints, Zi Yan grew impatient, covered her ears, and pursed her lips. The onlookers, who had been surprised when the delicate, graceful girl suddenly spoke such a remark, all smiled gently. But as they saw Fu Yan's steadily worsening expression, they all wisely fell silent. As more and more people gathered around, Xiao Yan grew increasingly restless and, with no further patience for the old man's monologues, simply took hold of Zi Yan and Xue Mei's hands, and turned to leave. Seeing Xiao Yan's decisive action, Fu Yan's face turned ashen—this was the first time in years he had encountered such a bold young man. His anger surged, and with a loud cry, a powerful, blazing aura of combat energy erupted from within him! The mighty qi that surged forth in an instant immediately caused the surrounding guests to step back several paces, fearing they too might be caught in the crossfire. "Young man, today I'll personally teach you what it means to honor your teachers!" With a withered hand blazing with fiery qi that rose like a roaring flame, Fu Yan roared and launched himself forward, transforming into a streak of flame that shot directly at Xiao Yan's back. Just as thoughts flashed through the crowd's minds, Fu Yan had already closed the distance between himself and Xiao Yan with lightning speed. Yet, as his hand reached out to grasp the latter's robe, Xiao Yan suddenly swung his arm sharply, and the sleeve sliced through the air, hardening like fine iron under the infusion of ki. "Boom!" The sleeve collided with Fu Yan's fist, sending a surge of force erupting from the point of contact. Instantly, the crowd was left stunned, witnessing Fu Yan's body suddenly recoil and crash backward, landing awkwardly on the ground. In this strangely unexpected scene, the hall fell utterly silent—so much so that even Fu Yan himself seemed unable to believe what had just transpired. His face was a mixture of shock and disbelief. He had clearly sensed that the young man before him was no particularly strong, yet—how—after being knocked off his feet, he now struggled to rise. His face flushed crimson. To be so publicly humiliated by a junior, in such a manner, was unbearable. With his pride so deeply wounded, Fu Yan nearly lost his composure. "Damn kid..." With a growl of frustration, Fu Yan was about to move again when a faint rumble of thunder suddenly echoed, and then he felt a flash of vision—there, before him, the black-robed youth appeared like a ghost. The sudden emergence of the black-robed youth sent Fu Yan's hair standing on end. As he reached for his attack, a long, cool hand appeared unexpectedly at the base of his neck, and the cold voice made him stiffen all over. "My teacher, you still haven't earned the right to take over for him..." Xiao Yan sneered, then slightly tilted his head, his gaze drifting toward a corner of the hall, speaking softly.