Afterward, he returned to the Alchemy School and successfully earned a 3-star badge.
As he strolled along, he noticed an apothecary clinic nearby and considered visiting to gain the necessary knowledge. The three major factions dominate the clinic landscape in the Martial World: Golden Needle Clinics, White Vedic Clinic, and Dark Cloud Clinics. Each of these clinics serves as a specialized school within the apothecary profession, established by different factions.
The Apothecary Association, which oversees all matters related to apothecary practices, is primarily governed by these three factions. In addition to these, many intermediate and top-tier clans or sects operate their apothecary clinics. For instance, the Mo Sect once had its apothecary branch to care for injured disciples and elders. Unlike the professions of Blacksmithing, Formation, or Alchemy, the apothecary path is only semi-open to the public, as each faction closely guards its core techniques.
To acquire higher-grade techniques and badges within this profession, one must align with a faction. Of the three, only Dark Cloud Clinics treat individuals from Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic Alliances alike. Their services are more affordable than those offered by others, but their practices are often frowned upon by the Orthodox Alliance due to their affiliations with the Demonic Alliance, allowing them to obtain herbs and pills that are otherwise unavailable in the Martial World. Consequently, even many lower Orthodox sects find themselves associating with them due to the lower service fees.
Apothecary and Alchemy associations are intricately interwoven, reflecting a deep historical connection. It is said that the apothecary profession, akin to herbalism—a sub-occupation of Alchemy—was once an integral part of Alchemy itself. Over time, however, the two fields have developed their distinct identities while remaining reliant on each other for knowledge, resources, and practices.
Previously he comprehended some Apothecary knowledge from the compendium from the Mo sect, They are nearly up to 2 stars.
The clinic he is visiting is under the Golden Needle Clinic faction
"Greetings, sir. Could you please describe your health issue?" asked an apprentice under the Apothecary Master. This apprentice served a role akin to that of a nurse. Many commoners or those lacking martial talent aspired to join the Apothecary faction as apprentices, hoping to escape poverty and gain the protection of the Apothecary Association. They performed a variety of tasks, such as assisting the master and tending to wounds. These simple duties were well-suited for those without martial skills, while still granting them the prestige and honor associated with the martial world.
"Where is the physician" A person outside shouted with other people on his back.
"What happened to him" asked the apprentice
"I don't know. He is a hunter Zha Su from a southern village, He just went off to hunt beasts as usual but, the next day he got a fever, blueish colour in body and fainted " said Person
Hearing the commotion Physician Lin Jianxi came out, apprentice explained the situation.
The patient lay down and the Physician used the Qi pulse reading to diagnose the patient.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen observed the physicians at work, intrigued by their methods.
Suddenly, an AI system prompted him:
[Ding ..Would you like to use Augmented View to see the patient's internal condition using Qi scan?]
He quickly declined, uncertain of Physician Lin Jianxi's realm. If he employed a scan and was discovered, it would be seen as a grave disrespect to the physician, likely leading to trouble for himself.
Curiosity piqued, Xiao Chen asked the AI to demonstrate how the scanning feature would work.
The AI-activated Augmented Vision provides a view of areas of damage glowed red against the otherwise normal image of the body.
Xiao Chen marveled at the display, finding it fascinating. "I didn't know this feature existed before my death," he remarked.
[Ding... Due to the self-learning algorithm. AI System can upgrade based on new knowledge]
After diagnosing the patient, Physician Lin Jianxi spoke calmly.
"He's been bitten by a Seven-Colored Snake, a Yin-natured spirit beast. These snakes are typically low-grade, and wherever they are found, you can usually find the Seven-Colored Spirit Grass, a Yang-natured herb that acts as an antidote to their venom."
Seeing that it was too late to search for the herb, Lin Jianxi added, "I'll prepare a concoction made from a similar Yang-natured plant."
He disappeared into the clinic's medicine room and soon returned with a small vial.
"Drink this now," Lin Jianxi instructed.
The patient quickly downed the concoction with a loud slurp. After just a few minutes, the symptoms—fever and the bluish hue of his skin—began to fade.
"Drink this twice, each morning," Lin Jianxi advised.
The patient, already feeling better, paid the fee with a few coins, thanked the physician, and left to return to his village.
"Well, who might you be, young man?" Lin Jianxi asked, turning his attention to Xiao Chen.
"Greetings, Physician Lin Jianxi. I'm here for the 1-star Apothecary exam," Xiao Chen replied with a respectful bow.
Lin Jianxi raised an eyebrow. "It's been a long time since I've had a candidate for the examination. I'm usually tied up with patients. Could you give me an hour to prepare?" He paused, seeing promise in Xiao Chen. "By the way, which apothecary did you apprentice under?"
Xiao Chen shook his head slightly. "I didn't apprentice anywhere. I had a fortunate encounter related to the apothecary profession, and now I'm looking to take the exam to begin my formal journey as an Apothecary."
"I see…" Lin Jianxi wasn't entirely convinced, but he didn't press further. "Well, in the meantime, my apprentice will show you around the facility."
Lin Jianxi directed his apprentice to assist Xiao Chen. After paying the exam fee, Xiao Chen inquired if he could read the Apothecary-related books in the clinic's library.
The apprentice nodded. "Sure, but keep in mind, this is a small branch, and we only have up to 2-star books—mostly basic texts, nothing related to the core techniques of the Golden Needle Clinics."
The apprentice led Xiao Chen to the library and then left him alone. Taking advantage of the solitude,
Xiao Chen activated his AI system's spiritual scan Since nobody else is there in the library
[Ding...Use spiritual scan...]
[Ding .. Completed scanning 2657 books..]
[Ding ..Sorting and compiling ]
[Ding ..Transferring and Updating current Apothecary Knowledge Base]
[Ding ...Please name it]
"Heavenly Apothecary Compendium," said Xiao Chen
[Ding.. Heavenly Apothecary Compendium is now 2-star]
After that, Xiao Chen attended the exam. Inside the examination room, he saw a visibly fatigued individual—his test subject. The exam required him to diagnose the patient and recommend the correct medical procedure.
Not all Apothecary exams involve treating real patients, as the complexity of diagnosing and prescribing treatments can often be better evaluated through simulations. In such cases, examinees engage in hypothetical debates with examiners, where symptoms are presented, and the candidate must ask relevant questions, assess the condition, and propose treatments based on the information given. This method tests the examinee's knowledge and ability to make sound medical decisions without risking real patients.
Xiao Chen, using his AI system, discreetly scanned the patient's body. An augmented reality screen materialized, revealing a red mark near the kidney region. He used Acupoint Pressing on key areas to further assess the patient's condition, and the combination of symptoms—fatigue, discomfort in the lower back, and red swelling—suggested the presence of a kidney stone.
Now, Xiao Chen understood why many Apothecaries sought to cultivate spiritual arts, especially the Spiritual Eye, a potent tool for diagnosing ailments at a deeper level. Through his AI knowledge base, he discovered the Mystic Eye Awakening Art, a technique he had acquired from the compendium, which could unlock this extraordinary ability. The appeal of the Spiritual Eye, with its promise of pinpointing illnesses with heightened precision, intrigued him. However, he knew mastering it would take time, discipline, and significant focus.
The text also highlighted the dangers. Using the Spiritual Eye wasn't without risk—it consumed a considerable amount of spiritual power, and prolonged use could lead to severe headaches. Moreover, it hinted that soul power played a role in sustaining the eye's ability. Overextending oneself in its use could result in being bedridden for a week.
As a result, most physicians primarily relied on pulse reading, questioning, and diagnosing based on symptoms. They only resorted to using the Spiritual Eye when absolutely necessary, given the unpleasant side effects that followed its use.
Xiao Chen planned to cultivation this art later
Meanwhile, the examiner pondered whether the exam might be too hard for Xiao Chen, as it was closer to the difficulty of a 2-star assessment. He had deliberately designed it this way because he wasn't fully convinced about Xiao Chen's credibility. For one, Xiao Chen seemed too young to have real experience, and secondly, his reluctance to reveal anything about his Apothecary teacher made the examiner doubt his sincerity in pursuing the path of an Apothecary.
The Physician Lin Jianxi though he was wrong, was impressed the Xiao Chen's Observations. Seeing this young man being good at apothecary
Lin Jianxi then asked Xiao Chen a few more questions, including how to treat constipation. Xiao Chen responded, "Using acupuncture, we can relieve constipation by applying external qi to stimulate the Zusanli and Tianshu points."
Afterward, Lin Jianxi instructed Xiao Chen to bandage the sword wounds of two other patients, which he completed flawlessly.
Impressed, Lin Jianxi awarded him the 2-star badge.
Xiao Chen was slightly surprised by this.
Noticing his confusion, Lin Jianxi explained, "I owe you an apology, Xiao Chen. I initially thought you were like other spoiled youths who come here to cause trouble, so I made the exam nearly as difficult as a 2-star test."
He added, "I'd like to test you further, but currently I can only issue badges up to the 2-star level."