Chapter 98: I Want to Argue About Alchemy

"Oh? This method exists?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

He knew that refining a Grade-1 pill without years of practice was impossible. However, a debate on alchemy was different. With the Heaven's Path Library, as long as he had enough books and knowledge, learning would be incredibly simple!

"While this method is quite simple, even Master Teachers would rather learn how to refine pills than attempt it!" Ouyang Cheng interrupted, shaking his head at Zhang Xuan's excitement.

"Why?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled. "If theoretical knowledge alone allows one to become an alchemist, why bother learning the practical refining process? Why spend more time?"

"Honestly, for any profession, without practical experience, you can't gain a deep understanding," Ouyang Cheng explained. "No matter how much theory you learn, without putting it into practice, no one can guarantee its correctness! You aren't even an alchemist yet; can you really debate with a true alchemist based solely on book knowledge? Who do you think would win?"

"That..." Zhang Xuan nodded. Book knowledge always feels superficial; one must put it into practice! This was true, and a profound adage. If you only learn the theory without practicing, how can you discern right from wrong? Even a minor error means the pill cannot be successfully refined! A miss is as good as a mile!

"Since the method of alchemy debate emerged, over the years, no fewer than a thousand Master Teachers have attempted it," Ouyang Cheng lamented. "Each of these individuals was exceptionally brilliant, possessing a greater understanding of alchemy than any true alchemist. However... they repeatedly failed once the debates began. Out of those thousand Master Teachers, perhaps fewer than a handful actually succeeded!"

"Fewer than five?" Zhang Xuan was startled. "Fewer than five successful out of a thousand? That's an incredibly low probability!"

"Exactly. There's a significant gap between theory and practice," Ouyang Cheng said, shaking his head. "That's why, even though alchemy debate is a valid method for assessing alchemists, hardly anyone uses it anymore! It's gradually being forgotten."

While alchemy debate might sound easier than a practical alchemy assessment, it's actually much more difficult. Without practical experience, how can mere theory lead to success? If someone can articulate the theory flawlessly, it implies their practical skills wouldn't be poor either. Given that, it's simpler to undergo a practical alchemy assessment than to go through the troublesome alchemy debate.

"Others might not be able to... but I can!" Ignoring Ouyang Cheng's sigh, Zhang Xuan's heart surged with excitement, and his eyes shone brighter. For others, alchemy debate was indeed more difficult, but for him, it was incredibly simple! With the Heaven's Path Library, he could immediately spot errors and flaws. While others might struggle to verify pure theory without practical experience, a glance from his library would make everything crystal clear! Using this to debate alchemy with others, he wouldn't make a single mistake and could certainly pass with ease!

"Since this method exists, I've decided to take the alchemist assessment via debate!" Thinking this, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate, stating directly.

"What?" Ouyang Cheng, who had expected Zhang Xuan to give up after hearing so much, was speechless to find him even more resolute. "Do you know the consequences of failing an alchemy debate?"

"Consequences?"

"Yes, an alchemy debate requires at least ten alchemists to participate. These alchemists hold status and prestige; if there were no repercussions and everyone wanted to hold a debate, wouldn't they be exhausted to death?" Ouyang Cheng explained. "Therefore, the Guild stipulates that if an apprentice applies for an alchemy debate and succeeds, that's fine. But if they fail, they must compensate each alchemist with at least 100,000 gold coins! Second, they receive a hundred 'God-Slaying Batons' as punishment! Third, they are barred from retaking the alchemist assessment for ten years!"

Zhang Xuan gasped. This punishment was indeed very severe. Considering there are at least ten alchemists involved, compensating each with 100,000 gold coins means a minimum of one million gold coins. For an alchemy apprentice, such an amount was an absolutely astronomical sum, something they might not be able to earn in a lifetime! The 'God-Slaying Baton' was a form of punishment whose power varied depending on the recipient's cultivation level. Even with his current strength, receiving a hundred of these batons would leave him almost crippled, unable to get out of bed for one or two months. As for the third consequence, how many ten-year periods does one have in a lifetime? Being barred from the assessment for ten years meant a decade away from alchemy, effectively condemning that person to lifelong futility.

"The consequences are severe, and it's incredibly difficult to pass. That's why no one attempts this method anymore. To my knowledge, in the dozens of kingdoms bordering Tianxuan Kingdom, there hasn't been a single instance of this assessment for hundreds of years!" Ouyang Cheng's words carried a strong note of dissuasion: "With your remarkable talent, I believe it's better to learn alchemy step by step. Alchemy debate isn't suitable for you!"

"I've already decided. I intend to take the alchemy debate! Please help me make the arrangements, Master Ouyang!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Are you kidding? If an alchemy debate can make me an alchemist, then of course I'll go through with it. Otherwise, learning to refine pills would take an unknown amount of time. Not only is there not enough time, but I also don't have that much energy to expend!"

"Arrange it? You don't mean... you want to do it right now, do you?" Master Ouyang staggered. "You just became an apprentice, you don't even know what pill refining entails, and you want to debate? Is this for real? Are you sure you're not joking?"

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"You... do you even know the content of the alchemy debate? Do you know what questions the alchemists will ask you? You just became an apprentice and haven't systematically learned anything, yet you want to debate..." Du Man, on the side, was also speechless.

"Can I just go to the elementary library? If I don't know these things, I can go look them up!" Zhang Xuan explained, seeing their anxiety.

"Just look them up?" Du Man, Ouyang Cheng, and the others almost cried. "My dear fellow, you *just now* decided to look them up! You just passed the apprentice exam, you haven't even visited the library, and you want to participate in an alchemy debate assessment? Are you sure you're not joking? The library contains hundreds of thousands of books; reading them all would take at least three to five years. You haven't even stepped foot inside, and you want to debate... Is he incredibly bold, or is there something wrong with his head?"

"Yes, I'll go to the library to read a bit later. Don't worry, I won't waste any time! As for the alchemy debate, I'll have to trouble both of you with the arrangements!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Read *later*..." Everyone present felt their heads spin even more. "Are you planning to sharpen your spear right before the battle? You'll go read *now*? You haven't read the books, and you want to debate alchemy? How can someone do something so incredibly foolish and still manage to pass the apprentice exam?"

"Don't worry, I understand the gravity of the situation, and I don't do things I'm not confident about. Just make the arrangements; I also need to go read!" Zhang Xuan said, seeing them still standing there dumbfounded.

"You understand the gravity of the situation?""You don't do things you're not confident about?""Do you even know what a pill furnace looks like? Do you know if pills are round or square? Do you know how alchemists refine medicinal ingredients? You know nothing, yet you want to be assessed as an alchemist, and through a debate no less... are you truly confident?"

"Alright!" Seeing his insistence and realizing they couldn't dissuade him, Ouyang Cheng and Du Man exchanged glances, shaking their heads. "I'll arrange it now. However, gathering so many alchemists might take some time. The alchemy debate will be held tomorrow afternoon! You'd best use this time to think carefully about what you're doing, otherwise, once it truly begins, there will be no turning back!"

"Understood!" Zhang Xuan nodded, flicked his sleeve, and with an expression of confidence and righteousness, took two steps forward. Then, he suddenly turned back. "Oh, right, where's the elementary library?"

"..." Ouyang Cheng."..." Du Man."..." Sun Tao, Zhu Huahua.