Chapter 2170: Medical Contest

The Physician Guild was extremely far from their residence. The two rode a divine beast for over half an hour before arriving. Like the previous Hall of Masters, the building was neither grand nor magnificent, giving it the appearance of a private clinic.

Entering, they saw the hall packed with people, all wearing uniform robes, looking hurried.

Physician Wang Qing, Physician Yue Quan, Physician Shen Zimu...

Looking at the people in the hall, Qi Ling'er quickly recognized some, full of curiosity.

Are these people famous? Zhang Xuan frowned.

They are considered the most skilled physicians in the entire Soul Nether Imperial City! Usually, each has their own affairs, and even in the same imperial city, they keep their distance from each other. Why are they all gathered here? Qi Ling'er was puzzled.

Physician Wang Qing was the imperial physician of their Qi family, specializing in treating the Qi family's high-ranking members; Yue Quan was the imperial physician of the Beitang family; as for Shen Zimu, he stood with the Shentu family.

The three families appeared peaceful on the surface but secretly competed a lot. Normally, even at the Physician Guild's plenary meetings, they would avoid each other and rarely meet. Now appearing together, it was hard not to be surprised.

Let's find someone to ask!

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly, found a physician, and casually handed over ten divine coins: What... happened?

It was a young man, about thirty years old. Seeing the other party so generous, he didn't hide anything: It's the Medical Contest!

Medical Contest? Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

There are alchemy contests and artifact forging contests, but can medicine also be contested?

In alchemy, whoever takes less time, uses fewer ingredients, and produces higher-grade pills wins; in artifact forging, whoever forges a superior weapon wins... How do you compete in medicine?

Surely not by testing drugs on patients!

As an outsider, it's normal not to know. The Medical Contest is the most direct way for physicians to exchange skills. Through several processes like diagnosis and treatment, it determines whose medical skills are superior... the young physician explained.

Other professions can distinguish strength, and so can physicians.

Just waiting for a disease you can't cure, then I step in—how long would that take?

Therefore, many physicians, to gain fame quickly, participate in such medical contests. If they stand out, everyone acknowledges their medical skill.

Diagnosis, treatment... they need patients, right? Does this contest require preparing patients with difficult and complicated diseases in advance? And waiting together? Zhang Xuan found it strange.

As a physician, he understood what the other said, but without patients, even the best physician couldn't make something out of nothing!

And once patients are prepared for the contest... it involves humanitarian issues, far from simple.

That's not necessary. The Medical Contest has its own system. Sometimes special patients are needed, but sometimes not. After all, there can't be that many patients, nor can patients wait for the contest time...

the young physician said.

Saving lives is like fighting a fire. If you wait for all contestants to arrive and then jointly rescue, trying various medicines... even if not dead, they'd be half dead!

The Medical Contest is definitely different from normal contests.

Zhang Xuan was about to ask how it works when he saw the physicians suddenly stir, and then a middle-aged man strode onto the platform at the front, his expression solemn.

It's Sun Xuan, the president of the Physician Guild...

recognizing him, Qi Ling'er transmitted.

Zhang Xuan stopped asking and looked over.

The president appeared about forty, with a steady aura, also at the peak of Upper Grade Divine Lord like himself.

Everyone, the Cloud Chi Heaven has openly challenged our Soul Nether Heaven, demanding a medical contest, and has signed a life-and-death pact. If we lose, the physicians of our Soul Nether Heaven Physician Guild must admit they are stronger, and we must even send our top ten physicians to serve the Cloud Chi Heaven for free for a hundred years... I cannot tolerate this. What about you?

Looking around, the middle-aged president Sun Xuan spoke with anger.

We certainly can't tolerate it!

The Cloud Chi Heaven relies only on bloodlines. What do they know about medicine? How can they compare to us?

Free service for a hundred years—if that happens, our Soul Nether Heaven physicians will never hold our heads high...

...

A stir arose, and everyone in the room looked grim.

Since everyone cannot tolerate it, then fight! For the Soul Nether Heaven, we cannot lose.

Seeing everyone burning with anger and morale high, Sun Xuan nodded: I now announce the list of participants. There are five in total, all selected as the most renowned physicians in the Soul Nether Heaven. If anyone has objections, they can raise them, but they must first defeat the selected ones!

Everyone nodded simultaneously.

In literature, there is no first; in martial arts, no second.

Medical skill, like literature, is hard to judge who is first and who is second. But within the same circle, people have some idea of who is superior.

Thanks to everyone's esteem, I serve as the president of the Physician Guild. This time, if I don't face the challenge, I will surely be criticized. So, I count myself as one. No objections, right?

Sun Xuan said.

Since the president personally takes action, we have no objections... Everyone nodded simultaneously.

Physicians Wang Qing, Yue Quan, and Shen Zimu serve the three great families and can even treat ailments of Sealed Divine Kings. Their medical skill is beyond doubt. They can fight! Sun Xuan continued.

Everyone nodded again.

These three, as imperial physicians of the three families and deeply trusted, fully demonstrate their ability.

They are qualified to represent the Soul Nether Heaven.

As for the last one, I would like everyone to nominate someone suitable.

In the blink of an eye, four were confirmed. For the last spot, Sun Xuan continued.

If nominating, I nominate Physician Chen Chao! Eight years ago, when the Plague Disease appeared, he single-handedly turned the tide, saving no fewer than a thousand experts. His achievements are outstanding, and his medical skill is superb!

I nominate Physician Zhao Chong! In recent years, everyone can see his achievements. He easily treats various difficult and complicated diseases. In the past decade, he has saved no fewer than a hundred people, and everyone calls him a divine physician... He is definitely qualified to fight against the Cloud Chi Heaven!

I think Physician Qian Hai is most qualified. Although not famous, he is a down-to-earth person who does real work, never flashy...

...

In a flash, seven or eight candidates were listed below.

Each was famous in the Soul Nether Imperial City, occupying a position and revered by countless people.

As the crowd debated, unable to decide quickly, Zhang Xuan turned to the girl beside him and asked: If I become one of these five, would I be qualified to use the Great Teleportation Array?

They had come specifically to find a way to qualify for the Great Teleportation. Given the current situation, no one likely had the energy to assess them. So why not compete for a spot?

Unlikely... Even physicians Wang Qing, Yue Quan, and Shen Zimu don't have such qualifications. In the entire Soul Nether Heaven, only President Sun Xuan has it. If you really want it... you probably not only need to secure one of the five spots but also surpass the Cloud Chi Heaven people and win this medical contest...

pausing, Qi Ling'er said.

The first requirement for using the Great Teleportation Array is Divine King... That shows its level!

If being in the top five of a single profession in a city were enough, it wouldn't be as difficult as legend says.

So difficult? Zhang Xuan was stunned, curious: If using such a great teleportation array is so hard, doesn't it mean the Nine Heavens hardly communicate?

If the top five of a profession can't use it, how many professions are there in the heavens?

Calculating this way, those in the Soul Nether Heaven can't enter other heavens, and those from other heavens can't come in. How can business be done? How can they communicate?

Wouldn't the Divine Realm develop separately, like stagnant water?

How could they not communicate! Qi Ling'er smiled wryly and shook her head: What you need is a quota to use the Great Teleportation Array... not a quota to enter other heavens! If you ride a flying divine beast, you can enter freely, no one cares... Many merchants, not caring about time, travel by flying divine beast!

Zhang Xuan slapped his forehead and smiled wryly.

He had been overthinking.

She was right. The Great Teleportation Array instantly sends people to the other party's imperial city or lair, hence the restrictions. Ordinary people riding flying divine beasts, slowly, even a nearby city takes ten days to half a month, so it's irrelevant.

Ordinary gods might think ten days or half a month is long, but for those at the Divine Lord realm, with lifespans easily over a thousand years, any cultivation takes months or even years, so time loses meaning.

Since everyone can't decide, we'll use the simplest method. Gather the selected physicians and conduct a physician assessment. Whoever gets first place naturally has the highest medical skill and will represent the Soul Nether Heaven in the battle against the Cloud Chi Heaven!

As they conversed, Sun Xuan on the stage made a decision.

Good!

Everyone below nodded simultaneously.

Everyone has their own idea of a skilled physician. Simply by election, it's impossible to choose or find the truly skilled. Instead, why not hold an internal medical contest!

Whoever stands out is the strongest, no doubt.

Then please, the selected ones, come to the stage... Seeing everyone agree, Sun Xuan said.

Soon, the eight physicians nominated by the crowd walked up. They were the most famous physicians in the Soul Nether Imperial City over the past decade, each with admirable achievements.

Are there any others willing to challenge? As long as you can defeat them, you also have the chance to represent the Soul Nether Imperial City!

Sun Xuan looked at the crowd again.

Young Master Zhang, do you want to participate?

Qi Ling'er looked at him.

She had no idea about his medical skill, but since he possessed the bloodline of the Divine Emperor, she dared not say much, only asking to see his attitude.