Chapter 1840: Chapter 1839: As Expected, Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers

"Great, the first batch of contestants has already entered. Now I’ll announce the competition content, please listen carefully. The content of this round is medication preparation. Each table has a box with many plastic bags containing two prescriptions. Contestants randomly pick one to hand to the staff, then simultaneously check the prescription contents and prepare the medication according to the prescription. Whoever prepares the dosage of traditional Chinese medicine most accurately and in the shortest time wins.

If neither side finishes preparing the medicine within the allotted time, then both will be eliminated."

"Can you really do this?"

Upon hearing the rules, many people started cursing.

Compared to the pure written test of the preliminary round, this round is all about hands-on skills, not testing medical skills, but the ability to prepare medication. Preparing medication by intuition without measurement tools, even some experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioners find it hard to be precise.

"Oh my God! This round isn’t just about eliminating half, according to this method, the elimination rate might reach seventy percent."

Zhou Xiaoqian nervously grabbed Tang Ming’s hand: "Many contestants who passed the preliminary round are all talk, even with measurement tools, they might not be able to prepare a qualified medicine. Now it’s too difficult."

"It’s indeed difficult, but recognizing and preparing medicine is a fundamental skill of traditional Chinese medicine. If you can’t even do this, you have no right to call yourself a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine."

Tang Ming could understand this arrangement and comforted: "Don’t worry, as long as you use what I taught you well, you’ll definitely be fine."

"But I’m still afraid, without measurement tools..."

"What’s there to be afraid of? Everyone’s under the same conditions, and you have an advantage."

Tang Ming rolled his eyes and interrupted Zhou Xiaoqian.

"What advantage do I have?"

Zhou Xiaoqian looked at Tang Ming, baffled.

"Yeah! Our Medical University is really just a second-rate institution, the teaching standard is not high, seems like compared to these students from famous schools, we don’t have any advantage at all."

Wu Fangyue quickly chimed in.

"Of course, you have an advantage. Think about your school’s ranking among universities; it’s probably not even in the top one hundred, right?"

Tang Ming smiled faintly and explained: "Precisely because our Medical University is unknown, even losing doesn’t matter. Passing the preliminary round is already an outstanding performance, and losing, what does it matter?"

"True enough."

Several people nodded repeatedly.

"It’s different for others, they all come from top prestigious schools. Losing would be embarrassing."

Tang Ming continued to speak, casting a look of disdain around him: "So, the ones who should feel pressured and scared are others. You’ve already earned yourselves a win."

"What you’re saying is basically those with bare feet aren’t afraid of those wearing shoes, I concede."

Meng Xianjun looked at Tang Ming with an odd expression, having to admit this tactic worked well for Zhou Xiaoqian and the others.

If it weren’t for Tang Ming’s help, it’s likely no one from Medical University would have passed the preliminary round. The Western medicine competition was a living example, these people reaching this point have already gained a lot.

"Just focus on watching the competition." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Hua Yingjie remained focused on the situation inside the stadium, Tang Ming’s theory meant nothing to him because he was aiming for the championship.

As time went by, the first batch of two hundred quickly finished competing, with fewer than eighty proceeding to the next round. Some pairs were completely eliminated because they didn’t finish within the allotted time, with some even misidentifying the herbs, preparing medicine potent enough to harm people.

Watching one batch after another compete, and the shockingly high elimination rates, the surrounding contestants were getting very nervous.

In this type of competition, skill is one aspect, but luck seems far more critical because opponents are randomly assigned; strength is indefinable. Someone lucky can consistently pair with less competent opponents, while the unlucky ones might encounter a master right away and be knocked out instantly.

Moreover, the difficulty of the prescriptions is self-chosen; drawing an easier one makes things simpler, while drawing a difficult one is just unlucky.

Due to the large number of contestants, the competition lasts a long time. After an hour, it finally came to be Tang Ming’s turn to enter with those around him.

"Damn it! Bai Shengqi all passed."

Hua Yingjie grabbed the iron wire, staring at Bai Shengqi and others heading to the next round with a stern look.

"Even Medical Immortal Workshop is a medical sect; if the disciples don’t have this level of skill, it would be embarrassing."

Tang Ming nonchalantly shrugged: "Don’t worry, the exciting competitions are still to come."

"Haha, finally it’s my turn, just wait and see me perform."

At this moment, Meng Xianjun’s name suddenly rang out, and he laughed heartily, striding into the arena.

Zhou Xiaowei and Wu Fangyue also entered the arena.

"Looks like the pace is quick."

Tang Ming glanced around, observing two hundred people per round, ten minutes per game, and over a thousand in an hour, it appeared they could complete two rounds in the first day.

"Still not my turn this round."

Hua Yingjie frowned, worriedly looking at Tang Ming: "We won’t be grouped together, will we?"

"What? That would be a drag."

Tang Ming’s expression shifted slightly; he was determined to place in the top ten, and Hua Yingjie was aiming for the sect’s revival, naturally unwilling to give up easily. If they ended up together, it would be unmanageable.

"Yeah! In terms of medical skills, I am certainly no match for you. If it really happens, I’d just have to accept my bad luck."

Hua Yingjie sighed helplessly.

"Don’t worry, it shouldn’t be that unlucky."

Tang Ming quickly reached out to comfort, saying through gritted teeth: "If it’s really that unlucky, then I’ll withdraw. After all, I have many other ways to complete my task."

"That won’t do, I..."

"We’re brothers, there’s only so much I can help you with. Even if I let you win, you must work hard, as this medical competition is full of hidden talents... Damn!"

Tang Ming couldn’t help but curse halfway through his sentence.

"Old Meng actually lost?"

Hua Yingjie was also shocked, seeing Meng Xianjun walk sullenly towards the elimination area.

"What’s going on? Xiaoqian and Wu Fangyue both advanced, but he lost?"

Tang Ming frowned suspiciously. Although Meng Xianjun was not formally trained, his medical skill was undeniably strong. As an inheritor of hidden forces, his understanding of traditional Chinese medicine surpassed many experienced practitioners. How did he lose?

"Who was Old Meng’s opponent?"

Tang Ming looked around seriously, not having paid attention earlier, so he didn’t know who Meng Xianjun lost to.

"I also don’t know which one, seemed like nobody paid much attention earlier."

Hua Yingjie shook his head, seriously scanning the surroundings: "Indeed, there are hidden talents everywhere!"