Chapter 171 - The Ninth Question

"Physician Lu, watch your conduct," Master Lu Song said with a stern frown. "This is an open dialectic of medical theory, not a marketplace brawl."

Bai Qingxian turned her head slightly and smiled politely as she looked at Lu Feng.

"Perhaps," Bai Qingxian said calmly, "you need more experience."

A wave of chuckles spread through the audience. Lu Feng’s face flushed bright red, his fists clenching at his sides as he choked on his own words.

Up on the hidden balcony, Grand Elder Gu let out a soft laugh. "Ha! That girl has a sharp mind."

Grandmaster Yao took a slow sip from her pristine white teacup, giving a slight nod of genuine approval.

***

The dialectic continued without pause. Questions two through eight tested the candidates across every discipline of the Four Pillars.

To hold the rank of Master Physician, one could not rely on a single discipline. A true master had to be able to handle fatal toxins like a Poison Master, blend rare herbs like an Apothecary, and refine medicinal pills like an Alchemist as well. Only someone who has gained enough expertise in all four disciplines could claim the title of Master Physician.

Bai Qingxian herself had expertise in all four disciplines, having trained her entire life in the Medicine Valley.

All four Masters asked rapid cases covering different types of injuries and cultivation backlashes, testing their foundation under heavy pressure.

In the eastern guest pavilion, Su Ming watched the exchange with quiet focus.

Even with his limited skills, these explanations broadened his horizons. ’The Dao of Medicine is truly profound,’ Su Ming thought, taking a slow sip of tea.

’That Meridian Reconstruction was truly heaven-defying.’

It seemed like only because Su Ming did not know the full extent of what he did back then, he was able to do it without much thinking about it. And by now he understood that Bai Qingxian’s reaction was not that unnatural.

As the questions grew more complex, all candidates felt the strain. The questions tested not only their knowledge of medicine but also their ability to think quickly under pressure.

By the eighth question, Senior Physician Fang, Senior Physician Shen, and Senior Physician Han reached their limits. With pale faces and ragged breath, the three senior physicians bowed toward the platform and stepped back to the outer ring.

Even Lu Feng was pushed to his limit. He was sweating profusely as he fought to come up with answers to the questions.

Only Bai Qingxian remained standing at the center. Her expression remained calm.

Master Su Wen and Master Lu Song exchanged a look, then asked the ninth question.

***

"Consider this scenario," Master Lu Song announced. "An elder returns from the frontline with corpse poison corroding his heart, calcified pill toxins clogging his blood channels, and failing heart vitality. If you purge the poison, it destroys his already weak heart. If you clear the pill toxins, it spreads the corpse poison further. How do you resolve this fatal knot?"

The hall fell silent. It was a famous medical riddle from fifty years ago, left unsolved by older generations.

Eager to reclaim the upper hand, Lu Feng took a hasty step forward. "First, I will flood the chest with raw Wood vitality to steady the heart, then start scouring the pill toxins!"

Master Gu He slammed his palm against his stone armrest. "Reckless! Raw vitality will feed the corpse poison. You would turn a curable poisoning into irreversible bone rot within three breaths!"

Lu Feng’s face flushed, but he refused to yield. "Then I will purge the corpse poison first with Golden Sun Needle Flames!"

"Foolish!" Master Su Wen shook his head. "The elder’s heart is already failing. Unleashing such blazing needle fire in his chest will incinerate his remaining life essence before the poison even clears."

Cold sweat dripped down Lu Feng’s chin. Desperation crept into his voice as he tried a third time. "Then freeze the blood flow with Glacial Frost seals to buy time, then slowly scrape away the pill toxins!"

"If you freeze the blood flow, the calcified pill toxins will permanently harden," Master Lu Song said coldly. "The moment circulation returns, the blood vessels will burst, and the patient will die."

Lu Feng turned pale. He took a stumbling step back, his hands trembling at his sides as cold sweat soaked his collar.

He could not see any path forward. Every treatment led straight to death.

Then, a sudden thought struck him. The panic on his face vanished, replaced by a confident grin.

’Of course,’ Lu Feng thought, regaining his composure. ’This is a trick question. A true physician must recognize when a patient cannot be saved. Knowing one’s limits is the real test!’

Standing tall once more, Lu Feng bowed slightly toward the platform with a smug smile.

"Masters, this question has no answer," Lu Feng declared loudly. "The four afflictions contradict each other entirely. In the real world, such a patient is already dead. The correct response of a responsible physician is to acknowledge their limits and let the patient pass in peace."

***

Up on the hidden balcony, Grand Elder Gu let out a quiet sigh. "Well, at least the boy understands his limits. But this isn’t right. It has been a long time since then... You should just let it go. Testing juniors on your own regret... that is just cruel."

Grandmaster Yao’s fingers tightened slightly against the porcelain cup. She did not answer, her gaze remaining fixed on the young woman standing below.

***

The four masters seemed to accept Lu Feng’s answer, exchanging knowing looks among themselves.

Seeing their reaction, Lu Feng’s grin widened with supreme confidence. He was certain he had won this round and finally surpassed Bai Qingxian.

’How was that?’ he thought, glaring sideways at her. ’A master physician must know their limits, and so should you.’

Turning toward her, Lu Feng let out a light laugh. "Physician Bai, don’t you have anything to say? Or do you still plan to force something impossible?"

Bai Qingxian simply ignored him and stepped forward.