Chapter 193: Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers
“Hua Changxi!”
Pang Shaoyu, leading a squad of Imperial Guards, arrived at the Artifact Refining Workshop for a shift change. As soon as he reached the street, he spotted Hua Changxi standing in the crowd.
He had a very deep impression of Hua Changxi. Whether it was her daring to provoke the Imperial Guards on their first encounter or her outstanding medical skills, both left a lasting memory.
Hua Changxi heard her name called and turned her head to see who it was, only to find Pang Shaoyu: “Captain Pang, what a coincidence.”
As soon as she spoke, the Imperial Guards beside Pang Shaoyu quickly corrected her: “It’s Commander Pang.”
Hua Changxi was taken aback, then smiled: “Congratulations on your promotion, Commander Pang.”
Pang Shaoyu waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards behind him to go ahead and change shifts. After sending them away, he gave a bitter smile: “My uncle can no longer cultivate and has already left the Northern Garrison Command. This position as Commander was a compensation from the Commander-in-Chief, given in consideration of my uncle’s loyalty and years of life-and-death battles.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. Wanting to learn more about the Royal Family’s situation, she tentatively said: “Although your uncle’s Spiritual Root is severely damaged, it’s not entirely irreparable.”
“Spiritual Plants and Spiritual Medicines for repairing Spiritual Roots are indeed rare, and it’s understandable if ordinary people can’t obtain them. However, the Royal Family definitely possesses them. Your uncle, as the Commander of the Northern Garrison Command, has worked diligently and made great contributions; it shouldn’t be difficult to request some Precious Medicine.”
Hearing this, Pang Shaoyu’s expression turned somewhat grim: “A Commander is merely a Fifth Rank official.” Although he said this, his expression revealed his inner resentment.
In other departments, a Fifth Rank official might not be considered high-ranking. However, the Commanders of the Northern and Southern Garrison Commands within the Imperial Guards were personally recognized by the Emperor, making them influential ministers favored by the Emperor.
The reason for my uncle leaving the Northern Garrison Command was ostensibly due to his damaged Spiritual Root, rendering him unable to cultivate. But in reality, members of the Royal Family had set their sights on the position of Commander of the Northern Garrison Command.
My uncle was severely injured, and no competent Physician was assigned to treat him. If he hadn’t found Hua Changxi in time, his uncle might have been worn down and died.
The Royal Family was eager for my uncle to vacate the position so they could have a legitimate reason to install someone else. Why would they provide Precious Medicine to treat him?
His promotion to Commander was merely a compensatory measure by the Commander-in-Chief, who didn’t want the subordinates to feel too disheartened.
Pang Shaoyu recalled his uncle’s instructions to befriend Hua Changxi. He proactively revealed: “In the past two years, the Royal Family has been installing Chu clan relatives everywhere. Their presence is now felt in various departments of the Imperial Court. Officials without background or backing can only make way for them.”
Hua Changxi did not comment on this matter, instead asking: “Are there many cultivators among the Royal Family Relatives?”
Pang Shaoyu nodded with a serious expression: “Many. Even if not many are born with Spiritual Roots, the Royal Family possesses the Human Seed Fruit tree. The Human Seed Fruit can be used to refine the Body Transformation Pill, and when taken with an Attribute Elixir, it can create a postnatal Spiritual Root.”
“Because of the Human Seed Fruit tree, not only have a large number of Royal Family Relatives become cultivators, but the Royal Family has also recruited many former high-ranking Martial Artists. High-ranking Martial Artists already possess formidable combat power, and after embarking on the path of cultivation, their strength has surged even further.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi gained a preliminary understanding of the Royal Family’s formidable foundation. However, she knew that rare treasures like the Human Seed Fruit tree would not be supplied indefinitely.
Just as she was about to inquire further, she noticed an ‘unusual’ middle-aged male cultivator appear outside the Artifact Refining Workshop.
The reason he was unusual was that, based on Spiritual Energy perception, he was only a Core Formation mid-stage cultivator. However, through the Diagnostic Technique, she could ‘see’ a Nascent Soul hovering above his Qi Sea.
Pang Shaoyu noticed Hua Changxi’s unusual reaction and followed her gaze. His expression immediately darkened: “That person is the new Commander of the Northern Garrison Command who replaced my uncle, Chu Zhufeng.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered: “The Royal Family truly has hidden talents.” She paused, “Since even the Commander has come, your purpose here must be more than just guarding the Artifact Refining Workshop, right?”
Pang Shaoyu wanted to befriend Hua Changxi, but he also knew that without offering commensurate value, she wouldn’t pay him much attention.
He had never been able to ascertain Hua Changxi’s cultivation level, but he was certain that her strength was definitely above his.
With strength superior to his own, the ability to refine pills, and outstanding medical skills, if he wanted to befriend such a person, what he, as an Imperial Guard, could offer in exchange was information unknown to outsiders.
“The people living in the Artifact Refining Workshop are blacksmiths who have passed down their craft through generations. According to our investigations, many of them have received Artifact Refining inheritances after the Spiritual Energy Revival.”
“Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talisman Crafting, and Array Formations are not skills that can be learned casually, and mastering them is even more difficult. A group of Artifact Refiners with impeccable skills has already emerged in the Artifact Refining Workshop. Those individuals are truly talented treasures, and naturally, the Royal Family wishes to recruit them for their own use.”
“Part of our Imperial Guard’s mission is to register and investigate these Artifact Refiners one by one.”
At this point, Pang Shaoyu lowered his voice: “The reason Chu Zhufeng came personally is because he wants to secretly search for the successor of the Artifact Saint Palace.”
“The Fusang Divine Wood only flashed a few times, yet it caused the Spiritual Energy around the Artifact Refining Workshop to surge, leading to countless Fire Spiritual Root cultivators advancing and breaking through. It can be imagined that once the Sacred Land opens, it will undoubtedly be an unparalleled and excellent cultivation sanctuary.”
“In this regard, not only does the Royal Family wish to claim it for themselves, but other Noble Families are also extremely covetous.”
Pang Shaoyu looked at Hua Changxi and suddenly said: “You’re here today to see your father and elder brother, aren’t you?”
Hua Changxi: “You know my father and elder brother?”
Pang Shaoyu smiled: “I am an Imperial Guard. Gathering intelligence is a basic survival skill. We’ve interacted a few times, and I won’t hide it from you; I’ve investigated your family’s situation privately.”
“When the Imperial Guards come here on missions, they inevitably have to interact with the Demon Suppressing Army and the Six Doors. I’ve met your father and elder brother, so I recognized them.”
Hua Changxi listened without saying anything.
Pang Shaoyu, worried she might be angry, added: “The situation around the Artifact Refining Workshop is very complicated now, with various factions making their moves. You need to remind your father and elder brother to not rush into things, lest they be used as pawns and lose their lives without even knowing what happened.”
Hua Changxi: “Thank you for your reminder, I will.”
Just as Pang Shaoyu was about to say something more, he saw Hua Minghe and Hua Da Lang approaching them, having spotted Hua Changxi.
“Jiu Niang!”
“Father, Eldest Brother.”
As Hua Minghe and Hua Da Lang approached, Hua Changxi called out to them. Pang Shaoyu then smiled and quickly stepped forward to greet them and introduce himself.
“I am Pang Shaoyu, a Commander of the Imperial Guards, and a friend of Hall Master Hua. If Uncle Hua and Brother Hua ever need my assistance in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I won’t disturb your conversation any longer; I’ll take my leave.”
Pang Shaoyu’s humble demeanor in actively seeking to befriend them surprised Hua Minghe and Hua Da Lang. They had both dealt with the Imperial Guards before, and each time, the Imperial Guards had acted with arrogance, never showing such politeness and friendliness.
After Pang Shaoyu left, the father and son looked at Hua Changxi, their eyes reflecting a different emotion.
At this moment, Hua Changxi was wearing a red Magic Robe refined by Tong Yao. She appeared both valiant and capable, as well as ostentatious and striking. Standing in the crowd, she was truly a crane among chickens, impossible to ignore.
