“I previously obtained the inheritance of a pharmacist. Although I only encountered the remains of the elder, I still revere him as my master.”
First, Gu Zuo briefly explained the history that his big brother helped him fabricate. After appropriately showing a slightly regretful look, he continued speaking: “Within my honorable teacher’s inheritance, I obtained some pill prescriptions and methods for medicine refinement. The medicinal pill I refined just then is the Spirit Devouring Pill. It can also be called the Spirit Devouring Pill Refining Method.”
Numerous pharmacists all felt that they’d come to a sudden realization.
As it turned out, he received an ancient inheritance! It was no wonder how such a young one knew so much…
Afterwards, they had a stronger interest in the so-called Spirit Devouring Pill and the Spirit Devouring Pill Refining Method.
Gu Zuo cleared his throat: “The Spirit Devouring Pill was originally a type of method to harm others without benefitting oneself. It destroyed other medicinal pills, but it couldn’t become a pill on its own. My honorable teacher believed that although this method was ingenious, it was inevitably wasteful. Therefore, through painstaking research, he developed a method for one pill to support another pill. The Spirit Devouring Pill became the auxiliary pill, while the nurtured medicinal pill became the main pill. When the auxiliary pill absorbed qi of the medicinal spirit, it supported the main pill by eliminating the main pill’s impurities and raising the main pill’s aptitudes.
“Through this process, the main pill is often capable of achieving high grade and even top grade. One can draft the main pill’s prescription, but it won’t work if it’s excessively violent. For example, the Revitalization Pill and the Qi Linking Pill have gentle tempers, so they can be used. While the Explosive Flame Pill and others like it won’t work…
“But because my honorable teacher’s realm was limited back then, the researched Spirit Devouring Pill Refining Method could only refine medicinal pills suitable for martial artists below the Immortal Realm. If it reached the Immortal Realm or above, the medicinal properties would likely conflict, and the pill prescription of the Spirit Devouring Pill would need alterations. Before my honorable teacher passed away, he wasn’t able to figure it out…”
The surrounding pharmacists all listened intently to this generalized speech. Even that Grand Elder wished that Gu Zuo kept going.
Why did he wish that Gu Zuo would keep going? Because Gu Zuo only talked about the medicinal pill’s origin and function. Many people also saw the required medicinal herbs, but the specific refining process was all done within the confines of the pill cauldron. It was impossible for outsiders to know. Other people also hadn’t witnessed the things that needed to be paid attention to. If they wanted to figure things out on their own, then the energy they’d need to waste would be astronomical.
Unfortunately, this method was one that Gu Zuo inherited from his “honorable teacher”. Everyone else couldn’t do anything about it.
However, they also knew that if they possessed this kind of method, they could use it to refine many top grade medicinal pills! As for the other pills that would be worn down? That wasn’t important. Being able to facilitate top grade pills was absolutely worth some wastage. After all, wasn’t it usually impossible to succeed in refining a top grade pill even if lots of medicinal herbs were used?
At that moment, the minds of quite a few people started to scheme.
It was only natural for pharmacists to want to research. And when the masters of every organization thought about the benefits this method would bring… In an instant, they looked at Gu Zuo with gazes that hid veiled intents, which made him shiver from head to toe.
Merely, Gu Zuo had long known that he would attract a certain amount of envy after revealing his abilities. However, he was currently backed by the Qingyun Sect, the refining method for the top grade pill was limited to below the Immortal Realm, and it consumed a lot of resources. As a result, there wouldn’t be any situations of acrimonious pillaging. And so long as pretenses weren’t shed, there was no need to worry.
Sure enough, those greed-filled gazes were quickly withdrawn. After the probing expressions were turned away, they reluctantly restrained themselves.
At this time, the high-level pharmacists again judged the pill batting achievements of those mid-level pharmacists after Gu Zuo. Undoubtedly, no matter what novel ideas they displayed or what skills they performed, they still couldn’t surpass Gu Zuo’s finished product.
Finally, the Grand Elder unexpectedly took the initiative to speak:
“This time’s ranking of the mid-level pharmacist pill battles. In tenth place, Black Water Society’s Yao Qing&#k2026;”
“Ninth place&#k2026;”
“Fifth place&#k2026;”
“Third place, Danyun City’s Xin Bailin&#k2026;”
“Second place, Qingyun Sect’s Xu Lingxiu&#k2026;”
“First place, Qingyun Sect’s Gu Zuo!”
After all the ranks were declared, no one raised any objections. Because while the Grand Elder listed the rankings, he also spoke clearly about the reason for each rank.”
For example, there was Xin Bailin and Xu Lingxiu. Due to Xu Lingxiu’s extraordinary performance, the standards of the medicinal pills the two people refined were equivalent. The speed of successful refining was also the same. However, Xu Lingxiu’s age was several years younger. When no judgments could be made on the other aspects, this was considered the criterion for a narrow determination.
And first place had even less controversy.
What Gu Zuo refined was a top grade pill! When no one else could refine a top grade pill, he did. Even if his attacks and defenses during the pill battles weren’t good — Let alone that his attacks had caused dozens of pill cauldrons to explode and his defenses blocked all negative influences on the Revitalization Pill’s refining — One could say that he fully deserved to be in first place!
As such, Gu Zuo had a large lead during the first segment.
Although Xu Lingxiu and Xin Bailin didn’t refine top grade pills, they were formidable opponents for each other. They couldn’t help exchanging glances. They prepared to score a victory over the other during the next segment.
Immediately following this was the commentary for the high-level pharmacist pill battles.
Only, after Gu Zuo’s brilliant display, the high-level pharmacist commentary, which originally should’ve been the most wonderful, didn’t attract the attention of too many people. There was nothing to be done. Who among them was capable of refining a top grade medicinal pill? It was hard to avoid having the comments of those judges feeling lackluster.
Hence, the rankings were soon obtained.
After that, the second segment was finally starting.
Gu Zuo’s performance shocked everyone during the first segment. His performance during the second segment also became the focus of everyone’s attention.
This wasn’t the first time Gu Zuo gave someone treatment. However, there was only a single individual whom he gave treatment to. As a result, he didn’t have much experience on the whole. Right now, his heart was also a little tense.
But as long as he maintained his lead this round, he would be ok. His overall score wouldn’t be too bad.
Currently, there were only thirty-two mid-level pharmacists remaining on the field. They needed to treat patients, and the patients’ realms were normally between Xiantian stage one to stage six.
The Pill Battling Assembly occurred once every five years, and Danyun City had clearly made ample preparations. After this segment started, a row of patients suddenly entered in a single-file line. They arrived in front of the numerous pharmacists individually.
— Those with discerning eyes could even discover that the symptoms of each patient were all different. Regardless of who was being sent to who, everything was relatively fair.
Gu Zuo looked at the patient in front of him. It was a young man with a pale complexion. His body’s qi energy was intermittent. Though it didn’t seem that he was beyond saving, it was indeed very serious.
After seeing Gu Zuo, the eyes of that young man flashed with a trace of disappointment.
Gu Zuo knew that this young man felt he was too young.
But the young man’s attitude wasn’t vile at all. On the contrary, he was refined and courteous: “May I ask for this distinguished pharmacist’s surname?”
Gu Zuo was also polite: “This one’s surname is Gu. You may call me Gu Zuo.”
The young man said: “Greetings, Pharmacist Gu. This one is Qi Lin. I’m a member of the Qi Clan’s Dojo close to Qingliu City. My body suffers from a deep-seated problem, and I’ve come seeking medical treatment. I ask that Pharmacist Gu can assist me.”
Gu Zuo nodded at him: “Young Master Qi, you mustn’t resist. This Gu will take your pulse.”
Qi Lin extended his hand without the least bit of resistance.
Qi Lin and the others’ arrivals acted as exam questions for the numerous pharmacists during the competition. They were all patients with serious illnesses. They either didn’t have the capability to request a better pharmacist for diagnosis and treatment, or ordinary pharmacists had no way to treat them due to the illness being too rare. Ultimately, they took advantage of this opportunity and sought out Danyun City.
At this stage, the pharmacists in Danyun City would first examine the symptoms. If they found that it was within the range of diagnosis and treatment, the ill would be given a choice. Either pay a huge price for treatment, or act as a patient during the competition — Of course, if they were willing to act as a patient of the competition, even if the competing pharmacists gave poor treatment, Danyun City would provide a thorough and free-of-charge treatment as a follow-up.
With such preconditions, there were many people who were willing to act as patients.
After all, they were the patients for the finals. None of the pharmacists who were giving them treatment would be inferior. It was basically impossible for them to perish from the treatments. And so long as they didn’t die, even if the competing pharmacist had no way to cure them, wasn’t there still Danyun City afterwards? It would all be worth it eventually.
It was also due to this situation that, although Qi Lin felt that Gu Zuo wouldn’t be able to treat him, he still did whatever Gu Zuo said. He truly was very cooperative.
Gu Zuo didn’t know about Qi Lin’s way of thinking. After palpating Qi Lin’s wrist, he directly sent his psychic power inside.
Today was different from the past. In those days, he needed Gongyi Tianheng to relax and cooperate if he wanted to do this. But right now, Qi Lin’s strength was only Xiantian stage four, which was one stage lower than his own. The thread of his psychic power silently and effortlessly probed the state of Qi Lin’s body without discovery.
After two or three cycles, Gu Zuo loosened his hand.
The circumstances of Qi Lin’s body were already completely within Gu Zuo’s grasp.
One shouldn’t look at Qi Lin’s outward appearance and assume he was just a bit weak. His internals were…
Many bones were fractured, many meridians were broken, and there were quite a few places that had remnant forces…
This was really tragic.
After thinking about it, Gu Zuo immediately started asking: “Young Master Qi, did you fight with someone three months ago? Did your opponent use a saber for a weapon?”
T/N: This is the last normal-length chapter for now. Following this will be another batch of double-length chapters. Expect the usual changes to the updating schedule.
Thanks for the corrections, Charysa!
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