When Felix entered the room, he noticed a pale-faced young man slumped over a table, fast asleep. Nearby, a middle-aged man was engrossed in a book, seemingly unaware of Felix's presence.

"Hello," Felix greeted, drawing the man's attention.

The middle-aged man looked up, smiled, and stood. "Are you here to learn pill cultivation?"

Felix nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Prepare your silver needles," the man instructed.

Felix was not entirely sure why but complied without hesitation.

The man then woke the young man, who groggily grabbed a glass of water, took a sip, and lay on a bed in the corner. "You have ten minutes to cure him. If you succeed, you'll pass the preliminary assessment. Otherwise, you'll have to leave."

Felix approached the young man and immediately realized the issue. Though the man appeared healthy, his internal organs were rapidly deteriorating—a clear effect of whatever was in the water he had just consumed.

The symptoms were so severe that even a master healer would