Chapter 5: Could It Be a Genius?

Hearing Fang Lin's words, the many Pill Apprentices in the audience, including Elder Mu Yan on the stone platform, all had colorful expressions on their faces and turned to look at Fang Lin as if they were looking at a monster.

How thick-skinned must someone be, to say such shameless words?

Even Lu Xiaoqing, who was worried for Fang Lin, couldn't help but laugh and cry at his words, "Please, you were clearly sleeping, how could you be deep in thought? Even your snoring gave you away."

Elder Mu Yan's face also turned ugly with anger. Usually strict, she found herself dealing with Fang Lin, a shameless liar, which made her dislike him even more.

However, Fang Lin appeared very calm, locking eyes with Elder Mu Yan without a hint of guilt. This composure somewhat surprised Elder Mu Yan.

But, surprise aside, Elder Mu Yan had already made up her mind. She then said, "Fang Lin, are you saying you weren't sleeping, but listening to my lecture?"

Fang Lin nodded and said, "Disciple truly was attentively listening to the elder's lecture, absolutely not distracted for a moment."

"Shameless!" That was what all the Pill Apprentices were thinking at the moment.

Elder Mu Yan's lips curled slightly as she said, "Since that's the case, I'll ask you a few questions about what I just discussed. If you can answer them, I will not pursue this matter further. If you cannot answer, I will surely break your limbs and revoke one of your promotion opportunities!"

As soon as she said this, many looked at Fang Lin with pity. Breaking his limbs was bad enough, but revoking a promotion opportunity was indeed a severe punishment.

Pill Apprentices had only five promotion opportunities in five years; failing once meant one less opportunity.

If Fang Lin was punished today, he would only have four promotion opportunities left, a truly harsh punishment for a Pill Apprentice.

Lu Xiaoqing's face was full of worry. She wanted to plead for Fang Lin, but remembering she was just a Pill Apprentice herself, what right did she have to plead for him?

Kang Lu, sitting at the front, looked eager for a good show, seemingly waiting for the moment when Fang Lin's limbs would be broken.

Just when everyone thought Fang Lin would hesitate, he decisively and calmly said, "Then please, elder, ask your questions."

"This kid, it seems he has given up on himself." Kang Lu shook his head slightly. Despite his Reviving Dead Wood Body and talents, such a character was truly disappointing.

"Fang Lin, oh Fang Lin, you and Lu Xiaoqing are so close, but I want to see if Lu Xiaoqing will still bother with you after your limbs are broken," Sun Hao said with a cold smile, impatient to see Fang Lin's miserable end.

Elder Mu Yan looked at Fang Lin, feeling puzzled. Why did he appear so confident, his eyes clear and without a trace of fear? It was too unusual.

"Listen well, I mentioned earlier, the Autumn Moon White flower, what are its effects?" Elder Mu Yan didn't hesitate and directly posed the first question.

Many Pill Apprentices below knew the answer, and Lu Xiaoqing also knew and wanted to secretly tell Fang Lin.

"This question is simple. Autumn Moon White is a cold-natured herb. Consumed directly, it can soothe fiery symptoms and suppress overactive blood energy in martial artists. However, excessive consumption can cause blood stagnation in martial artists and, in severe cases, damage the meridians. Autumn Moon White can be used to concoct Autumn Dew Pill, Ice Face Pill, Mysterious Water Pill, and Cold Frost Pill," Fang Lin said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Elder Mu Yan had a look of astonishment on her face, and the Pill Apprentices around also widened their eyes incredulously.

Lu Xiaoqing looked at Fang Lin, thrilled, never expecting him to actually know the answer.

"How could he answer that? Isn't he just a wastrel waiting to die? Did he actually listen to the lecture?" Sun Hao looked upset, unable to believe that Fang Lin could answer correctly.

A look of astonishment crossed Kang Lu's face, followed by a slight frown.

"This kid, he's actually quite unexpected," Kang Lu said with a half-smile, his thoughts unclear to others.

The most surprised person, however, was Elder Mu Yan. She was sure Fang Lin had been napping and hadn't listened to her lecture at all, there was no doubt about that.

But now, Fang Lin had answered her question very calmly, without a single mistake — a perfect response indeed.

"What's the matter, elder? Did the disciple not answer correctly?" Seeing Elder Mu Yan not responding, Fang Lin asked with puzzlement.

Elder Mu Yan came back to her senses, furrowed her brows, and felt that Fang Lin was deliberately annoying her.

"You answered well, but I have two more questions. I hope you can continue to answer correctly, otherwise my punishment for you will not change," Elder Mu Yan said.

Fang Lin smiled and said, "Elder, please ask your questions."

"Unaware of his own doom!" Many Pill Apprentices couldn't help but mutter, thinking that Fang Lin was getting carried away, thinking that just because he got one question right, he could answer them all.

Elder Mu Yan also felt annoyed and, after a moment's thought, came up with a more difficult question.

"Listen well, I mentioned earlier the Heart Cleansing Pill. What herbs are needed to concoct it?" Elder Mu Yan asked.

As soon as this question was posed, many Pill Apprentices showed troubled expressions, only a few knowing the answer, and Kang Lu was one of them.

This problem is of a difficulty that not any ordinary Pill Apprentice can answer, nor is it typically seen in promotion assessments.

When Elder Mu Yan was giving the lecture just now, he didn't go into much detail. Asking this question now and expecting Fang Lin to answer seems a bit like he is being deliberately targeted.

Lu Xiaoqing wanted to tell Fang Lin the answer, but even she didn't know it, as she had only been a disciple for a month, and this was not something she could answer.

All Lu Xiaoqing could do now was pray for Fang Lin to fend for himself, because she was unable to help.

Fang Lin looked at Elder Mu Yan and smiled, saying, "I happen to know the answer to this question."

"Oh? Then let's hear it." Elder Mu Yan was surprised, but still didn't quite believe that Fang Lin could answer such a question.

Others present also mostly felt that Fang Lin was bluffing, thinking how could someone, who just joined and was wasteful and idle, answer such a difficult question?

Then they heard Fang Lin say, "The Heart Cleansing Pill is considered a low-grade human-level pill known for its calming, mind-soothing, and qi-smoothing effects. Rather than calling it a pill, it's more like a supplement. It's not very useful for martial artists and is made from Quiet Secluded Grass, Rootless Water, and Lamp Firefly Flower."

After Fang Lin answered, the entire Pill Array fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked at Fang Lin with strange gazes, their expressions quite extraordinary.

Elder Mu Yan's eyes showed continuous surprise; Fang Lin's answer was unnervingly accurate, but how could Fang Lin possibly know?

Lu Xiaoqing's mouth hung open slightly in both surprise and joy, while Sun Hao not far away had a sullen expression, looking as if he had swallowed a dead rat.

Kang Lu's expression at the front also changed, becoming more serious.

For Fang Lin, the shocked expressions of the people around were of no concern.

"Joking aside, I am the Pill Sovereign after all. It's an insult to me to answer such a simple question. If it were not for my current involuntary situation, I wouldn't even bother with it."

If it were Fang Lin from a past life, anyone asking him such a question would be met with a slap in the face, followed by being kicked away miles afar.

It was indeed an insult to ask the Pill Sovereign about such a trivial pill.

While answering the question, Fang Lin felt quite depressed, but seeing the surprised and bewildered expressions around him lightened his mood.

Elder Mu Yan was ultimately moved and shed his dislike for choosing Fang Lin, showing curiosity and astonishment instead.

"Fang Lin, how many years have you been a disciple?" Elder Mu Yan couldn't help asking; an older disciple who had been there for three or four years might indeed know the answer.

Fang Lin responded, "I have only been a disciple for one month."

Elder Mu Yan's expression froze as he said, "You've only joined a month ago? How is that possible?"

Hearing Elder Mu Yan's words, many Pill Apprentices below showed embarrassed faces, as they had been disciples for years yet couldn't compare to a newcomer of one month, which was truly shameful.

But it was strange indeed, how Fang Lin, who had only joined a month ago and had almost wasted that time, suddenly became so capable, answering two questions correctly without any mistake.

Fang Lin smiled and said, "Indeed, I have only been a disciple for a month."

Elder Mu Yan suddenly remembered that Meng Wuyou had mentioned a new disciple named Fang Lin, who had the rare Reviving Dead Wood Body. Could this be the same person?

Thinking this, Elder Mu Yan's surprise grew. Though rare, the Reviving Dead Wood Body wouldn't normally allow such impressive botanical knowledge within just a month, which was not typical of someone who was idle and negligent.

"Fang Lin, you surprised me, and I have another question. Even if you cannot answer it, I will not punish you," Elder Mu Yan said.

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoqing was immensely relieved and gave Fang Lin an encouraging look.

Seeing this from afar, Sun Hao felt extremely jealous and resented Fang Lin even more.

"Please ask, Elder," Fang Lin said with neither humility nor arrogance.

Elder Mu Yan nodded, not underestimating Fang Lin, and directly asked, "The Three-leaf Morning Sun Fruit, where does it usually grow?"

Upon hearing the question, Kang Lu, sitting in the front, suddenly changed his expression.

Noticing his expression, someone cautiously asked, "Brother Kang, what's wrong?"

Kang Lu said in a deep voice, "I missed this question in the last promotion exam."

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.