Elder Min Xu

Wang Yu started to blend inside the sect, he got to know more about it from the disciples of the first year. He also heard that each department was in itself an entity that wanted the best for its individual before the sect's benefit.

Additionally He saw that the people from the outer sect were divided into different categories, not only according to their talents but also to their background. Some of the disciples were the descendants or disciples of deacons, vice elders, elders and even the grand elders which made them feel somewhat superior to the other.

The first year's students have different kinds of behavior toward Wang Yu, some treated him as a friend and others with indifference.

....

Today Wang Yu has an alchemy lesson, which was taught by the vice elder Min Xu. An enchanting middle-aged woman with a regal presence. Her dark, glossy hair cascades down her shoulders in loose waves, framing her refined features. Her eyes are a deep, dark brown, and they seem to sparkle with a hint of mischief and intelligence.

Min Xu exudes a unique, herbal scent that is both soothing and invigorating. The aroma is reminiscent of fresh lavender, rosemary, and mint, and it seems to linger in the air around her, leaving a trail of her fragrance wherever she goes, a testament to her frequent exposement to herbs.

"Today we have a new face," said Min Xu while looking at the absent minded Wang Yu, he heard about how breathtaking she was but hearing and seeing are wholly different.

Thanks to Wang Yu's strong spirit, he didn't stay in this state for a long time, he soon returned to normal.

Wang Yu then bowed slightly before saying "Reporting to senior, I have come from the servant district three days ago."

"You've come late, so I can't repeat what I've already taught. But here's some of my notes, remember to return them when you finish reading." She then threw Wang Yu a booklet.

Receiving the booklet Wang Yu could smell a womanly aroma, he really had to admit that this woman was a femme fatale, it's no wonder she was this popular.

She then looked at the other disciples before saying "this is the third time I see you. In the other two meetings we talked about different grades of herbs and pills, also about how to differentiate between them. Today you are going to learn how to find out if a pill or a herb is poisonous or not."

"In the world of cultivation, identifying poisonous herbs and pills is an important skill for any cultivator to have. There are several methods that can be used to determine the purity and safety of a herb or pill.

One method is to observe the appearance of the herb or pill. Pure and safe herbs and pills will have a consistent color, shape, and texture. They will also have a natural aroma and will not have any discoloration or mold. On the other hand, poisonous herbs and pills will have an unnatural appearance, such as an unusual color or shape, and may have a strange smell or discoloration.

but keep in mind that there are several herbs that may appear pure and safe, but they are deadly. So the first method is just for general use."

She suddenly got serious, her demeanor changed dramatically. Her gaze became intense and piercing, and with a hint of smile she added "Another method is to test the herb or pill on animals or weak cultivators." Hearing this, some youths started to shiver. This enchanting woman was really scary, telling them to use humans for experiments was too much.

"Of course, I was joking if the sect finds out that you used a human life for that you would be punished severely."

Another method is to use a technique called "Medecine Divination". This technique is used to determine the purity and safety of a herb or pill by using spiritual energy to sense its properties. A cultivator will use their spiritual energy to sense the energy of the herb or pill and determine if it is pure and safe.

Hearing her words the disciples's eyes got interested only for cold water to pour into their ears soon.

"Of course learning this technique is easier said than done, only those who have pure wood spirit root, or those who have dual root with wood being one of them can learn it." Said Min Xu mischievously, she seemed to enjoy playing with people's emotions.

Seeing the disappointed gaze of some students, Min Xu continued "Of course there is still one other which everyone of you can use. Do you know what it is?"

One of the girls, who had always been timid and quiet raised her hand hesitantly. "Is it by learning about a lot of herbs and pills and their characteristics?"

Smiling Min Xu looked at the young girl "Absolutely correct, if you can't use techniques you should work hard. Learning is always a good way, and today I'm going to show you the most notable poisonous herbs, and how to identify them."

Suddenly her slender left hand which was empty was now holding a blue herb which appeared to be ordinary, but as she showed it to the disciples, their faces showed fear after hearing the next explanation. "This is the blue lotus herb, it may seem harmless but it is one of the most poisonous herbs out there. If you ingest it, it will lead to death within a few minutes."

Seeing the disciples' reaction Min Xu nodded and continued, "It's not just the herbs that can be dangerous, sometimes even pills can be misleading. Some poisonous pills can resemble normal healing pills, so it is important to be aware of these imitations.

For example, there is a pill called the 'Shadow Pill' that looks exactly like a common healing pill, but it is actually made with poisonous ingredients that can cause severe harm or even death.

That's why it's important to always check the source of your pills and verify their authenticity before ingesting them."

Min Xu then proceeded to show the students various other poisonous herbs and pills, and how to identify them through their appearance, aroma, and other characteristics. The students were horrified but also intrigued by the knowledge that Min Xu was imparting to them.

She ended the lesson by reminding them that it is crucial to always be vigilant when dealing with herbs and pills, and to never assume that just because it looks safe, it actually is.

"Remember, knowledge is your best defense against the dangers of the world of cultivation. So always keep learning and never stop improving your skills." With that, Min Xu dismissed the class before her eyes landed on the shy girl who had answered her question previously.

"You there, stay. I would like to chat with you." Said Min Xu who felt the absorbed and attentive gaze of the girl during her explanation, something that couldn't be faked and which showed how deeply interested she was in the subject of medicine.

The other disciples left the hall, eyes full of envy; they knew that it was likely about becoming a disciple of the elder Min Xu.

"Qin Su's really lucky for the elder Min Xu to choose her as her own disciple." Said one of the boys.

The others also understood that, this was why the sect would allow them to be taught by Vice Elders that are in a very high position inside the sect, even in the world out they were strong cultivators. By doing this, some disciples may be chosen by one of the sect's experts which will allow him to soar high, after all learning by oneself is really hard and getting the teaching of a strong cultivator would shorten the way ahead.

As the students left the hall, their minds were filled with a newfound respect for the dangers of the herbs and pills they might encounter in their future as cultivators.