Chapter 250: The Mover of Eras
It wasn’t just Xia Zhen who felt both love and hate for Hua Changxi; other factions did as well.
After the Guardian Family, the Xia Family, appeared in the Medical Affairs Department, their ambition to seize the top position in the Dan Sheng Hall was, one could say, already obvious.
Given the disparity in strength, the various factions that had long been established in the Medical Affairs Department had no choice but to compromise. However, this did not mean they would willingly give up their interests, especially since the Xia Family was coming in to take the largest slice of the pie.
The Xia Family’s intention in promoting Meng Qingyao was clear: they wanted to mold her into the leader who would drive the revival of the Dan Sheng Hall.
The alchemy talent Meng Qingyao had displayed, along with the resources she could command, was indeed enough to attract a large number of followers.
As such, the various factions truly couldn’t find anyone comparable to her.
Fortunately, there was Hua Changxi!
Although Hua Changxi was inferior to Meng Qingyao in all aspects, she seemed to be Meng Qingyao’s natural nemesis. Every time the Xia Family prepared to build momentum for Meng Qingyao, Hua Changxi seemed to steal the spotlight.
This was the case when the Divine Wood bestowed the Secret Realm, and it was also the case when the Qihuang Hall Masters took turns teaching.
Everyone was happy to see Hua Changxi surpass Meng Qingyao, but they weren’t particularly optimistic about Hua Changxi herself.
It was simply because she was too unconventional, seemingly not understanding what ‘cooperation’ meant, and too lazy to even rely on her own family, which was truly exasperating.
For them, these noble families, individuals who fought alone wouldn’t get far.
However, it was Hua Changxi who led to the appearance of the Altar of Alchemy, and now seeing Prince Shou being suppressed and kneeling beneath the Altar of Alchemy, Hua Changxi’s standing in their hearts had increased somewhat.
We’ll just have to wait and see. This is only the initial stage of the Spiritual Energy Revival; everything has just begun.
It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that the power suppressing Prince Shou was withdrawn.
Seeing Prince Fu leading Prince Shou towards Ninth Street, the surrounding onlookers quickly dispersed.
Currently, the largest factions within the Medical Affairs Department are the Power and Wealth Faction, led by the Royal Family, and the Guardian Faction, led by the Xia Family.
Although the Power and Wealth Faction is not as united as the Guardian Faction, with various factions within it, they can still act in unison and present a united front when it comes to disputes over interests.
The appearance of the Altar of Alchemy has given the Medical Affairs Department a touch of Sacred Land aura, and it has also ignited the Power and Wealth Faction’s determination to seize control of the Sacred Land.
Currently, the most important resource in the Medical Affairs Department is the Divine Wood Secret Realm.
Hearing that Hua Changxi was going to open the Secret Realm, people from the Power and Wealth Faction gathered in Number Three Qihuang Hall, which was occupied by the Heavenly Department.
All parties were eyeing the only three high-rank Secret Realms.
The high-rank Secret Realm in Meng Qingyao’s possession was controlled by the Xia Family and the Meng Family, making it difficult for others to gain any benefits.
It was the same for Gu Xing. That old fellow only allowed Alchemists to enter, but Alchemists aren’t as common as cabbage, and most factions don’t have many, making it impossible to obtain large amounts of resources from the Secret Realm.
Now, only the one in Hua Changxi’s hands remained.
As the head of the noble families in the Capital City, Tang Yufeng, seeing that everyone was silent, was the first to break the silence with a smile: “The high-rank Secret Realm held by Hall Master Hua is finally going to be opened. We should offer our full support.”
Wen Lanzhou, the Head Disciple of Sanqing Palace, was the first to respond: “Of course.”
Due to the appearance of the Guardian Family, both the Tang Family and Sanqing Palace were unable to retain their positions as Qihuang Hall Masters, which was a considerable loss for them.
The other Secret Realm Masters all had family backgrounds and connections, making it difficult for outsiders to interfere with the Secret Realms they controlled.
Only Hua Changxi, with her low background and limited vision and ambition, and who didn’t know how to utilize the resources she possessed, was the most suitable target for them to exploit.
Gu Jin Fan glanced at Huo Yunxiao: “I heard that Hall Master Huo went to Hall Master Hua to cooperate before, but she refused?”
Huo Yunxiao remained silent, implicitly admitting it.
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingying, thinking that she only learned what it meant to be a Secret Realm Master possessing a Divine Wood Secret Realm after her Master’s explanation, couldn’t help but say: “She probably doesn’t know what the Secret Realm in her hands represents yet, does she?”
After the Spiritual Energy Revival, what is most important?
Status, family background?
No, these are all in the past. The most important thing is to possess sufficient Cultivation Resources.
And the Divine Wood Secret Realm is undoubtedly a rich source of high-quality resources, and moreover, it is a continuous and inexhaustible supply.
Even a low-rank Divine Wood Secret Realm, with its Cultivation Resources, is enough to manipulate countless people for one’s own use.
Clearly, Hua Changxi seemed to have no realization of this at all.
Gu Jin Fan shook her head: “Does she think that by refusing Hall Master Huo’s cooperation proposal, she can prevent all factions from inserting people into the Secret Realm? It’s simply wishful thinking.”
Regarding Hua Changxi, Gu Jin Fan’s feelings were very complicated.
Hua Changxi was an anomaly. Because of her existence, the trajectory of many major events in the Four Spirit Realm had changed from her previous life. However, sometimes her way of handling things truly left her speechless.
In her previous life, there were also a few cultivation geniuses like her who acted recklessly and did as they pleased, but these individuals all perished early without exception.
Hua Changxi… how far could she go?
Mu Qingying listened to Gu Jin Fan’s words and then looked at the calculations flashing in the eyes of those present, sighing silently.
She could already imagine that most of the Apprentices Hua Changxi would recruit later would be people planted by various factions.
Hua Changxi had no idea how powerful the Royal Family and the noble families were. If they were unwilling for her to recruit people, she feared she wouldn’t be able to recruit anyone at all.
On the Guardian Faction’s side, Meng Qingyao and others were also gathered, discussing Hua Changxi’s opening of the Secret Realm to recruit Apprentices.
Dongfang Xu: “From what Hua Changxi said, it seems anyone can sign up?”
Meng Yuchuan sneered: “Hua Changxi might want to set restrictions, but does she have the ability to do so?”
Jiang Nianyi smiled: “Since anyone can go, then we can also send people into Hua Changxi’s Secret Realm.”
Meng Qingyao frowned and remained silent. She didn’t believe Hua Changxi would be foolish enough to let just anyone enter her Secret Realm.
Seeing that many people were already eager, Dongfang Hao couldn’t help but say: “The conditions for Hua Changxi’s recruitment of Apprentices have not yet been announced, so nothing is certain.”
He paused.
“I think things might not turn out as you all expect.”
Meng Yuchuan showed disagreement: “Brother Hao, you think too highly of Hua Changxi. She has no background and no one to rely on behind her. She simply cannot stop all factions from inserting people into the Secret Realm.”
“If others can insert people, then naturally we can too.”
“There are so many Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Fruits in the Secret Realm. Rather than letting those people from the Royal Family benefit, it’s better for us to have them.”
Dongfang Xu also felt that Hua Changxi couldn’t stop those with intentions from entering the Secret Realm, and said with a smile: “I’ve already entered and seen the Seventh Rank Secret Realms of Qingyao and Senior Gu. I also want to go and see Hua Changxi’s high-rank Secret Realm.”
“When the Dan Yuan Secret Realm begins recruiting Apprentices, I will also sign up.”
Jiang Nianyi and the others also showed similar smiles.
Just as all parties were sharpening their knives, wanting to take a bite out of Hua Changxi, Hua Changxi was in the Artifact Saint Palace observing Tong Yao helping her refine the Oath Tablet.
Jing Le also arrived, holding the Two Forms Talisman Brush, a Divine Artifact from the Talisman Saint Pavilion, and with difficulty, he sketched out the character ‘True’.
As soon as the character ‘True’ took shape, it merged into the Oath Tablet.
Seeing that the Rune had completely integrated with the Oath Tablet, Jing Le wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and smiled at Hua Changxi.
“Limited by my cultivation, the power of the Rune I carved is not yet strong. However, for anyone with a cultivation at or below the Nascent Soul Realm, if their heart is not true, the Oath Tablet will summon heavenly lightning.”
Hua Changxi thanked him solemnly, then smiled and said: “It’s enough to affect cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm for now. When Master Jing Le’s cultivation improves in the future, I may have to trouble you again.”
Jing Le smiled and said: “It’s nothing.”
