Chapter 208: Divine Wood Blessing
“Senior Xia, after we perform the worship, will the immortal Divine Wood of the Dan Sheng Hall truly appear?”
Seeing that Xia Zhen had only mentioned the Divine Wood’s name and not answered any other questions, Prince Shou anxiously inquired, and the others from the Medical Affairs Department also watched nervously.
Xia Zhen looked somewhat speechless and said irritably, “How could the Divine Wood appear so easily?”
Department Head Gu, seeing Prince Shou’s displeased expression, quickly followed up, “Then why did Senior Xia ask us to worship?”
Xia Zhen glanced at the eighteen Hall Masters of the Qihuang Hall, then at the young men and women he had brought, and sat back down in the main guest seat, explaining the reason for this appearance: “The Qihuang Hall bears the heavy responsibility of spreading the Medical Dao and Pill Dao, and the Guardian of the Dao has the responsibility to select suitable talents to lead the Qihuang Hall.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the cultivators from the Guardian Family straightened their backs, and the young men and women looked intently at the eighteen Hall Masters, a silent competition once again filling the entire Assembly Hall.
Prince Shou could no longer suppress his anger, sat down with a dark expression, and sneered, “Senior Xia brought so many people, so you want to have a match with the Medical Affairs Department.”
The Royal Family, wary of the Guardian Family’s foundation, was willing to tolerate some things, but this did not mean they could do as they pleased. The Medical Affairs Department was not the Dan Sheng Hall yet, and in any case, the Imperial Court was the most legitimate administrator.
Xia Zhen glanced at the grim-faced Prince Shou. Although he didn’t take it to heart, he still gave him some face, smiling and saying, “Your Highness is joking. I brought people here to join the Medical Affairs Department; we are one with the Medical Affairs Department.”
These words did not improve Prince Shou’s expression: “Since you are joining the Medical Affairs Department, you should follow its arrangements. All eighteen Qihuang Halls already have Hall Masters. I can arrange for the people Senior Xia brought to work on Ninth Street.”
“Senior Xia, rest assured, they will not be buried in Ninth Street; their talents will still be utilized. I will definitely make good use of them.”
Hearing this, Xia Zhen was quite dissatisfied. The Royal Family was indeed the overt ruler of the Great Jin, but now that the Spiritual Energy Revival was a general trend, with heroes rising everywhere, it was absolutely impossible for the Royal Family to act as autocratically as before and expect everyone to defer to them.
One must know that in Ancient Times, no dynasty on the Central Continent lasted longer than three hundred years. The collapse of the Chu Dynasty was only a matter of time.
Currently, the various factions were willing to give the Royal Family some face simply because they did not want order to completely collapse.
Xia Zhen’s face darkened, and he said indifferently, “Why does Your Highness always like to joke? If the people I brought were to go to Ninth Street, why would I have made this trip from so far away?”
Prince Shou felt a faint pressure surrounding him and was immediately startled, knowing that Xia Zhen was warning him. However, he was unwilling to agree to replace the Hall Masters of the Qihuang Hall.
Apart from the nine people who received the Wooden Token, the families behind the other nine Hall Masters had already made deals with the Royal Family. If these people were replaced, their deals would naturally cease to exist.
Prince Shou knew that Xia Zhen would not actually do anything to him and directly countered him with silence.
The others present, seeing the tense atmosphere between Prince Shou and Xia Zhen, looked rather solemn.
Hua Changxi, taking advantage of being at the back where no one was paying attention, quietly said to Huo Yunxiao, “Who do you think will compromise first?”
Huo Yunxiao shook his head. If another Prince were in charge of the Medical Affairs Department, facing people from the Guardian Family, he would definitely choose to back down. But Prince Shou… this was a capricious and lawless individual.
Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Hua Changxi continued on her own, “I think it’s Prince Shou.”
Huo Yunxiao looked at her in surprise, “Why?”
Hua Changxi thought of the foul odor she had smelled on Prince Shou before, an odor carrying a strong sinister aura. She hadn’t smelled it this time, so he must have used something to conceal it.
“Prince Shou is the type who likes to play dirty. He won’t make things too ugly on the surface. Just like before, I wasn’t too respectful to him, but he let it go in the end.”
Huo Yunxiao couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this, “Do you know why?”
Hua Changxi: “Of course, it’s because I have something they can use.”
Huo Yunxiao smiled and shook his head, “That’s only one reason. The biggest reason is that, to Prince Shou, you are still too insignificant. No matter how fiercely you act, you can’t shake him in the slightest. You are just a monkey in his palm, unable to escape his Five Finger Mountain. He’s happy to play with a monkey.”
“But now, Prince Shou is facing people from the Guardian Family, who are as powerful and influential as the Royal Family, and even have a stronger foundation. To Prince Shou, the Guardian Family can truly take away his power.”
“Tell me, can Prince Shou treat you and the people from the Guardian Family with the same attitude?”
Hua Changxi was very displeased with Huo Yunxiao comparing her to a monkey: “You’re the monkey.”
Huo Yunxiao smiled faintly, “Under the general trend, everyone is a monkey.” With that, his smile faded, and he looked at Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi disliked his probing gaze, “What are you looking at?”
Huo Yunxiao: “I thought I was quite unreliable, but I find you even more so.” He then lowered his voice, “Are you watching Prince Shou’s joke?”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, implicitly admitting it.
Huo Yunxiao clicked his tongue twice, looking at her, “Prince Shou and the Guardian Family are fighting for control. It seems unrelated to us, but it’s actually very important. If the Guardian Family wants to place their people in the Qihuang Hall, someone on our side will have to withdraw.”
Hua Changxi naturally knew this: “I have a Wooden Token, I’m not afraid.”
Huo Yunxiao looked at her innocent expression and sighed inwardly. Under the Spiritual Energy Revival, those with opportunities still had a significant advantage. Otherwise, someone like Hua Changxi, who didn’t understand power much, wouldn’t be suitable to be in this Assembly Hall: “The Wooden Token is not bound to a person; it can be transferred.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s expression froze. She had indeed not considered that someone could snatch the Wooden Token from her before, but now… Although she didn’t dare to probe the White-haired Old Man’s situation, she could sense that his strength was above hers. If he wanted to snatch her Wooden Token…
Huo Yunxiao saw her stunned and shook his head, “Under the pressure of power, the opportunities you rely on are not as important as you think. If someone has to withdraw from the Qihuang Hall, do you think it will be someone with power, or someone without?”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “It won’t be me, anyway.” Her Wooden Token was still at Kunmen Pass in the Nine Netherworlds.
Huo Yunxiao saw her stubbornness and was about to say something when he heard a “tok, tok, tok~” sound approaching from a distance.
Everyone turned to look at the sound, and soon, they saw Gu Xing walking into the Assembly Hall, leaning on his cane.
Seeing Gu Xing arrive, Prince Shou’s expression relaxed. Department Head Gu, even more delighted, stood up to greet him, reaching out to help Gu Xing.
Gu Xing waved his hand, refusing him, and walked directly towards the main seat.
Department Head Gu quickly introduced to the people from the Guardian Family, “This is Senior Gu Xing. The Gu family, to which Senior Gu belongs, has been responsible for guarding the Medical Affairs Department for generations.”
Upon hearing this, everyone from the Guardian Family who was seated stood up and bowed in unison, “Greetings, Senior Gu.”
Gu Xing smiled and nodded, telling them to sit down.
When Gu Xing reached the main seat, Xia Zhen also stood up: “The Gu family has guarded the Dan Sheng Hall for generations, with great merit and hardship. Xia Zhen of the Central Continent’s Guardian Family pays his respects.”
Gu Xing cupped his fist in return, “Fellow Daoist Xia, greetings.”
Department Head Gu gave up his seat, allowing Gu Xing to sit down.
After Gu Xing sat down, he looked at Xia Zhen, “I have been waiting for the appearance of the Xia family for a long time. Today, I finally see you.”
Xia Zhen smiled, “We are late.”
Gu Xing smiled, “Not late, just right.” With that, he turned to look at the group of young men and women standing on the right, with a satisfied expression, “The Guardian of the Dao’s judgment has always been accurate.”
Seeing Gu Xing leaning towards the Guardian Family’s side, Prince Shou’s expression worsened, and he gave Department Head Gu several meaningful glances.
Department Head Gu pretended not to see; Gu Xing was not someone he could control.
After praising the people Xia Zhen had brought, Gu Xing’s gaze fell upon the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills on the table.
Xia Zhen, seeing this, proactively stated the mission for this visit: “The Qihuang Hall is a place for teaching the Medical Dao and Pill Dao. The Hall Master should be the most capable person.”
Gu Xing nodded, ignoring Prince Shou, who was repeatedly signaling him, and turned to look at the nine people who had obtained the Wooden Tokens, his gaze specifically sweeping over Hua Changxi: “The Wooden Token is the token of the Hall Master of the Qihuang Hall. Anyone who obtains a Wooden Token is the Hall Master.”
Xia Zhen did not entirely agree with this statement. Currently, none of the eighteen Qihuang Halls had been activated, indicating that those who obtained the Wooden Tokens had not yet bound themselves to them. Without binding, the Wooden Tokens could still be transferred.
Seeing Xia Zhen’s silence, Gu Xing raised his voice, “Those who can obtain a Wooden Token have received the recognition of the Dan Sheng Hall.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Zhen’s eyes flickered, and he compromised, “Alright, nine people have obtained Wooden Tokens, meaning nine Qihuang Halls already have masters. Then the remaining nine Qihuang Halls should be led by the most capable.”
Hearing this, Gu Xing quickly glanced at Hua Changxi. Seeing her quickly turn her head away and avoid his gaze, he knew that this girl did not admit to taking ten Wooden Tokens.
Gu Xing himself did not want all ten Qihuang Halls to be controlled by one person. He also wanted to see how capable the people Xia Zhen had brought were, so he did not voice any objection.
Gu Xing did not object, but Prince Shou had an opinion. Seeing that he was about to erupt, Gu Xing spoke first: “Fellow Daoist Xia comes from a Guardian Family, so the people you choose are naturally good. However, the current Qihuang Halls already have masters. You can’t just make others leave the moment you arrive.”
Xia Zhen smiled, “Guardians of the Dao always persuade with reason and never act selfishly.” He then pointed to the Divine Wood Cauldron and the eighteen sticks of Incense of Pills on the table, “Only those who have made achievements in the Pill Dao can light the Incense of Pills. By lighting the Incense of Pills and worshipping the Divine Wood, one can receive the Divine Wood’s blessing.”
“Those who receive the Divine Wood’s blessing can become Hall Masters. Senior Gu, what do you think?”
Gu Xing looked at the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills, his eyes filled with eagerness, and nodded, “Agreed!”
