Chapter 294: An Opportunity in Nanxiang County
After leaving the Northern Garrison Command, Jing Le and Yan Zhenzhen were eager to return to their sect to report and discuss the results, and they left one after another. Hua Changxi, however, went to the Artifact Saint Palace with Tong Yao.
The reason for going to the Artifact Saint Palace was twofold: firstly, she wanted to see Hua Liulang; secondly, she wanted to purchase a batch of Spiritual Artifacts.
Seeing that Tong Yao was going to take her out of the city, Hua Changxi was surprised, “Why do we still need to go out of the city?”
Upon hearing this, a trace of annoyance and disgust flashed across Tong Yao’s face, “The areas around the Artifact Refining Workshop are tightly monitored by the Royal Family and Noble Families. Any slight anomaly will attract their attention.”
“To avoid unnecessary complications, disciples of the Artifact Saint Palace can now only enter and exit through the teleportation channel outside the city gate.”
Hua Changxi inwardly admired the many contingency plans of the Artifact Saint Palace, but still said, “This is not a long-term solution. Once cultivators from other regions enter the capital, as long as you still want to recruit disciples, they will eventually find your traces.”
Tong Yao also knew this and showed a helpless expression, “Before the Display Spiritual Artifacts were deployed, the elders of the Sacred Lands had been arguing about this endlessly. To prevent the Sacred Lands from being infiltrated by the Royal Family and other forces, they even considered continuing the old method of secretly taking disciples.”
He said, smiling at Hua Changxi, “Do you know what the main reason was that prompted the elders to decide on public recruitment?”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “Is it related to the Dan Sheng Hall?”
Tong Yao nodded, “That’s right. When the Pill Fire was ignited on First Street and Second Street of the Dan Sheng Hall, the elders were surprised but remained relatively calm.”
“Afterward, the appearance of the Xia Family, a Guardian Family, led to the Dan Sheng Hall opening the eighteen Divine Wood Secret Realms. The elders could still maintain their composure.”
“However, when the Altar of Alchemy appeared, not only the elders of the Artifact Saint Palace, but also those of the Talisman Saint Pavilion and the Formation Saint Sect could no longer sit still.”
“Not to mention the subsequent appearance of Dan Yuan Peak, Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak, as well as the emergence of the Holy Guard, which completely panicked the elders.”
“The revival of the Five Great Sacred Lands will certainly have a sequence, but the gap cannot be too large.”
“Seeing the rapid progress in the revival of the Dan Sheng Hall, while other Sacred Lands showed no signs of movement, how could the elders not be anxious?”
“It is precisely for this reason that the elders made up their minds to recruit disciples widely, to develop and strengthen the Sacred Lands, and at the same time, they hoped that the addition of fresh blood would promote and push forward the revival of the Sacred Lands.”
“As for the various forces wanting to take the opportunity to insert their people into the Artifact Saint Palace, there is nothing that can be done about it.”
“But fortunately, the management structure of the Artifact Saint Palace has long been established, and key positions in each department are already filled. Even if the Royal Family and nobles want to infiltrate, the overall development direction of the Artifact Saint Palace will not deviate too much.”
Hua Changxi was not very interested in the development plans of other Sacred Lands. She just nodded, indicating that she was listening. After Tong Yao finished speaking, she offered her blessings.
“The Five Great Sacred Lands will recreate their ancient glory.”
Tong Yao smiled in agreement, “They certainly will. Once the Five Great Sacred Lands are fully revived, they will be able to command the Central Continent, and then the chaos in various regions can be effectively suppressed, allowing the people to live and work in peace.”
Although Hua Changxi felt that achieving this would be difficult and would take a long time, she did not dampen his spirits, “Yes, it certainly will.”
Tong Yao smiled at her, “Let’s work hard together.”
Hua Changxi: “Okay.”
The two walked and talked, and soon they left the South City Gate. They then walked south for a quarter of an hour before stopping in front of a desolate dry well.
Just as Tong Yao was about to tell Hua Changxi to jump into the well, he saw her frowning and looking in the direction of Nanxiang County, “You feel it too?”
Hua Changxi looked at the fiery clouds in the sky above Nanxiang County and nodded, “Such dense Fire Spiritual Energy.”
In fact, it wasn’t just Fire Spiritual Energy; in her perception, the area seemed to be burning and steaming with flames.
Tong Yao paused, “Since last year, the concentration of Fire Spiritual Energy around Nanxiang County has been rising. After the New Year this year, the rate of increase has continued to grow.”
Hua Changxi: “What do you think will happen in Nanxiang County?”
Tong Yao knew that Hua Changxi lacked information sources, so he said, “In ancient times, Nanxiang County was called Nanxiang City, and it was the stationed post of the Vermilion Bird Emperor on the Central Continent.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s expression trembled, “Then, does that mean Lingguang Hall and Nanxiang City are one and the same?”
Tong Yao: “Sort of.”
Hua Changxi looked deeply at Nanxiang County, “With such an anomaly appearing in Nanxiang County, is a Ruin Secret Realm about to emerge?”
Tong Yao shook his head, “It’s not just any Ruin Secret Realm; it’s Nanxiang City that is about to appear.” He then looked at Hua Changxi, “Fellow Daoist Hua, this is a once-in-a-thousand-years great opportunity, you must not miss it.”
Hua Changxi looked over, “Why do you say that?”
Tong Yao: “The stationed post of the Vermilion Bird Emperor, you can imagine how high its level is. It might not compare to the Five Great Sacred Lands, but it is definitely far beyond ordinary Ruin Secret Realms.”
“According to ancient records, the Four Elephant Cities of the Central Continent were all guarded by Cave Heaven Blessed Lands. This means that the appearance of Nanxiang City will be accompanied by the emergence of Cave Heaven Blessed Lands.”
“Nanxiang City belongs to fire, so for cultivators with Fire Spiritual Roots, it is naturally a great opportunity.”
“The fire tiger we encountered outside the Northern Garrison Command was coming for the opportunity in Nanxiang County.”
“Just wait and see, Nanxiang County will soon become lively. Not only humans but also the Demon Race will come to compete for the Cave Heaven Blessed Lands.”
At this moment, a cultivator flew past on a sword in the sky. Tong Yao saw this and smiled, shaking his head.
“The Royal Family has sealed off all the entrances and exits to Nanxiang County, attempting to monopolize the opportunities there. It’s wishful thinking. Not to mention anything else, Lingguang Hall will be the first to disagree.”
As he spoke, Tong Yao showed a look of curiosity, “Lingguang Hall has been quiet all this time. I wonder who the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall is?”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered, and she quickly changed the subject, “Let’s not talk about Nanxiang County anymore. Let’s go down quickly.”
Tong Yao nodded, and he and Hua Changxi jumped into the dry well one after another, and then teleported to the underground palace of the Artifact Saint Palace.
After arriving underground, Hua Changxi first went to see Hua Liulang. Learning that he was doing well at the Artifact Saint Palace, with both cultivation and artifact refining progressing smoothly, she was relieved. Then, she followed Tong Yao to select Spiritual Artifacts.
Tong Yao directly took Hua Changxi to the storeroom for Fourth-Rank Spiritual Artifacts.
Looking at the wide variety and large quantity of Fourth-Rank Spiritual Artifacts in the storeroom, Hua Changxi sighed, “Indeed, there is strength in numbers.”
On Dan Yuan Peak, she was the only one refining pills. Thanks to the Shen Nong Cauldron, the quantity was not small, but her time and energy were limited, so the variety of pills she refined was somewhat scarce, incomparable to the Artifact Saint Palace.
Tong Yao understood Hua Changxi’s feelings at the moment, “The Dan Sheng Hall is currently somewhat fragmented, leading to dispersed manpower. There are ways to change this situation.”
Hua Changxi looked over, “What way?”
Tong Yao looked at her, “You use your absolute strength to crush all parties, so they dare not disobey your orders.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes widened, “Not to mention that I don’t have that strength, even if I did, I wouldn’t do it.”
Now it was Tong Yao’s turn to be surprised, “Why?”
Hua Changxi: “Because I don’t want to be the leader of the Dan Sheng Hall. Perhaps I had such thoughts before, but after managing Dan Yuan Peak, I found managing people and affairs to be too troublesome and a waste of time and energy.”
“Not to mention that there are all sorts of unsavory characters in the Medical Affairs Department. If I get mixed up with their chaotic affairs, do I still want to cultivate?”
“I just want to be a lecturer who spreads Medical Skills and the Pill Dao.”
Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi with confusion, “I originally thought you were someone with high aspirations, but I didn’t expect…”
He paused.
“If reviving the Dan Sheng Hall is your responsibility, will you not contend for it?”
Hua Changxi quickly distanced herself, “Don’t put so much pressure on me. Reviving the Sacred Land is the responsibility of all disciples of the Sacred Lands, not just mine. Of course, I will also do what I can for the Sacred Land.”
Not wanting to continue this discussion with Tong Yao, Hua Changxi began to select Spiritual Artifacts.
“I am a healer. Are there any Magic Tools that use spiritual needles as weapons? Preferably ones that can be used to save people and also to fight enemies.”
Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi, suppressed the urge to persuade her further, and took out a five-colored jade ring from the shelf and gave it to her.
“This is the Five Spirits Divine Ring. As long as you input Spiritual Energy into the ring, it will condense corresponding attribute Five Spirits Divine Needles. The spiritual needles can penetrate the bodies of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.”
Hua Changxi’s expression brightened upon hearing this, “This Spiritual Artifact is good, I’ll take it.”
Afterward, Hua Changxi also selected a Fire Spirit Sword. Although she still couldn’t draw the Floating Light Sword, her swordsmanship had been continuously improving, and she was fully capable of fighting with a sword.
In addition to the two Fourth-Rank Spiritual Artifacts, Hua Changxi also chose fifty Second-Rank Spiritual Gourds, each with an internal space of one cubic meter, convenient for her to store Pills.
“Here.”
Hua Changxi handed Tong Yao a batch of Third-Rank Supreme-grade Pills at market price.
Tong Yao took the Pills, looked at Hua Changxi, and smiled, “Fellow Daoist Hua, in the path of Alchemy, I’m afraid no one can compete with you.”
Hua Changxi was very humble, “There’s always someone better, Fellow Daoist Tong, you flatter me too much.”
Tong Yao smiled and said no more, then turned to escort Hua Changxi out.
As they passed through some areas of the underground palace, Hua Changxi felt spatial fluctuations, “Fellow Daoist Tong, the spatial barrier of the Artifact Saint Palace seems a bit unstable.”
Upon hearing this, Tong Yao showed a rare look of anger, “It’s all the doing of the Royal Family and Noble Families. They activated some Spiritual Artifacts, and several times they caused the underground palace to shake violently.”
Hua Changxi reminded him, “Spatial instability is not a trivial matter. Be very careful of Space Rifts appearing.”
Tong Yao nodded heavily, “We will be careful.”
