63: Lin Fei

A few days later, inside the carriage, Mo Yuhan closed his eyes to meditate, digesting what he had gained from the journey and making final preparations for the upcoming Alchemist assessment.

Soon, the outline of a massive city, rising from the ground, finally appeared on the horizon.

The outline of Black Rock City rose from the ground at the edge of the horizon, like a giant black beast prostrate on the earth.

The towering city walls were built from neatly cut black rocks, gleaming with a cold metallic luster, and bore marks of varying depths from the weathering of time, silently narrating its glorious past.

Legend has it that this city wall once withstood the combined bombardment of two Dou Wang (Fighting King) powerhouses without budging, its sturdiness second only to that of Jiama Holy City, the capital of the Gama Empire.

Mo Yuhan stood on the simple carriage hired from Qingshan Town, his gaze calmly sweeping over this renowned and important city.

The wheels of the carriage ground against the hard black stone road, producing a monotonous sound.

The tall city gate was like the throat of a giant beast, swallowing and spitting out a continuous flow of people, carriages, and horses.

The bustling human voices from within the city, now close at hand, and various mixed scents assailed him, all showcasing the prosperity and vitality of this important town in the eastern Gama Empire.

He tightened the slightly oversized black cloak on his body, hiding most of his youthful face in the shadow of the hood.

The life-and-death struggle and the fortuitous encounter deep within the Monster Mountain Range half a month ago seemed like a distant past.

The immense energy gained from absorbing the symbiotic purple crystal source not only allowed him to leap from a six-star Dou Zhe to the peak of a nine-star Dou Zhe in one go.

The Xuan Huang Flame within his body, having devoured and refined the Purple Flame of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, became even deeper and more subdued in color, with a faint trace of violent purple flowing flame subtly appearing at its core, greatly increasing its power.

He had already collected some interest on the debt owed by the Jia Lie Family.

Following the tracks left by Jia Liejie's team in Qingshan Town, he launched a fatal sneak attack like the most seasoned hunter.

The three-star Great Dou Shi Jia Liejie, along with the remaining elites he led, were all buried in the outer reaches of the Monster Mountain Range.

It was a pity, however, that the old fox Jia Lie Bi had already retreated to his old lair in Wutan City with most of the family's forces.

This blood feud would have to be settled another day.

Black Rock City's prosperity far exceeded that of Wutan City; wide streets were lined with shops, people flowed like weaving threads, and the air was filled with unique scents from various medicinal herbs, ores, food, and other goods.

Mo Yuhan had no mind to appreciate it; he paid the fare, jumped off the carriage, and headed directly towards the city center—the Alchemist Guild.

Following the crowd, he entered the inner city from the outer city.

The streets were wide and clean, lined with shops displaying dazzling arrays of goods; pedestrians were well-dressed, and among them were not a few powerful Dou Zhe and individuals wearing various colors of Alchemist robes.

The air was filled with a faint scent of medicine, the metallic smell of ores, and the aroma of various foods.

The Alchemist Guild of Black Rock City was located in the central area of the city, a magnificent white towering building.

Its spire seemed to reach into the clouds, and its body was carved with intricate patterns of medicine cauldrons, flames, and herbs, exuding an aura of solemnity and nobility.

Mo Yuhan walked to the Guild's huge archway, carved from some kind of warm white jade, where two burly men with stable auras, dressed in the Alchemist Guild's standard guard uniforms, stopped him.

“Young man, this is the Alchemist Guild; non-Alchemists require a recommendation or invitation to enter.”

One of the guards looked at Mo Yuhan's youthful face, his tone polite enough but with the detached professionalism of official business.

Mo Yuhan had not worn his First-Rank Alchemist robe on this trip.

Mo Yuhan said no more, directly taking out the letter of recommendation Great Master Gu Ni had given him from his storage ring and handing it over.

The guard took the letter, and upon seeing the unique medicine cauldron seal on the wax and the signature “Mittel Alchemist Gu Ni,” his expression immediately became respectful: “So it's Great Master Gu Ni's letter of recommendation, young man, please wait a moment.”

He immediately turned and quickly entered the Guild to report.

Just as Mo Yuhan waited quietly, a crisp, pleasant female voice with a hint of willfulness came from behind him:

“Oh? Such a young boy, and he has a letter of recommendation too? Are you an Alchemist as well?”

Mo Yuhan turned his head at the sound.

He saw a girl of about twenty standing behind him, curiously examining him.

Her figure was petite and delicate, yet her development was remarkably impressive; the tight, unranked purple Alchemist robe accentuated her curves in a breathtaking manner.

Where it should be prominent, the full, rounded pair on her chest stretched the garment into an alluring curve.

Where it should be concave, her slender waist was easily spanned by a hand, connecting to the suddenly rising, perky, and rounded buttocks below.

A long cascade of dark hair was tied at the back of her head with a delicate purple ribbon of the same color, its ends reaching down below her rounded buttocks; as she tilted her head slightly, the tips of her hair gently brushed against that alluring curve, creating a subtle ripple.

Her cheeks were charming and delicate, her skin fair and smooth, and her large eyes were bright and spirited, currently sparkling with curiosity and a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.

Her rosy lips were slightly pouted, as if carrying a pampered and willful demeanor.

“Lin Fei, don't be rude.”

A gentle voice sounded. Beside Lin Fei stood a refined-looking, wise-eyed elder, dressed in a Fourth-Rank Alchemist robe, with four gleaming silver ripples on the badge on his chest.

It was Lin Fei's teacher, Great Master Otto, a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.

“Great Master Otto!”

The guards at the entrance immediately bowed even more respectfully in welcome upon seeing him.

Great Master Otto's gaze gently fell on Mo Yuhan, and seeing the letter of recommendation in his hand, he smiled: “So, young friend, you were recommended by little Gu Ni?”

“Yes, Great Master Otto.”

Mo Yuhan bowed slightly, neither servile nor arrogant, “Junior Mo Yuhan, under the command of my teacher Great Master Gu Ni, has come to the Guild to seek Great Master Frank, the President, and to participate in the Alchemist rank assessment.”

“Gu Ni's apprentice?”

A hint of surprise flashed in Great Master Otto's eyes, then understanding, and he chuckled: “I didn't expect little Gu Ni to actually take on an apprentice, haha... President Frank is inside; I'll take you in.”

“Thank you, Great Master Otto.”

Mo Yuhan responded politely.

“Wait!”

Lin Fei, as if discovering a new continent, bounced a few steps to Mo Yuhan's front, getting very close; a faint, delicate girlish fragrance entered Mo Yuhan's nostrils.

She blinked her large eyes, with a hint of defiance and strong curiosity: “Hey, little brother, are you really an Alchemist? Your teacher is Senior Brother Gu Ni, so what rank are you now? What elixirs can you refine?”

Her rapid-fire questions revealed her slightly willful nature without a doubt.

Mo Yuhan was a little uncomfortable with her sudden closeness, and he subtly stepped back half a step, calmly replying, “Miss Lin Fei, my teacher is indeed Great Master Gu Ni.”

He did not directly answer his rank, mainly wanting to preserve Great Master Otto's dignity and Lin Fei's self-esteem at the moment.