"Uncle, I'd advise you not to underestimate people. How do you know I'm not a first-rank alchemist?" Jiang Chen frowned, clearly irritated by the middle-aged man's condescension.
The middle-aged man laughed angrily. "You say you're a first-rank alchemist? Then show me your alchemist badge!"
"You mean that thing hanging on your chest?" Jiang Chen glanced at the copper badge with two stars on the man's chest and spoke calmly.
"Exactly! Only by passing the Alchemist Guild's assessment and obtaining an alchemist badge can you be considered a true alchemist!"
The middle-aged man sneered. "Kid, if you can show an alchemist badge, I won't just let you apply—I'll give you my position as the chief alchemist of Baodan Pavilion!"
"Haha, this kid is a joke! He doesn't even have a badge, and he thinks he can become an alchemist here?"
"Some people just love pretending. Alchemy isn't something you can fake."
"If I were Alchemist Zhu, I'd have thrown this brat out already."
Their conversation had attracted the attention of other customers in the store, and their laughter and ridicule filled the air.
Jiang Chen ignored their mocking. "I don't have an alchemist badge to show you."
He then glanced at the man's badge and added with a faint smile, "That badge of yours has two stars, so you must be a second-rank alchemist, right?"
Zhu Mingyuan's chest puffed out proudly. "Yes, I am a second-rank alchemist!"
"And you think being a second-rank alchemist is impressive?" Jiang Chen scoffed. "You've been practicing alchemy for decades, and you're still stuck at the second rank. That's nothing special."
A stunned silence fell over the room. The customers stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief, as if he had lost his mind.
Zhu Mingyuan was no ordinary alchemist—he was the chief alchemist of Baodan Pavilion and one of the best second-rank alchemists in Lingyun City. Who did this brat think he was, daring to insult someone of Zhu Mingyuan's stature?
"Boy, what nonsense are you spouting? You don't even have an alchemist badge, and you dare to talk down to me?" Zhu Mingyuan's face turned red with anger. "You have ten seconds to leave Baodan Pavilion, or you'll regret it!"
Jiang Chen smirked. "So many years of practice, and you're only a second-rank alchemist. Even without a rank, I'm better than your pathetic skills."
"You little brat, you're asking for trouble!" Zhu Mingyuan's eyes flashed with fury. "Guards, throw this troublemaker out of Baodan Pavilion!"
"Hold on!"
Just as Zhu Mingyuan's voice echoed through the room, an urgent shout interrupted him. Everyone turned to see a slightly chubby teenager walking into the room.
Jiang Chen's eyes widened slightly when he saw the newcomer. What's he doing here?