Chapter 156: Chapter 154: Unable to Withstand a Single Blow
DONG—
DONG DONG—
The great bronze bell vibrated, ringing out twice in succession. The sound echoed in all directions.
The time for the Pill Master examination had arrived!
It was slightly different from the certification exam for Tier One Alchemy Masters.
The first part of the Tier Two Alchemy Master certification exam wasn’t identifying herbs on a scroll, but treating a corresponding Fierce Beast.
Generally, the type of Fierce Beast to be treated was different each time.
For instance, the last exam involved treating a Water Serpent Lion. This time, the Fierce Beast to be treated was the Vermilion Flame Wolf!
Vermilion Flame Wolves had fur as red as fire.
This type of wolf-like Fierce Beast was a swift attacker, its Bloodline Power imbued with Fire Dao Skills.
They were accustomed to moving in packs. If they ran together, they could easily devastate the grasslands and start a massive wildfire.
Of course, if this advantage could be properly utilized, it could inflict enormous casualties on an enemy.
Now, in front of each candidate was a Vermilion Flame Wolf with varying injuries.
Some were on the verge of death, while others were full of life and vigor but extremely irritable...
What the candidates had to do was treat the Vermilion Flame Wolves and restore them to a normal state.
At the very least, they had to ensure the Vermilion Flame Wolf assigned to them was no longer in mortal danger and then write down the corresponding follow-up treatment plan.
When Banker Pool saw the Vermilion Flame Wolf, his eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl into a smirk.
In truth, his current Alchemist Doctor skills weren’t all that remarkable.
He could only treat a handful of Fierce Beasts.
According to his plan, if he hadn’t seen Fang Yang appear, he would have waited another three months before attempting the Medicine Hall’s Tier Two Alchemy Master examination.
But this time, it seemed the heavens were on his side.
Because among the few Fierce Beasts he could treat, the Vermilion Flame Wolf just so happened to be one of them!
This was his specialty.
And if he wasn’t mistaken, the Vermilion Flame Wolf assigned to him appeared to have been struck by a Water Dao Skill, but it had actually been hit by both Water Dao and Fire Dao Skills simultaneously!
’A gentleman can wait ten years for his revenge.’
’Just you wait, Fang Yang. Once I become the first person to pass all the assessments, we’ll see if I don’t curse you right back.’
Banker Pool shot a glance at Fang Yang.
Then, he bent down to treat the Vermilion Flame Wolf.
「Meanwhile.」
Fang Yang stared at the Vermilion Flame Wolf before him, in no hurry to begin.
In the medical arts, diagnosis relied on observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation. Thus, the step of observation was indispensable.
The Vermilion Flame Wolf in front of him was sprawled limply on the ground as if it had lost all its strength.
And yet, its fur was a fiery red, a sign of vigorous life force.
Most importantly, its emerald green eyes were bright, not looking sick at all.
But Fang Yang was one hundred percent certain that this Vermilion Flame Wolf was indeed afflicted.
Because the Vermilion Flame Wolf was emitting an extremely foul, rancid stench of decay!
’Vigorous life force, yet it gives off an aura of decay and ruin. Most importantly, its eyes show a desperate will to live.’
Fang Yang’s gaze sharpened. ’So, it’s been affected by a Poison Dao Skill, causing its Bloodline Power to fall into disarray!’
Having made his decision, Fang Yang strode forward decisively.
He rushed to the medicine racks at the back, taking down one ingredient after another.
Compared to the others, Fang Yang’s actions were particularly striking.
He was decisive. Incredibly so.
’There he goes again, as impressive as ever,’ Lie Shaolong marveled, his eyes following Fang Yang’s every move.
The last time, a year ago, he and Fang Yang had taken the Tier One Alchemy Master examination together.
It was then that he had been thoroughly humbled by Fang Yang and had set aside his arrogance as his tribe’s number one genius.
’Damn it, how are his techniques so good? Make a mistake! Just make a mistake!’ Banker Pool thought as beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
When he saw the Vermilion Flame Wolf under Fang Yang’s care gradually recovering, his heart burned with anxiety.
Seeing that Fang Yang was about to finish completely, Banker Pool took a deep breath and threw caution to the wind, disregarding the proper order of steps.
He directly administered a powerful, heavy dose of medicine to his Vermilion Flame Wolf!
And what do you know, sometimes brute force works wonders. He actually managed to barely keep pace with Fang Yang.
...
The second assessment was Pill refining.
The Pills to be refined were different for every examination.
The Tier Two Pill to be refined this time was called the Beauty Pill.
The Beauty Pill, a Tier Two Pill, was, as its name suggested, related to one’s appearance.
Although cultivation was a process of evolution and transformation, cultivators who reached a high level of cultivation were generally not unattractive.
However, due to differences in their Cultivation Techniques or the tribulations they had endured, some might have facial imperfections.
And this was where the Beauty Pill could have a certain effect.
’Sugar Heart Grass, Flower Lizard, Moonfall Spring Water...’ Fang Yang’s expression was calm.
Unhurriedly, he picked up the various herbs and placed them in the pill furnace.
Then, he circulated his True Essence.
The Fierce Flame Pill Cauldron roared as a flame manifested in his left hand.
Not only that, but the Thunderous Pill Cauldron roared as well, and lightning crackled in his right hand.
The Thunderfire Refining Skill!
In an instant, the pill furnace on the field was enveloped by both fire and lightning, and it began to tremble violently.
The Primordial Qi released by the various herbs inside the furnace was forcibly unified and transformed by Fang Yang.
This display of skill immediately caused the distant Banker Pool’s face to contort in despair.
Because such a violent method hadn’t caused the furnace to explode!
’You’re a Tier Three Great Cultivator, so why are you even taking the Tier Two Alchemy Master exam?!’
Banker Pool’s eyes filled with grief and indignation; he felt immense pressure.
Because Banker Pool had foolishly provoked Fang Yang in the waiting hall earlier, many onlookers were now paying close attention to them.
When they saw that Fang Yang was about to finish refining the Beauty Pill with his masterful technique, they broke out in praise.
"Such skill in Alchemy, at his age, is truly incredible. Could it be true that mastering one path makes all others easy?"
"Banker Pool is a total pushover. What right does he have to prance around in front of Fang Yang? He’s like a pathetic clown."
"Exactly! He’s barely touched the barrier to becoming a Tier Two Alchemy Master, while Fang Yang is comparable to a Tier Three Alchemy Master!"
"Among his peers, besides Sen Hui and Chen Ying, I doubt anyone else would dare claim they could definitively surpass Fang Yang in Pill Master skills."
"No, I’m afraid even Chen Ying couldn’t definitively surpass him. Fang Yang has the Carp Eagle Spirit Body..."
The onlookers’ praise was ceaseless.
Their words spread out in all directions like successive ocean waves.
Even Chen Ying overheard some of it.
"Fang Yang..." Chen Ying lightly bit her lower lip, her eyes lost in thought as she gazed at his handsome figure.
Under her gaze, Fang Yang quickly passed the Alchemy assessment and headed straight for the third.
The third assessment was also the final one.
Anyone who passed this assessment would become a Tier Two Alchemy Master and enjoy boundless glory.
The most basic benefit was receiving the protection of the Medicine Hall.
Those with a bit of ambition could even go to one of the Silver Tribes and become a great figure in charge of an Alchemy division!
