"State your business." The guard's voice was flat, devoid of emotion, his eyes appraising Mu Yan from head to toe.
"I am here to take the alchemist apprentice examination." Mu Yan's tone was calm and respectful.
The guards exchanged a look. They saw his youth, but also the fine quality of his robes—a clear sign that he wasn't some destitute commoner trying his luck. After a brief, silent communication, the guard who had spoken nodded and stepped back.
"The registration counters are to the left, inside the main hall." He gestured with a gauntleted hand.
Mu Yan offered a slight bow of thanks and entered. The interior of the building was even more impressive than its exterior. The floor was made of polished stone that reflected the light from glowing spirit stones embedded in the high, vaulted ceiling. The air was thick with the intermingled scents of a thousand different medicinal herbs, a fragrance that was both potent and strangely soothing. The vast hall was divided into two distinct sections. To the right, a long series of counters buzzed with activity as people bought and sold pills, elixirs, and rare herbs. To the left, the atmosphere was more sedate. A row of counters, each manned by a single person, catered to registered alchemists and those who aspired to join their ranks.
He made his way to an open counter manned by a young woman. She had a delicate, pretty face and wore the crisp, green-and-white robes of an association attendant. She looked up as he approached, a professional smile on her lips.
"How may I help you?"
"I would like to register for the alchemist apprentice exam."
Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyes betraying a flash of skepticism as she took in his youthful appearance. It wasn't uncommon for young talents to try, but most who came at his age were from prominent clans, accompanied by their elders. Still, her training held. She regained her composure instantly.
"Very well. The examination fee is one low-grade spirit stone."
Mu Yan retrieved a glistening, angular fragment of a spirit stone from his robes and placed it on the counter. The attendant accepted it, her surprise masked, and made a notation in a thick ledger.
"The association will provide a standard Tier-One pill furnace and a selection of low-grade spiritual herbs. To pass, you must successfully refine a single pill of any kind, even if its quality is low. The examination will be held this evening in the western wing. Here is your token. Do not lose it."
She handed him a bronze medallion, no bigger than his thumb, with the number '78' etched onto its surface. Seeing that there were several hours until the exam, Mu Yan thanked the attendant, secured the token, and left the association building. There were other preparations to make.
His next stop was the City Lord's office, a grim, fortress-like building near the city center. Here, the bureaucracy of the City was on full display. After waiting in a short line and parting with a handful of gold coins, he was issued a small jade sliver. He pricked his finger with a sliver of Qi and let a single drop of blood fall onto its surface. The jade absorbed it instantly, a faint crimson light glowing briefly from within before fading. The token was now bound to him, a proof of identity that was essential for conducting any official business, renting long-term lodging, or even just avoiding trouble with the city guard.
With his identity secured, he set out for his final destination. He strolled through the city, taking in the sights, a cartographer mapping out a new world. He soon found himself standing before a building that was starkly different from the ornate structures around it. It was a massive, sprawling edifice made entirely of the same black stone as the city's outer walls, giving it an air of immense age and solemnity. There were no guards at its entrance, only a simple, unadorned archway. Above it, three ancient characters were carved: 'Sea of Knowledge Pavilion'.
Stepping across the threshold, he was greeted by the scent of old paper and dry ink. The scale of the library was breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling high bookshelves, crafted from some dark, resilient wood, stretched away into the hazy distance, creating a labyrinth of knowledge. The silence here was a living thing, broken only by the soft rustle of turning pages and the quiet footsteps of other patrons. He noticed people in a wide variety of attire—the silken robes of scholars, the rugged leathers of what looked like Barbarians, even a tall, graceful figure whose pointed ears and sylvan clothing suggested they were a kind of Elf. This library was clearly more than just a local institution.
As he walked deeper inside, Mu Yan's senses, honed by the Whispering Soul Awakening technique, picked up on hidden presences. He could feel the faint pressure of their cultivation. Some were at the Core Condensation realm, but a few... a few felt even stronger than the Yang Clan's Third Elder, their auras deep. This place was visited by not only mortals but cultivators alike.