The four of them passed through the medicinal fields and saw rows upon rows of houses.
The houses were divided into left and right sides, very symmetrical, almost identical in size and style.
Situ Yunfeng and Ye Lingyuan had no intention of explaining.
It was Elder Sun who saw Zilin Ling's curiosity and explained, "Miss Zi, this is where all the disciples reside."
The disciples of Medicine King Valley had no distinction in status, meaning there were no outer disciples, inner disciples, or core disciples as in other sects.
Therefore, all disciples started on equal footing, making it easier for them to focus their minds on studying the art of medicine.
They had the same master, the same resources, and the only difference was their own comprehension and diligence.
Medicine King Valley had a minor examination once a year, which was the assessment for the three levels: Medical Apprentice, Medical Practitioner, and Doctor.
Every three years, there was a medium examination for the three levels of Medical Scholar, Chinese Medicine Master, and Grand Physician.
Every five years, there was a major examination for the assessment of Physician level.
Those who passed the assessment would receive some rewards and resources, and proceed to the next stage of learning.
Until they completed the highest stage, that is, the physician's curriculum, they could choose to stay or leave.
Those who chose to leave would be issued a Physician's certificate by Medicine King Valley, bearing the special mark of Medicine King Valley.
With this certificate, they would be recognized even if they left the Three Kingdoms and went to the Four Great Empires.
Those who chose to stay could then begin their study of alchemy. Of course, whether they could enter was up to their own comprehension and luck.
For those who did not pass the assessment, Medicine King Valley would grant them three chances for a make-up exam.
If they failed the make-up exams after three attempts, they would be expelled from Medicine King Valley.
The advantage of this approach was that it eliminated internal strife among disciples while preventing them from losing their drive.
In essence, this model was somewhat similar to the examination system in Zilin Ling's previous world – minor tests, medium tests, and major tests.
After hearing Elder Sun's explanation, Zilin Ling felt a flicker of curiosity towards the ancestors of Medicine King Valley.
After all, such an advanced selection model was not something that people of this world could have conceived.
Soon, everyone passed through the disciples' living quarters and arrived at the area for refining medicine and alchemy.
The medicine refining area was very large, capable of accommodating hundreds of people refining medicine simultaneously.
The alchemy area, on the other hand, had only three rooms, as in the past thousand years, there had only been two alchemists: Situ Jinglei and Situ Yunfeng.
Although the alchemy area had only three rooms, it was more than ten times sturdier than other areas.
This was because alchemy was ten times more dangerous than medicine refining.
Medicine refining simply involved boiling herbs and extracting their essence to form liquids or pills.
Alchemy, however, involved many more factors, and a single mistake could lead to a furnace explosion. Therefore, alchemy rooms needed to be even more robust.
After passing through the medicine refining and alchemy areas, Elder Sun left, and the three of them proceeded to a grand hall.
This grand hall was where the disciples of Medicine King Valley studied.
On both sides of the hall, a couplet evoked a sense of kinship in Zilin Ling.
One medicine, one property, how can one mistake a deer for a horse!
A hundred illnesses, a hundred remedies, how dare one take a sheep for a cow!
The reason Zilin Ling felt a sense of kinship was that the words used in this couplet were from her previous life.
Because "mistaking a deer for a horse" and "taking a sheep for a cow" alluded to some interesting historical anecdotes.
Similar to the examination system in that world, combined with this couplet, Zilin Ling harbored a guess.
Could the ancestors of Medicine King Valley be connected to her previous world?
That was right, Elder Du had once told her that the "Human Emperor's Medical Canon" was a cultivation technique created by the Ancestral God after tasting a hundred herbs and encountering seventy-two poisons.
But it was clearly Shen Nong the Great from her previous world who tasted a hundred herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons!
Could this world and that world have some connection?
If that were the case, then...
As Zilin Ling thought of this, her heart couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, and her body trembled slightly.
Ye Lingyuan's attention had always been on her, and seeing her like this, he quickly asked, "Lin'er, what's wrong?"
Zilin Ling then realized she had lost her composure.
She calmed her emotions, shook her head, and said, "I'm fine."
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
He knew that Zilin Ling must be hiding something from him.
But since Zilin Ling wasn't saying anything, he wouldn't pry.
He took Zilin Ling's hand and said gently, "Let's go! We're almost there."
"Mhm!"
Zilin Ling nodded and followed Situ Yunfeng and Ye Lingyuan as they turned left.
Soon, the three of them arrived at an independent courtyard – Dan Xin Courtyard.
This was the residence of Situ Jinglei and Situ Yunfeng.
Upon entering the courtyard and passing through a small garden, or rather a small medicinal garden, they entered the reception hall.
On the table in the reception hall, all sorts of dishes had already been laid out.
Elder Sun, who had left earlier, was already waiting in the reception hall.
Seeing the three enter, he quickly invited them, "Young Master, His Highness the King of Hades, Miss Zi, please be seated."
After the three were seated, Elder Sun withdrew.
Situ Yunfeng raised his wine cup and said, "A'yuan, Little... Linlin, I propose this cup of wine to welcome you both."
With that, he drained the cup in a single gulp, showing his respect and welcome to them.
Zilin Ling smiled and said, "Situ, you've gone to so much trouble!"
As she spoke, she reached to pick up her wine cup, but a hand snatched it away.
Immediately, Ye Lingyuan's doting voice was heard saying, "Your stomach is empty, it's not suitable to drink alcohol. I'll drink this cup for you."
After saying that, he drained the wine in his cup and then picked up his own cup and drank it as well.
Situ Yunfeng, having eaten a large mouthful of "dog food," chuckled bitterly, "A'yuan, that's not fair!"
Although he said that, he picked up his chopsticks, placed a piece of meat into Zilin Ling's bowl, and said, "Try it. Although this meat is just ordinary beast meat, it's stewed with eighteen kinds of medicinal herbs!"
Just as Zilin Ling was about to thank him, she saw another piece of fish appear in her bowl.
"This fish is good, try it!"
Ye Lingyuan cast a warning glance at Situ Yunfeng and smiled dotingly at Zilin Ling.
Situ Yunfeng was speechless.
It was just a piece of meat, was it worth being jealous over?
Zilin Ling secretly thought, "This Ye Lingyuan is too much of a jealous person!"
However, she pretended not to notice the strange atmosphere at the table and picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite of the fish.
The fish melted in her mouth, and a surge of spiritual energy instantly flowed into the meridians of her body. The comfort it brought made Zilin Ling feel somewhat intoxicated.
"Not bad! Truly not bad!"
Situ Yunfeng shook his head and said helplessly, "More than not bad, this is Immortal Spirit Fish!"
Immortal Spirit Fish had extremely harsh living conditions, requiring not only abundant spiritual energy but also the presence of Immortal Spirit Grass.
Therefore, Immortal Spirit Fish not only contained rich spiritual energy but also had extremely high medicinal value.
Its taste was delicious, and regular consumption could maintain a youthful appearance, making it a favorite among women.