<h4>Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Needle Testing Conference</h4><h4></h4>


    Three dayster.


    The preliminary selection for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Grand Festivalmenced in Haicheng.


    Associated media attended the event.


    The venue, located inside a vast Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, could amodate tens of thousands of spectators. During the heyday of traditional Chinese medicinest century, there were times when it was fully seated, and this clinic carried many people’s dreams and memories.


    At the center was thepetition ground featuring the Yin and Yang Biprity Bagua Map, consisting of two colors, ck and white.


    Not far away, there was a cab of medicinal herbs, eachpartment filled with unmarked, a variety of herbs.


    There were five hundred participants in total.


    In groups of ten.


    The first round involved identifying acupuncture points, and half of thepetitors were eliminated.


    In the second round,petitors needed to prescribe the right medicine for randomly drawnmon symptoms, then find the correct herbs from a vast storeroom of unnamed herbs and submit them along with the drawn slips to the examiners.


    The faster theypleted, the higher their score.


    The second round was chaotic, with inevitable conflicts, as everyonepeted to finish first, which was allowed. Concession is a virtue, but saving lives is profoundly urgent, andpetitors had to be brave enough to tackle unforeseen events.


    This was one of the reasons Xiang Mingzhu was confident of winning - who would darepete with an heir of Imperial Capital Lu’s acupuncture method?


    The officialpetition started at ten in the morning, and now it was less than an hour before thepetition.


    Operation stands were already set up all around the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, and high-definition cameras were aimed inside. The audience gradually arrived, most of them professionals or enthusiasts of traditional Chinese medicine, along with thepetitors’ family members and some onlookers drawn by the trending topic.


    Despite the space for tens of thousands, seventy to eighty percent of the seats were already filled.


    It looked very lively.


    The entire Huo Family was present.


    Even Huo Jiancheng was hiding in the far back, holding a small g to cheer for Qiao Xi. Qiao Xi no longer had much resentment towards him, at most, she ignored him.


    The wounds he had once caused were not yet fully healed.


    Huo Sijiao and Du Juan, the mother and daughter, specifically wore cheongsams, hoping to get a lucky start and wishing for her to triumph in the preliminaries.


    Aunt Qian and Old Chen also arrived; their faces were full of smiles.


    "Young Madam, we know your capabilities. Don’t be nervous, just perform normally!" Aunt Qian gently patted her shoulder. "Thispetition willst till the evening, it’s simply inhumane; they don’t even allow a rest in between."


    She kept a thermos by her side, wishing for Qiao Xi to have a warm stomach soup immediately after thepetition.


    Qiao Xi said softly, "Aunt Qian, thispetition tests not only solid fundamentals but also patience, meticulousness, and focus. If it’s set up this way, there must be a reason."


    She wasn’t afraid ofpeting on an empty stomach.


    Du Juan said, "I think it’s a trick! When people are hungry and nervous, they sweat profusely and can’t concentrate. Thispetition may seem simple, but it’s full of pitfalls."


    Qiao Xi smiled.


    Her eyes scanned the crowd and met Huo Xingzhou’s deep eyes; she blinked as if asking if he had any final advice.


    Huo Xingzhou extended his warm palm and held her hand, saying, "Don’t be afraid; whatever the result, I am here with you. Qiao Xi, you’re not alone."


    He understood her.


    Tears welled up in Qiao Xi’s eyes, and she nodded firmly.


    "Yes!"


    She let go of his hand and turned to walk into the internal part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.


    "Go Young Madam!"


    "Go Qiao Xi!"


    Qiao Xi felt a bittersweet swell in her heart - at least she had a solid support system behind her.


    Inside the venue, Xiang Mingzhu was the center of attention, even Li Songwen stood by her side, looking pleased. They heard the cheers for Qiao Xi but looked disdainful.


    "Such loud cheers, but what if she losester? The scores of each round are disyed in real time on the big screen; being embarrassed for a day."


    "It’s not just for a day! If she loses, she would be nailed to the pir of shame! Look, the disciples of the admired National Doctor are defeated, won’t Mr. Cheng’s followers tear her apart? She’s ruining Cheng Han’s reputation."


    Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.


    The people who praised Cheng Han’s good name, for Qiao Xi, weren’t necessarily a benefit.


    They could also be the final straw that broke Qiao Xi, after all, who could ept that an apprentice of National Doctor Cheng Han was eliminated in the first round of thepetition?


    This Doctor Qiao from Haicheng City Hospital, famous as the apprentice of a National Doctor.


    She had once benefited greatly from this title, but now she had to spit it all out!


    "How foolish! Miss Xiang, I don’t even know how she dared to bet against you—she seemed quite arrogant."


    "Miss Xiang, I see you as the leader in the preliminary selection, no doubt."


    Li Songwen spoke softly, "Mingzhu’s abilities are naturally obvious to everyone, unlike certain clowns seeking fame through dishonest means."


    Xiang Mingzhu smiled humbly, "Everyone, please don’t tter me. I was only eighth in thepetition ten years ago. Ten years have passed, and there are even more capable people now; I am nothing special!"


    The more she said this, the more these people liked her.


    Moreover, when Qiao Xi entered the venue, they all intentionally isted her with disdain. Only a few kittens remained by Qiao Xi, and one person didn’t even bother to move.


    Qiao Xi saw that handsome, pale face—it was Shen Xuanzhi, the heir to the Shen Family’s Sparrow Pecking Technique.


    Qiao Xi looked several times.


    Truly extraordinary.


    Perhaps because hisplexion was so pale, it made his eyes appear especially cold and pitch-ck, like ink bamboo.


    There was a schrly air about him, yet hidden within were the shadows of des and swords.


    ...


    Five minutes to ten.


    The spectator pathway closed.


    Many traditional Chinese doctors had substantial local fame, and their supporters hade to cheer them on, even holding banners and support cards like fans.


    Among them, Xiang Mingzhu’s followers were the most numerous, and their shouts were the loudest.


    In the spectator stands.


    Suddenly, arge banner was raised.


    It bore ten shamefulrge characters.


    "Brave Sister Qiao flies high, heroism forever by her side!"


    Young Master Sun and Zhou Yu, along with their clique, shouted loudly; even Shu Xue, who had been arguing with Zhou Yu, rushed over to cheer!


    "Louder, everyone! How can we lose to the people from the Imperial Capital on our own turf! Our Sister Qiao has been bullied enough, let’s outshine them!"


    This bet had indeed ignited many people’s fighting spirit.


    Young Master Sun was the most indignant among them.


    "Where is the banner? Distribute all the cheering props I prepared. We may lose the match, but we must have presence!"


    "Right, Young Master Sun."


    "Let’s do this together!"


    Liu Yi and Xu Yunye, who were cousins, also arrived to help Young Master Sun distribute little gs. Doctors and nurses from Haicheng City Hospital who weren’t on duty had also arrived, and the Liu Family presence was strong, with one banner per person; families in Haicheng who had been benefitted by Qiao Xi all showed up.


    Though they weren’t loudly cheering, their stance said it all!


    Not everyone in this world is ungrateful!


    The goodwill Qiao Xi had invested would one day return to her like starlight.


    At ten o’clock.


    The decennial grand traditional Chinese medicine ceremony officially began!


    The dome was extremely high, with ancient staircasesyer uponyer going upwards.


    At each level, there were examiners, mostly very old traditional Chinese medicine masters with white hair, distinguished in their respective fields.