Noreta carefully scraped the residue of the ointment together with her hand, then took a small knife from her person to gently collect the remnants, placing them into a small white jade vial she carried.

Qian Jin shook his head repeatedly, sighing. While this apothecary's skill in compounding potions was subpar, at least they seemed eager to learn, meaning they weren't a lost cause.

“Where is the patient?”

A voice, dripping with arrogance, sounded from outside the door. Qian Jin watched as the apothecary who entered, clad in the traditional robe, was also of medium build, but with golden hair and eyebrows. His distinctly downturned, inverted V-shaped eyebrows drooped so low they nearly touched the corners of his eyes, giving him a profoundly listless appearance.

“Mr. Sineros.” Pan Hongxuan moved aside, clearing space around Duan Fengbuer’s bed.

“Hmm? Who bandaged him?” As Sineros’s inverted V-shaped eyebrows twitched, they drooped even further. “Wrapping him without even waiting for my diagnosis! Noreta, you’re an apothecary with some discernment—how could you allow someone else to dress the wound so carelessly?”

Sineros tilted his head back, sweeping his arrogant gaze over everyone in the room with undisguised impatience. As a high-ranking retainer for the Pan family, he usually only treated bloodline warriors of significant status within the clan. Today, he was summoned to treat some unknown person who just appeared out of nowhere?

It was an insult! Sineros’s impatience gradually morphed into outright annoyance. If he didn’t vent properly today, wouldn’t he be bothered with every stray cat or dog that got injured in the future? What a nuisance!

Besides, a pot of very important medicine was simmering on the stove.

Qian Jin appraised Situ Lei, then Slubart, then Noreta, finally letting his gaze settle on the apothecary Sineros, who had entered making such a fuss. He let out a soft sigh.

After the three encounters, starting with Situ Lei and ending with Noreta, Qian Jin’s hope for the capabilities of the Pan family’s recruited apothecaries and mysterious potion specialists had completely evaporated.

An apothecary whom even Noreta recognized... what level was he? Qian Jin lowered his head to look at his own knees; he could probably estimate the man’s skill level just by using his knees.

“Your Iron Crushing Fruit, it’s a bit overripe, past its prime,” Qian Jin said without barely lifting his eyelids, looking directly at Sineros. “You should have used the Iron Crushing Fruit picked two days earlier to compound a top-grade Bone-Laying Potion. What you have now is merely low-grade. It might be fine for the elderly to drink occasionally—it could help with aching waists and sore legs, giving them some vitality. But for a true injury, the effect is too poor; it might as well be poured out.”

Sineros stared blankly at Qian Jin. He had just walked into the room intending to dress someone down, only to be spat upon—metaphorically—in the face? Who was this young man? That Iron Crushing Fruit was something he had carefully selected; how could it be wrong? Wait!

Sineros’s eyes suddenly lit up. He drew a sharp breath and stared at Qian Jin: How did this kid know he was compounding the Bone-Laying Potion? That was an ancient, lost bone treatment he had painstakingly researched!

“Buer’s bones are fine,” Qian Jin looked up towards the entrance where a third apothecary was rushing in, speaking directly to Noreta. “Tell that one coming in that Buer has no internal injuries; tell him to turn back early. If he’s late returning, his pot of Wall-Thickening Potion won’t be tended to, and anyone who drinks it will uncontrollably weep for three hours.

Is that real? Pan Hongxuan felt a shock unlike any he’d experienced today. Wasn’t this young man a warrior by trade? Yes! He seemed to know a little about mysterious potions too! How had he suddenly become an expert in compounding, and seemingly mastering three different domains of potions, appearing even more skilled than these three from the Pan family?

Noreta obediently rose, abandoning the air of authority she had carried upon entering. She walked out to block the third apothecary who was about to enter.

“Is that real or not?”

A sharp, questioning roar erupted from the throat of the apothecary standing in the courtyard. Pan Hongxuan watched as the apothecary Falet stared at Qian Jin with an expression of astonishment and doubt for a moment, then silently turned and walked back out the door.

In the room, everyone, except for Fen Tuxiangge and Che Kefulite whose expressions remained unchanged, had their eyes widen by at least double, disbelief filling their pupils as they stared fixedly at Qian Jin.

Situ Lei felt the world spinning. The profound, star-like depth of mysterious potion science was enough to consume a lifetime without caring about anything else. Yet, this young man was dabbling in mysterious potions while simultaneously mastering standard alchemy?

Sineros repeatedly swallowed, his throat dry. Every branch of alchemy was as vast as the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea. How could a young man of his age seem proficient in three branches simultaneously?

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Sineros gasped several times. “I don’t believe it! You must have gotten the preliminary information beforehand. I challenge you to a competition!”

Qian Jin didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids: “Not interested…”

Not interested? Sineros laughed. “See! That’s cowardice! You must have received insider news beforehand…”

Qian Jin lazily yawned, barely managing to raise an eyelid to look at Sineros: “Whether I know alchemy or not—what does it have to do with you? If you believe me, I’m still just a rookie apothecary. If you don’t believe me, I’m still just a Level Ten Senior Rookie Apothecary.”

This time, even Fen Tuxiangge and Che Kefulite’s expressions shifted slightly. Rookie! Qian Jin called a Level Ten Apothecary a rookie? He must be deliberately provoking Sineros! He couldn't possibly mean it sincerely, could he? If he was a rookie, then what were the vast numbers of other apothecaries? Were they not even rookies, but mere piles of rookie dung?

“Level Ten?” Sineros burst into loud laughter. “You claim to be a Level Ten Apothecary? Fine! Fine! Fine! Tell me, which discipline are you Level Ten in? I, Sineros, have friends in the Apothecary Guild. No matter which discipline you claim Level Ten in, I can certainly…”

“Which discipline?” Qian Jin furrowed his brow, his two dark eyebrows meeting completely at the center of his forehead. “I am all disciplines.”

All disciplines! Pan Hongxuan’s body swayed slightly, his mind filled with a deafening hum. Qian Jin’s simple statement—all disciplines—reverberated in his mind like a heavy punch to the face, shaking his entire world.

All disciplines? Pan Hongxuan, as the Pan family’s primary elder and the main support for Pan Hongji, even known outside as Pan Hongji’s spokesman, had witnessed countless grand scenes and met innumerable capable individuals. He was accustomed to astonishing abilities emerging from plain appearances. Normally, when encountering such situations, Pan Hongxuan would at most offer a faint smile of approval. But all disciplines! A top-tier, Level Ten Apothecary mastering all disciplines!

Pan Hongxuan could no longer maintain his composure! Especially since this news concerned a young man under twenty, who possessed the combat strength of a Fifth Stage Demon Subduer, uniquely held a Battle Heart, and knew mysterious potions. Any single one of those achievements, in a young person, would be enough to elicit awe and praise.

When all these abilities converged in one person, Pan Hongxuan would sooner believe in the existence of the undead than in such a reality. What else could he call this kid but a monster?

“All disciplines?” Sineros’s smile turned colder than winter ice. “Young man, you boast too greatly! Since you claim mastery of all disciplines, then let us compete in bone injury treatment…”

“I won’t compete with you,” Qian Jin waved his hand listlessly. “Competing with someone of your caliber is dreadfully boring.”

“You’re scared!” Sineros stepped in front of Qian Jin, secretly resolving to teach this young man a lesson today, no matter what. Did he dare speak to me with such contemptuous condescension in front of Elder Pan Hongxuan? If he didn’t teach him a lesson today, how could he possibly apply for more research funds from the Pan family in the future? He must be taught!

“Scared?” Qian Jin shook his head, already feeling weary. Why bother?

“Mr. Sineros, please, let it go…” Pan Hongxuan stepped forward, quickly trying to mediate. “This matter really isn’t necessary…”

“Elder Hongxuan, please don’t say another word!” Sineros waved his hand dismissively. A senior apothecary must uphold his honor and dignity. Wherever he went, he was respected and flattered—even royalty didn't treat a senior apothecary this way! If this young man dared to act like this today, how could he ever show his face in public again? If this story got out—that he faced such an insult and reacted meekly—wouldn't he be ridiculed to death? A laughingstock of the alchemy world.

“If you don’t want to compete with me, that’s fine,” Sineros declared, crossing his arms. “As long as you apologize to me, admit you were lying, and acknowledge my achievements in alchemy…”

“Lying? I haven’t lied,” Qian Jin tugged at the corners of his lips, looking pitifully at Sineros. “Besides, your level doesn’t seem to warrant any achievement, does it? You’re just a rookie apothecary, same as me.”

“You…” Sineros stared at Qian Jin, his chest heaving violently.

Qian Jin sighed repeatedly. I’m giving you face by calling you a rookie! If Master Adams were standing here, he’d have punched you dead long ago to prevent a potion master of your level from disgracing the field of alchemy! Why are all the apothecaries here like this? Little skill, but massive tempers.

“Fine, fine, fine!” Sineros nodded repeatedly at Qian Jin. “Since you insist, then we must compete. Come on! Let’s go to my alchemy laboratory. I have a very comprehensive collection of bone-related medicinal materials there! You can use whatever you need. If you can compound a bone remedy better than mine…”

Happy Birthday to Yuan Xunyu!!!! (To be continued. For future events, support the author and genuine reading!)