Chapter 2546

"The saying goes that the new waves push the old ones aside. The rise of new sects shows the strength of the younger generation," Zhu Yanyi answered with a smile.

Zhang Yixing pondered this. It made sense. He then asked, "Sect Leader Zhu, are the formations your disciples used derived from numerical formations?"

Zhu Yanyi looked at her, slightly surprised. "You think our Three Talents and Big Dipper formations come from numbers?"

"Isn't that so?" Zhang Yixing asked casually.

"Not exactly," Zhu Yanyi said slowly. "You have the cause and effect reversed."

"Reversed?" Zhang Yixing looked confused.

"Yes. Real-world formations didn't come from numbers. Numerical formations were created to help medical development. Their origin is these real-world formations. Formations change in countless ways. They aren't just for medicine. I heard the Medicine King Valley uses formations to improve pill refining, right?"

"Yes," Zhang Yixing said. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, that’s just one use."

"Just one?" Zhang Yixing was truly curious now.

Zhu Yanyi saw her interest. "Formations have many uses. They can be used in competitions to unite a team. They can protect a sect as a mountain defense array. Those are daily uses. For us medical cultivators, we use them in medicine. I often place formations inside critically ill patients to help their bodies recover quickly."

She looked at Zhang Yixing. "Has the Medicine King Valley never used human body medicine arrays?"

Zhang Yixing stared at her. After a long pause, he nodded slowly. "We have never used them."

Zhu Yanyi paused. "Why not?"

"I don't know," Zhang Yixing said bluntly. "We never knew formations could be used inside the body."

Zhu Yanyi chuckled. "Now you know."

"Knowing is useless. We can't use them," Zhang Yixing said.

Zhu Yanyi stared at her. Zhang Yixing shamelessly nodded. "We really can't. So we still need your help."

Zhu Yanyi rolled her eyes. "Why tell me if you can't use them?"

"Teach us," Zhang Yixing said, still shameless.

Zhu Yanyi tilted her head. "Teaching is fine. But what’s in it for me?"

Zhu Yanyi didn’t care about flattering the Five Great Sects. Honor gained by sucking up was useless to her. She disliked begging.

Zhang Yixing said, "We are both medical sects. Discussing techniques is proper."

"Discussion is proper. But free discussion makes us look worthless," Zhu Yanyi said directly.

She understood Zhang Yixing’s thick skin. She forced people to agree. But Zhu Yanyi knew if she taught them for free, they wouldn’t cherish it.

Rare things are valuable. Good things aren’t cheap. If she taught them for free, they might discard her later. They might even step on her. She would never teach for free.

People only cherish what they pay for. She respected effort, but she wasn’t a saint. She wouldn’t do things without cost.

"Sect Master Zhang," Zhu Yanyi said. "Our Azure Sovereign Sect is small, but our medical skills are no worse than yours. Don’t try to bully us with your sect’s name."

"I’m not full enough to bully you," Zhang Yixing glanced at her, looking exasperated.

Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly. "I just want to be clear. I’m afraid you’ll use your sect’s power to force us. I’m timid. I can’t handle threats."

"Nonsense," Zhang Yixing glared at her. she didn’t believe she was timid.

Yan Aohan looked at Zhang Yixing. It meant nothing, but Zhang Yixing felt a sharp glance. It seemed to say, If you lose your temper at Zhu Yanyi, I will act.

Yan Aohan ignored Zhang Yixing. He handed Zhu Yanyi a peeled walnut. She ate it slowly. "I’m pregnant. Pregnant women get scared easily. Didn’t you know that?"

Zhang Yixing sighed. "Fine. I was wrong." He added, "So when will you teach us?"

"I said it. If the price is right, I won’t hide my skills," Zhu Yanyi said seriously. "I could teach for free. But I know you wouldn’t cherish it. People need pressure to value things. Laziness makes free things seem worthless. Only paid things are cherished. I don’t want to teach and be hated. Better to be clear. Let’s talk price."

Zhu Yanyi’s words were too direct. The Five Great Sect leaders didn’t know how to argue.

They were experienced. They knew she was right. Even if they were unhappy, they didn’t argue.

Zhu Yanyi ate her walnut. "Sect Master Zhang, discuss it. Come back when you can pay the price."

"Sect Leader Zhu," Jian Wuhua asked. "Our Sword Palace also has a place for refining pills. Can our elders learn from you too?"