Chapter 270: Not an Incompetent Doctor, Then What?

“Calling Master Qingyang an incompetent doctor?” “Saying he’s a fool with poor medical skills?”

Everyone was stunned.

Miss Mo Yu, who had always harbored a dislike for Zhang Xuan, was also taken aback.

Directly calling a Medical Grandmaster an incompetent doctor was tantamount to insulting his professional integrity and completely tearing off all pretense of cordiality.

You, a person who knows nothing about medicine, are acting like a know-it-all.

Castrating a spirit beast, though uncommon, wasn't unheard of. Given the Iron-toothed Roaring Heavenly Tiger's current state, was there any other option than this?

“Beast Tamer Zhang...” Hall Master Feng's expression changed, not expecting Zhang Xuan to speak up at this moment, much less hurl insults. He quickly waved his hand, “Master Qingyang, please don’t be angry, he didn’t mean it...”

“Shut up!” Master Qingyang’s face was contorted with fury, like an enraged lion. He glared coldly at the young man, his voice icy, “For thirty-nine years, I, Qingyang, have practiced medicine, my name renowned throughout the kingdom. I have healed countless people and saved countless lives. This is the first time I’ve ever been so insulted. Young man, I don’t care if you’re a certified beast tamer or what your background is. If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

*Boom!* As his words ended, a powerful aura surged heavenward from his body, forcing Yun Tao and the others to instinctively retreat.

He was also a Master Realm expert!

Regardless of the profession, one not only needed special talent but also matching strength. Reaching two-star status generally meant being a Master Realm expert. This was why one-star professions were called Masters, and two-star professions were called Grandmasters — not just out of respect for the profession, but more importantly, out of awe for their cultivation.

As the most skilled physician in the entire Beiwu Kingdom, Qingyang had practiced medicine his entire life. He had never been insulted like this. If not for his high self-control, he would have exploded long ago.

“You haven’t been insulted like this... that’s because you haven’t met me yet. If you had met me earlier, I would have already insulted you!” Facing the opponent’s pressure, Zhang Xuan looked on with an unperturbed expression.

Master Qingyang’s eyebrows twitched. “Do you think I wouldn’t dare kill you?”

“Kill me? You made a baseless diagnosis without even identifying the illness. If we followed your advice, not only would this Roaring Heavenly Beast not be saved, it would die on the spot... Is that your diagnosis? What else would you call an incompetent doctor? And you want to kill me... You can’t even let someone point out your mistakes; how thick-skinned can you be?” Zhang Xuan lifted an eyelid.

“You...” Had he not heard those words, it might have been fine, but upon hearing them, Master Qingyang was so enraged he almost spat blood.

He had unleashed his full Grandmaster Realm pressure, expecting the other party to tremble and apologize. He never dreamed that Zhang Xuan would not only speak with righteous indignation but also call him thick-skinned...

To be a dignified Medical Grandmaster, publicly insulted like this, he was almost driven mad.

“Still unconvinced? Then let me tell you!” Just as Master Qingyang’s rage burned and he was about to erupt, the young man took two steps and arrived in front of the Roaring Heavenly Beast.

“To determine the age of an Iron-toothed Roaring Heavenly Beast, the most direct method is by its teeth. An adult Roaring Heavenly Beast has teeth that are precisely three feet three inches exposed. Any beast tamer should know this, so I won’t elaborate!”

Zhang Xuan pointed at the Roaring Heavenly Beast before them. “This fellow’s teeth are only two feet seven inches, meaning it’s still some distance from adulthood. If I’m not mistaken, it should only be seventeen years old. Considering the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s two-hundred-year lifespan, this is still its childhood... I’d like to ask, how could a spirit beast in its childhood be looking for a mate?”

Hall Master Feng and the others, who had initially thought Zhang Xuan was just messing around, were all stunned by his words.

While others might not know the exact age of this Roaring Heavenly Beast, they were perfectly clear about it. It had been raised here since it was young, and it was indeed seventeen years old. There was no error in his statement.

If they hadn’t known beforehand, seeing its massive size, they would never have believed it was only seventeen.

For a spirit beast with a two-hundred-year lifespan, this age was comparable to a human child of seven or eight.

“It’s a spirit beast...” Master Qingyang grunted, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

“Don’t tell me that spirit beasts’ bodies are different from humans and their development varies. If this creature were truly in heat and seeking a mate, at most it would be restless and irritable. It wouldn’t fall into a coma and become unresponsive just from being in heat... Master Qingyang, by making such a diagnosis, do you think... you’re like it?” Zhang Xuan continued.

“He’s right!” “Being in heat at most causes discomfort. I’ve never heard of anyone falling into a coma just from wanting a mate!” The crowd was initially stunned, then began to murmur among themselves.

For an adult to seek a mate is a physiological need and nothing unusual. It happens not only with spirit beasts but with humans too. However, no one had ever heard of someone getting so desperate from not finding a partner that they passed out.

This simply defied all common sense!

“Hmph!” Master Qingyang’s face was flushed red. He wanted to explain but didn’t know how to respond. He flicked his sleeve and snorted, “If you say it’s not in heat, then why is it so agitated? Especially on a full moon night, constantly running back and forth, with seemingly endless energy to vent?”

“Agitation and endless energy mean it’s looking for a mate? What kind of theory is that?” Zhang Xuan shook his head. “If that were the only reason, why wouldn’t it want to eat? Why would it show no interest in anything?”

Master Qingyang was silenced.

If it truly wanted a mate, even if a spirit beast couldn’t speak, it would show various signs. Not eating and having no interest in anything was indeed puzzling.

“According to what that apprentice said earlier, we know that this creature only started refusing food ten days ago, and its condition gradually worsened over the past few days, until this morning, it couldn’t bear it anymore and fell unconscious. If it really wanted to find a mate, it could simply fly away. It doesn’t seem like the Beast Hall has it chained up, preventing it from flying, does it?”

Everyone nodded simultaneously.

The Beast Hall was practically fawning over it; how could they possibly chain it up?

If it truly desired a mate and was uncomfortable, it could simply fly out and search for one. It wouldn’t stay in the courtyard and literally suffocate itself unconscious!

Hearing these analyses, everyone became doubtful of Master Qingyang’s previous diagnosis, and they all looked at him with strange expressions.

“Then... what do you say is going on?” Master Qingyang’s face paled. He also realized he had overlooked quite a few details, and his previous anger subsided. He couldn’t help but ask.

“If it’s not seeking a mate, then the rest is simple... The Roaring Heavenly Beast is either genuinely gravely ill or there’s another reason!” Zhang Xuan looked around. “Everyone can take a look at the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s hooves.”

“Unlike eagle-type spirit beasts, the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s hooves are encased in thick muscle, similar to human feet. Normally, these hooves should be a golden-cyan color, but this one’s flesh tone reveals red patterns.”

Everyone simultaneously looked at the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s hooves, and upon inspection, they indeed discovered some blood-red patterns.

These patterns were extremely faint, similar to capillaries, and difficult to notice without careful observation.

“Most spirit beasts have a flesh crown, and this Roaring Heavenly Beast is no exception. Under normal circumstances, the flesh crown would be bloody red, but at this moment, it’s slightly pale. Though subtle, it’s still discernible.” Zhang Xuan continued.

The crowd looked again, and it was indeed as he had described.

“What exactly is this illness?” Seeing him point out so many subtle changes, the crowd’s belief in him increased a few notches. Hall Master Feng couldn’t help but ask.

“To say it’s an illness isn’t quite right. To be precise, I should congratulate Hall Master Feng.”

“Congratulate? Congratulate me for what?” Hall Master Feng looked bewildered.

The Roaring Heavenly Beast was unconscious, and it was unknown if its life was in danger. Furthermore, even if they knew the illness and how to treat it, they still needed to revive it first. Why offer congratulations now?

“If I’m not mistaken, the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s bloodline is advancing!” Zhang Xuan stated.

“Bloodline advancement? This... How is this possible?” Hall Master Feng froze, and the others also found it hard to believe.

Bloodline advancement in spirit beasts was similar to mutation, extremely rare, and impossible without a fundamental trigger.

The so-called triggers included absorbing purer blood or consuming certain natural treasures...

It seemed none of these had occurred!

Moreover, even with bloodline advancement, it wouldn’t cause a coma as if gravely ill.

Seeing their disbelief, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and looked at Hall Master Feng. “About half a month ago, did this Iron-toothed Roaring Heavenly Beast go to a place with dense Yin energy?”

“This... Half a month ago, it specifically transported someone to Yin Wind Valley!” Beast Tamer Wang replied.

He was the one who had piloted it there, and he remembered it very clearly.

“Yin Wind Valley has dense Yin energy and produces a powerful Yin-attribute fruit, the Yin Wind Fruit, which can greatly enhance the cultivation of those with Yin-attribute physiques. Presumably, that person used it as payment!” Zhang Xuan said.

“Yes!” Beast Tamer Wang nodded.

When riding a Beast Hall mount, one could pay with money or rare natural treasures.

The Yin Wind Fruit was renowned. If sold alone, it was valuable and hard to come by, so Beast Tamer Wang naturally accepted it as payment.

“The problem lies with that Yin Wind Fruit!”

Zhang Xuan smiled. “As you all know, this Roaring Heavenly Beast is male. Its body is abundant with Yang fire. After consuming the Yin Wind Fruit, Yin and Yang clashed. Normally, it would just feel uncomfortable, and with its massive size, it would quickly overcome it! However, you mistakenly gave it Spirit Cleansing Water.”

“Spirit Cleansing Water calms the mind and clears the spirit, eliminating irritability. Its main ingredient is Yeast Grass.”

“This is a stable, neutralizing medicine, and normally, consuming any amount wouldn’t cause harm. However, coincidentally, this substance directly clashes with the Yin Wind Fruit. Upon contact, it immediately triggers a reaction, causing the Yin-attribute energy to fully erupt, amplifying its effects by more than three times. The combination of these two is precisely the main ingredient for refining Sun-Breaking Pills, which have a tremendous activating effect on creatures with Yang-attribute physiques.”

Zhang Xuan continued, “The Yang attribute within the Roaring Heavenly Beast was activated, which is why it became sleepless at night, with inexhaustible energy to vent, as if in heat!”

“If it were just that, it could still have endured. As long as its internal Yin and Yang remained balanced, the hidden danger could have been resolved. Unfortunately... Hall Master Feng then had someone give it two Heat-Dispelling Pills.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Xuan shook his head, filled with pity. “Heat-Dispelling Pills contain Extreme Chill Grass, which can eliminate Yang fire within the body... The Roaring Heavenly Beast had just activated its Yang-attribute power, and you fed it this, two pills at that! It’s like throwing ice cubes directly onto a flame... For it not to have died on the spot from the extreme hot and cold, it truly has a strong life!”

To be honest, this Roaring Heavenly Beast was truly pitiful. It was originally fine, but they almost force-fed it to death.

And they called it treatment... it was practically murder!

Hall Master Feng, Beast Tamer Lu, and the others looked grim.

Clearly, they hadn't realized that the Roaring Heavenly Beast's condition was due to them... feeding it the wrong medicine!

“Recall carefully, did the Roaring Heavenly Beast’s condition only gradually worsen after you fed it the medicine?” Zhang Xuan pressed on.

“Yes...” Recalling what the apprentice had said earlier, everyone couldn’t help but nod.

It was indeed so.

No one had expected that what they thought were normal medicines would actually have a detrimental effect.

“With the Yang attribute activated and clashing with the cold attribute, at this moment, if it were castrated, the Yang fire would recede, and Yin energy would surge. In less than an hour, it would stop breathing and die on the spot!”

At this point, Zhang Xuan looked at Master Qingyang, who was not far away. “This is why I called you an incompetent doctor. If we had truly followed your advice, not only would the Roaring Heavenly Beast not be saved, it would probably be a corpse by now.”

“This...” Master Qingyang felt a chill run through him. As a two-star physician with profound knowledge of medicine, the other party’s explanation was meticulously logical, each point building on the last, and his analysis was incredibly incisive, without a single error, as if he had witnessed it firsthand. Even Master Qingyang couldn’t help but admire him and found no grounds to refute him.

“What about the bloodline advancement you just mentioned?” Fearing Master Qingyang’s embarrassment, Hall Master Feng quickly changed the subject.

“When the internal Yang attribute is activated and stabilizes, bloodline advancement naturally occurs. Conversely, it will die. In other words, if the Roaring Heavenly Beast can overcome this, its cultivation will improve, and it will gain immense benefits. If it cannot, it will die.”

“Then... is there a way to save it?” Hall Master Feng asked, filled with tension.

“Of course there is, but... it might require the cooperation of an alchemist,” Zhang Xuan said with a slight hesitation.

“Miss Mo Yu is a certified alchemist, she can help!” Yun Tao quickly interjected from the side.

Everyone’s gaze simultaneously converged on her.

“Tell me what needs to be done, I can help.” Miss Mo Yu said, her hands clasped behind her back, a proud expression on her face.

Although she wasn’t particularly fond of the man before her, as long as it meant saving the Roaring Heavenly Beast, she would do anything.

Besides, she couldn’t compare to him in other aspects, but this was her chance to finally display her alchemist talents, redeem herself, and reclaim her dignity.

Aren't you good at beast taming? Aren't you a Master Teacher apprentice? Can't you even explain medicine thoroughly?

Even if I can't surpass you in those, I at least have the Path of Alchemy!

At least I am a certified one-star alchemist!

Stepping out of the crowd with a proud expression, she was about to ask how she could help, when she saw the young man opposite her frown and ask with a questioning tone.

“You... can you refine pills?”

“You...” Miss Mo Yu stumbled, almost exploding on the spot.

Can you even speak like a normal person?

I’m a one-star alchemist, of course I can refine pills! How else would I have passed the examination?

She had known this guy wouldn’t say anything pleasant, but she hadn’t expected him to be so obnoxious.

Her teeth gnashed audibly, and her breath came in short, angry gasps as her chest heaved. “Have you ever seen an alchemist who can’t refine pills?”

“I have...” Zhang Xuan shook his head. “I’m worried you might also be an alchemist who achieved your rank through pill debate, and thus can’t actually refine...”

“Pill debate? That’s something only Alchemy Masters who have reached a certain level of mastery in pill refining can do!”

Admiration appeared in Miss Mo Yu’s eyes. “Such esteemed elders possess earth-shattering talent! How can you say they can’t refine pills? What kind of joke is that? If you dared to say that in the Alchemist Guild, you’d definitely be beaten to death on the spot...”

Before she could finish her sentence, the young man opposite her silently took out an alchemist’s emblem, put it on, scratched his head, and looked embarrassed.

“I’m precisely the kind of elder you’re talking about who just happens to not know how to refine pills...”