In fact, there are many similarities between medicinal cuisine and pharmaceutics. Medicinal cuisine uses culinary methods to turn various medicinal ingredients into dishes with different flavors and functions, while pharmaceutics involves complex extraction processes to obtain the active components from medicinal materials and then formulate them.

If we must compare medicinal cuisine and pharmaceutics, medicinal cuisine is more adaptable to all aspects of human needs. From prolonging life and enhancing vitality for ordinary people, to helping power users temper their bodies and aiding bloodline warriors in their advancement, it has a comprehensive system. Although pharmaceutics has developed rapidly in recent years, potions are less controllable, as the extraction and proportioning of medicinal materials require extremely high precision. The effects of potions are often much more aggressive, and they tend to leave some hidden dangers in the body.

Many effects that can be achieved by medicinal cuisine cannot be replicated by potions. For example, this Black Jade Eight Treasures Dish can help power users cleanse impurities from their bodies, lay a better physical foundation, and increase cultivation speed. There is no potion that can replace it. Although many pharmacists have repeatedly researched and experimented with formulas, so far, none have found a potion with the same effect. Or perhaps some experimental potions have shown results, but all have such violent side effects that they cannot be widely used.

Chapter 7: Defeating the Enemy in One Move

The Medicinal Cuisine Guild and the Pharmaceutics Guild have always coexisted, but the Medicinal Cuisine Guild has never been as widespread as the Pharmaceutics Guild. However, the reverence people have for the Medicinal Cuisine Guild is something the Pharmaceutics Guild cannot match.

Medicinal chefs are a mysterious group. They excel at cooking and are skilled at using various ingredients to create medicinal dishes that, without you even realizing it, achieve the effects you desire.

Of course, making medicinal cuisine is not as simple as just tossing medicinal ingredients into a pot and stir-frying them. Different ingredients require different cooking methods, and even a difference in cooking time can turn a nourishing dish into a deadly poison. The more advanced the medicinal cuisine, the more particular the requirements, and the higher the demands on the chef.

When Brian Carter was learning to make the Black Jade Eight Treasures Dish, he was scolded harshly by Ryan.

“If you fry Black Jade Grass for too long, it becomes toxic. If you eat it, at best you’ll have diarrhea and be bedridden for three days; at worst, you’ll die... Are you trying to kill yourself or someone else?”

“If the broccoli isn’t stir-fried evenly, some parts are overcooked and lose their medicinal properties, while others are still raw and the toxins haven’t evaporated. Eat this, and you’ll be dead in five minutes. You’ve killed another person!”

“Flip it, flip it, now add the East Flower Leaves...”

When he finally succeeded in making his first Black Jade Eight Treasures Dish, Brian Carter let out a long sigh of relief in secret, but couldn’t help but wonder if he was just too stupid.

Otherwise, would Ryan be so agitated, speaking as if he were hopeless?

Fortunately, he had finally learned his first medicinal dish, which was a good start.

Feeling cheerful, Brian Carter walked out of the dormitory and headed off campus. He wondered how many gold coins those medicinal ingredients would cost. He decided to find out first—if they were cheap, he’d buy them directly; if expensive, he’d think of another way.

But Brian Carter’s good mood didn’t last long. He had barely left the dormitory when he was stopped by several people.

Brian Carter frowned, looking at the group in front of him whose eyes shone with provocation, and said calmly, “What do you want with me?”

He recognized all of them: William Harris, third on the Power User Ranking, Mark Reed, fifth on the list, and three others who were also ranked, though at least outside the top twenty.

Mark Reed was a tall, thin young man, his whole body radiating strength. He looked at the calm-faced Brian Carter and suddenly sneered, “Brian Carter, I heard you made quite a splash a few days ago, even broke Eric Turner’s arm. Looks like your strength has improved a lot. I’d like to test you myself, see just how capable you are to be so arrogant…”

Brian Carter smiled slightly, staring at Mark Reed: “Did Eric Turner send you to stand up for him?”

Mark Reed snorted, “He didn’t ask us. We just couldn’t stand to watch anymore. A power user destined never to awaken his bloodline, yet so arrogant…”

Clenching his fist, Mark Reed pointed at Brian Carter with his index finger: “Come on, spar with me. Don’t worry, I’m just going to teach you a lesson—at most, I’ll break an arm, but I won’t take your life.”

Brian Carter suddenly laughed, a strange smile on his face: “Are you challenging me?”

Mark Reed frowned, growing impatient: “What, are you scared? If you’re scared and don’t want to fight, just kneel down and admit your mistake, say you’ll never dare again, and we’ll let you go…”

Before Mark Reed could finish, Brian Carter was already shaking his head: “No, I just think fighting like this is boring. Why not add a wager? Wouldn’t that make it more exciting?”

Mark Reed was momentarily stunned, his gaze falling on Brian Carter with some suspicion. Mark Reed’s strength was just a hair away from Power User Level Eight, and he was agile—just like Mark Reed, both were speed-type power users, giving him an overwhelming advantage against Brian Carter.