Resplendent – Chapter 483

Chapter 483: Two Level 6 

The two pharmacists nodded repeatedly, feeling greatly enlightened. They showed the two kinds of Turtle Blood with Hare’s Ear to other pharmacists, and everyone agreed: they were top-quality products, with preparation techniques far surpassing Level 6. However, in the Intermediate Pharmacist assessment, the highest rank that could be awarded was Level 6.

The two pharmacists handed the apothecary robe embroidered with six lingzhi mushrooms to the little girl who was nearly a head shorter than them, their hearts free of any sense of condescension.

Pharmacist Fang rarely had a chance to speak with a disciple of the Sage Apothecary, so he smiled and asked, “Miss, when you take the Level 7 Pharmacist assessment, will you also be preparing hare’s ear?”

Gu Ye accepted the robe and the small Level Six badge, shaking her head at the question. “There aren’t many ways to prepare hare’s ears, so there’s nothing much to innovate on. Next time, I plan to prepare Nine Steamed Nine Sun-Dried Sealwort.”

“Nine Steamed Nine Sun-Dried? The Sage Apothecary’s unique method?” Pharmacist Li, another pharmacist, exclaimed in surprise, then immediately fixed his serious gaze on the little girl before him. It turned out she was the Sage Apothecary’s last disciple. How had he not thought of that before?

Recalling the attentive attitude Pharmacist Fang had shown her, he became even more certain of the little girl’s identity. No wonder she could skip assessments and jump straight to Level 6! Truly, experts emerge from renowned families!

“Wishing you all the best, miss!” There were still many pharmacists waiting for their results behind Gu Ye, so Pharmacist Fang didn’t say more and simply smiled, seeing the girl off.

Pharmacist Li sighed softly. “Junior Brother Fang, did you know all along?”

“Not exactly! I had only guessed before, but I just confirmed her identity. The Sage’s lineage is going to gain tremendous renown after this convention!” Pharmacist Fang was well-informed and had already heard about Grand Pharmacist Jiang’s son, who, after only two assessments, had achieved Level 6. Truly, the disciples of the Sage Apothecary were each more impressive than the last!

Pharmacist Li nodded in agreement. Over the twenty-odd years since the Sage disappeared, his name had gradually faded from public attention. His disciple, Grand Pharmacist Jiang, was likewise low-profile. Hence, many young people had heard the Sage’s name but had no idea how extraordinarily gifted he had been in his prime. The Sage’s young apprentice and grand-disciple seemed poised to surpass even their master!

Before the Sage Apothecary disappeared, Pharmacist Li, in his thirties, had been his devoted admirer. Even catching a glimpse of the Sage from afar, or receiving a nod and smile from him, could excite him for a long time. When he was young, his family had tried every means to have him accepted as a disciple of the Sage Apothecary.

But there were too many with the same ambition, and he wasn’t the most outstanding candidate, so the outcome was predictable.

Who would have thought that Jiang Qiu who was ten or so years younger and knew nothing about pharmacology would win the favor of the Sage and become his sole disciple? At that time, it made countless pharmacists envious!

With talent and the guidance of a renowned master, Jiang Qiu grew rapidly, becoming a Level Nine pharmacist before turning twenty. Then, suddenly, his master—the Sage Apothecary—disappeared. Yet this did not stop Jiang Qiu’s path to becoming a Grand Pharmacist.

Fifteen years ago, at just twenty-five, Jiang Qiu became the youngest Grand Pharmacist, commanding unmatched prestige. For a time, he was unrivaled in fame. Although the title of ‘youngest Grand Pharmacist’ was soon overtaken by his junior fellow disciple—Grand Pharmacist Baili—both of them hailed from the same lineage.

The Sage Apothecary’s line gradually became almost mythic within the pharmacist world, and the new generation of young pharmacists clamored to become disciples of Baili Yunji or Jiang Qiu.

However, the more renowned a pharmacist was, the stricter their standards for taking on students. To date, Grand Pharmacist Jiang had only three disciples aside from his sole son. These three were diligent, yet slightly lacking in innate talent; currently, they were two Level Eight pharmacists and one Level 6 pharmacist. No wonder the Huang Sect dared to challenge the Jiang family with a Level 9 pharmacist among their ranks!

However, after the last pharmacology duel, Huang Sect suffered a major setback. Grand Pharmacist Huang had severely disciplined his two disciples and strictly regulated all the disciples under him.

The Sage Apothecary was known for being fiercely protective and unpredictable in temperament. Moreover, this incident had been initiated by his two disciples. If the Sage Apothecary were to pursue it, Grand Pharmacist Huang would have no choice but to painfully abandon these two disciples to quell the Sage’s anger.

The Huang Sect’s Level Nine pharmacist was also present in the viewing stand. Jiang Zhongtian and Gu Ye had consecutively achieved Level 6 pharmacist qualifications, and had done so with such ease in claiming the Level 6 badges. It was something he had never anticipated. Judging by their momentum, the two of them were bound to continue on to the senior pharmacist examination…

Despite this, he didn’t take them seriously. The senior pharmacist exam was by no means easy to pass. Countless pharmacists had stalled in their careers here, unable to advance any further. Without innate talent or exceptional comprehension, no amount of diligence would suffice.

Wasn’t Young Master Jiang’s second senior brother living proof of that? He had been stuck at Level 6 for around eight years, and this year it was still uncertain whether he could get promoted. Did he lack resources?  Did he not work hard? Without talent, even studying under a famous master was in vain!

The ninth-level pharmacist’s gaze followed Jiang Zhongtian. The boy was currently animatedly talking to his Little Aunt Master!

“Aunt Master, quickly put on this Level 6 pharmacist robe! So, tell me, where shall we celebrate tonight?” Jiang Zhongtian took the pharmacist robe from Gu Ye, unfolded it, and began helping her put it on. After helping her put it on, he immediately realized something was off and couldn’t help but burst out laughing!

It turned out that Level 6 pharmacist robes were mostly sized for adults, with large, medium, and small options. Even the smallest robe looked like a costume for a grand opera on Gu Ye.

For adults, the sleeves reached just past the elbows; on her, they hung loosely well below the bend of her arms. For adults, the robe ended above the knees; on her, it nearly dragged on the ground—clearly, a child wearing adult clothes!

Pharmacists nearby who had just passed their exams and were trying on robes themselves couldn’t help but laugh. Jiang Zhongtian laughed even harder, exaggerating it and continuously rubbing his belly.

Gu Ye ground her teeth, wishing she could grab his hair and scratch some red marks onto his face. With a dark, terrifying tone, she asked, “Funny, is it?”

Jiang Zhongtian immediately realized the severity of his lapse, quickly wiped the smile off his face, his cheeks twitching like they had a cramp, standing rigid, and loudly said, “Not at all!”

“Have you laughed enough? If not, I can help you laugh your fill!” Gu Ye clearly had no intention of letting him off easily. Anyone who dared mock her small stature was her enemy!

“Aunt Master, I’m sorry! I won’t ever do it again! Please spare me this time…” Jiang Zhongtian, thinking of the strange medicines in her hands, immediately cowered, quickly apologized with utmost sincerity and good manners.

Gu Ye shifted her shoulders, shaking the pharmacist robe off her body onto the ground. Jiang Zhongtian, like a bootlicker, picked it up, dusted off the dirt, and hurriedly followed after her.