Almost simultaneously as Old Feng slapped his leg in astonishment, in the hall of the Zhong Family Medical Hall, representatives from the major medical families within the province were also staring at Zhong Yongxi in the center of the hall with eyes full of surprise.

"How formidable Zhong Yongxi is," he is currently at the Golden Core Stage, and he's already able to use the Four Symbols Plum Blossom Acupuncture Technique. I recall the last successor of the Zhong Family Medical Hall could only use it once they reached the Yin God Realm. If his cultivation were to advance further, that would be quite something!"

"With just the Four Symbols Plum Blossoms, among the many young generation of the medical families in the province, Zhong Yongxi has already firmly stepped into the first rank."

"Indeed, with such an acupuncture technique, his prospects are boundless."

In the midst of everyone's praise, Bai Jiao's eyes shone brightly, "Four plum blossoms, fifty-two silver needles, he can control such a complicated acupuncture technique at the Golden Core Stage, this Zhong Yongxi is indeed talented."

Xu Nan frowned slightly, seemingly a bit worried for Shen Qiang, but being a true scion of a powerful family, she naturally remained very objective in her assessment, "I didn't expect that Zhong Yongxi, with only a Golden Core Stage cultivation, would be such a formidable fellow. Controlling fifty-two silver needles with divided attention is not something an ordinary person can achieve."

In the center of the hall.

Zhong Yongxi, who controlled the fifty-two silver needles, although drenched with sweat, his eyes were filled with unparalleled excitement.

He cared about the others' admiration, but it was nothing compared to Bai Jiao's mention of talent and Xu Nan's words about a formidable fellow.

He glanced at Shen Qiang standing next to him with eyes full of mockery, "See that, Shen Qiang? This is the difference between us. You think knowing Bai Jiao and Xu Nan makes you impressive? Useless. They are intelligent women, and they will not favor someone who can be played with in the palm of my hand like you."

"Only someone strong like me could possibly win their affection. As for you, Shen Qiang, just stand there obediently and watch. Then, as a loser, tuck your tail and skedaddle."

While Zhong Yongxi was feeling proud.

Shen Qiang, who initially felt somewhat angry, looking at the silver needles Zhong Yongxi inserted into the patient, suddenly found it somewhat boring.

"Even if the Four Symbols Plum Blossom Needle Technique is indeed quite lousy, it is still considered a reputable acupuncture technique in the Immortal Realm. The fact that the Medical Saint listed it as one of the reference techniques shows that, despite its many drawbacks, this technique must be effective, otherwise, it wouldn't have caught the attention of the Medical Saint."

"After all, a technique without any therapeutic effects has no reference value at all."

"Yet even so, according to the Medical Saint Inheritance's evaluation of users of the Four Symbols Plum Blossom Needle Technique, categorized into introductory, elite, and grandmaster levels, reaching the introductory level requires skillfully executing Flowers Opening Nine Branches."

"Flowers Opening Nine Branches, with nine blossoms per branch and eighty-one blossoms in total, should be controlled at will to be considered introductory, not to mention the elite level's Blossoms Bursting Through a Thousand Trees and the grandmaster level's Plum Blossoms Swaying in Eight Directions. This is only four blossoms; it's not even half a branch's worth. It's completely an outsider to the Four Symbols Plum Blossom Needle Technique. And yet, he dares to claim he's some generation successor of the technique?"

As Shen Qiang pondered.

The patient on the sickbed groaned and then slowly awoke.

People immediately swarmed to congratulate him.

"The Young Master indeed possesses extraordinary talent, stunning and brilliant. This use of the Four Symbols Plum Blossoms is nothing short of a miraculous revival."

"It's truly astonishing, the Zhong Family has produced such an impressive young man."

"How formidable, the illness was so severe, and yet he's been healed so quickly."

In the midst of everyone's congratulations, Xu Nan was slightly surprised, "It seems that the Zhong Family's acupuncture technique has withstood a thousand years without decline, and there is some reason to it."

Bai Jiao then said with a smile brimming in her eyes, "Just as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought that this small medical clinic would hide an elite like Zhong Yongxi."

In a room that was clearly cooled by air conditioning, Zhong Yongxi, nonetheless, was sweating profusely with a smile sprawling across his face, politely basking in his moment of glory with the crowd.

"Oh, please, you flatter me too much..."

It wasn't until after he had made his rounds and stolen the spotlight that he proudly sat down on a chair brought over by a disciple of the Zhong Family clinic.

Taking a white towel handed to him by the disciple, he wiped off his sweat, picked up the tea, and after arrogantly sipping it, he looked over at Shen Qiang, who still stood ignored in the middle of the hall, and declared, "Shen Qiang, now it's your turn."

Upon hearing this statement, the eyes of everyone present swiftly converged on Shen Qiang.

"Ah, I almost forgot, there's another challenger here, hahaha, with Zhong Yongxi's superb acupuncture, this challenger is simply out of his league."

"True, if Zhong Yongxi's cultivation were poor, then it would be one thing to issue a challenge, but with his excellence, he's not someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can challenge."

Amidst the crowd's mocking voices,

Shen Qiang, who yawned, said to Zhong Yongxi with boredom, "After seeing your acupuncture, I feel there's no need to compete."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yongxi's eyebrows shot up in pleasure, "What, are you scared? Didn't you arrogantly say my small leaf plum blossom acupuncture was not up to par?"

Amid Zhong Yongxi's ridicule, the onlookers all smiled gleefully, their faces filled with scorn.

But just then, Shen Qiang burst into laughter, then said somewhat listlessly, "Your skills are so lame they could pick your toes. Comparing acupuncture with you feels truly shameful; it's like going to punch a kindergartener, hardly arousing any interest at all."

"How dare you!" The head of the Zhong Family clinic was enraged, "In broad daylight, you're spouting such nonsense; do you think our Zhong Family clinic is easy to bully?"

Hearing this, Shen Qiang nonchalantly raised an eyebrow and responded, "Bully you? Don't make me laugh. You've been trying to trap me all along, playing a high and mighty act, right? With all this incense burning and zither playing, I've been standing here, essentially being punished by you for so long, yet all I've seen is your ugly faces. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, faith, I haven't seen a hint of it."

The people in the hall immediately burst into laughter.

"The kid's not stupid."

"So what, he was still played by Zhong Yongxi."

"Hilarious, think about it, and it really is the case."

Seeing his little tricks exposed by Shen Qiang right there in front of everyone, Zhong Yongxi said with a cold voice, "Shen Qiang, as the challenger, we from the Zhong Family clinic haven't laid a finger on you; we've already shown maximal magnanimity. As for the competition in acupuncture, there's no turning back once the arrow is drawn from the bow. Who do you think you are? You think you can just decide not to compete?"

Shen Qiang raised an eyebrow, "Can't I decide not to compete?"

"That's right!" the head of the Zhong Family clinic stepped forward with a very cold expression and stated, "Today if you don't compete, don't expect to walk out of here."

The lackadaisical Shen Qiang laughed, "Fine then, if you won't shed tears until you see the coffin, I won't hold back anymore."

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