Based on the usual procedures, one would need a 2-star apothecary to take the 1-star examination.
Zhang Xuan wasn't taking the pill forging examination, but Pill Debate. Ten 2-star apothecaries were required to take the examination. However, the entire examination had to be recorded using a Record Crystal for inspection by the headquarters. In fact, even apprentice apothecaries were qualified to view it. If anyone were to be found to be cheating, all of the apothecaries participating in the examination would be stripped of their qualifications.
This was precisely the reason why no one dared to go easy on Pill Debate. No matter how powerful one was, no one dared to do so.
"Guild Leader Ouyang, you said that someone is participating in Pill Debate? It can't be this young lad, right? "
After everyone sat down, they glanced at Zhang Xuan with a bizarre expression. An apothecary took the initiative to speak.
Those who were able to participate in Pill Debate were either master teachers or scholars with a deep understanding of pills. When everyone heard the news, they thought that it would be an old man. Never in their dreams did they expect that it would be a young man who wasn't even twenty yet.
Guild Leader Ouyang, are you sure that you aren't joking with us?
Pill forging was similar to white wine, the older one was, the more fragrant it would be. Even though age didn't mean much, years of research was definitely better than just starting out.
For a fellow who wasn't even twenty yet to take the Pill Debate...
Even if he were to start learning in his mother's womb, how much knowledge could he have learned?
"Even though Zhang Xuan is young, he possesses a deep understanding of medicinal herbs. He even scored full marks in the apprentice apothecary examination!" Seeing the doubt in everyone's eyes, Ouyang Cheng explained.
"Full marks?"
"That shouldn't be considered much!"
"The apprentice apothecary examination only tests one's understanding of the medicinal properties, types, and characteristics of medicinal herbs. Being able to score full marks only means that he has a solid foundation. Isn't it a little too presumptuous to invite us here for the Pill Debate just based on this point?"
"Pill forging isn't just about understanding the medicinal properties and types of medicinal herbs. It also requires one's understanding of pill forging and comprehension. If one hopes to become an apothecary just by knowing the basics, isn't that a little too whimsical?"
Everyone's lips twitched in disdain.
The examination paper was an examination for apprentice apothecaries. Official apothecaries were often in contact with medicinal herbs, so it wasn't a big deal for them to score full marks.
"Er..."
Seeing so many people looking down on him before he could even open his mouth, Zhang Xuan felt a little helpless.
If the older an apothecary, the better. Why don't you dig a few from the ground and take a look at them?
Pill forging, you should be thankful that they didn't turn you into ashes.
"Cough cough!" Coughing lightly, interrupting the discussion, Zhang Xuan said, "Guild Leader Ouyang didn't call you all here to discuss age. I might be young, but that doesn't mean that I can't catch up to you in terms of pill forging!"
"Catch up with us? You're not even an alchemist, yet you're so arrogant that you don't put us in your eyes? "
"Young man, you should be more humble. You don't know much about alchemy and yet you dare to conduct Pill Debate. You sure are gutsy!"
"Arrogant fellow, when the Pill Debate begins later, I hope that your mouth can still be as confident as it is now!"
…
It would have been better if he hadn't spoken, but the moment he opened his mouth, he became the target of public criticism.
Everyone raised their eyebrows, wanting nothing more than to verbally attack him.
Pill Debate was actually equivalent to one person challenging ten alchemists.
Every single one of the apothecaries that Ouyang Cheng had recruited was a reputable figure in Tianxuan Kingdom. It was one thing for them to lose to a master teacher or an elder. However, if a young lad who wasn't even twenty years old were to win, where would they put their faces?
Therefore, the moment they arrived, they didn't plan to show him any respect.
In other words, they wanted to destroy his confidence.
As a single dog in his previous life, he was tortured by public displays of affection every single day. Yet, didn't he manage to survive?
This level of destruction was no longer able to do anything to Zhang Xuan.
"Alright!" Seeing that the crowd was getting more and more intense, even before the Pill Debate had started, Ouyang Cheng's face was filled with black lines. He hurriedly interrupted the crowd, "There's no point in saying anything else. Everything depends on one's ability. Regardless of age, since I've gathered everyone here for the Pill Debate, let's not waste time on useless words. Let's begin!"
"Now, I'll talk about the rules of the Pill Debate!"
Afraid that the crowd would say even more nasty words, Ouyang Cheng waved his hands and began explaining, "Pill Debate isn't a debate. Instead, it is a question posed by the ten alchemists, and the participant has to answer it. As long as there's a question that the participant is unable to answer or answers wrongly, it means that the participant has failed! If both parties aren't sure of the answer to the question posed, they can test it out on the spot. In other words, it's a pill forging. The one whose theory is able to forge the highest quality pill will be the victor. "
"Of course, the questions raised by the alchemists can only be within the limits of a grade-1 alchemist. Furthermore, they are not allowed to bring up secrets that no one is aware of."
At this point, Ouyang Cheng scanned the surroundings and asked, "Does anyone have any other questions?"
The rules were simple, and it was easy to explain.
"No!"
Everyone nodded their heads.
As an alchemist, even if they had never heard of Pill Debate before, they would have done their homework before coming here.
Even if they were allowed to ask questions, there was a limit to it. Otherwise, if you were to ask about how to forge a grade-3 pill or some profound pill forging technique, an apprentice alchemist would never be able to answer.
"Since there's no other questions, then …" Ouyang Cheng waved his hands and was about to announce the start of the Pill Debate when Zhang Xuan stood up. With a righteous expression, he said, "Wait a moment!"
"Why? Are you afraid now? It's already too late! "
"Even if you want to back out, it's already too late. You can either start the Pill Debate or admit defeat!"
Seeing him stop, everyone thought that he was going to give up. Thus, they sneered coldly at him.
"Back out? With your standards, you want me to back out? "Zhang Xuan's lips twitched as he activated the Light of Hatred.
"What did you say?"
As expected, the moment he said those words, the alchemists immediately flew into a rage. They glared at him furiously, wanting to tear him into pieces.
An elder bellowed!
"I'm sorry, I'm not saying that your standards are lacking. What I'm saying is that … everyone here is lacking!"
Placing his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan replied haughtily.
Why?
Do you believe that you will be choked to death by my words if you want to bicker with me?
"You …"
"Arrogant!"
"Ignorant brat!"
As expected, the crowd exploded in an instant. As though injected with chicken blood, they were so infuriated that even their beards were fluttering.
Seeing that he had become the target of everyone's criticism, Zhang Xuan nodded his head in satisfaction. Smiling faintly, he turned to the center and said, "Guild Leader Ouyang, they look down on me due to my age. To be honest, I look down on them as well. How about this, it's meaningless to just debate. Why don't we increase the difficulty? "
"Increase the difficulty?"
Ouyang Cheng frowned.
Pill Debate was already difficult enough. You want to increase the difficulty? How do you want to increase it?
The others were perplexed as well.
Lad, do you think that your death wasn't tragic enough? Are you looking for more thrills?
"Simple, Pill Debate is just a theory. No matter how much you say, it's all just empty words!"
Ignoring the bizarre gazes of the crowd, Zhang Xuan gestured grandly. With a domineering attitude, he said, "Why don't we do it this way? As long as any of the alchemists here dares to forge a pill before me, regardless of what method they use, I will be able to point out the name of the method and the mistakes in the forging process. As long as any of you feel that the mistake pointed out is wrong, I will admit defeat immediately!"
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