"What? Cheng Jiang, is what he said true? I was discussing pill forging with you out of goodwill, but you actually secretly learned my Frost Silk Hands? "
"Damn it, no wonder I didn't see you for a long time after my birthday banquet started. Speak, when did you sneak into my study?"
"Cheng Jiang, we are all apothecaries. If you really wish to learn my forging technique, you could have just asked me nicely and earnestly. I might have given it to you. However, you deceived my apprentice and swindled my Hundred Coiling Hands. Aren't you a little too despicable?"
...
Pill forging techniques are similar to martial arts. Many of them are unique to the sect, and they are strictly regulated by the sect. As such, they aren't easily divulged to outsiders.
Hearing Zhang Xuan's words, this Cheng Jiang actually secretly learned their forging technique without the permission of the other apothecaries. Furthermore, he even resorted to all sorts of means to steal their secret manuals. This immediately caused a huge commotion in the room.
They were all members of the Apothecary Guild, and they often discussed pill forging techniques. If he really wished to learn it, all he had to do was to hand over his name scroll and pay his respects as a half-teacher to the other apothecaries. After the matter was over, they could even cancel their master-disciple relationship, and they would still be friends!
However, to secretly learn it like that was a huge taboo.
"Everyone, don't listen to his nonsense..."
Feeling the rage in the surroundings, Cheng Jiang's face flushed and paled, and he hurriedly waved his hands.
"Nonsense?"
Zhang Xuan stepped forward, and the corners of his lips curled up. "Just now, Apothecary Cheng used a total of twenty-three medicinal herbs to forge this Juxi Pill. Am I right?"
"That's right!"
Almost all apothecaries knew what medicinal herbs were required to forge the Juxi Pill. It wasn't a secret, so there was no need for him to deny it.
"When you were fusing the White Lotus Grass, Wisteria Root, and Golden River Flower, your pinky was slightly tilted backward, and your fingertip was arched, as though you were pinching a flower. If I'm not wrong, this move was borrowed from Apothecary Bai Ming's 【Illusory Silk Hands】!"
"When extracting the Green Sun Essence, I should spread my fingers and touch it lightly, as though I am extracting the frost energy from the ice. I don't dare to exert too much force, so I should learn from Apothecary Lin Mu's Ice Thread Condensed Hands!"
"When adding the Crape Myrtle Grass and White Beard Flower into the cauldron, in order to prevent the medicinal properties of the two herbs from clashing with one another, the cauldron is specially made to circle half a circle on the cauldron before falling down. By doing so, not only can the medicinal effects of the two herbs be better, it can also reduce the intensity of the two herbs, preventing them from clashing with one another. Apothecary Jin Chen's Golden Spring Flowing Cloud Hands seems to be the same as this move!"
…
"When the pill came out of the cauldron, in order to prevent it from coming into contact with the scorching cauldron, you wrapped your hands around it like silk, forming a unique web of zhenqi around it. Even though your movements were subtle, if one were to look closely, they would still be able to detect it. Alchemist Du Man, isn't this the same as your Hundred Coiling Hands?"
Zhang Xuan didn't give the other party a chance to refute his words. At this point, he paused for a moment before a slight smile crept up his lips. "If... Apothecary Cheng thinks that I am spouting nonsense, we have a Record Crystal here, so you can look through it at any time. At the same time, you can also focus on the few points that I have pointed out to see if I am spouting nonsense!"
"You..."
Cheng Jiang's face turned ghastly pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
He knew that there was nothing wrong with the other party's words!
Every apothecary had their own heritage. In order to improve himself, he had been secretly learning from other apothecaries. Initially, he thought that it was a secret... How did this fellow know of it?
Furthermore, how did he know of it so clearly?
In an instant, he felt as though he was standing naked before everyone. Deep fear welled up in the depths of his heart.
"Why? Do you still think that I am spouting nonsense? " Ignoring the other party's sudden change in expression, Zhang Xuan took another step forward. "If you think that what I have said is incorrect, then... is this' self-created technique 'of yours, which is a combination of everyone's pill forging techniques, called [Ten Thousand Flowing Rivers]?"
"You are a demon..."
Apothecary Cheng Jiang staggered and fell to the ground.
There was indeed a name for this technique of his — Ten Thousand Flowing Rivers!
He had just named it a few days ago, and he had never told anyone about it. In fact, not even his apprentice knew of it. How did the other party... know of it?
To be able to observe down to the finest detail and know that he had secretly stolen the secret technique of others... Was this fellow a demon?
How could this be...
Apothecary Cheng Jiang's heart was filled with fear.
"Ten Thousand Flowing Rivers, all schools of thought belong to you, Cheng Jiang. What arrogance! What an incredible technique!"
"To think that you stole our techniques and fused them together to claim that you have created a new technique. Cheng Jiang, you sure are capable!"
"To think that I would call you my brother and view you as my best friend. To think that you would do such a thing. Very well!"
"From today onward, our friendship is severed!"
...
Looking at Cheng Jiang's expression and recalling his previous technique, the crowd would be fools if they still couldn't figure out what was going on.
The faces of the apothecaries in the room flushed red, and fury could be seen in their eyes.
They couldn't be considered to be particularly skilled apothecaries, and their respective techniques weren't secret arts that couldn't be passed down. But... this fellow, if he wanted to learn from them openly, it wouldn't matter even if he was rejected. However, to secretly learn from them behind their backs was definitely a huge taboo!
Not only so, he even dared to claim that he had created his own technique. Create your head! You said that you created a technique by fusing so many of our techniques together?
If that was the case, wouldn't everyone in the world be able to create a new technique?
Ten Thousand Flowing Rivers...
How could a person be so shameless!
The crowd turned to look at Cheng Jiang once more. Instead of treating him as an equal, there was only disgust in their eyes.
"Everyone, please calm down!"
Seeing the indignant crowd, Zhang Xuan chuckled and interrupted their words. Turning to look at the disbelieving Cheng Jiang, he asked, "Apothecary Cheng... Does this mean that I've won?"
"You... You..."
Seeing his smile, Apothecary Cheng shuddered, "You've won... I admit defeat!"
He had no choice but to admit defeat. The other party's eye of discernment was like that of a demon. Afraid that he would expose more of his secrets if he were to continue speaking, he could only hurriedly agree to it.
At this moment, he was starting to regret making things difficult for the other party. Even though the other party had pointed out the flaws of Meng Yan and Chen Xiao, it was obvious that he had spared them some face. On the other hand, he had exposed him on the spot...
If this matter were to spread out, he would no longer have a place in Tianxuan Kingdom's Apothecary Guild. He would have become the target of scorn.
In fact, his standing and credibility would be wiped clean, and he would become a swindler in the eyes of others.
Hearing him admit to it, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.
Initially, it was just a Pill Debate, and he couldn't be bothered to deal with the flaws in the other party's character. Yet, this fellow actually dared to be so overbearing!
You want to embarrass me? You must be joking!
As a transcender, he had a golden finger. If he were to be slapped in the face, how could he continue living in the world?
Since you have stepped on the tip of my spear, don't blame me for not going easy on you. This is also a good opportunity to let others know that I, Zhang Xuan... am not someone to be trifled with!
"Apothecary Cheng has admitted defeat!"
Zhang Xuan scanned the crowd and asked, "Who else?"
In an instant, the crowd fell silent.
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