Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 61 - Questions

“What Pavilion Master Cong said is right. Someone like him should be thrown out. His existence here is an insult to the Treasure Pill Pavilion. The Treasure Pill Pavilion represented the pinnacle of the Great Yan Dynasty’s alchemy field. I suggest investigating this matter and closing down the useless branch,” said Plum City’s Pavilion Master. His words caused an uproar among the crowd as everyone pointed at Liu Wuxie, telling him to get out.

Who could’ve thought that two simple questions from Yun Lan would cause such a huge uproar? More than two hundred people were sitting in the observation area, looking at each other in surprise. They never expected this to happen before the competition even began, catching everyone off guard.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please listen to me. We can only represent the branches of each pavilion, and we should let the three judges decide this matter,” Ning City’s Pavilion Master, Mo Shidao, stepped forward and interrupted everyone’s discussion.

Nangong Qi, the Pavilion Master of Harvest City, supported Mo Shidao’s statement. “This is an insult to the Treasure Pill Pavilion. I request that the three judges make a decision on this matter!” he exclaimed. Wen Song, who represented Harvest City and had been humiliated by Liu Wuxie the day before, was also present.

In just a few minutes, more than half of the pavilion masters had risen to their feet to confront Liu Wuxie. This was an unprecedented event.

Everyone’s eyes fell on the three judges, waiting for them to decide. After all, no rules indicated that those who didn’t read the two books couldn’t participate in the competition. But the two books were long rooted in the alchemy field, and every alchemist would start their journey from the two books. Everyone was already accustomed to it, so how could they accept someone who didn’t read the two books?

The three judges picked up the participant list, and their eyes fell on the last name: Liu Wuxie. They began to discuss among themselves, trying to reach a decision. After all, what would the other dynasties think if they allowed an ordinary person to participate in the competition? After a few minutes of discussion, they raised their heads to look at Liu Wuxie.

“Liu Wuxie, do you have anything to say about Pavilion Master Yun’s two questions?” Instead of criticizing Liu Wuxie, Sang Yan asked in an inquiring tone, giving Liu Wuxie the opportunity to explain himself.

“Senior Sang, I also have two questions for Pavilion Master Yun!” Liu Wuxie bowed. He wasn’t enraged by the surrounding criticism and remained calm.

“Please go ahead,” Sang Yang said before Yun Lan could speak. Since Yun Lan asked Liu Wuxie two questions, it was proper for Liu Wuxie to ask Yun Lan two questions as well.

Everyone’s attention was focused on Liu Wuxie, curious to hear what he would ask. Even Bi Gongyu was at a loss and could only hope for a miracle.

“My first question for Pavilion Master Yun: the Seven Spirit Grass grows one leaf yearly and blooms every three years. As everyone knows, the Seven Spirit Grass is a herb with yang attributes, but most of the herbs in the market are of yin attributes. Since Pavilion Master Yun is knowledgeable and has read the two books, can you tell me why?” This question was simple yet sharp, and all the alchemists looked at each other, stumped.

The two books introduced the Seven Spirit Grass as a herb of yang attributes. But weirdly enough, the Seven Spirit Grass in the market were all of the yin attributes.

Yun Lan’s face turned red, and he didn’t know how to answer that question. After hearing Liu Wuxie’s question, even Master Mao fell into deep thought.

“Can it be that Pavilion Master Yun can’t answer this question?” Liu Wuxie sneered coldly, “Didn’t the two books tell you about it?”

This was an ingenious question. Yun Lan highly respected the two books, assuming that they contained all the answers. Therefore, it was expected that he would know the answer to the question.

“Brat, you’re being unreasonable,” exclaimed Yun Lan. “It’s just not me who doesn’t know the answer to this question; none of the other alchemists present seem to know either.” He immediately realized his mistake, having spoken out of turn and offending all the alchemists present. It was one thing for no one to know the answer, but it was another for Yun Lan to voice it out loud.

Yun Lan’s inability to answer the first question caused everyone to look at him with contempt. If he didn’t know the answer, he could have simply admitted it instead of dragging the others down with him. This was particularly true for the three judges, who wore expressions of displeasure on their faces.

“Since no one seems to know the answer, let me ask a second question,” said Liu Wuxie. “As alchemists, which herb should be added first when refining the Energy Condensing Pill: the Cockscomb Herb or the Milletweed? The effects of both herbs are identical. And what is the temperature required for refining the pill?”

This question required not only knowledge of herbs but also an understanding of the temperature of the fire used in refining. The Energy Condensing Pill was a common first-grade pill that most alchemist apprentices practiced with. All the alchemists present had undoubtedly refined this pill numerous times in their careers.

“Brat, aren’t you ashamed to ask such a question?” Yun Lan retorted without hesitation. “Of course, it’s the Cockscomb Herb first at 200 degrees Celsius. This will result in an Energy Condensing Pill with attractive color and plump appearance.” Many people acknowledged his answer, and applause could even be heard from the observation area. But there was someone who wore contempt on his face.

Liu Wuxie’s eyes flashed with disappointment as he spoke to Pavilion Master Yun. “Is this your final answer? I must say, I am disappointed.” Liu Wuxie had come to observe the alchemy of the True Martial Continent, but it seemed his expectations had been too high. It was understandable, as the True Martial Continent could not compare with the Celestial Realm in terms of alchemy.

Yun Lan stood up furiously, radiating murderous intent. “What are you trying to say, brat?” he demanded. No one had been able to answer the first question, and Yun Lan’s answer to the second question had been met with applause from those around him. It was clear that his answer was correct.

Liu Wuxie might not have read the two books, but he grasped everything related to alchemy like the back of his hand. “Pills are divided into four levels: forming, plump, mellow, and rune. Yet you are satisfied with just achieving plump alone and claim to possess an unparalleled alchemy? So is there a problem with saying I’m disappointed in you?” he questioned.

Typically speaking, it was already considered impressive if one could achieve the forming level of pills. To advance further, one would have to reach the plump level. However, even Master Mao could not guarantee that every cauldron would produce plump pills. As for mellow pills, it depended on luck. If fortunate, one might obtain one or two mellow pills.

Achieving rune level, on the other hand, was unheard of.

“Boy, it’s impressive alone to achieve plump. If these two are your questions, it won’t make sense because anyone will be troubled by it,” Sang Yan said. After all, Liu Wuxie had asked a question that no one could answer and couldn’t prove anything. It was the same as asking who came first, the chicken or the egg. It was a question that no one could answer.

“Is there no one who can answer my questions?” Liu Wuxie scanned the room, including the three judges, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Allow me to enlighten you. The Seven Spirit Grass was nurtured incorrectly, causing its attributes to turn into yin. Everyone thought that by placing it under the sun, it would absorb yang energy. But that was a grave mistake.”

Liu Wuxie spoke with eloquence. Everyone knew that the Seven Spirit Grass had to be nurtured under the sun to absorb yang energy.

“Most herbs rely on sunlight to produce photosynthesis and grow. But that’s different for the Seven Spirit Grass because it has to be nurtured in a place filled with yin energy. Through photosynthesis, the yin energy will be converted into yang energy. So, no one can find out such a simple truth?” Liu Wuxie’s words left everyone stunned and speechless.

“Brat, you can’t just make claims without evidence!” Xiao Mingyi retorted. This problem had troubled alchemists for centuries, and Liu Wuxie’s words were unfounded. The two books did mention the Seven Spirit Grass as a herb with yang attributes. At first, everyone believed it, but soon they suspected the author might have made a mistake.

“Liu Wuxie, how will you prove what you said?” Sang Yan asked calmly, unlike Xiao Mingyi, who had accused Liu Wuxie.

“There\'s a book in the Thousand Seal Chamber of Commerce’s fourth passage, fifth grid under the third row called the Assorted Herbs Record. The last sentence on the seventh page shows the method for nurturing the Seven Spirit Grass. If you don’t believe me, you can retrieve and examine the book,” Liu Wuxie replied confidently. He had scanned the book when he passed by with Ghost Eye. The knowledge recorded in it wasn’t useful to him at the time, so he didn’t buy it. But he didn’t expect it to come in handy today.

“Someone, go retrieve the book!” The Thousand Seal Chamber of Commerce was nearby, and a guard swiftly ran out before returning with a book roughly fifteen minutes later. When he placed the tattered book before Sang Yan, its cover was faded, and the title of the book ‘Assorted Herbs Record’ could barely be seen.

Sang Yan quickly flipped to the seventh page and saw that the method for nurturing the Seven Spirit Grass was indeed as Liu Wuxie had described.

“This...” Sang Yan handed the book to Master Mao, who was puzzled as to why the method for nurturing the Seven Spirit Grass was not recorded in the two books they had mentioned earlier but was instead found in this book. Zhou Xinsheng also came over to examine the book and frowned upon realizing that the method they had been using for centuries was incorrect.

Master Mao didn’t speak and continued to flip the book. His body trembled when he flipped to the last page and muttered, “T-This book is left behind by Master Qin!”

Master Mao held onto the book as though he had found a treasure.