To discern a reference from a created pill forging technique is like trying to discern which well the water from a pot of water. It is an impossible task!
Unless one witnessed the forging technique step by step, it is impossible to discern three references. The difficulty of Cheng Jiang's question is at least five times greater than the previous one!
Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes.
As expected of an apothecary, he isn't as easy to deal with as he thought.
This fellow may appear to be smiling and magnanimous, but in reality, he is the most shameless of them all.
Agree to it … It is impossible to discern a reference from a pill forging technique! If he doesn't agree to it, he was the one who raised the difficulty at the start. Why can't the other party do the same? If he doesn't agree to it, even if he were to win the Pill Debate, he would be criticized by others.
"Why? I know that this is a difficult question, so it is normal for you to reject it. However … If you don't agree to it, can you consider my question as a failure? "Cheng Jiang asked with a smile.
"Failure?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I happen to be interested in witnessing Apothecary Cheng's new technique. Let's begin!"
This move of his might have been effective against others, but it was completely useless against Zhang Xuan.
It isn't Zhang Xuan's eye of discernment that allowed him to discern a flaw in a pill forging. Rather, it is the Library of Heaven's Path. As long as the library is present, regardless of what technique one is using, whether it is a newly created pill or not, the contents can be clearly displayed.
"Alright!" Seeing that Zhang Xuan had agreed to it, Apothecary Cheng Jiang's eyes gleamed and his lips curled up. He picked up the herbs and walked to the cauldron.
Hualala!
The herbs flew in the air. His movements were smooth and flowing. From afar, it exuded a unique sense of beauty.
"It is indeed a new technique, I have never seen it before!"
"He is forging [Juxi Pill], right?"
"Un, Juxi Pill is effective for Fighter 7-dan and below, especially for Juxi realm cultivators. It isn't expensive among official pills, but it is the most useful for fighters. Most official apothecaries would use this pill as the foundation for their pill forging examination. This is precisely the reason why one is able to bring out the characteristics of one's forging technique, making it appear smoother and harder for others to discern! "
"In any case, I can't tell what technique he is using …"
"I can't tell either …"
…
Many of the alchemists shook their heads at the same time.
"Apothecary Cheng is truly ruthless!"
Ouyang Cheng glanced at Zhang Xuan and couldn't help but shake his head. "Given his proficiency as a 1-star apothecary, forging the most basic Juxi Pill, not only was his movements smooth, making it difficult for others to discern his identity, more importantly, the time he took to forge it was too short. Even if one wanted to analyze it, it would be impossible for them to do so. This time, Zhang Xuan will probably find it difficult to clear the examination..."
Although Apothecary Cheng Jiang was capable of concocting top-tier 1st-grade pills, it would be very troublesome for him to do so. It was like how Yang Guo was able to wield a heavy sword, but he was unable to wield it with ease.
If he switched to the most basic Juxi Pill, the effect would be completely different. It was the same as if Yang Guo had switched to a normal sword, it would be extremely easy. Not to mention one sword flower, even ten sword flowers would not be a problem.
The smile on Apothecary Cheng's face was the most vicious of them all. Not only would the forging of the Juxi Pill be faster, the forging time would also be reduced significantly. A normal grade-1 pill would require half an hour to forge, but his pill would take less than fifteen minutes!
In such a short period of time, he could see three references?
How could this be?
Clearly, Zhang Xuan had been duped!
"Could it be that... he is going to fail?"
Hearing Ouyang Cheng's judgment, Wen Xue clenched her fists tightly.
"It should be difficult for him to pass..."
Ouyang Cheng sighed.
"Interesting!"
Initially, he didn't harbor any ill intentions toward Cheng Jiang. However, he didn't expect the other party to be so despicable as to resort to such means. Zhang Xuan's gaze turned cold.
As a cultured, knowledgeable, and knowledgeable transcender of the new generation, how could he allow others to bully him without retaliating?
Hu!
The Juxi Pills were successfully refined. Seven or eight of them rolled out of the furnace.
"I am done. Zhang Xuan, please!"
Apothecary Cheng Jiang looked at him and smiled confidently.
His forging technique was indeed inspired by more than three pill forging techniques. However, the speed at which he forged the pills was extremely fast and his movements were smooth. It was impossible for the other party to see through his flaws!
Furthermore... More importantly, even if the other party was right, he could still deny it!
There were so many pill forging techniques. Which ones he had borrowed from, wasn't it up to him to decide?
How dare a fellow who came out of nowhere try to step on my shoulders and win the Pill Debate... Dream on!
"If I were to name the three pill forging techniques that you have borrowed from, will you admit defeat?"
Zhang Xuan looked at him with a playful look in his eyes.
"Of course. I am an official apothecary, and I am of noble standing. I won't go back on my words with an apprentice like you!" Apothecary Cheng Jiang flung his sleeves and said arrogantly.
"Alright then. Since you put it that way, it will be simple!"
Zhang Xuan nodded. Taking a step forward, he circled around the cauldron before lowering his head to look at the Juxi Pills in his hands.
Pinching his fingers lightly, he took out a pill, placed it under his nose, and took a whiff.
"This Juxi Pill is full of color and has a bright luster. If we were to go by the standards of pills, it would have reached Perfection!" Zhang Xuan praised. Then, he changed the topic, "However..."
"Due to the limitations of Apothecary Cheng's pill forging techniques, reaching Perfection is already the limit. It is impossible for it to form Pill Veins!"
"It is just a Juxi Pill, so what if it has Pill Veins?"
Apothecary Cheng Jiang sneered.
This Juxi Pill was only the most basic pill, and it helped a fighter to gather spiritual energy at a faster rate. Even if it could form Pill Veins, it would be a waste!
"That's true!"
Zhang Xuan nodded. Not wanting to harp on this topic, he chuckled lightly, "You have to answer the question of your forging techniques. There is no point in dwelling on this. Alright, since you requested it, I will answer your question. Let's not talk about which pill forging techniques you have borrowed from. Let's talk about how many pill forging techniques you know first. If we know this, we might be able to find some clues!"
"Three years ago, Apothecary Cheng used the 【Myriad Flowing Rain】 technique to forge a grade-1 【Rejuvenation Pill】 and passed the apothecary examination. In the same year, he learned the 【Confluence of the North River】 technique and forged the 【Spirit Calming Pill】!"
"In the spring of the second year, to celebrate Apothecary Bai Ming's birthday, he snuck into his study and copied his 【Illusory Silk Hands】. Using this technique, he forged a grade-1 【Body Tempering Pill】, thus making a name for himself!"
"In the winter, he discussed his forging techniques with Apothecary Lin Mu and secretly learned his 【Ice Silk Hands】!"
"In the summer of the previous year, he spent fifty thousand gold coins to bribe Apothecary Jin Chen's butler, Jin Lu, and successfully copied the 【Golden Spring Flowing Cloud Hands】!"
...
"In the third month of the previous year, he used deceptive means to bewitch Du Man's apprentice, Zhu Hua Hua, and learned Apothecary Du's unique forging technique 【Hundred Winding Hands】 from him..."
...
"Now, let me calculate. Myriad Flowing Rain, Confluence of the North River... Adding all of these together, there are a total of twelve different forging techniques!"
Zhang Xuan recounted the details as though he was familiar with them. After which, he turned to look at the apothecary not too far away and said, "Apothecary Cheng Jiang, I didn't say too much, right?"
"You... You..."
Cheng Jiang's face turned ghastly pale. He retreated backward, as though he had seen a monster, and his eyes narrowed.
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