A Pharmacist Is a Precise Technical Craft

Yang Chan's answer differed from those before him. It was very simple: he neither discussed his understanding of the medicinal properties and medicinal vapors, nor the combination of medicinal principles. He simply gave the result.

People like Li Junhao and Shu Yu would discuss each herb's medicinal properties, principles, medicinal vapors, and related knowledge to demonstrate their grasp of the medicine before estimating the final effect.

The entire process was reasoned and well-founded, appearing extremely professional.

It was also a display of one's own mastery.

Yang Chan was different. He gave the result directly.

"Why do you believe it relieves summer heat?"

Xu Gaocen asked again.

"Snow See, Jing Tian, Xu Changqing, Zi Xuan, and Chong Lou all have effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, regulating qi and invigorating the blood. When this disciple was still a Herb Gathering Boy, I heard someone mention these herbs before. Combined with the current scorching weather outside, I therefore believed they were meant to relieve summer heat."

Yang Chan spoke.

He did not say that he had analyzed it according to the medicinal properties, but had instead inferred it from other aspects. This was intentional.

If Xu Gaocen intended to let the others participate in Pharmacist training, it would also give them a way out, because he himself did not need this Pharmacist training.

Even as an Intermediate Alchemist, so long as he put in a little more effort, he would certainly achieve it.

After hearing this, Xu Gaocen fell into thought.

He was very satisfied with Yang Chan's answer, but not very satisfied with how he had arrived at it, so he did not continue questioning him.

"Today's prescriptions are finished. Once you deliver these medicine packets, you may leave."

As Xu Gaocen spoke, he left ahead of them.

He did not reveal the answer to the question. He was still considering it.

Li Junhao, Shu Yu, and the others were not surprised. Under normal circumstances, Xu Gaocen would only announce who would participate in Pharmacist training at the end.

At this moment, they were all pondering their own answers and the answers of the others.

When they heard Xu Gaocen question Yang Chan again, their hearts leaped into their throats. But after hearing Yang Chan's later explanation, they relaxed.

An answer that had been guessed would certainly not please Pharmacist Xu, because being a Pharmacist was a precise technical craft. One needed to know medicinal principles, medicinal properties, and the like like the back of one's hand.

Every answer had to be accurate. Otherwise, one would be harming people.

Some medicines were originally meant to strengthen the foundation and restore vitality, yet with one or two taels extra, they became ferocious medicines that harmed people.

After delivering the medicine packets, they headed toward the Medicine Hall's Library Pavilion, clearly intending to search for the answer.

Yang Chan did not leave with them. Instead, he walked to where medicinal ingredients were stored in the Prescription Courtyard. Looking at the various herbs and breathing in their medicinal vapors, he imprinted those memories into his mind and deepened them.

His mind contained a great deal of knowledge about all kinds of medicinal ingredients, but he had comparatively little practical experience. By examining these ingredients, he could make up for that lack of practice.

Of course, the best method was compounding medicine.

When Yang Chan had left, after purchasing the ingredients for Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup, Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste, and Jade Essence Skin Refining Powder, the silver in his hands had been exhausted. However, in a few days, he would receive his monthly allowance again.

The things he currently had were enough to last him several days.

Martial cultivation could not lack cultivation resources.

Yang Chan carefully calculated every expense because he wanted to make good use of the silver in his hands.

This was also why so many disciples actively participated in missions to encircle and kill the rebellious factions. The mission rewards were simply too plentiful, and if they could obtain benefits along the way, their cultivation resources would be even less lacking. Added together, the advantages were naturally considerable.

Even Yang Chan had considered it for a moment, let alone everyone else.

"Too few people who kill for treasure ever make it to the end."

"It would be better to stay cautious. If I carefully calculate my spending, I still will not lack resources."

Yang Chan silently said to himself.

No matter how many benefits lay outside, one had to be alive to claim them.

Over these past days, Formal Disciples with crippled bodies had already returned and been handed over to Pharmacists for treatment, but there was basically no hope for them.

Medicines capable of Limb Regeneration were exceedingly precious. They certainly would not be used on these Formal Disciples.

Yang Chan had seen Formal Disciples from the Hall of Medicine Training Ground within the Medicine Hall whose legs were crippled. Their martial paths had basically come to an end, and in the end, they chose to leave the Qingyuan Sect and guard the Qingyuan Sect's industries outside.

People like them would basically never return to the Qingyuan Sect. They would remain at their posts for the rest of their lives.

There were also people he had met who had completely lost all signs of life and were ultimately buried.

Compared with those who had gained benefits, these people were more real—and were also the future of many.

Only by standing out and becoming Elite Disciples could things change somewhat, but if their bodies were severely crippled, it would still be the same.

Or, if they were luckier, they could remain in the Qingyuan Sect and become stewards, deacons, or the like within the sect. That also counted as a path forward.

Elite Disciples were all at the External Refinement level. Even with crippled bodies, the combat strength they could display was not something ordinary people could compare with.

Even within the Qingyuan Sect, such people would not be easily abandoned.

After seeing all this, Yang Chan's heart became even more resolute.

No matter how much others praised going out to undertake missions, Yang Chan would not choose to believe them. Only by remaining in the Qingyuan Sect did he feel safe.

Night fell.

A candle burned in Yang Chan's room.

"The progress of External Refinement: Bronze Skin is a little slower than expected. Tempering the flesh and skin means tempering the flesh and skin of the entire body. I'm still lacking a little before I can fully reach the level of bronze."

When Yang Chan circulated his Jing Power, a layer of cyan appeared over his skin. The skin membrane across his body had become tough, and his resistance to blows had greatly increased. However, if blades passed over it, it had not yet reached the point where only tiny wounds would be left behind.

He had not tested it, because the cyan shade displayed by his flesh and skin was not yet completely bronze. He was still short by a little.

Besides, directly trying to cut his own body was not a particularly good choice.

Self-harm was not a good habit.

Naturally, Yang Chan could not cultivate such a bad habit.

"I'm still a little short of having flesh and skin as tough as bronze hide, a stage where blades can scarcely wound me."

"After working hard for a while longer, I should be able to achieve it. I still cannot be impatient."

Yang Chan silently thought to himself.

"The Silk Coiling Strength within the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique and the Quiet Nourishing Technique will have to wait a while longer. Once External Refinement: Bronze Skin succeeds, I can cultivate them."

The Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique had been improving relatively slowly for Yang Chan these past days. This was because after the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique rose to the Second Order, it also began Jing Power cultivation. His Raging Bull Strength had already been nourished to completion, but he had not cultivated any other Jing Power. He intended to begin only after successfully achieving External Refinement: Bronze Skin.

Although the Transmission Deacon had said it would not affect anything, Yang Chan still chose to wait for the sake of caution. In any case, External Refinement would not take much longer to succeed.

Now that Pharmacist had risen to the Second Order: Entering the Hall, he would not allocate any more points to Pharmacist for the time being.

Instead, he would raise Ox Demon Strength Fist, Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, and Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique.

Even without continuing to allocate points to Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique, its progress was still rapid and its improvements were obvious. However, it would take some time to rise to the Second Order: Entering the Hall. At that time, he would once again experience an increase in Lifespan and aptitude.

Yang Chan liked things that increased Lifespan the most.