"Oh? There's such a method? "
Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.
Without many years of practice, he knew that it was impossible to forge a grade-1 pill. However, Pill Debate was different. With the Library of Heaven's Path, as long as one had sufficient books and knowledge, learning it was a walk in the park!
Seeing the other party's excitement, Ouyang Cheng interrupted and shook his head. "Even though this method is simple, even master teachers would rather learn pill forging than to do it!"
"Why?"
Zhang Xuan was perplexed.
Since one could pass the theoretical examination and become an apothecary, why would one choose to learn pill forging? Waste more time?
"Honestly speaking, without practice, it is impossible to gain a deeper understanding of any occupation. No matter how much theory one learns, without practice, no one can guarantee that it is correct! If one isn't even an apothecary, how can one debate with a true apothecary based on the knowledge he has read in books? Who do you think will win? "
Ouyang Cheng said.
"This..."
Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
One must know that one has to put one's actions into practice! This was the truth, and it was also a wise saying.
How could one know if one was correct without putting one's theory into practice? Even the slightest mistake would result in failure!
The slightest mistake could lead to a huge difference!
"Ever since [Pill Debate] appeared, more than a thousand master teachers have attempted it. All of them are talented individuals, and their understanding of pill forging far surpasses that of any apothecary. However... it is a pity that after the Pill Debate began, they failed time and time again. Of the thousands of master teachers, the number who succeeded could be counted on one hand!"
Ouyang Cheng sighed.
"Counted on one hand?"
Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
Less than five out of a thousand? This probability was way too low!
"Indeed, there is still a huge gap between theory and practice. This is precisely the reason why even though Pill Debate is an apothecary examination, not many people use it anymore and it has been gradually forgotten!"
Ouyang Cheng shook his head.
Pill Debate might be easier than the pill forging examination, but in reality, it was much more difficult.
Without practice, how could one succeed with just theory?
Since the other party was able to put his theory to the test, it meant that he wouldn't be bad in practice.
Since that was the case, rather than the troublesome Pill Debate, he might as well take the pill forging examination.
"Others can't, but I can!"
Ignoring the other party's sigh, Zhang Xuan was overwhelmed with emotions, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Pill Debate, to others, was indeed more difficult. But to him, it was extremely simple!
With the Library of Heaven's Path, he could see mistakes and shortcomings directly. Others might not know if a theory was correct or not without putting it into practice, but with the Library of Heaven's Path, he could see it clearly!
If he were to use this to debate with others, he wouldn't make any mistakes. He would definitely be able to pass the test easily!
"Since there is such a method, I have decided to take the apothecary examination through Pill Debate!" At the thought of this, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate and said directly.
"Ah?" Initially, Ouyang Cheng thought that the other party would give up after saying so much. Unexpectedly, the other party became even more determined. Speechless, Ouyang Cheng asked, "Do you know the consequences of failing the Pill Debate?"
"Consequences?"
"That's right. Pill Debate requires at least ten alchemists to debate with. There are so many alchemists, and all of them are of high standing. There's no price to pay for it. If everyone were to do it, wouldn't they be exhausted to death?" Ouyang Cheng said, "Thus, the guild has set a rule. If an apprentice were to apply for a Pill Debate, it would be great if he were to succeed. However, if he were to fail, every apothecary would have to pay at least a hundred thousand gold coins! Secondly, he would have to suffer a hundred God Slaying Flogs as punishment! Thirdly, he is not allowed to take the apothecary examination for the next ten years! "
Zhang Xuan was speechless.
This punishment was indeed severe.
There were at least ten apothecaries participating in a Pill Debate. If each of them were to pay a hundred thousand gold coins, it would be at least a million gold coins.
To an apprentice apothecary, this amount of money was an astronomical sum. He might not even be able to earn such a sum in his entire life!
God Slaying Flogs was a form of punishment. Depending on the cultivation of the person, the might of the flogs would vary. Even with his current strength, if he were to be beaten up by a hundred God Slaying Flogs, he would be crippled and unable to leave his bed for a month or two.
As for the third punishment, how many decades does a person have? Not being allowed to take the examination for the next ten years was equivalent to staying away from pills for ten years. It would be impossible for him to take the examination for the rest of his life.
"The consequences are severe and it is extremely difficult to pass. That is why no one has tried this method. Based on what I know, in the ten kingdoms neighboring Tianxuan Kingdom, there hasn't been a single one of them taking the examination for the past several centuries!"
Ouyang Cheng's words carried a hint of dissuasion. "Given your talent, I think it is better for you to learn pill forging step by step. Pill Debate isn't suitable for you!"
"I have already decided to undergo Pill Debate. Master Ouyang, please help me make the arrangements!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.
What a joke! If he could become an apothecary through Pill Debate, of course he would have to undergo it.
Otherwise, it would take him a long time to learn pill forging and the like.
Putting aside the fact that he didn't have enough time, he didn't have the energy to waste either!
"Help me make the arrangements? It can't be that … you want to do it now? "
Master Ouyang staggered.
You have just become an apprentice apothecary and you don't even know what pill forging is. Yet, you want to undergo Pill Debate? Are you for real?
Are you sure you aren't joking?
"That's right!" Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
"You … Do you know the content of Pill Debate? Do you know what apothecaries would ask you? He has just become an apprentice apprentice and has yet to learn systematically, but he is already going through Pill Debate... "
Du Man was also speechless.
"Can't I go to the basic tier book collection vault? If you don't understand these things, you can go and take a look! "Seeing how anxious the other party was, Zhang Xuan explained.
"Shall we go and take a look?"
Du Man, Ouyang Cheng, and the others almost cried.
Big Brother, you still know to go and see!
You have just become an apprentice and haven't even gone to the book collection vault. Yet, you want to participate in the Pill Debate examination? Are you sure you aren't joking?
There were hundreds of thousands of books in the library, and it would take at least three to five years to finish reading all of them. Yet, without even entering the library, he had to undergo Pill Debate …
Was he too daring, or was there something wrong with his brain?
"En, I will go to the book collection vault to read in a while. Don't worry, I won't waste any time. As for the Pill Debate, I might have to trouble the two of you!" Zhang Xuan said.
"I'll read later …"
Everyone felt dizzy.
Are you planning to sharpen your spear just before the battle?
He hasn't even read the book yet, but he wants to have a Pill Debate?
To do such a brainless thing, how in the world did this fellow manage to become an apprentice?
"Don't worry, I know what's important. I won't do anything that I'm not confident in. Go ahead and make the arrangements, I'm going to read too!" Seeing that everyone was still in a daze, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but say.
"You know what's important?"
"Won't do anything that I'm not confident in?"
The heck!
Do you know what a cauldron looks like? Do you know if a pill is round or square? Do you know how an apothecary purifies medicinal herbs?
Without knowing anything, you want to take the apothecary examination and conduct a Pill Debate … Are you sure you are confident?
"Alright!" Seeing how insistent he was, Ouyang Cheng and Du Man glanced at one another and shook their heads. "I will make the arrangements now. However, gathering so many apothecaries might take some time. We will conduct a Pill Debate tomorrow afternoon! It would be best for you to think through what you want to do during this period of time. Otherwise, once it starts, there will be no turning back! "
"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded his head. Flinging his sleeves, with a confident and righteous expression, he took two steps forward. Suddenly, he turned around and asked, "Right, where is the basic tier book collection vault?"
"…" Ouyang Cheng.
"…" Du Man.
"…" Sun Tao and Zhu Hua Hua.
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