"Why haven't the results been posted yet?"
In the first-floor hall, the crowd had been waiting for a long time. When they still hadn't seen the masters release the score sheet, the people below couldn't help but grow puzzled.
In their view, judging this bet should have been a simple matter, taking even less time than usual. So why were the results still not out?
"I bet that waste's answer was just too bizarre. That's probably what's making the Great Pharmacists hesitate."
Ye Chenghao sneered.
"If that's the case, just give him a zero. We want to see Pharmacist Wang's score. Please, Steward, have some consideration. We're all getting very anxious."
A guest in fine clothes spoke up.
"Indeed, Steward Zheng is right. Steward Cao, how about you bend the rules for us?"
The steward of Juhua Studio glanced at him, then at the many onlookers who were nodding in agreement. Anyone who could stand in Juhua Studio had a certain status, so it wasn't wise to refuse them outright.
After a moment's thought, he summoned a Medicine Servant. "Liu San, go up to the second floor and ask Master Chen if the scoring is done. If the results are in, trouble his eminence to give you the score sheet."
"Yes, Steward Cao."
Liu San acknowledged the order and, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, went up to the second floor.
When they learned the reason for his visit, Master Chen and the others were displeased, but as people of Juhua Studio, they couldn't be too overbearing. They had to avoid giving the impression that they were using their prestige to bully customers.
If word of this reached Elder Yao's ears, it would undoubtedly cost them some points in his estimation.
"Let's do this. Since Yang Xiao's score might not be ready for a while anyway, we'll announce the score for Wang Kaitai's answer first."
In the end, Master Chen made the decision.
The other two masters nodded. In their minds, the winner had already been decided—it was Yang Xiao. They were just uncertain about what score to give him.
Therefore, they wanted Elder Yao to personally make the final call to avoid any accusations of being unfair.
Since the guests downstairs could no longer wait, they might as well send down Wang Kaitai's score first. This way, they could also save him some face.
After all, the young man was a genius and the nephew of Wang Qianhe, the head of Medicine Peak. It wouldn't do to leave him in too embarrassing a position.
However, what Master Chen didn't know at that moment was that this decision would soon put them in an extremely passive position.
As for Liu San, he breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving Wang Kaitai's score. In his view, what the guests below wanted to see was Wang Kaitai's score. Yang Xiao, on the other hand, was insignificant.
Not even worth mentioning.
Therefore, getting only Wang Kaitai's score was still, in his eyes, a completed mission.
He immediately brought the graded answer down to the first floor and officially began the process of posting the results.
"Quick, look! They're posting the scores! I wonder whose score is being posted first?"
The guests instantly erupted into a commotion.
"We'll know once we see it. What I'm concerned about is what score Wang Kaitai will get. The medicinal properties and uses are worth the most points. If he scores well on those two sections, then the medicine's name and habits are a given—basically full marks."
"That's right, Pharmacist Li is correct. For the name and habits, just reading books is enough. As long as you can correctly identify the Spirit Medicine from its properties and uses, you'll get full marks on those parts. That's why those two sections are only worth a combined two points. The most important parts are the medicinal properties and uses—one is worth five points, the other three. That's the lion's share."
"It's Wang Kaitai's! The first one they're posting is Wang Kaitai's. But that makes sense. That Yang Xiao isn't even qualified to have his score posted. Posting his would just invite a round of laughter..."
"Hush, watch the reveal."
The onlookers were chattering amongst themselves, but when they saw that Wang Kaitai's score was being posted first, they immediately fell silent.
As one of the contestants, Wang Kaitai was also quite nervous at this moment.
It wasn't that he was afraid of losing to a waste like Yang Xiao; he was nervous about what score he would receive.
'I've been preparing for a Spirit Medicine duel like this for ten years. That waste is nothing but a stepping stone. What I truly want is to stun the world with a single brilliant feat!'
Both the bet and Wang Kaitai's display of skill this time were part of his long-standing plan. As for Yang Xiao, he just happened to be in the right place at the right time. That was the only reason he had agreed to help Ye Chenghao.
Now the most crucial moment had arrived. How could he not be nervous?
"Posting the results now!"
With the sound of a gong, Liu San posted the finalized score sheet on Juhua Studio's medicine board.
Everyone saw it.
Name of Medicine: Spider King Grass. One point.
Medicinal Properties: Main property is Wood Attribute. Slightly toxic. The rhizome has mixed properties, divided into five types, which are... Five points.
Medicinal Uses: Can be used to refine Antitoxic Pills, the most famous of which is the Spider King Hundred Solutions Pill. Can also be used to create Poison Pills... Three points.
Medicinal Habits: Prefers shade and grows in damp places... One point.
Based on the above, total score: ten points!
A perfect score!
"It's actually a perfect score!"
Everyone was stunned.
They had already been optimistic about Wang Kaitai, certain he would defeat Yang Xiao. But after seeing his actual score, they realized they had still underestimated him.
"And it was Spider King Grass, no less! No wonder Pharmacist Wang was so careful and cautious earlier. Spider King Grass is poisonous! I can't believe that waste Yang Xiao is so devious, using a poisonous Spirit Medicine for the competition. What a despicable villain."
Originally, everyone had felt that Wang Kaitai was a bit narrow-minded, that trying to utterly crush someone so far beneath him was not the act of a gentleman.
But now that the results were out, they all completely changed their tune.
They began to condemn Yang Xiao one after another, with some even using the Spider King Grass to make their case.
Anyone who truly knew about Spider King Grass would also know that while the rhizome's properties were the most complex, it was the only part that was completely non-toxic. If Yang Xiao had truly wanted to poison Wang Kaitai, he would have just needed to use the most poisonous part: the tip of the grass.
There, the medicinal potency was strongest and incredibly toxic. Even if Wang Kaitai didn't die, he would have been left vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, a complete mess.
But at this moment, no one was speaking up for Yang Xiao anymore.
No one was willing to offend a Pharmacist Realm genius with a limitless future for the sake of some irrelevant waste.
"Brother Wang, congratulations! If I recall correctly, in the past five years, you are the only one, Brother Wang, to receive a score of ten points. Truly a heaven-sent talent, and worthy of being Master Wang's prized disciple."
"Pharmacist Li, you flatter me."
Wang Kaitai himself was also unable to contain his joy at this result.
However, being a man of deep cunning, he still suppressed his feelings and clasped his hands in a salute to Pharmacist Li.
But inwardly, he was ecstatic. 'Even a Second-level Peak Pharmacist like Li Zitong has to call me Brother Wang now. After word of this gets out, my status on Medicine Peak will be even higher! How dare those lowlifes Liu Yufan and Zhang Chengping think they are my equals!'
Wang Kaitai felt that he was truly in high spirits, his glory unmatched at this moment.
Ye Chenghao, however, was eager to collect on his bet. He had no interest in the so-called ten points or the glory within the Pharmacist Realm. His only interest lay in what everyone else was ignoring: the win and the loss.
So, upon seeing Wang Kaitai get a perfect score, he immediately walked up to Yang Xiao. "Yang the Great Waste, from now on, your life belongs to me! Hmph, you actually dared to hit me. This time, I'll show you how I'm going to deal with you!"