The middle-aged guard at the Alchemist Guild gate looked at Jiang Chen with a scornful expression, his arms crossed in annoyance.
"Boy, if you're here to assess as an alchemist, show me your letter of introduction."
Jiang Chen furrowed his brow slightly. "Letter of introduction? What's that?"
The guard scoffed, his expression turning more disdainful.
"You don't even know the rules of the Alchemist Guild, and you dare claim you're here to take the alchemist exam? Anyone attempting the exam must come with a mentor or provide their mentor's letter of introduction. Without it, get out!"
Jiang Chen frowned and replied calmly, "I don't have any letter of introduction, but I'm truly here to take the alchemist assessment."
The guard sneered. "Hah! You're really full of it, kid. Do you think you can fool me?"
Jiang Chen ignored his mockery and said coldly, "Go inside and inform someone that Yan Qingxuan sent me here."
The middle-aged guard's laughter grew louder, filled with ridicule.
"Yan Qingxuan? You mean Master Yan Qingxuan, one of the three sixth-rank alchemists of the Great Xia Kingdom?"
He glanced at Jiang Chen as if he were a fool. "You dare drop Master Yan's name so casually? Kid, you're hilarious!"
"I don't have time for your nonsense." Jiang Chen's face turned icy as his voice dropped an octave. "You have two options: either let me in, or go inside and call someone out. Don't waste my time."
The guard's face darkened. "Kid, this is the Alchemist Guild! Not a place where you can throw your weight around. If you don't leave, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson!"
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed as his voice grew even colder.
"Are you really not letting me in?" He paused, his gaze like a blade. "Don't look down on others too quickly. If you don't let me in now, I'll make you kneel and beg me to enter."
The guard burst into laughter, his face twisted in mockery.
"Haha! You think you can make me kneel? You? I'd like to see how you plan to do that!"
To him, Jiang Chen's words were nothing but empty bravado.
Just then, a startled voice echoed from the entrance of the Alchemist Guild.
"Master Jiang!"
Both Jiang Chen and the middle-aged guard turned toward the voice.
From the entrance, a middle-aged man wearing the badge of a second-rank senior alchemist hurried out, his face showing surprise and respect.
It was Zhu Mingyuan, a familiar face from the Baodan Pavilion.
The moment the guard recognized Zhu Mingyuan, his heart sank.
"Master Jiang?" The guard glanced nervously between Jiang Chen and Zhu Mingyuan, a sinking feeling taking root in his chest.
"Master Jiang, why have you come to the Alchemist Guild today?" Zhu Mingyuan said respectfully as he approached Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen shot a cold glance at the middle-aged guard and replied casually, "I came here to get an alchemist badge, but he stopped me at the door."
Zhu Mingyuan's expression turned sharp as his eyes landed on the middle-aged guard, his tone instantly scolding.
"What?" Zhu Mingyuan's voice carried authority. "Is this how you treat someone as distinguished as Master Jiang?"
The guard's face turned pale as a sheet. He swallowed hard, his arrogance vanishing in an instant.
Realizing his mistake, the guard didn't wait for another word. With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees in front of Jiang Chen.
"Master Jiang! I was wrong! I was blind and arrogant—I didn't recognize greatness when I saw it. Please, forgive me for offending you!"