Chapter 113: Technique

To discern the borrowed elements from an already created alchemy technique is like trying to identify which wells a pot of water came from—an utterly impossible task!

Unless one witnesses the technique being created step by step, it is absolutely impossible to identify three borrowed elements. Cheng Jiang's challenge is at least five times harder than simply spotting flaws!

Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

As expected of an alchemist, not as easy to deal with as imagined.

This fellow appears all smiles and open-hearted, but in reality, he is the most shameless of them all.

Agreeing... to identify borrowed elements from an alchemy technique is nearly impossible! Refusing? The difficulty was added by me initially, so why can't he add his own? If I refuse, even if I win the debate, I'll be criticized for not being fair.

"What? I know this is very difficult. It's normal for you to refuse, but... if you refuse, can I count my question as your failure?" Cheng Jiang said with a smile.

"Failure?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I just happen to want to see Alchemist Cheng's new technique. Let's begin!"

This trick might work on others, making them flustered, but against Zhang Xuan, it was useless.

Finding flaws in alchemy was not due to Zhang Xuan's extraordinary eyesight, but the Library of Heaven's Path. As long as the library existed, no matter what technique, whether newly created or not, its content would be clearly displayed without any issue.

"Good!" Seeing him agree, Alchemist Cheng Jiang's eyes flickered, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He took the herbs and stepped up to the furnace.

Swish, swish!

Herbs flew about, his every movement fluid and graceful, exuding a special美感 from afar.

"It is indeed a new technique; I've never seen it before!"

"He's refining the [Jusheng Pill], isn't he!"

"Yes, the Jusheng Pill is effective for martial artists below the seventh level, especially useful for those in the Jusheng realm. Among formal pills, it's not precious, but it's the most practical for martial artists. Usually, formal alchemists use this pill as a base for their assessment exams, precisely because it better showcases the characteristics of the technique, making it look smoother and harder to identify!"

"Anyway, I can't tell what techniques it borrows from..."

"Me neither..."

...

Many alchemists watched for a while and shook their heads simultaneously.

"Alchemist Cheng is really ruthless!"

Ouyang Cheng, standing to the side, glanced and couldn't help shaking his head. "With his one-star alchemist level, refining the most basic Jusheng Pill not only makes the movements smooth and hard to distinguish, but more importantly, the time is short. Even if one wants to analyze it, they can't. This time, Zhang Xuan will probably have a hard time passing..."

Although Alchemist Cheng Jiang could refine higher-grade first-grade pills, it would certainly be troublesome and not effortless. It's like Yang Guo being able to wield the Heavy Iron Sword but unable to flick out sword flowers with ease.

Switching to the most basic Jusheng Pill changes things, like Yang Guo switching to an ordinary long sword—extremely easy, not just one sword flower, but ten are no problem.

This Alchemist Cheng, smiling all the while, is actually the most ruthless. Refining the Jusheng Pill not only makes the technique faster but also shortens the refining time considerably. A normal first-grade pill takes half an hour; his takes less than fifteen minutes to succeed!

In such a short time, identify three borrowed elements?

How is that possible?

Clearly, Zhang Xuan has been set up!

"Could it be... he's going to fail?"

Hearing Ouyang Cheng's judgment, Wen Xue clenched her small fists.

"It should be very difficult to pass..."

Ouyang Cheng sighed.

"Interesting!"

Originally having no ill will toward this Cheng Jiang, Zhang Xuan hadn't expected him to be so despicable as to use this trick. His eyes turned cold.

As a cultured, knowledgeable, dreamy, and insightful new-generation time traveler, how could he allow himself to be bullied without fighting back?

Whoosh!

The Jusheng Pill was successfully refined, yielding seven or eight pills that rolled out of the furnace.

"I'm done. Zhang Xuan, please!"

Alchemist Cheng Jiang looked over, smiling lightly, full of confidence.

His technique indeed borrowed from more than three alchemy methods, but he had refined it quickly and smoothly, making it nearly impossible for the other party to discern!

And... most importantly, even if the other party got it right, he could deny it!

With so many alchemy techniques, which ones were borrowed was ultimately up to him to decide!

A little brat popping up from nowhere, thinking he could step on my shoulders and win the debate... dream on!

"If I name the three techniques you borrowed from, will you concede?"

Zhang Xuan looked at him with a playful expression.

"Of course. I am a formal alchemist, of high status and noble rank; I wouldn't go back on my word to an apprentice!" Alchemist Cheng Jiang flicked his sleeve, his tone filled with pride.

"Very well, since you say so, this is simple!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, stepped forward, circled the furnace once, and then glanced at the Jusheng Pill in his hand.

He gently pinched one, brought it to his nose, and sniffed.

"This Jusheng Pill has a full color and glossy luster. By pill standards, it's probably reached perfection!" Zhang Xuan praised, then changed his tone: "However..."

"Limited by Alchemist Cheng's technique, reaching perfection is already the limit. It's almost impossible to produce pill patterns!"

"A Jusheng Pill, even with pill patterns, what use would it be?"

Alchemist Cheng Jiang sneered.

This kind of Jusheng Pill is just a basic pill, helping martial artists speed up qi gathering. Even if one could refine it with pill patterns, it would be a waste!

"True!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, not dwelling on the issue. He smiled lightly: "To answer about the technique, dwelling on this is indeed pointless. Alright, since you ask, I'll answer. Let's not talk about which techniques your set borrowed from first; let's first talk about how many techniques you know in total. Knowing that might reveal clues!"

"Three years ago, Alchemist Cheng used the [Ten Thousand Streams Transforming Rain] technique to refine the first-grade [Huilu Pill] and passed the alchemist assessment. That same year, you learned the [Northern River Converging Flow] technique and refined the [Anshen Pill]."

"In the spring of the second year, you went to congratulate Alchemist Bai Ming on his birthday, secretly sneaked into his study, copied his [Thousand Silk Phantom Hand], and used it to refine the first-grade [Cuidi Pill], thereby gaining fame!"

"In winter, you discussed techniques with Alchemist Lin Mu and secretly learned his [Ice Silk Condensing Hand]."

"In the summer of the year before last, you spent fifty thousand gold coins to bribe Alchemist Jin Chen's steward, Jin Lu, and successfully copied a copy of [Golden Spring Flowing Cloud Hand]."

...

"In March of last year, you used deception to trick Zhu Huahua, an apprentice under Du Man, and learned Alchemist Du's unique technique [Hundred Entangling Hand] from him..."

...

"Now let me count: Ten Thousand Streams Transforming Rain, Northern River Converging Flow... these techniques add up to twelve in total."

Zhang Xuan recounted them as if reciting from memory, then turned to look at the alchemist not far away: "Alchemist Cheng Jiang, did I miss any or add any?"

"You... you..."

Cheng Jiang's face turned pale. He stepped back repeatedly, as if seeing a monster, his pupils contracting continuously.