Chapter 583: Chapter 583

"Let’s go, let’s go, everyone go to that side for treatment; we can’t do it here." Old Zhou was a very enthusiastic old man, pulling people along as he ran.

"Hey, wait a minute! We’re in the middle of a competition here. If the patients run off, how can we proceed with our drug trials!" Seeing his competition "props" about to run off to another place, how could he not panic? ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩

Of course, the chaos didn’t stop there. Even those far away who heard the news couldn’t help but clamor to go to the Wu City Medicine Association for treatment. These were people who had endured pain for several days and couldn’t bear even one more second of it.

Before long, Old Zhou had brought over quite a few patients who could walk; those who couldn’t were protesting on their stretchers. Crucially, many Pharmacists trailed behind them, desperately trying to reason with them. A proper competition turned into a farce, and soon the Wu City Medicine Association was surrounded and impenetrable.

There were those demanding antidotes, those cursing the Medicine Association, and even a scene of the host crawling on the ground searching for his glasses after they were knocked off. In short, it was a complete mess, an unexpected turn no one had envisioned.

Jing Shu had a headache, and Wang Danai was completely at a loss. The referees not only didn’t intervene but also watched with great interest.

"Alright, alright! Everybody quiet down for a moment," Jing Shu had to shout. "Let’s do it , dear patients, why don’t we give others a chance first? Just twenty minutes. If the other Medicine Associations can’t cure you, we in Wu City will treat everyone free of charge!" She saw the eyes of the other Medicine Associations practically ready to devour the Wu City Medicine Association. It’s still early in the contest, and the animosity has already peaked.

And it’s not just happening at the competition; it’s also being live-streamed! Although not many people are watching, influential figures from various places are surely paying attention. Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle. They probably think: Everyone came here to compete, minding their own business. Wu City forfeited, fine. But then their patients suddenly stop treatment and rush to your side for an antidote? What’s that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on us? Think you’re so great, huh?

This was when Old Zhou jumped in, "Exactly! Don’t make it difficult for them. Go get treated first, and if it doesn’t work, then come back here."

"Really? Weren’t you the one who called us over just now, Old Zhou?"

"But I don’t want to delay for even a minute! Old Zhou, you know how painful that bite is, right?"

"Everyone, please, do me a favor, okay!" Old Zhou said this time with vigorous enthusiasm.

"Alright, alright. Then you all hurry up. Quick! If it doesn’t work, I’m coming over here."

And so, the farce finally came to a close. Jing Shu sighed in relief, and the other Medicine Associations did the same, hastening their drug trials. Hadn’t they heard it was only twenty minutes? Was there some mistake? Who was the real referee here, anyway?

But many still believed the substitutes here were effective. After all, a lot of theoretical work had already been done. With powerful computer data calculations, they could predict the rate of inhibition these drugs might achieve—this was now merely the final testing phase.

Host Xiao Ai eventually found his glasses. Under the light, they refracted a curious beam. He knew that although Wu City had withdrawn from the competition, they had already scored a significant victory in the first round.

"Old man, is it still very painful? It shouldn’t be!"

As time ticked by, second by second, the appointed time was nearly upon them. However, these Bodhi substitutes still had no effect, not even reducing the pain by a fraction.

"We told you it wouldn’t work! Can we switch places now?"

"This is really unbearable!"

At this point, without needing anyone else’s consent, these patients, driven by a strong will to live, made their way to the Wu City Medicine Association, crawling if they had to, all begging for medicine. The scene descended into chaos once again.

Xiao Ai subtly glanced at the referees, who nodded and did not intervene. So, with all the "props" gone, he proceeded to explain the various medications prepared by the Medicine Associations to the online audience.

Old Zhou carefully placed each tiny black pill into the mouths of the patients. In just five minutes, the people who had been in severe pain, tormented by parasites, all calmed down.

"I’m better! I’m really better!"

"This medicine is miraculous! It’s an antidote, an antidote!"

"Now, I declare the first round of the competition over! The judges have already posted the scores for all Medicine Associations on the screen. Please look!"

The screen, filled with red Zeros, was shocking. No surprises there; all Medicine Associations scored zero. Alternative medicines were indeed not that easy to find. Although some Medicine Associations were dissatisfied, there was nothing they could do; the scores were given by the judges.

The patients who had just been carried in were now mostly lively and walking out on their own. It was a good start.

"Then, the second round of the competition begins now! This round is also simple. A Medicine Association is judged on the total quality and quantity of its medicinal materials. Simply having one outstanding material is not enough. To possess the right to emergency pharmacology, one must have corresponding strength!

This round will compare the total number and quality of medicinal materials from each Medicine Association!

Now, I will announce the names of the medicinal materials submitted by each Medicine Association, and the judges will personally assess their quality."

"This is good. We should aim to score more points this time. We might not be sure about other things, but when it comes to medicinal materials, we’ve brought our entire stock."

"We got the news early and even borrowed some from other places. If it’s about quantity, you definitely can’t compete with us."

Hearing these whispers, Wang Danai snorted and said to Jing Shu, "What do they count for? Even if they have more, what use is it? Our Wu City’s materials are top grade."

Jing Shu smiled without saying a word. While Wu City might not have the advantage in quantity, she was very confident about the quality.

A few referees were each responsible for some Medicine Associations. Only Boss Zhang, the Chief Referee from a different field, still sat on the platform—he wasn’t familiar with medicinal materials, after all. However, he kept glancing at Jing Shu, his gaze growing more and more intense, and he continually urged Minister Zhao and the others, "Hurry up! Get it done quickly and announce the results!"

The Wu City Medicine Association was, as luck would have it, assigned to Minister Zhao. He walked over laughing, and the first thing he examined was Wu City’s Bodhi. Upon seeing the abundant, lush green, and dewy-fresh Bodhi, Minister Zhao exclaimed, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise, "Fantastic! Top grade, all of it is top grade! Record it, record it all!"

"All top grade?" the recorder asked hesitantly.

At this time, Old Man Zhang, the Chief Referee, was also helped over, excitedly asking Minister Zhao, "These are the ones? My, they look delightful."

"Is there a mistake? Is there a full top-grade batch over there?"