Chapter 110: Trial Pill Beast

As Zhang Xuan had said, Meng Yan indeed harbored resentment and murderous intent. He had, in fact, been genuinely betrayed by someone he trusted.

This all happened just this morning, and he had thought his anger had subsided. He never dreamed that such emotions would seep into his pill refinement process!

And yet… how did Zhang Xuan discern this? Simply from refining a pill? How could that be possible?

"Really?" "This…" Seeing Meng Yan's expression, even the most clueless among them knew Zhang Xuan must be right! They exchanged bewildered glances, finding it hard to believe.

"You can see not only murderous intent but also betrayal by a trusted person just from watching someone refine a pill? Are you a pill refining apprentice or a fortune-telling apprentice?"

"If anyone doubts my words, it's simple," Zhang Xuan said with a faint smile, seeing Meng Yan offered no reply. "The guild should have testing beasts, right? We can give this Calming Pill to one and see if it calms down or becomes agitated!"

To ensure the authenticity and efficacy of pills, the Pill Master Guild typically kept testing beasts. These beasts were highly sensitive to pills, and their reactions after consumption could be used to gauge a medicine's effects. In Zhang Xuan's previous life, they were akin to laboratory mice used for drug testing; only after passing these tests were medicines deemed safe for human consumption.

"Alright," Ouyang Cheng nodded. A pill refining apprentice went out and soon returned with a beast resembling a white mouse. He pried open its mouth and fed it the Calming Pill.

Moments later, the testing beast grew agitated, scurrying and scratching restlessly inside its cage, showing no sign of calming down.

"A normal Calming Pill would cause the testing beast to lie quietly to one side after consumption, but this one is clearly agitated after taking it…" As Zhang Xuan spoke, the testing beast that had consumed the pill suddenly rushed over to another testing beast in the cage, climbed onto it, and began forcibly engaging in activity.

"Ahem, not only that, but it also exhibits intense primal urges, indicating it not only fails to calm but also incites fury! Therefore, if my guess is correct, the person Pill Master Meng Yan killed today must have been a woman, one with whom he had a relationship, and who ultimately betrayed him! That's what made him so enraged, to the point where his refined pill carries strong possessiveness and madness!"

"This…" Seeing the testing beast in the cage forcefully suppressing the other, giving it no room to resist, the pill masters exchanged glances.

"Is this truly a Calming Pill? This isn't an aphrodisiac, is it?! Thank goodness it wasn't given to anyone else; otherwise, their minds wouldn't just fail to calm down, they'd become… *cough cough*, it would definitely cause a huge disaster!" Everyone shivered in realization.

"This morning, I discovered my most beloved concubine was having illicit relations with the steward, and in a fit of rage, I killed them both on the spot!" Meng Yan said, shaking his head, as everyone's gaze converged on him. Since the other party had described it in such detail, he had nothing left to hide. This incident had enraged him, leaving him in a bad mood all day, which was why he had been the first to challenge Zhang Xuan, wanting to make him look bad.

"Is that true?" "He could tell all that just from a pill?"

...Seeing Meng Yan's admission, everyone stared at Zhang Xuan as if he were a monster. If there had been any contempt before, now there was only solemnity. Pill refining could reflect one's state of mind, but to discern from a pill that the refiner had killed someone just that morning, and specifically his own concubine… "You're not a constable, are you?! Otherwise… how could you possibly know?"

"Alright, I've stated the flaws, Pill Master Meng Yan, do you need me to continue?" Zhang Xuan smiled, disregarding the crowd's astonishment. The Library of Heaven's Path could identify all flaws, making it effortless to discern that the concubine had betrayed him and that the pill contained murderous intent and resentment.

"No need, I concede!" Meng Yan admitted. So many pill masters present hadn't noticed any issue with the pill he refined; even he himself hadn't detected it. Yet, the other party saw it at a glance and knew so much… he had no choice but to be convinced!

"He… conceded just like that?" Wen Xue, standing nearby, widened her eyes. A dignified pill master conceding to an apprentice? If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it. However, upon reflection, it made sense: if he could discern even that, his insight was truly formidable. There was no way not to concede!

"Good, next!" With the first concession securing a good start, Zhang Xuan smiled and looked at the remaining nine people.

"I'll go next!" An old man stood up.

While everyone had previously thought Zhang Xuan was just causing trouble, Meng Yan's situation made them realize this fellow was a true master, a master among masters! No wonder he was so confident, daring to debate pills and even increase the difficulty.

"It's Pill Master Chen Xiao!" "Although Pill Master Chen isn't the highest-ranked among us in pill refinement, he is the oldest!" "He's a steady man, not hot-tempered like Meng Yan. I'm convinced!"

...Seeing the old man stand up, everyone nodded in silent approval.

Pill Master Chen Xiao was the oldest and most composed among the ten; there would certainly be no issues with his attempt.

The furnace fire roared. Before long, several pills were extracted. Like Meng Yan's earlier batch, they were Calming Pills, equally plump, rounded, and lustrous. However, these were clearly of a higher grade, achieving perfection.

"Alright, I've finished refining the pills," Pill Master Chen Xiao said calmly, holding the pills in his hand. "You don't need to tell me the technique; I can tell you myself. Like Pill Master Meng Yan, I used the Ten Tranquil Waters technique. If you can point out a flaw that convinces me, I'll concede!"

"Impressive!" "That's a cunning move!" "Refining the same pill with the same technique… Earlier, one could say Pill Master Meng Yan's murderous intent was a flaw in his refinement, but Pill Master Chen Xiao has a peaceful mind and a steady demeanor. Surely, such a flaw can't be found this time!" "Let's see what he does now…"

...Witnessing Pill Master Chen Xiao's action, everyone silently thought, 'Older ginger is spicier,' acknowledging his shrewdness.

Even Zhang Xuan couldn't help but nod. The opponent was indeed very clever. While ostensibly telling him the technique to save him the trouble of guessing, it actually increased the difficulty.

However, for the Library of Heaven's Path… it was no challenge at all!

Zhang Xuan looked over impassively. "If I'm not mistaken, Pill Master Chen Xiao hasn't been sleeping well lately and has lost his appetite, right?"

"Huh?" Pill Master Chen Xiao was startled. "It's true I haven't been sleeping well or wanting to eat lately, but… what does that have to do with refining pills?" Even if he didn't eat or sleep, what did it matter? Zhang Xuan only needed to point out flaws in his pill refining; why was he commenting on his physical condition? Besides… he hadn't been sleeping well or eating, and how did Zhang Xuan… know that?

"No relation? Wrong! Not only is there a relation, but it's a very significant one!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"Very significant? Tell me about it." Pill Master Chen Xiao held back his curiosity, looking at him.

"Heh heh, if my guess is correct… you're about to die!" Zhang Xuan stated.