Both Brax's and Anna's senses are assaulted as they enter the city.

Their sight is greeted by people, a lot of people everywhere. This is just the entrance of the city and it already looks busy.

Vendors have put up small carts to sell their wares. What are they selling? Herbs.

Their noses can smell the scent of herbs carried by the city's air.

This is the reason why Brax came to Greenwound City. This place is a medicine capital, as there is an alchemist guild branch in this city. Brax wants to take the alchemist test and become an alchemist.

The Alchemist Guild is a union-like entity that was established in ancient times for the alchemists by the alchemists so that they don't get taken advantage of.

The guild, over centuries, turned into a powerhouse.

The Alchemist Guild is an extremely powerful entity that even entire kingdoms wouldn't dare offend. They hold too much influence and control too much resource. Plus, they are the ones who make most of the world's cultivation pills and elixirs. No cultivator would want to get on their bad side, even if they are emperors of massive countries.

Though the Alchemist Guild branch is present here in Greenwound City, it doesn't fall under the Eleven Mountain sect's jurisdiction.

They do need to pay tax to the Eleven Mountain Sect, but in the grander scheme of things, it is the Eleven Mountain Sect that owes the Alchemy Guild. Paying the tax is just a formality for the guild.

Whichever city the Alchemy Guild gets established, it becomes a commercial hub, and the Eleven Mountain sect benefits a lot from this. Most of their income comes from this very city.

So the Alchemist Guild only needs to pay a certain amount of tax and they are free to do whatever they want in this city. The Alchemist Guild has more free rein in Greenwound City than the city lord.

When Brax becomes an Alchemist, his life will get a little easier. He won't have to leave the sect ever again to do quests for money. He can earn through alchemy. He can even assign quests of his own in exchange for pills and elixirs that he can craft.

Plus becoming a member of the guild will bring him many benefits.

_________________

Brax's and Anna's arrival doesn't go unnoticed as the people of Greenwound City immediately recognize the sect uniform Brax is wearing. Realizing that it's an Eleven Mountain sect disciple. the locals immediately move out of the way for Brax to pass.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Where to, master?" Anna asks.

"Search for a store where we can sell our stuff." With his order, Anna makes the carriage move again.

As their carriage drives deeper into the city, they start seeing the city change. The houses and buildings that they saw close to the city's entrance are nothing compared to the ones they are seeing right now.

Those houses were small and simple for commoners to live in. The buildings in front of Brax right now are much grander. Some of them look even better than the Farco estate, and this is not even the most posh part of the city.

Throughout the whole ride, Brax keeps his vigilance on high alert. He notices multiple figures holding an interest in him. He guesses that their interest stems from his clothes. Brax doesn't think they have any malice towards him as he just entered the city.

His best guess is that they are spies planted by influential families around the city to keep tabs on what is happening at the street level.

As much as these aristocrats hate associating themselves with the common folks, they still need to stay updated on what is going on, as their money comes from these very same common folks.

'Looks like these aristocrats will know of my arrival very soon. Now I just need to wait and see how they respond to my presence. Based on that, I should be able to get a rough estimation of my status in this city,' Brax thinks as he continues to observe the constantly changing environment.

Anna stops the carriage in front of a large building that looks like an expensive antique shop from the outside.

"This is fine," Brax says looking at the shop. As Brax and Anna get off the carriage, a young man wearing a white dress with the shop's name embedded in the dress approaches them.

"How may I be of help to you? Esteemed guests?" the young man asks. The young man was quick to notice Brax's uniform and immediately stepped up, leaving his coworkers staring with envy.

"I have some items to sell. It's in the carriage," Brax says.

"I understand sir, why don't you both wait inside while I have our men unload the things and bring them in," the young man suggests with a professional smile.

Brax nods and enters the shop as Anna trails right behind him.

Outside, the young man is surprised to see the amount of expensive items inside the carriage. "Well, he is a sect disciple, after all," the young man mumbles, and starts unloading the carriage with the help of some labor staff.

Inside the shop, Brax walks around inspecting the items placed behind the glass and hung up on the walls. Most of them are just expensive mortal items and weapons. Nothing that would interest him.

Anna, on the other hand, can't help but be enamored by some of the jewelry in the shop. Her father always used to gift her beautiful pieces of jewelry on her birthdays making her associate them with happiness. Plus, she is a woman, most women like jewelry.

This doesn't go unnoticed by Brax. He lets her look around.

His presence inside the shop seems to be the topic of conversation between the customers who are in the shop right now. They look at him and whisper about him in admiration.

An Eleven Mountain Sect disciple is not a common site in the city, as most disciples stay inside the sect, and the ones who do venture out to complete a quest spend most of their time in the wild.

Some of these people want to approach Brax and spark up a conversation with him, but they are afraid to do so. They don't know what kind of person this disciple is, so they feel better keeping to themselves than taking a chance.

"Honored sect disciple, welcome to my humble shop. How may I be of assistance to you?" A fat man in a traditional suit made of ivory approaches Brax and greets him with a warm smile.