The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Each participating physician needs to answer three questions randomly."

Liu Xinyi's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Those who answer correctly will be qualified to enter the Glazed Heaven.

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the center of the platform.

There stood a huge dark blue jade disc, which had been covered by a plain silk cloth, but she personally removed the cloth.

The moment the silk slipped off, a warm, turquoise light poured out from the surface of the jade disc, spreading across the entire platform like ripples on water.

Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

The jade disc is entirely dark blue, like a piece of celestial stone salvaged from an ancient river.

Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, and upon closer inspection, one can see layers of spiritual patterns flowing like water ripples inside the jade disc.

The spirit patterns shimmered with a faint silver light, scattered in a pleasing, irregular pattern.

"These spiritual runes... are the questions etched by countless healers over millions of years."

Someone in the audience couldn't help but gasp in a low voice.

"Each spiritual rune represents an unresolved medical problem. Some of those who carved them have already passed away, while others never received the answer in their lifetime."

Liu Xinyi's gaze fell on the jade disc, her voice carrying a solemnity and reverence born of the passage of time.

"But they left their questions here... for future generations to discover."

At the top of the wall, four large characters are engraved in ancient seal script: "The Way of Medicine Has No Bounds".

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, with strokes as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, each stroke carrying an undeniable majesty.

That was inscribed by the founder of Shenyao Valley.

When you get close to the jade disc, you can feel a cool breeze coming towards you.

"When a contestant steps forward to take the test, the jade disc will automatically sense their spiritual awareness."

Liu Xinyi continued to announce the rules, her voice steady and clear.

"It will randomly select three questions from among thousands and display them on the wall."

"One easy, one medium, one difficult. This applies to everyone, ensuring fairness and impartiality."

Her gaze swept over the contestants below the stage.

"The Q&A wall has a spirit."

"It embodies the lingering resentment left by countless generations of predecessors of Divine Medicine Valley, and can judge the right or wrong of the answer on its own."

"No human intervention is required."

As soon as these words were spoken, the doctors who had been whispering among themselves fell silent.

This means that no one can cheat.

All underhanded dealings lose their meaning in the face of this silent jade disc.

If you answer correctly, it will light up.

If you answer incorrectly, it will darken.

Rules that have remained unchanged for thousands of years.

"Next, we will draw lots to determine the order in which we answer."

Liu Xinyi raised her hand.

Several disciples of the Divine Medicine Valley filed out, each holding an ebony divination tube.

The tube was filled with countless bamboo sticks, each one polished smooth and rounded, with its tip dyed vermilion red.

The contestants took turns stepping forward and drawing a bamboo stick from the lottery box.

Someone drew a number near the front, their face tensed, and their fingers gripping the bamboo stick turned slightly white.

Some people who drew a later number breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not relax, because waiting itself was a kind of torment.

Tang Xixue also stepped forward.

Her steps were unhurried, her skirt brushing against the bluestone ground without making a sound.

She stretched out her slender white fingers, casually picked up a bamboo stick from the divination tube, and glanced down at the number on it.

One.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, then returned to calm.

She didn't make a sound, but simply put the bamboo stick into her sleeve and turned to walk back to her seat.

Those around her caught a glimpse of the numbers on her bamboo skewer, and their expressions instantly became complicated.

"Number one...she drew number one."

"Going first? That's too much pressure. If she doesn't answer well, all the eyes will be on her."

"But... there are advantages to being the first to go. If you answer well, it'll be a great start."

"You still have to be able to answer them. Three random questions, who knows what you'll get? What if you get a problem that no one has been able to solve for hundreds of years, that would be really..."

"Shh...don't say anything. Look at her, she's not nervous at all."

I'm definitely not nervous.

Tang Xixue sat back in her seat.

Her expression was too calm, unlike someone who was about to undergo a millennium-long test in front of everyone.

It's like a test taker who already knows the answer, just waiting for the test curls to come out before picking up a pen and writing.

Si Xingxuan sat beside her, secretly glancing at the corner of the bamboo stick peeking out from her sleeve, his gaze slightly narrowing.

Number One.

He lowered his eyes and said nothing, but quietly pushed the untouched tea and snacks to her side.

"Junior Uncle, have something to eat first. It'll be too tiring to answer the questions later."

His voice was very gentle.

"Um."

Tang Xixue responded and picked up a piece of Longjing cake, putting it into her mouth.

Sweet but not cloying, with a perfect soft and chewy texture.

She curved her lips into a smile.

"Next, according to the order of the draw..."

Liu Xinyi spoke.

"Please, first doctor, come forward to answer."

The words fell.

All eyes turned in the same direction.

Tang Xixue stood up.

The green and white robes of the alchemists from Divine Medicine Valley looked exceptionally fresh and elegant in the sunset.

The hem of the garment is embroidered with light silver thread patterns of medicinal herbs.

She wore a plain veil, and a few strands of hair were lifted by the breeze and gently fell back to her cheeks.

She walked unhurriedly, step by step, up the bluestone steps leading to the high platform.

The stone steps are not high, only a few dozen.

Those who can reach the third stage are all the best in medicine.

Countless eyes followed her from behind.

Tang Xi sat upright behind the curtain, her knuckles silently gripping the armrest.

He Lichen's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly. The tea sloshed gently in the cup, but not a single drop spilled.

Xie Jinlian leaned against the back of her wheelchair, her eyelashes drooping gently, obscuring the fleeting light in her eyes.

Kong Sangyu stood up from the pine branch at some point, and the little white cat in her arms meowed.

On the high platform, Liu Xinyi watched the figure approaching step by step, a smile appearing in her eyes.

"Junior sister, it's your turn to shine."

Tangxi Xue stood before the jade disc.

Just a few steps away, the massive, dark blue wall seemed like an entire world pressing down on her.

She raised her hand, her fingertips gently touching the jade disc.

The wall trembled slightly the moment she touched it, and the layers of spiritual patterns suddenly came to life.

Silver light spread outwards from where her fingertips touched, like ripples on water, in concentric circles, endlessly.

"She is establishing a spiritual connection with the Q&A wall."

On the examiners' table, the eldest brother, Danxin Yaowang, lowered his voice, his long silver-white beard swaying gently as he leaned forward slightly.

"I wonder what question my junior sister will draw?"

Fourth Senior Brother, the Medicine King Tai Su, rarely spoke up.

His gaze was fixed on her, not even daring to blink.

"Sister Zhi..." Sheng Feiming's lips moved silently, without making a sound, only mouthing the words, "You can definitely do it."

On the high platform, Tang Xixue closed her eyes.

Three beams of silver light emerged from among thousands of points of light and appeared on the wall.

The silver light slowly coalesced, transforming into lines of clear writing.

"First question. A fisherman from the southern region returned from a three-day voyage, his body covered in purplish-blue bruises, shivering like he had malaria, and his pulse weak and thready. Various doctors treated him for wind-cold, but to no avail. Why?"

As soon as the question was posed, some people frowned and pondered deeply.

"This must be a symptom of a cold-induced illness? But a common cold shouldn't cause a deep, thready, and almost imperceptible pulse..."

"There's definitely something fishy going on. Otherwise, it wouldn't be posted on the Q&A wall."

Tang Xixue's gaze fell on that line of words, lingering for only two breaths.

Without hesitation, she stretched out her finger and wrote on the Q&A wall.

Wherever the fingertips glide, silver lettering appears out of thin air.

"It is not wind-cold, but cold poison from the sea that has penetrated to the bone. Fishermen encounter cold waves at sea, and the cold air invades through the skin and pores, directly affecting the Shaoyin meridian. It should be treated with Ephedra, Aconite and Asarum Decoction to warm the meridians and dispel cold, supplemented with Cinnamon Twig to promote Yang. If the pungent and cool exterior-releasing medicine is mistakenly used, the cold evil will penetrate deeper."

Her handwriting is elegant and graceful, with each stroke exuding composure.

The jade disc fell silent for a moment.

Then, the silver light on the question suddenly shone brightly.

The bright light illuminated the entire line of text, making every detail visible.

"correct."

Liu Xinyi's voice fell, calm and clear.

Some people in the audience breathed a sigh of relief, some nodded slightly, and others began to re-examine the young female doctor wearing a veil.

The first question is easy.

It is only natural that you answered correctly.

But what really made everyone nervous were the next two dishes.

Can she still answer?