The Immortal Sword Was Actually for Beating the Heat

Amid the stream of good news returning to the Qingyuan Sect, Yang Chan noticed some easily overlooked information: quite a few Formal Disciples had died or been maimed.

Several people died during every mission, while others were left crippled.

Among all that good news, these people drew little attention. When heading out on missions, most people cared only about the final result.

As for those who died or were injured, they were easily overlooked—not only by elders and deacons, but also by the Formal Disciples themselves.

Or rather, they knew, but did not care. These were not only sect missions, but also capital for becoming stronger. Piles upon piles of cultivation resources were naturally enough to stir people's fighting spirit. To become powerful, paying some price was worthwhile.

Besides, if they were more careful, the ones who died or were maimed would not be them.

Thus, when the sect gathered people once more, many still fought and scrambled to join the mission to encircle and kill the traitorous faction.

Yang Chan, meanwhile, accelerated his progress in advancing as a Pharmacist.

Through his unremitting efforts, his Pharmacist profession finally rose to the Second Order. The conflicting medicinal properties in the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup that had previously troubled him were also perfectly resolved.

On the panel, the Pharmacist entry under professions changed to Second Order: Entering the Hall. At the same time, the Potential Points entry, which had begun with a 1, returned to beginning with a 0.

Sure enough, the ancients had not deceived him. Hard work would be rewarded.

A great deal of information related to Pharmacists also appeared in Yang Chan's mind—medicinal baths, medicinal cuisine, physicians, alchemy, and more. The amount of information was immense.

Yang Chan spent some time before completely absorbing it all.

Still, learning made him happy.

"From now on, I can combine medicinal cuisine and medicinal baths, then add external application. That will earn me even more Potential Points."

Yang Chan had tried doubling the dosage of the same medicine, but the Potential Points he received had not doubled. Instead, they became one and a half times the original amount. Increasing the dosage further would not make them double either; it would only bring them infinitely close to twice the amount.

But if they were different medicines, especially if they were administered differently, they did not affect one another.

That was why Yang Chan wanted to obtain Potential Points through every possible method.

As for increasing the dosage, Yang Chan said his silver was insufficient. He needed a rich older woman—soft, sweet, cool, beautiful, fair, and fierce—to support him.

Yang Chan had not encountered such a top-tier rich older woman in the Qingyuan Sect, so he could only save where he could, maximizing the silver in his hands to obtain the most Potential Points.

One day, when silver no longer mattered to him, that would be the time to double his doses without restraint.

After Yang Chan's Pharmacist profession entered the Second Order, he continued going to the Prescription Courtyard as usual, checking the ingredients for Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste and Jade Essence Skin Refining Powder. He mainly checked whether anything was missing and how much remained in storage.

He was in no hurry to undergo the Pharmacist assessment. He planned to wait a little longer. In any case, his abilities were now comparable to those of the Junior Alchemists in the Medicine Hall, perhaps even more comprehensive. The initiative was in his hands, so he naturally had greater confidence.

While inspecting the herbs, Yang Chan ran into Li Junhao. After giving him a cold glance, Li Junhao left. He had clearly sensed Yang Chan as a threat and could not even be bothered to keep up appearances.

Yang Chan did not care either. At least someone who showed his inner thoughts had a clear attitude. Those who smiled on the surface while making moves behind one's back were the ones who truly needed watching.

Xu Gaocen was still the last Pharmacist to arrive. After assigning tasks to Yang Chan and the others, he began preparing medicine. However, after finishing today, he did not leave. Instead, he asked a question.

"If one liang of Snow See, two liang of Jing Tian, three liang of Xu Changqing, two liang of Zi Xuan, and one liang of Chong Lou are mixed together, what medicinal effect will they have?"

After asking, Xu Gaocen looked toward the five Alchemist Assistants beside him.

This was a test. Everyone understood that.

The Pharmacist training was selecting suitable candidates. As Alchemist Assistants, all five of them were qualified to receive a spot.

Now that Xu Gaocen had raised the question, he was assessing each person's ability before making his selection.

After hearing it, Li Junhao, Shu Yu, and the others did not answer immediately. Instead, they pondered the various medicinal properties involved.

"Li Junhao, you go first."

Xu Gaocen turned his gaze toward Li Junhao and asked.

Li Junhao had followed him the longest among the Alchemist Assistants, so Xu Gaocen naturally held great expectations for him.

"Xu Changqing and Chong Lou can both counter snake venom. Xu Changqing is used in the greatest amount and is also most effective at neutralizing snake venom. Therefore, this disciple believes Xu Changqing is the primary ingredient, used to counter snake venom, while the other herbs all clear heat and detoxify, serving as auxiliary ingredients."

"The medicine ultimately brewed should primarily counter snake venom, while also promoting blood circulation."

After thinking for a moment, Li Junhao gave his answer.

Among these herbs, Xu Changqing and Jing Tian were relatively common and had many uses. The other three were used less often. Yet Li Junhao remembered all of their medicinal properties, allowing him to deduce this conclusion.

"Shu Yu, give your thoughts as well."

Xu Gaocen's expression did not change, and he offered no evaluation. He looked toward Shu Yu and asked.

"This disciple believes that all five herbs can clear heat, detoxify, and promote blood circulation. When brewed according to these proportions, the final medicine should primarily promote blood circulation and aid the nourishment of Jing Power."

Shu Yu voiced her thoughts after hearing the question.

In truth, she also leaned toward countering snake venom. But Li Junhao had spoken first. If she gave the same answer, then even if she was correct, the Pharmacist training spot would certainly not fall into her hands.

Only a different answer, coupled with her own reasoning, could make people see her in a new light. Yet after finishing, even she was somewhat unsure whether her answer was correct.

Xu Gaocen continued questioning the other two. Both had been Alchemist Assistants longer than Yang Chan, so they were asked before him.

In this kind of questioning, the first person normally held the greatest advantage. If he answered perfectly, the people after him would have no chance.

But if the first person's answer had flaws, then the second and third people would possess the greatest advantage, because they could integrate the answers of those before them and give a more brilliant response.

That was standing on the shoulders of those who came before.

The last person, on the other hand, was at the greatest disadvantage. The people before him would have already covered all possible answers, leaving him with fewer opportunities.

Yang Chan had participated in this sort of group interview before, so he naturally understood the advantages of speaking order.

The opportunity Xu Gaocen offered still favored those who had followed him for longer.

That was only human nature, and Yang Chan did not mind.

But after hearing everyone's answers, his expression became somewhat strange. Their answers were all different, but none had grasped the key point.

If they looked at the weather outside right now, perhaps they would find another answer.

"Yang Chan, you give your answer too."

After hearing the others, Xu Gaocen's expression remained unchanged as he asked again.

"Beating the heat."

"It is too hot now. If these five herbs are brewed in the proper proportions, the medicinal soup can reduce summer heat and works quite well, though it is rather expensive."

"It would be better to brew a basin of Mung Bean Soup for the same heat-relieving effect."

Yang Chan gave a new answer, and the expressions of the others turned strange.