Library of Heaven’s Path

Chapter 96: I Will Give It a Try

“It’s Dragon Scale Grass. We have made a mistake!”

After a long moment, Ouyang Cheng said with a bitter smile on his face.

As a famous apothecary in Tianxuan Kingdom, he had been the one to teach others all along. He didn’t expect to be the one taught today!

“Since it is Dragon Scale Grass, you are the only one who passed the second round, Medicinal Herb Discernment Time Trial. As long as your cultivation realm is Zhenqi realm pinnacle and above, you are officially an apprentice apothecary!”

Upon hearing these words, Sun Tao was on the verge of bursting into tears.

He was probably one of the most tragic candidates ever. His qualification as an apprentice apothecary was canceled in less than ten minutes after its announcement, and it was passed on to someone else…

[Does reality have to be so damned? Does reality have to slap on my face so forcefully?]

However, even though he still felt discontented with the final verdict, having witnessed Zhang Xuan’s fearsome memorization ability, he could only swallow his tears back in.

To take the examination with this kind of freak, he had to concede to him even if he didn’t want to!

“Later, when the examination ends, I will look for a secluded location and find an opportunity to beat him up. After all, I am nearing thirty, ten years older than the other party. My cultivation realm should be higher than his. Fighter 4-dan Pigu realm pinnacle, it should be more than enough to teach him a lesson!”

As such a vile thought appeared in his mind, he immediately heard the voice of the other party.

“My current cultivation realm is Fighter 5-dan Dingli realm pinnacle!” After which, Zhang Xuan revealed his level of cultivation.

Guang dang!

Sun Tao fell to the floor.

[Do you need to be so terrifying? Not only is your memory so frightening, your fighting prowess just has to be the same as well. To think that I wanted to teach you a lesson, it is lucky that you revealed your cultivation realm now. Otherwise, I would surely be reduced to the state of a snake melon…]

“Alright, alright! Congratulations on joining the ranks of apprentice apothecaries!”

Seeing that his cultivation realm fitted the regulations as well, Ouyang Cheng went straight to the point and drew out an emblem from his embrace. “This is the emblem of an apprentice apothecary. With this, you can enter the guild’s basic tier book collection vault freely. You will also enjoy special privileges and priority when purchasing pills from the guild!”

The Apothecary Guild usually sold pills to the outsiders at an exorbitant price. On the other hand, those among their ranks would receive a huge discount when purchasing pills.

Even though he was just an apprentice apothecary, he could be considered as a member of the guild.

“Yes!”

Zhang Xuan grabbed the emblem from Ouyang Cheng’s hands joyfully.

The reason why he exerted so much effort to gain the identity of an apprentice was so that he could enter the book collection vault. Finally, he had achieved his aim.

“Also, upon becoming an apprentice, you can choose to follow an apothecary so as to better come into contact with pills and study them. Given your talent, I believe that you will be able to become a true Apothecary in a few years time!”

Ouyang Cheng stared expectantly at Zhang Xuan as he said these words.

It was very clear that he hoped to admit Zhang Xuan as his apprentice.

This young man had astounding memorization ability, not to mention his incredible talents. As long as he was guided carefully, he should be able to achieve high heights soon. Having such an apprentice would help boost his fame.

Du Man, who was standing by the side, had the same intentions as well and he stared at him with glowing eyes.

Looking at the gazes of the two, Zhang Xuan shook his head and replied, “I’m sorry, but I do not have any intention of becoming the apprentice of any apothecary for the time being!”

No matter what, he was a teacher of Hongtian Academy, as well as a transcender. How could he become an errand runner and apprentice of someone else?

It would be a joke if he were to!

After becoming an apprentice, one had the choice to choose whether he wanted to come under an apothecary or not.

“Looks like I was too anxious. You have just become an apprentice, so there’s no need to think too much into it. You can make a choice after contemplating over the matter properly!”

Upon Zhang Xuan’s rejection, Ouyang Cheng realized that he was a little too hasty and he flashed an embarrassed smile.

“Indeed, you should consider it carefully. It is easier to learn under an apothecary, and you would be able to become a true apothecary faster through so!” Du Man nodded his head in agreement.

“Un!”

Knowing the intentions of the other party, Zhang Xuan nodded his head in response. Suddenly, he recalled something and asked, “Is there any pills in our Apothecary Guild that can awaken special constitutions?”

He had asked a receptionist previously and she didn’t seem to know. However, these two over here were true apothecaries of the guild, people of respectable standing. They should at least know a little more than her.

“Pills that awaken unique constitutions?”

Ouyang Cheng and Du Man stared at one another for a moment before the former replied, “There is, but different constitutions require different pills to awaken. If one were to erroneously consume a wrong pill, not only will be constitution not be awakened, it might even result be severe side effects!”

Having browsed through related books, Zhang Xuan understood this fact and continued, “Then… Are there any books relating to unique constitutions and the pills required to awaken them? Can you allow me to take a look at them?”

Yuan Tao possessed the Emperor Bloodline, and before his unique constitution awakened, it was safer for him for fewer people to know of it.

These two apothecaries seemed kind on the surface, but a human’s heart was unfathomable. It was hard to say whether revealing the fact to them would bring about a series of trouble.

Thus, it was best for fewer people to know of his Emperor Bloodline. Therefore, he phrased it as a unique constitution and did not reveal any other details about the matter. At most, they would only surmise that he was the one consuming the pill.

“There are quite a books on them, but they are all in the advanced tier book collection vault. According to the rules, only certified apothecaries are allowed to enter and look through them. Not even I have the qualifications to loan them to you!”

Ouyang Cheng shook his head.

“What he said is true. Pills and unique constitutions are something that only qualified apothecaries will research. As such, it is placed in the advanced tier book collection vault. If you really want to take a look at it, you should choose to become the apprentice of one of us. With your talent, you should be able to attempt the examination for a 1-star apothecary within a year’s time. Once you succeed, is there still anything that isn’t for your browsing?”

Apothecary Du Man made use of this opportunity to help him analyze the situation. “Furthermore, a true apothecary is granted with generous privileges in all Apothecary Guild. Regardless of whether it is the purchasing of pills or scavenging for herbs, your needs will be prioritized over outsiders… You should consider it carefully. It will be slower if you try to fumble your way through to become an apothecary. Even with your superior talent, it is hard for you to succeed even in a few years time!”

“They cannot be loaned?”

Bitterness cloaked Zhang Xuan’s face.

Didn’t this mean that his hard work has been in vain?

He had wasted quite a bit of time and effort to pass the examination to become an apprentice apothecary.

If Sun Tao, Wen Xue, Uncle Li and the rest were to know his thoughts, blood would definitely spurt forth from their mouth.

[We spend a minimum of six to seven years memorizing the content in those books, and we haven’t even passed the examinations yet. All in all, you have only spent four hours… Do you know that four hours ago, you don’t even know what an apprentice apothecary is…

You call this hard work?

You dare to call this hard work? Then what is ours called?]

“Indeed. If you wish to look at the books of the advanced tier book collection vault, you have to become an apothecary. This is a rule by the headquarters. If you truly wish to find out how you can utilize pills to awaken unique constitutions, you should first think of a way how you can become an official apothecary!”

Ouyang Cheng said.

In his opinion, the only way one could become an apothecary quickly was to learn behind a true apothecary. He was the best apothecary in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom, who else could Zhang Xuan choose if not him?

Just when he was about to offer an apprenticeship to Zhang Xuan, he heard the other party speaking up.

“Since… only an apothecary can read books from the advanced tier book collection vault, then… how does the examination an apothecary work?” Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment. “Let me give it a try!”

“Un, that decision is a wise one. As long as you follow me, I will expend all my effort in grooming you… What?”

Halfway through his words, Ouyang Cheng realized what Zhang Xuan had just said. His voice choked in his throat and his eyes, which were fixated on the young man before him, widened as though they were about to pop out from their sockets. “What… What did you just say?”

Chapter 97: Pill Debate

“Give it a try?”

Not only Ouyang Cheng felt as though the world was going mad, Du Man and the rest also felt faint-headed.

[Brother, do you take apothecaries to be like the cabbages and cucumbers sold in the market, so easily obtainable?

Give it a try? Are you playing with me?

As one of the highest-standing Upper Nine Path occupations, who didn’t study for numerous years and put in effort multiple folds of that imaginable to an ordinary person to join their ranks?

Yet, you said to give it a try…

Your head!

Do you know the content of the examination? Do you know how can one become a true apothecary?]

“Cough cough cough!” Ouyang Cheng’s body staggered and he suppressed his urge to vomit blood. He looked at Zhang Xuan seriously and replied to him, “To become an apothecary, one must be more than capable of knowing and discerning medicinal herbs. One must also learn to formulate medicine, extract and refine the essence of which, condensate and forge it into a pill and many more. Just pill forging itself contains several thousands of methods to do so… It isn’t that easy to pass the examination!”

“Indeed. Furthermore, one must possess sharp control over the flame in pill forging. If an error were to occur in any of the sequences, it would end in failure. Only by learning seriously and practicing continuously will one succeed. It is impossible for one to become an apothecary with a moment’s effort!”

Du Man added.

“So complicated?”

Zhang Xuan felt helpless, “So it’s impossible for me to achieve it in half a month’s time?”

The Freshmen Tournament would be held in half a month. His purpose here was simple, that was to find a pill that could awaken Yuan Tao and Zhao Ya’s unique constitution so that their cultivation would soar by leaps and bounds and they would be able to achieve victory then.

Thus, he had to settle this matter in half a month’s time. If he wasn’t able to, what’s the use of him becoming an apothecary?

After his conversation with Huang Yu, he had already decided on a goal. That was to become a master teacher! This time, Lu Xun laoshi’s challenge was an opportunity as much as a threat. If he was able to emerge victorious, it would prove his capabilities and it was likely that he would catch the eye of a master teacher!

Similar to an apothecary, if one wanted to become a master teacher, they must become an assistant master teacher first. This was a process that they must go by.

If one wasn’t valued by a master teacher, how could one become an assistant master teacher?

“Half a month…”

Hearing his words, the crowd went speechless once more.

[Which apothecary wasn’t an apprentice apothecary for many years before daring to take the examination?

Yet, right after becoming an apprentice, you wish to take the examination for an apothecary… Half a month some more, you must be joking!]

Especially for Sun Tao and Zhu Hua Hua, they were just barely suppressing the urge to throw their shoes at him.

[Brother, is it really alright for you to be putting on an act like this?

It is even more difficult to become an apothecary than an apprentice. You should have already seen the others struggling so furiously just to become an apprentice.

Becoming an apothecary in half a month?

I think you should just keep it to your thoughts…]

“Zhang Xuan, don’t be too ambitious and complacent. You are barely twenty, and becoming an apothecary at thirty is already something unprecedented in Tianxuan Kingdom. Fifteen days is an impossible goal! I advise you to study normally, proceed on step-by-step and don’t think too much into the future…”

Ouyang Cheng offered his earnest advice to Zhang Xuan.

[This fellow is talented, but he is way too impatient. To want to become an apothecary in half a month… You must be daydreaming!]

“Alright, since it is so troublesome, then I will not take the examinations. I will look for another way then!”

Upon listening to the words of the other party, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He didn’t have much interest in becoming an apothecary. Possessing the Heaven’s Path Divine Art, breaking through was like eating and drinking to him. Pills were completely unneeded to him. If so, what was the use of becoming an apothecary?

If not for Yuan Tao, he wouldn’t come here at all.

Thinking that Zhang Xuan had given up because he had found it bothersome, Ouyang Cheng and Du Man quickly tried to persuade him otherwise, “There are many occupations in the world, and apothecary is considered as one of the noblest. You possess such incredible talent and you have also specially taken the trouble to study the medicinal herbs. Wouldn’t you have wasted years of your efforts if you were to not become an apothecary at this point?”

“Years of my effort?” Zhang Xuan blinked.

[It was just four hours, where did the years you speak of come from?]

“I still have other matters to attend to. Since becoming an apothecary is such a complicated process, requiring one to learn how to formulate pills, it is unlikely that I am able to grasp the technique of such within a short moment. I will just give up on it!”

Without much hesitation, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

“Calm down, there is more than one way for one to become an apothecary. Actually, there is another way other than Pill Forging!” Ouyang Cheng suddenly recalled something and spoke. “Given your formidable memory, this method might be more suited for you!”

“It can’t be that you are referring to…” Astonishment appeared on Du Man’s face.

“Indeed!” Ouyang Cheng nodded his head.

“But… You should consider the consequences. If he fails, the penalty will be harsh. He might even lose the opportunity to ever take the examination to become an apothecary…”

Du Man was filled with anxiety.

“I know, but this is the only way one can become an apothecary quickly. Otherwise, one would have to walk the conventional path of practicing routinely. Given the countless medicinal herbs and each of their unique properties, it is nigh impossible for one to succeed in a short period of time!”

Ouyang Cheng said.

“But…”

“There are no buts. We are only responsible for informing him of the possibility. The choice is up to him!” Ouyang Cheng shakes his head.

“What is this method you speak of?”

Upon seeing the commotion between the two, Zhang Xuan’s couldn’t help but ask.

“There are actually two methods for one to become an apothecary. The first method is the usual one, Pill Forging. As long as one is able to forge a grade-1 pill, he will be able to become a 1-star apothecary. This is the standard and traditional method!”

Without hesitation, Ouyang Cheng started to explain.

“The second method is not Pill Forging but Pill Debate!”

“Pill Debate?”

Zhang Xuan was bewildered.

Not just him, even Zhu Hua Hua, Sun Tao and the others seemed to have never heard of it and a perplexed expression appeared on their faces.

“Indeed. You all should have heard of the noblest occupation of the Upper Nine Paths, master teacher!”

Ouyang Cheng said.

“Un!”

The crowd nodded their heads.

Those who knew of the Lower, Middle and Upper Nine Paths naturally knew of master teachers.

This was the highest ranking occupation of the Upper Nine Paths and their social position was superior to that of the apothecaries by numerous folds.

“The more formidable master teachers can offer pointers beyond that of cultivation, pill forging, smithing, formation creation and such are all possible for them!” Ouyang Cheng explained. “However, one has to expend quite a lot of time just to become a master teacher, so how can they have the effort to spend on learning pill forging and smithing to become an apothecary and blacksmith?

“At the same time, if they do not join their ranks, how can they be qualified to teach them?

“To deal with such a situation, a unique examination method was created, Pill Debate!

“It is clear to see from us apothecaries that one requires a lot of practice, forging pills ceaselessly, to become a true apothecary. However, master teachers do not have the time to waste on doing so. In fact, all he needs is to comprehend and integrate the knowledge of pill forging!

“That is to say, he doesn’t really need to learn how to forge pills. As long as he has complete knowledge of the theory, he is able to successfully become an apothecary!

“Of course, the examination isn’t easy. It requires one to debate with ten true apothecaries about the various aspects of pill forging and one could be disqualified with just a single mistake. Furthermore, a huge penalty will be enforced on one if that happens!”

Ouyang Cheng slowly explained the other method of becoming an apothecary, Pill Debate, to the others.

Chapter 98: I Want to Debate Pills

“Oh? There is such a way too?”

Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up.

Without years of practice, he knew that it was impossible for him to successfully forge a grade-1 pill. However, Pill Debate was different. With the Library of Heaven’s Path, as long as there were sufficient books and knowledge, learning was an easy task for him!

“This method may seem simple, but even master teachers would rather learn to forge pills than to resort to this method!” Noticing the excitement in the other party, Ouyang Cheng interjected and shook his head.

“Why?”

Zhang Xuan was confused.

If one was able to pass the examination based on theories itself to become an apothecary, there should be no need for them to waste their time to learn to forge pills.

“To tell the truth, it is impossible for one to possess an in-depth understanding into an occupation without trying it hands-on. No matter how much theory one learns, if one doesn’t verify them practically, no one can guarantee whether they are right or not! For one who isn’t even an apothecary yet to debate with a true apothecary based on knowledge one learnt off the books? Who do you think will win?”

Ouyang Cheng said.

“This…”

Zhang Xuan nodded his head.

What one could learn from the books was shallow, to understand the essence of which, one needs to experience it first-hand! This was a famous maxim expressing the utmost truth.

How could one ascertain whether something was right or wrong just by theories itself without trying it out? With just a single error, the entire pill forging would end in failure!

One erroneous move would make a great difference!

“Ever since Pill Debate was created, more than thousands of master teachers had undergone it and they were all incredible geniuses. Their knowledge of pill forging exceeds that of any apothecary. However, it is a pity that… most of them ended up in failure. Of the thousands of master teachers, the ones to succeed might not even exceed the number of fingers on a single hand!”

Ouyang Cheng sighed.

“Not exceeding the number of fingers in a single hand?”

Zhang Xuan was taken aback

[Out of a thousand people, not even five of them succeeded? This success rate is way too low!]

“Indeed, there is a huge difference between theories and practical. This is precisely the reason why even though Pill Debate remained a possible way for one to become an apothecary, not many people used it and it was gradually forgotten!”

Ouyang Cheng shook his head.

Pill Debate might seem easier than Pill Forging, but in reality, the difficulty of which was much greater.

Without practical experience, how could one succeed in it with just theories?

If one didn’t have a single mistake in his theory, that meant that his practical should be excellent as well.

If so, rather than engaging in a Pill Debate, he might as well just go for the Pill Forging method. It would be much easier that way.

“Others may be unable to… But I can!”

Ignoring the lamentations of the other party, Zhang Xuan’s motivation surged and his eyes glowed.

Pill Debate might be much more difficult for others, but for him, it was nothing short of easy!

With the Library of Heaven’s Path, he was able to identify errors and flaws directly. Just basing on theories itself, others were unable to tell whether something was true or not. On the other hand, with a single look via the Library of Heaven’s Path, everything was clear to him!

Conducting a Pill Debate with this, it was impossible for him to make an error. He could definitely pass the test easily!

“Since there’s such a method, I have decided to try becoming an apothecary through Pill Debate!” Thinking such, Zhang Xuan declared without much hesitation.

“Ah?” Initially, he thought that he would be able to persuade the other party to give up after saying so much. He didn’t expect his words to cause him to become even more resolute. Ouyang Cheng was speechless. “Do you know the consequences of failing a Pill Debate?”

“Consequences?”

“Yes. Pill Debate requires the presence of a minimum of ten apothecaries to conduct a debate. All these apothecaries are people of high standing, and if there isn’t any price to pay for failure and everyone were to go on and try it, wouldn’t they tire themselves to death?” Ouyang Cheng said. “Thus, the guild had set a rule regarding such. If an apprentice who applied for Pill Debate were to pass the test, nothing would occur. On the other hand, if they were to fail, they will have to pay every single apothecary hundred thousand gold coins! On top of that, they will have to suffer a hundred God Slaying Flogs as punishment. Also, they will be banned from taking the examinations to become an apothecary for a decade!”

Zhang Xuan was speechless.

This punishment was truly severe.

Given that a Pill Debate required at least ten apothecaries, if he had to pay each of them hundred thousand gold coins, that meant he would have to fork out a million gold coins in total.

To an apprentice apothecary, such money was an impossibility among impossibilities. Perhaps, they might not even be able to earn that much money in their entire life!

God Slaying Flog was a type of punishment. Depending on the cultivation realm of the person, it would exert a different force. A hundred God Slaying Flogs, even with his current strength, after he was done with the punishment, he would probably be unable to climb out of bed for a month or two.

As for the third penalty, a human’s lifespan was only around several decades. To be banned from the examinations for a decade, it was equivalent to keeping one away from medicinal herbs and pills for ten whole years. Basically, this would create an upper limit on a person’s future achievements as an apothecary, even if they decided to continue treading on the path.

“Not only are the consequences severe, it is also a daunting task to pass a Pill Debate. This is the reason why no one dares to even try it. Based on what I know, there hadn’t been a Pill Debate in Tianxuan Kingdom and the dozen or so kingdoms around it for the past few centuries!”

The dissuasion in Ouyang Cheng’s tone was clear. “Given your talents, I think you should just go the conventional route and learn pill forging instead. Pill Debate isn’t a suitable option!”

“I have already decided to go ahead with Pill Debate, I hope that Master Ouyang can help me make the necessary arrangements!” Zhang Xuan shook his head in response to his dissuasion.

[What a joke! If Pill Debate can make me an apothecary, I have to go along with it.]

Otherwise, it would take an inestimable amount of time for him to learn pill forging or that sort.

Not to mention how he didn’t have sufficient time on his hand, he didn’t have the effort to waste on it either!

“Make the necessary arrangements? It can’t be that… you wish to carry it out now?”

Master Ouyang staggered.

[You just became an apprentice apothecary. You don’t even know what pill forging is yet, and you want to undergo a Pill Debate? Are you for real?

Are you sure you aren’t jesting with me?]

“Yes!” Zhang Xuan nodded his head.

“You… Do you know the contents of a Pill Debate? Do you know what the apothecaries will ask you about? You have just barely become an apprentice and you have yet to go through the systematic education, to undergo a Pill Debate now…”

Du Man, who was standing by the side, was also at a loss for words.

“I can go to the basic tier book collection vault now, right? I can study those that I do not know now!” Seeing the anxiety on the other party’s faces, Zhang Xuan quickly explained.

“Study?”

Du Man, Ouyang Cheng, and the others were on a verge of tears.

[Brother, to think that you will remember to study!

You have just become an apprentice apothecary. Despite not having visited the book collection vault before, you wish to undergo a Pill Debate. Are you very certain that you aren’t pulling my leg?

……

There are hundreds of thousand of books in the book collection vault, and it is impossible to finish looking through them without three to five years of intense effort. Without even paying it a visit, you wish to undergo a Pill Debate…

Are your guts too inflated or is there a problem with your head?]

“Un, I will head to the book collection vault to study later on. Don’t worry, it won’t take too much time. As for the Pill Debate, I will be troubling the two of you!” Zhang Xuan said.

“Study later on…”

Everyone felt faint-headed.

[Do you intend to study last minute?

Undergoing a Pill Debate without studying?

To be able to do something so brainless, how did this fellow manage to become an apprentice apothecary?]

“Rest assured, I know the severity of it. I won’t do anything I am unconfident of. Just go ahead and make arrangements, I have to start reading now as well!” Seeing the crowd rooted to the spot, Zhang Xuan continued.

“Know the severity?”

“Won’t do anything you are unconfident of?”

[Your head!

Do you know what a cauldron looks like? Do you know whether a pill is round of square? Do you know how do apothecaries extract the essence from medicinal herbs?

You don’t know a single thing at all, yet you want to take the examination for an apothecary, not to mention, a Pill Debate… Are you sure that you are confident?]

“Alright!” Upon his insistence, Ouyang Cheng and Du Man knew that they were unable to convince him otherwise at this point. Trading glances, they shook their heads. “I will make arrangements now, but it will take some time to gather so many apothecaries. So, I will set the Pill Debate to be at tomorrow afternoon! During this period of time, you better carefully contemplate over the matter. Otherwise, once the Pill Debate starts, you won’t be able to back out!”

“Un!” Zhang Xuan nodded his head. Then, he flung his sleeves with a confident expression and took two steps toward the entrance before abruptly turning around. “Ah, I forgot. Where is the basic tier book collection vault?”

“…” Ouyang Cheng.

“…” Du Man.

“…” Sun Tao and Zhu Hua Hua.

Chapter 99: A Completely Stunned Ouyang Cheng

Ouyang Cheng and the others felt their insides crumbling apart.

To not even know where the basic tier book collection vault was and to choose to undergo the difficult Pill Debate, they were starting to suspect whether this fellow’s head was once crushed by a slammed door.

However, since the other party’s determination was resolute, there was no point trying to persuade him otherwise at this point.

After revealing the location to Zhang Xuan and watching as he left, Du Man looked toward Ouyang Cheng and asked, “Isn’t he… being too reckless?”

“He is being reckless, but didn’t you see that he is full of confidence as well!” Ouyang Cheng said incredulously. “It is truly a wonder where all that confidence came from!”

“Could it be that he doesn’t understand the fearsomeness of Pill Debate?” Speaking of such an examination method, Du Man shuddered. “Even though I am a 1-star apothecary, it is definitely impossible for me to pass the Pill Debate!”

Pill Debate was something extremely terrifying. It was equivalent to challenging the ten apothecaries with the knowledge of one. No matter how deep and vast one’s knowledge was, how could they compete with that of ten people?

[Furthermore, the main problem is that… You have never forged a pill before!

This is equivalent to the difference between a biologist and a butcher when trying to explain how to slaughter a pig. No matter how excellent your theories are, without trying it out hands-on, it is difficult to succeed!]

“We have already put it out so clearly, it is impossible for him to not to understand!” Ouyang Cheng shook his head. “This person is truly an enigma!”

“Indeed. In the first round, he achieved a perfect score. In the second, not only was his paper flawless, he even turned around to correct our mistakes… Furthermore, he is still so young. It is truly a wonder where his memorization and reasoning abilities came from!”

Recalling what that had happened a moment ago filled Du Man with shock.

The performance of the fellow previously was simply too outstanding! In terms of the ability to discern medicinal herbs, he was probably an entire level higher than them!

An apprentice apothecary that was more knowledgeable than an apothecary himself… Without witnessing it firsthand, it was something no one would believe.

“Actually, it is not that difficult to know where his self-confidence came from. Didn’t he go to the book collection vault to study? We can send someone over to follow him. It will just be a matter of time before he gives his secret in!” Ouyang Cheng said.

Since he dared to undergo the Pill Debate, he definitely possessed vast and deep knowledge of pill forging. As long as they sent someone to follow behind him, it should be possible for them to unravel his secret.

“You’re right!” Du Man nodded his head. Gesturing with his hands, he commanded his apprentice, “Hua Hua, go and see what he is doing in the basic tier book collection vault. Try to keep your movements silent and inconspicuous so as to not be noticed by him!”

“Yes!” Zhu Hua Hua headed to the basic tier book collection vault.

Not long later, the apprentice apothecary returned with a peculiar expression on his face.

“Why? What is he doing? Is he reading some remote pill forging method?” Ouyang Cheng stared at him.

Apothecaries that participated in the Pill Debate would definitely come up with extremely difficult and remote questions, making it hard for others to answer. If one wanted to pass the examination, not only must they possess vast knowledge, they must also have a deep understanding of these remote pill forging methods as well.

“He isn’t!” Zhu Hua Hua’s eyes swam around, as though still in a state of disbelief over what he just witnessed. “He is… flipping books!”

“Flipping books? Perhaps he is looking for a specific book. Say, what is he flipping through?” Ouyang Cheng continued his interrogation.

“When I was there, he was flipping through basic pill forging books on the shelves. I secretly took a look, they were 《Basic Pill Forging Methods》, 《How to Extract the Essence of Medicinal Herbs》、《Preserving Medicinal Properties》、《Guide to Moving Cauldrons》 and books of that such. I was afraid of getting discovered, so I dared not get near to him!” Zhu Hua Hua pondered for a moment before replying.

“Basic Pill Forging Methods? How to Extract the Essence of Medicinal Herbs?”

“Preserving Medicinal Properties? Guide to Moving Cauldrons? This…”

Du Man and Ouyang Cheng stared at one another, dumbfounded.

[Those are the most basic books for apprentice apothecaries, alright… They are knowledge that all apprentice apothecaries need to wield, just like how a human can walk and eat. This fellow is going to undergo Pill Debate tomorrow, and yet he is flipping through such books only now?

Are you sure you aren’t mistaken?

This is as though after challenging the top swordsman under the heavens to a duel, you suddenly recall that you had to buy a sword and learn how to use it…

Are you for real?]

“Are you certain that he is reading these books?”

Unable to believe it, Ouyang Cheng asked once again.

“I am not certain. He doesn’t seem to be reading but flipping… He flips all the book that he passes by, I have no idea what he is doing!” Zhu Hua Hua was on the verge of tears.

He truly had no idea what the other party was doing. It was as though he was a lunatic, flipping all the books from the first row of books all the way over. He didn’t seem to be reading through them or searching for a specific book, so what in the world could he be doing?

“Flipping books? All of the book that he passes by?”

Ouyang Cheng and Du Man blinked their eyes.

Why did it sound like nonsense to them?

“How is he flipping through them? Show us!” Du Man said.

“Alright!”

It happened that there were quite a few books in the room as well. Zhu Hua Hua walked in front, grabbed a dozen of books and flipped through them. The sound of the flipping pages echoed in the room.

“You’re done?”

Seeing that there were no actions after he was done flipping through those books, Ouyang Cheng and Du Man’s eyes enlarged into perfect circles, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Yes!” Zhu Hua Hua nodded his head. “Just like that, after he’s done, he moves on to the next shelf…”

“…”

Ouyang Cheng and Du Man stared at one another and saw the frenzy in the other’s eyes.

They thought that this fellow went to the basic tier book collection vault to study, but in the end, he was there just to flip through books… [Furthermore, no matter how fast others flip their books, they would at least try to see what was in it. Yet he… What in the world can one see flipping through the book at such speed!

Putting aside the contents in the book, he probably doesn’t even know what the book is about…]

“It can’t be that… He wishes to see what material the books are made of so that he can burn them down?”

After a long while, Du Man squeezed out a few words.

Other than to burn these books, he truly had no idea what the use of flipping through all those books like that was.

“Impossible. Even though there aren’t any secrets of the Apothecary Guild in the basic tier book collection vault, it isn’t something that one can burn down casually. As an apprentice apothecary, he shouldn’t be that rash!” Ouyang Cheng shook his head.

Even though Du Man’s words seemed a little absurd, he was truly at a loss for a better explanation. His frown caused his forehead to wrinkle into large lumps.

“Then, what do you think is going on? What is he trying to do?”

Du Man couldn’t help but ask his colleague.

“I…” Ouyang Cheng’s face reflected nothing but confusion as well. He had never heard of such a freak in his entire life, needless to say, see one.

“Could it be… Is he trying to look for a specific book? Furthermore, the book is made of a special material such that one can only identify it through touch?” After a long moment of silence, he came up with a new theory.

“That’s possible…”

The two of them sat before the desk, frowning at one moment and showing a bitter expression at the other. No matter how hard they tried, they were unable to figure out the secrets of Zhang Xuan.

In a few short moments, they had come up with all kinds of reasons, generating excuses sufficient to last them for an entire lifetime. Even so… they were still oblivious to what the other party was trying to do.

In between, Zhu Hua Hua paid the book collection vault several visits and reported on the other party’s situation upon returning.

Upon hearing that his movements had never stopped, and he was still flipping through the books, not even sparing books like 《What are Pills》, 《The Types of Medicinal Herbs and Their Classification》、《Do You Need Cauldrons to Forge a Pill》… Several emotions flashed across their faces: bewilderment, dilemma, contemplation, confusion…

At this moment, they realized that there was still capacity in their minds to generate more peculiar excuses…

3 Invitation Codes for Lucky Fans

“NsxxIc”

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