Chapter 297: Attracting Talent
Competing with Dan Yuan Peak for recruits, the various Secret Realm Masters felt a bit guilty, especially when Hua Changxi appeared at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Department for the first time, looking at them recruiting disciples with a blank expression. Many Secret Realm Masters felt like they were caught red-handed stealing.
Fortunately, Hua Changxi only came once and never appeared again.
After the recruitment had been going on for a few days and all the Secret Realm Masters had recruited some outstanding talents, the slight guilt in their hearts completely vanished.
During this period, Dan Yuan Peak remained quiet. Just as all the Secret Realm Masters thought Hua Changxi would have to swallow this bitter pill, people from Dan Yuan Peak approached the Spiritual Realm Pavilion.
For this reason, Pavilion Master Meng Qingyao convened another meeting of the Secret Realm Masters.
In the Council Hall of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, the Secret Realm Masters arrived one after another. As each person entered, they would glance at the person sitting in the first seat to the right of the Main Seat.
“A mere Apprentice, who allowed you to sit there?”
Xia Ziyang was the first to attack. A seat was not just a place to sit; it represented the identity, status, and prestige of the person sitting there.
During regular meetings, the Sixteenth Elder would sit in the first position on the left. Out of respect, the position on the right had always been vacant.
The moment people from Dan Yuan Peak arrived, they sat opposite the seat occupied by Xia Zhen. Although Xia Zhen was not present today, the cultivators from the Guardian Family were all very displeased.
Wan Feng’s expression was calm as he smiled and said, “Although I am an Apprentice, I represent Dan Yuan Peak and the Dan Yuan Secret Realm.”
Xia Ziyang frowned, “Even if you represent Dan Yuan Peak, you are not qualified to sit there.”
Wan Feng smiled, “In terms of contribution to the Dan Sheng Hall, are there any of you present who can surpass my Peak Master?” With that, he stopped paying attention to Xia Ziyang and smiled at Meng Qingyao.
“Pavilion Master, doesn’t the Spiritual Realm Pavilion prioritize contribution above all else, rather than closeness or distance?”
As soon as these words were spoken, many people’s eyelids twitched. They thought, as expected of someone under Hua Changxi, their words were just as tough and unforgiving.
Meng Qingyao looked at Wan Feng, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
The useful individuals under Hua Changxi had long been thoroughly investigated by all parties. This Wan Feng had never caught anyone’s attention before.
There was no other reason; this person was merely a Medicine Child assigned to Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall by the Medical Affairs Department, and one without connections or background.
However, his performance today was surprisingly impressive.
Where did this unknown person get the confidence and backing to stand before them, the Secret Realm Masters?
Was it given by Hua Changxi?
“The Spiritual Realm Pavilion certainly values contributions to the Sacred Land the most, and Hua Changxi is undoubtedly the foremost among all Secret Realm Masters.”
While these words seemed to affirm Hua Changxi, upon hearing the undisguised snorts and sneers from other Secret Realm Masters, Wan Feng spoke again with a smile, “Pavilion Master is too kind.”
“The Sacred Land’s Secret Realms have only opened eighteen so far. It is too early to discuss who is the foremost among Secret Realm Masters.”
“I know the Pavilion Master values my Peak Master, but you shouldn’t put her on the spot like this.”
“You see, many people are not convinced.”
Meng Qingyao: “.”
Other Secret Realm Masters: “.”
Looking at Wan Feng, who was as reckless as Hua Changxi, Mu Qingying felt like laughing. Fearing she couldn’t control her facial expression, she quickly lowered her head.
Wan Feng ignored everyone’s reaction, stood up with a smile, and produced the ‘expenses’ Hua Changxi had incurred for purchasing the Display Spiritual Artifact, along with the resource bills submitted to the Imperial Court for ‘cultivators entering the capital’.
Wan Feng first handed a copy to Meng Qingyao, then distributed them to all the Secret Realm Masters one by one.
“I forgot to congratulate all the Secret Realm Masters. You must have recruited many excellent disciples these past few days.”
“The matter of cultivators from all regions entering the capital was promoted by my Peak Master along with other Sacred Lands. What you hold in your hands are the ‘expenses’ she prepaid.”
“Since you have all benefited, you should jointly bear all the expenses.”
Looking at the bills in their hands, all the Secret Realm Masters understood Wan Feng’s intention. So, he had come to ask them for resources.
Xia Ziyang, having just been humiliated, sneered, “What if we refuse?”
Wan Feng’s smile remained unchanged, but as he looked at the silent crowd, his eyes turned cold. “The Divine Wood bestowed the Secret Realms, what do you all present think that means?”
“I know some people think that because they manage the Secret Realms, the Secret Realms are theirs.”
“However, here, I want to break everyone’s illusions.”
“The Divine Wood bestowed the Secret Realms as an opportunity for you to allocate the resources within to build and develop the Sacred Land.”
Wan Feng surveyed the Secret Realm Masters. “Except for Dan Yuan Peak, the Secret Realm Masters of other Secret Realms are all subject to replacement.”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression changed.
Meng Qingyao’s gaze shot towards Wan Feng, “You, an Apprentice, know quite a lot.”
Wan Feng smiled, “Everything I know, you Secret Realm Masters surely know as well. I am merely reminding everyone.”
He said this while looking at Xia Ziyang.
“Building the Sacred Land is entirely up to your will; you can do as you please.”
The reason the five Guardian Families were bestowed Secret Realms by the Divine Wood was merely due to their merits in guarding. Once these individuals exhausted their merits, everything not obtained through strength would be reclaimed.
Meng Qingyao knew that Dan Yuan Peak had the moral high ground this time and acted decisively. “Go back and tell Peak Master Hua that all Secret Realm Masters will jointly bear the expenses for recruiting disciples.”
Wan Feng smiled, “It is indeed Pavilion Master who is enlightened. Oh, and Pavilion Master, don’t forget to arrange for the Secret Realm Masters to patrol the East City area.”
After Meng Qingyao agreed to the patrol matter, Wan Feng, having achieved a great victory, smiled and returned to report.
After he left, Meng Qingyao, based on the grade of the Secret Realms owned by each Secret Realm Master, determined the resources each should pay and provide. After doing so, she disbanded the meeting.
When she emerged from the Council Hall, she saw Xia Zhen standing in the Courtyard.
“Sixteenth Elder.”
Xia Zhen looked at her, “You did the right thing by agreeing to Hua Changxi’s request to share the expenses.”
Meng Qingyao, however, felt a bit uneasy. “It’s just a little bit of resources; giving them is fine. It’s just that this feeling of being pushed around by Hua Changxi is not good.”
“And that Wan Feng who appeared today was also surprising.”
Xia Zhen sighed, a worried expression on his face. “That’s what I’m worried about. I’m worried that in the future, more and more people like Wan Feng will appear around Hua Changxi.”
Meng Qingyao was stunned and somewhat confused.
Xia Zhen sighed softly, “People admire the strong, and Hua Changxi is undoubtedly a strong individual, a strong person who is willing to give everyone opportunities. Such a person is very attractive to outstanding talents who wish to follow.”
Meng Qingyao opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately fell silent.
At Dan Yuan Peak, Hua Changxi listened to Wan Feng’s report. Upon learning that he had persuaded the people from the Spiritual Realm Pavilion to share the expenses, a look of confusion flickered in her eyes.
The actions of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion in intercepting registered cultivators were not only shameless but also showed a complete disregard for her.
Wan Feng was just an ordinary Steward in the Personnel Department. He went to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion once and easily persuaded those shameless people?
This capability… is not small!
A Spiritual Light flashed in Hua Changxi’s eyes, and she once again used the Four Diagnostic Methods to examine Wan Feng.
Fire and Wood Spiritual Root, and the purity of the Spiritual Root was quite high.
Upon seeing the Golden Core suspended above Wan Feng’s Dantian, Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. If she remembered correctly, this person was still a Qi Refining cultivator when he first arrived at Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.
In about a year, he had advanced by two major Realms. His talent and comprehension were indeed not low.
“You completed this mission very well. From today onwards, you are promoted to Steward of the Personnel Department and will be jointly responsible for all Personnel Department affairs with Pharmacist Xu.”
Wan Feng’s expression lit up. “I will certainly not fail the Peak Master’s expectations.”
