Sato Taka’s words caught in his throat. He stared blankly at Chen Xiao, then at the handsome young man behind him. "Is this the same guy who was covered in blood and pus just now?! He’s recovered?"

No one could believe the scene before their eyes. Even William Dodge was utterly shocked.

Chen Xiao spoke up, "Mr. William, I have healed these three patients. You may announce the results."

"Wait!" Sato Taka shouted. "You cheated! You must have cheated! This man can’t be the same one you brought in earlier!" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Is he your father, then?" Chen Xiao retorted sarcastically.

"That guy was covered in festering sores! How could he have recovered so quickly? I absolutely refuse to believe it!"

Hearing this, Chen Xiao sneered. "I knew you would try to weasel your way out of this. But I was prepared."

With that, he looked toward the young man, who proceeded to take off his clothes to reveal a body covered in scabs. Everyone present drew in a sharp, collective gasp at the sight. The young man then shook the scabs from his body, and they flaked away to reveal smooth, intact skin underneath.

"This..."

The entire room fell deathly silent.

Chen Xiao stared coldly at the three pale-faced members of the Ghost Medical Sect. "You’ve lost."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Miyamoto Hayashi clenched his teeth. "Even if he’s healed on the outside, the root of the disease must still be there! His illness isn’t completely cured!"

"Is that so?" Chen Xiao scoffed. "How would you know the disease will recur?"

"There is a special toxin in his body..."

"It seems you know his symptoms quite well," Chen Xiao’s gaze was as sharp as a blade. "I heard you didn’t even take his pulse. How would you know there are toxins in his body? Even I had to take his pulse to detect the residual toxins!"

Miyamoto Hayashi suddenly realized his slip of the tongue and quickly changed his story. "It is a conclusion drawn from my many years of medical experience. Let me take his pulse and see for myself."

But after taking the young man’s pulse, his face turned even paler.

Healed... Impossible... Absolutely impossible...

This was the special toxin their Ghost Medical Sect had spent years developing! There was no known cure!

This guy actually cured him?

Chen Xiao spoke coldly, "Now, are you convinced?"

Miyamoto Hayashi collapsed to the ground, utterly despondent. Sato Taka and Jin Nanxi were also deathly pale. They had lost the gamble. The consequence was that the Ghost Medical Sect would have to withdraw from Divine Land. Yet after so many years of preparation, their entire goal had been to enter Divine Land, crush the Shenzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Community, and seize control of the nation’s lifeline. Now, they had ruined everything. They were finished.

Li Zhengming mocked them, "So the Ghost Medical Sect is all talk. And you thought you could compete with our Shenzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Community? Hurry up and crawl back to your kennel! You claim to be so formidable, yet you can’t even beat one of our juniors from Divine Land!"

In that moment, everyone on Divine Land’s side felt a surge of pride and exhilaration, their previous frustrations washed away.

William Dodge also looked at Chen Xiao with profound admiration. "Young man, your medical skill has truly shown me what a miracle is! I had underestimated the medicine of Divine Land, and for that, I apologize to everyone here!"

Having said that, the president of the International Medical Alliance bowed deeply.

"The traditional medicine of Divine Land is so miraculous. If it can contribute to global medicine, it would be a blessing for the entire world. This duel has been won by Divine Land. I, William Dodge, will serve as the guarantor of justice here.

"The Ghost Medical Sect of Yang Country must immediately withdraw all its branches from the Shen Zhou Territory.

"If this is not done, then I, William Dodge, will impose sanctions on Yang Country’s medical community in the name of the International Medical Alliance. From that point on, the International Medical Alliance will no longer accept any doctors from Yang Country!"

The venue erupted in cheers at his words. Only Miyamoto Hayashi and his two companions turned deathly pale.

"Mr. William..." Miyamoto Hayashi’s lips trembled. "We... we were just speaking rashly."

"Hmm? Are you saying you were toying with me?"

"No... not at all..." Miyamoto Hayashi tried to explain, but William Dodge cut him off. "Enough! You appointed me as the judge for this wager, so I, William Dodge, must of course handle this impartially! The matter will be handled as I have decreed. Otherwise, I, William Dodge, am a man of my word!"

Hearing this, the faces of Miyamoto Hayashi and his companions turned impossibly grim. Their eyes were fixed on Chen Xiao, and Miyamoto Hayashi in particular looked as if he wanted to devour the young man alive.

"Boy! I demand another wager!" Miyamoto Hayashi’s voice rasped with fury.

Chen Xiao looked utterly indifferent. "What gives you the right to wager with me?"

"I’ll wager my life!" Miyamoto Hayashi took a large step forward. "Whoever loses leaves their life behind! Boy, your medical skills are impressive, aren’t they? I, Miyamoto Hayashi, will personally take you on!"

At these words, the arena erupted once more. Chen Xiao, however, merely sneered. "Fine. How shall we bet?"

Miyamoto Hayashi said calmly, "We won’t compete in medical skill today. We will compete in Poison Art. We will each use the Chinese herbs available here to concoct a poison. Then, we will drink each other’s poison. Whoever fails to neutralize the other’s poison dies!"

His words sent a shiver down everyone’s spine. This was truly a duel to the death.

"Chen Xiao, don’t bet with him!" Luo Qingli immediately stepped forward to stop him.

Zhang Yaqing chimed in, "He’s just a desperate loser now. You have no reason to accept his bet! He’s already lost everything!"

Hearing this, Miyamoto Hayashi continued his provocation. "What’s the matter, are you scared? I thought you were so capable. Are you afraid of me?"

Li Zhengming also looked serious as he advised, "Mr. Chen, please don’t fall for his trap. In Yang Country, this Miyamoto Hayashi is ranked among the top five medical practitioners and is known as a Semi-Saint! What’s more, his skill in Poison Art is said to be unrivaled there! He’s deliberately challenging you to a contest of Poison Art to play to his own strengths! It’s completely unfair!"

Hearing this, Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

Miyamoto Hayashi sneered, "Boy! Do you dare to bet with me?" He had realized that Chen Xiao’s medical skills were superior. If left unchecked, the young man would become a grave threat to the medical community of Yang Country, so he wanted to use his greatest strength, Poison Art, to eliminate Chen Xiao for good.

The other leading figures of the Chinese Medicine Community also urged Chen Xiao not to act rashly. After all, it was a losing proposition for a young and promising prodigy like him to wager his life against an old fossil like Miyamoto Hayashi, especially in a contest of Poison Art—Miyamoto’s specialty.

However, a murderous glint flashed in Chen Xiao’s eyes. "Fine! Since you’re courting death, I’ll oblige you. Today, I’ll make sure you, old fossil, leave your worthless life right here!"