Originally, the old man had assumed that only a modest number of points would appear on his token. Yet, upon closer inspection, he was utterly astonished to discover that over three hundred thousand points had been added. In other words, after taking Lin Tian as his disciple, the sect had rewarded him with more than three hundred thousand points.
"How is this possible? Why are there so many points?" The old man was completely dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes. The scene before him was far beyond what he could have imagined.
"How many points?" Lin Tian's excitement flared instantly. If such a number could shock the old man so profoundly, then it had to be considerable indeed.
"Over three hundred thousand. Boy, your artifact refining skills… could it be that you're first among the outer disciples of the Artifact Peak?" The old man's eyes widened as he stared at Lin Tian. Indeed, only such an explanation could justify this astonishing reward.
Yet, as the former Peak Lord of the Medicine Peak, he knew that even the top outer disciple of a single peak would earn their master only a hundred thousand points. Under the current reward system of the Xuanwu Sect, if a disciple achieved first place on two peaks, the master's reward would increase to two hundred thousand points.
Thus, Lin Tian's over three hundred thousand points implied that, in addition to being first on the Artifact Peak, he had also secured first place on another peak.
"I was just… making a small attempt in the Artifact Refining Tower," Lin Tian said, slightly embarrassed.
"Just the Artifact Tower?" the old man pressed eagerly.
"And… the Eight Array Formation. I think I'm first there too," Lin Tian admitted with a sheepish blink, aware that he sounded somewhat boastful.
"First in the Formation Peak as well?" The old man's heart raced with uncontainable excitement. He had taken Lin Tian as his disciple initially because of his talent and agreeable personality, but he never expected that this seemingly ordinary youth would claim first place on two outer peaks. Truly, he had stumbled upon a treasure.
"Even so, being first on two peaks doesn't mean you can grow arrogant," the old man quickly said, clearing his throat. "The assessments on the Medicine Peak are far more difficult than those of the Artifact or Formation Peaks. Securing first place there will not be easy."
"Don't worry, Master. I'll give it my all," Lin Tian said, clasping his fists respectfully before diving straight into the Scripture Pavilion. While the goal of being first on the Medicine Peak seemed unrealistic, Lin Tian had promised to complete the master's assessments, and he never intended to shirk responsibility.
After condensing and studying the contents of the Pavilion, Lin Tian spent most of his time immersing himself in the principles of medicine. Compared to Qi Refinement and array formations, the study of medicine proved far more intricate. The variations of a single ailment could require multiple different herbal combinations.
Even when symptoms appeared identical, the prescriptions could vary entirely. The complexity of it all was unlike anything Lin Tian had ever encountered, but the greater the challenge, the more it fueled his competitive spirit.
For an entire month, Lin Tian remained in the Pavilion, tirelessly poring over scrolls and texts. By the end of the month, the once neat and composed young man had become thoroughly disheveled.
Seeing his disciple so consumed by study, the old man could not help but offer a gentle reminder. Yet Lin Tian merely nodded in acknowledgment and returned to his texts.
"Boy, my earlier mention of first place on the Medicine Peak was meant as a jest. You need not work yourself to this extent," the old man said after another month had passed. But Lin Tian, still absorbed in his studies, ignored him completely.
Two full months passed, and Lin Tian seemed almost like a wooden figure, motionless in the Pavilion except for moments spent eating or sleeping.
If the old man had harbored any doubts about Lin Tian's dual peak achievements, they had vanished entirely. His only concern now was whether Lin Tian's body could endure such relentless exertion.
Finally, Lin Tian set aside the texts. After two months of dedicated self-study, he had read through every text in the Pavilion, and his understanding of medicine had multiplied beyond measure.
"Disciple, shouldn't you take a proper rest?" the old man urged, seeing Lin Tian's reddened eyes and the faint trace of worry in his gaze.
"No need. My spirit is extraordinarily alert," Lin Tian replied, heading briskly toward the Medicine God Tower.
Seeing him move, the old man hurried to follow. Once Lin Tian entered the Tower, he waited anxiously outside, his heart pounding at every moment.
"Former Peak Lord, why are you here?" A voice called from behind. Turning, the old man's expression immediately darkened.
It was none other than his long-time rival within the Medicine Peak, Grand Elder Yao Xin. During his tenure as Peak Lord, the old man and Yao Xin had clashed constantly. Their disputes, rooted in the understanding of medicinal theory, had always ended in his favor, but the rivalry had only deepened over time.
"I came to observe how my unworthy disciple fares in the Medicine God Tower," Yao Xin said, glancing at him.
"Your disciple?" The old man frowned in confusion.
At that moment, a youth in a blue robe slowly approached. Upon seeing him, the old man's expression shifted dramatically.