Qiao Yan clapped her hands, “Very well, swallowing the words from alchemical books.”

“When the royal army captured Guangzong, they found a large number of these alchemical books and talismans in your residence. Thanks to Uncle Mengde’s efforts, they have been brought here.”

At the sound of her clapping, Dian Wei carried a large bag of “talismans” onto the stage.

Since Zhang Jiao needed to widely distribute his blessings, he naturally kept a large stock of talismans, which appeared to be an enormous quantity to those watching from below.

Other items were also brought onto the stage.

Zhang Jiao glanced over them and saw that they included cinnabar he had prepared earlier, several bamboo tubes, a metal mesh rack, and a furnace…

Before he could ponder what Qiao Yan intended to do, he heard her ask, “May I ask, does swallowing the words from alchemical books have any theoretical basis in medical texts?”

This was indeed a question Zhang Jiao could answer confidently.

He firmly replied, “In the Jade and Stone section of the Shennong Bencao Jing, it is stated that cinnabar can cure all diseases of the five viscera, nourish the spirit, calm the soul, enhance energy, and improve eyesight.

Prolonged use can even lead to immortality and enlightenment. Our Taiping Dao method, which incorporates cinnabar into talismans, enhances the ability to connect with the divine. This is the righteous path.”

The people in the audience exchanged glances, agreeing that what Zhang Jiao said made sense.

If not for the talismans’ ability to connect with the divine, they wouldn’t have survived the epidemics.

Although Zhang Jiao seemed to have lost in the earlier debate about astronomical phenomena, for these common folk, who struggled to even get enough to eat, the lifesaving benefits of the talismans were of paramount importance.

This was precisely why they followed Zhang Jiao.

But… seeing Qiao Yan bring this up, could she be planning to refute this claim?

The Yellow Turban soldiers began to feel confused.

However, Qiao Yan responded, “Indeed, cinnabar is a valuable substance. But…”

As she paused, Zhang Jiao suddenly noticed that while most of the people who had brought the furnace, bamboo tubes, cinnabar, and talismans had left the stage, one person remained.

This elder was vigorous and sharp-eyed, clearly not an ordinary person.

In fact, it might be inappropriate to call him an elder, as he only had a few signs of age in his eyes, while his hair was still black, and his exposed face and hands appeared well-maintained.

Qiao Yan cupped her hands and asked him, “May I ask, Master Yuanhua, about cinnabar?”

“What is the true efficacy of cinnabar?”

The Shennong Bencao Jing that Zhang Jiao mentioned was indeed a benchmark for medical texts before the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

However, it was compiled between the Qin and Han dynasties and was actually a collaborative medical work, somewhat outdated.

The development of medical science during the Guanghe era and the medical reforms spurred by recent epidemics had supplemented and clarified many of the medicinal properties recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing.

Hua Tuo, whom Qiao Yan had invited, was a prominent figure in updating and perfecting the explanations of herbal effects.

Hearing this name, Zhang Jiao was taken aback once more.

Hua Tuo’s reputation for healing was widespread.

If he had pursued a similar path and gathered followers, the title of the Great Healer would undoubtedly belong to him.

Seeing that Qiao Yan had invited Hua Tuo after Zheng Xuan, Zhang Jiao felt an increasing sense of foreboding.

Hua Tuo, unaware of Zhang Jiao’s changing expression due to his arrival, answered Qiao Yan’s question, “A few months ago, I encountered a patient who required cinnabar for treatment.

He had developed an unidentified malignant growth on his back, which would have been fatal without prompt treatment. I prescribed cinnabar as part of his medication.”

“Cinnabar has the effects of calming the mind, clearing heat, and detoxifying, making it an excellent remedy for febrile diseases.”

Before Zhang Jiao could relax after hearing Hua Tuo affirm the medicinal value of cinnabar, Qiao Yan asked, “But can cinnabar cure all the diseases of the five viscera, as recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing?”

“Of course not,” Hua Tuo responded decisively. “A physician prescribes medicine according to the symptoms. Particularly in complex epidemic cases, if there is no need to clear heat, this ingredient would not be included in the prescription.”

Hua Tuo had been seeking patients to treat since his youth, and considering that Yanzhou and Jizhou are adjacent, he had visited Jizhou before.

Among those in the audience now were people who had seen him years ago.

They couldn’t in good conscience claim that Qiao Yan had found a fake physician.

However, due to their trust in the Great Virtuous Teacher, they couldn’t help but think that while Hua Tuo might be correct, cinnabar didn’t seem to be harmful based on what he said.

At most, it just might not be the right treatment sometimes.

But who could say if the talismans and blessings, which defy common earthly logic, might change this?

This was exactly what Zhang Jiao argued.

“Cinnabar is non-toxic and has the effects of promoting blood circulation, benefiting the spirit, and eliminating evil influences.

Once these influences are removed, one becomes lighter and more connected to the divine, naturally curing all diseases. Medicine—”

“The methods of a physician and the practices of our Taiping Dao are not entirely the same. To judge my methods solely by the standards of a divine physician is overly arbitrary.”

Before Zhang Jiao finished his sentence, he saw Qiao Yan reveal a smile that could be described as “expected.”

“We’ve been waiting for you to say that—cinnabar is non-toxic?”

Qiao Yan bent down and picked up two bamboo tubes from the items brought onto the stage.

Only then did Zhang Jiao notice that each bamboo tube had a small hole, connected by a hollow bamboo segment.

This was evidently a special device.

The next moment, he heard Qiao Yan say, “Would you kindly inspect these bamboo tubes to see if they contain any poison and verify if this is indeed the cinnabar you use?”

With Hua Tuo assisting in the verification, and given Zhang Jiao’s own medical knowledge, there was no apparent issue with the materials Qiao Yan had prepared.

Thus, Zhang Jiao saw one of the bamboo tubes filled with cinnabar powder, both tubes placed in a crisscross manner on the iron rack above the furnace.

Qiao Yan watched as the fire in the furnace intensified, then indicated for everyone to step back.

“This crude method of extracting mercury from cinnabar can easily release mercury vapors. It’s best to keep a distance.”

Indeed.

It was mercury.

What puzzled Qiao Yan was that in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, there was a significant amount of mercury, and Ba Widow Qing made her fortune in the cinnabar industry.

By the Han Dynasty, methods for extracting mercury from cinnabar were documented in texts like the Huainanzi.

However, historical medical texts often marked cinnabar as “non-toxic,” without mentioning any potential side effects.

During the Wei and Jin periods, there were even phrases like “prolonged use makes one light and immortal.”

It wasn’t until the Ming and Qing dynasties that warnings like “raw consumption is non-toxic, but refining it is deadly” appeared.

Modern medicine clearly shows that while the free mercury in cinnabar may not accumulate significantly in the body, it indeed accumulates with increased consumption, threatening the kidneys and nervous system.

Of course, from a relatively objective perspective, occasional consumption of talisman water may not lead to such accumulation hazards. But—

So what?

If, under the influence of Taiping Dao talismans, people truly believed that cinnabar could cure all diseases, purify all poisons, and connect them to the divine, they would inevitably reach a point where they relied solely on its calming properties, avoiding proper medical treatment.

This would be detrimental in an era already plagued with diseases and hardships.

Moreover, she needed this demonstration to strike a blow against the reputation of Taiping Dao.

What she was proving now was the refining of cinnabar.

Indeed, the toxicity of mercury produced later is undeniable, but for the people in the audience, they wouldn’t consider such complexities.

All they need to know is that the talisman paper of Taiping Dao becomes toxic when burned.

Qiao Yan looked towards Zhang Jiao.

At this moment, Zhang Jiao’s gaze towards the furnace and bamboo tubes was filled with horror, and a hint of paleness crossed his face.

It was evident that he had guessed what Qiao Yan was about to do.

But with the fire raging and the cinnabar dissolving, he had no chance to intervene.

When the flames subsided, the mercury condensed in the empty bamboo tube was collected into a container and handed to Zhang Jiao.

Qiao Yan asked, “Could you please tell me if this substance is poisonous?”

With almost no room for hesitation, Zhang Jiao almost squeezed out a “yes” from between his teeth.

Did he have a chance to say no? No, he didn’t.

He had already seen what Qiao Yan did when she asked the question, and it was a ruthless gesture to signal Dian Wei that he could bring Zhang Liang up at any time.

Zhang Jiao was acutely aware that once he uttered a “no,” the mercury extracted would likely be immediately forced into his younger brother’s mouth.

So, all he could do was listen, and at the moment he gave that answer, the entire audience erupted.

Zhang Jiao had personally admitted it!

The talisman water of Taiping Dao was poisonous!

The momentary calming and spiritual effects were no match for the potential toxicity accumulating in the body.

This revelation was more damaging than his previous refutations regarding the movements of the sun, moon, and stars.

If not for Hua Tuo mentioning that the residual mercury was minimal and wouldn’t lead to dire consequences, and indeed, it was an essential ingredient in some specialized prescriptions that medical practitioners like them would use after careful consideration, Zhang Jiao had no doubt—

In one moment, he was their spiritual leader, and in the next, they would undoubtedly rush onto the stage to take his life.

The second debate hit him at the core, leaving not just a taste of blood in his mouth but also an extreme bitterness.

However, as he glanced at the audience, seeing the excitement, even the Han soldiers standing at the back, under the orders of Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, had set down their weapons.

His not-so-dull mind, amidst the earlier blows, quickly grasped a glimmer of understanding.

When his gaze returned to Qiao Yan’s face, his eyes had regained their calm.

The momentary lapse he had shown earlier, when she unleashed those successive thunderbolts, had faded from his face, which, at first glance, appeared serene and dignified.

In the midst of the clamor of condemnation below, he spoke up, “What is the third debate?”

If he was going to die, he wanted to die with understanding.

But perhaps he didn’t need to wait for Qiao Yan to explain.

When he saw the monk dressed in dyed robes ascend the platform, he already had an answer in his heart.

He closed his eyes, listening as Qiao Yan’s voice echoed clearly in his ears.

“In the Taiping Jing, the theory of the Three Lights of Heaven and Earth and the unity of Heaven and Man is expounded extravagantly. But if it’s truly a complete system, why resort to theft to fill its ranks?”

“Buddhism entered China since the time of Emperor Xiaoming, bringing with it the monastic system developed over six hundred years in India.

From this, you can see what a religious organization truly needs to be stable, and you know that only such a mature system can stir up the most fierce waves.”

“Slogans, precepts, organizational structure—these are all experiences you stole from Buddhism.

And the idea of the Pure Land of Buddha’s protection may also have become the basis for your celestial world in the Taiping Dao.”

“So, can it be said that what the Taiping Jing describes, the existence of the Taiping Dao, is truly a gift from heaven?”

Is it a gift from heaven, or is it man-made?—

As Qiao Yan descended from the platform, she paused halfway, turning to look in Zhang Jiao’s direction.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The leader of the Taiping Dao, who had once seemed like a true immortal, now stood with a stooped figure, no longer the towering presence he once was.

Because of the voices of condemnation from the audience, it seemed as if he had fallen into a situation of isolation and helplessness.

Qiao Yan could see it clearly.

Even Liang Zhongning, who had previously held hope for Zhang Jiao, now had lifeless eyes.

For a moment, he didn’t know whether he should still believe in the Taiping Dao or the path of salvation in his heart.

And this great mentor, even the commander-in-chief, had lost trust in him…

He already had underlying serious illnesses and was expected to pass away in three months.

Now, this series of blows seemed to have triggered all the latent illnesses in his body, making him appear even more miserable.

But Qiao Yan couldn’t afford to have any extra sympathy for him.

Since this grand peasant uprising, regardless of her involvement, was destined to end in suppression, if this leader couldn’t be overthrown and lost the trust of his supporters, more people would die.

At least for now,

Those in the audience who saw Zhang Jiao as a poisoner probably didn’t have to die.

Qiao Yan took a deep breath and continued walking towards the audience.

What made it temporarily forget the downfall of the hero on stage was the expressions of the people she saw coming towards her.

She could easily tell that besides the lives below, she had already gained half of her own harvest.

Even though she sought outside help, today’s debate with Zhang Jiao was indeed her achievement!

No one could conceal her radiance today!

Huangfu Song spoke first, “After today, your reputation as a skilled debater will surely be known throughout the land. To defeat someone like Zhang Jiao… remarkable, truly remarkable.”

He even thought to himself whether his assessment of her as a talent indispensable to the kingdom was too low.

But after careful consideration, apart from that title, there probably wasn’t anything higher. He withdrew that thought.

But no matter what, she had truly added another capital to be proud of.

However, what he, Zheng Xuan, Lu Zhi, and others saw was this child who still showed humility and propriety even after boldly winning on stage.

When she approached them, she bowed respectfully and replied to Huangfu Song’s words:

“The progress in astronomy and astrology is due to the dedication of experts like Duke Zheng and Duke Liu; the knowledge of medicinal herbs comes from consultations with eminent physicians like Master Yuanhua; and the reception of foreign religions relies on the prosperity of the nation.”

“This is the blessing of the Han Dynasty, not the achievement of Qiao Yan alone.”