Chapter 209: Igniting Second Street’s Pill Fire
“Hold it!”
Prince Shou interrupted Xia Zhen and Gu Xing’s exchange. Before today, he had no idea about the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills. Now, the selection of the Qihuang Hall Master was to be based on ‘Divine Wood Blessing,’ something he was completely unaware of. He would not allow such a matter to escape the Royal Family’s control.
Gu Xing looked at Prince Shou. He was well aware of the Royal Family’s ambition to control the Sacred Land, and he also knew that the Guardian Families had their own plans and objectives. Not wanting any further complications, he simply wished to begin the worship of the Divine Wood quickly.
“Your Highness, please remain calm.”
“I know that everyone present is eagerly awaiting the reappearance of the Dan Sheng Hall in the Human World.”
“In Ancient Times, the eighteen Qihuang Hall Masters of the Dan Sheng Hall were all selected through strict assessments and a vote by everyone in the Sacred Land. Now that the Dan Sheng Hall has fallen silent, we cannot select a Hall Master as solemnly as in Ancient Times. However, the Qihuang Hall is responsible for teaching the Pill Dao. Not just anyone can be the Hall Master. I believe everyone should agree on this point, right?”
Gu Xing looked at the people from the Medical Affairs Department and then at the people from the Guardian Families. Everyone remained silent, implicitly agreeing to his question.
“I believe everyone present has also heard about the important responsibilities the Dan Sheng Hall bears, haven’t you?”
Upon hearing Gu Xing’s question, the expressions of most people present wavered.
The Dan Sheng Hall, as one of the four Formation Eyes of the Demon Prison, bore the heavy responsibility of maintaining the stability of the formation eye. This meant that if the Demon Race attacked, they would have to step forward without hesitation.
The Great Jin’s Martial Arts were flourishing, but along with Martial Arts came an endless stream of Fierce Beasts. For hundreds of years, the people of the Great Jin had suffered greatly from Fierce Beasts. Even among the children of the powerful and influential present, many had lost family members to Fierce Beasts.
The danger posed by the Demon Race was even greater than that of Fierce Beasts. They could absorb Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth to Cultivate, and their physical bodies were powerful. Within the same cultivation level, their Strength far surpassed that of Cultivators. Furthermore, the Demon Race had a very strong reproductive capacity.
The Imperial Court was already struggling to cope with clearing out Fierce Beasts; facing the Demon Race would be even more perilous.
Gu Xing did not miss the hesitation in some people’s eyes and continued, “The Qihuang Hall is a vital location within the Dan Sheng Hall, bearing important responsibilities. Therefore, the Qihuang Hall Master must not only achieve great things in the Pill Dao but also possess a firm heart to guard the Sacred Land. Otherwise, even if one becomes the Hall Master, they cannot bear the responsibilities of the position.”
Prince Shou could not help but interject, “How can we judge whether someone can bear the responsibility of Hall Master? It can’t be that Senior Xia says someone can, and they can, right?”
Seeing his disrespectful tone towards Xia Zhen, the Cultivators from the Guardian Families showed signs of anger.
Xia Zhen glanced at Prince Shou, not bothering to argue with him. “The Guardian of the Dao has conditions for choosing people. Everything done is for the better development of the Four Spirit Realm, not for you to compete for the position of Hall Master through power and seize Resources, as you did before.”
Seeing that Prince Shou seemed about to retort, Gu Xing didn’t give him the chance and spoke first, “The selection of the Hall Master now is not decided by power, nor by the Guardian Families, but by the Sacred Land’s Divine Wood. It is the fairest and most just method.”
Gu Xing looked at Prince Shou and the nine Hall Masters who had gained their positions through power. “Previously, I did not inquire about the distribution of Qihuang Hall Masters because I knew that everything you did was in vain. The so-called Hall Masters were merely guarding an empty Courtyard, utterly useless.”
Hearing this, the expressions of Prince Shou and the nine Hall Masters who had won through power turned very grim. The Qihuang Hall they had painstakingly fought for was, in Gu Xing’s eyes, a meaningless joke.
Gu Xing continued, “However, now, the Guardian Families have brought the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills. Lighting the incense will bestow the Divine Wood Blessing.”
Hua Changxi could not help but ask, “Old Master Gu, what exactly is the Divine Wood Blessing?”
Gu Xing glanced at her. “Those who receive the Divine Wood Blessing will obtain a Secret Realm. With the Resources within the Secret Realm, the Qihuang Hall Master will truly have certain authorities of a Hall Master. Otherwise, what you are fighting for is merely an empty Courtyard.”
Secret Realm!!!
The people from the Medical Affairs Department could no longer remain calm after hearing Gu Xing’s words.
The Divine Wood Blessing could grant a Secret Realm!
It was known that even the Royal Family would pay a great price to obtain a Secret Realm, and Secret Realms were extremely rare and difficult to find.
Yet now, simply lighting the Incense of Pills and worshipping the Divine Wood could grant a Secret Realm. Even Prince Shou was shocked by the Sacred Land’s grand gesture.
Eighteen sticks of Incense of Pills meant eighteen Secret Realms!
The Cultivators from the Guardian Families, however, appeared calm, clearly having known about the Divine Wood Secret Realm for a long time.
Prince Shou asked eagerly, “What kind of Secret Realm is it?”
Gu Xing glanced at the eighteen sticks of Incense of Pills, which varied in thickness. “The level of the Divine Wood Secret Realm you obtain will depend on your individual abilities.”
Prince Shou’s heart burned with excitement, but upon seeing the Cultivators brought by the Xia Family, he calmed down and frowned. “Senior Gu, the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills are kept by the Guardian Families, so they must know how to light the incense.”
Before he could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by a middle-aged Cultivator. “If the Xia Family knew how to light the incense, why wouldn’t they just bring the Xia Family members over to take over the Qihuang Hall? Why would they bother searching everywhere for people with Alchemy talent? A mere Prince, you speak without thinking.”
It was the first time Prince Shou had been so publicly humiliated, and his face turned ashen with anger.
Seeing Gu Xing’s displeased expression, Xia Zhen, who was willing to show more respect to the successor guarding the Sacred Land, lightly chided the middle-aged Cultivator. “Xia Xun, do not be rude. Apologize to His Highness at once.”
Xia Xun was very reluctant and perfunctorily clasped his fists. “Your Highness, please forgive me. I speak bluntly. Please do not take it to heart, Your Highness.”
Seeing that Xia Xun had apologized, Xia Zhen ignored whether Prince Shou accepted it and looked at Gu Xing. “The ten juniors I have brought this time are all outstanding in the Pill Dao.”
Gu Xing nodded. “The nine Hall Masters who received the Wooden Tokens will light the Incense of Pills to worship the Divine Wood first. After that… the remaining nine Hall Masters and the ten people brought by Fellow Daoist Xia will take turns worshipping the Divine Wood.”
Prince Shou wanted to object, but before he could speak, he met Gu Xing’s cold gaze. In an instant, it felt as if an invisible hand gripped his heart, ready to crush it if he dared to utter a sound.
Xia Zhen glanced at the sweating Prince Shou with disdain. Although he wanted his people to worship the Divine Wood first, seeing Gu Xing’s firm attitude, he did not wish to antagonize this Sacred Land Gatekeeper. “Very well, I will follow your lead, Fellow Daoist Gu.”
Gu Xing stood up. “Follow me to the Plaza to worship the Divine Wood.”
Xia Zhen put away the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Incense of Pills and quickly followed Gu Xing. The Cultivators from the Guardian Families followed closely behind.
On the side of the Medical Affairs Department, the grim-faced Prince Shou did not move. The others dared not leave. Hua Changxi wanted to slip away but was tightly held by Huo Yunxiao.
Huo Yunxiao looked at Hua Changxi speechlessly. “My esteemed Hall Master Hua, please use your head a little.”
Hua Changxi rolled her eyes. “Is it me who lacks a head, or is it your excessive subservience? ” She glanced at Prince Shou. “He doesn’t leave, so no one leaves. Why should that be? If everyone leaves, what can he do to us?”
Huo Yunxiao was actually stunned by her question.
Hua Changxi knew Huo Yunxiao was holding her back with good intentions. “Now that Spiritual Energy Revival is happening, and you still prioritize the Royal Family in everything, your thinking is too rigid. Forget it, let’s not talk about this.”
Huo Yunxiao felt looked down upon by Hua Changxi. However, he once again witnessed her arrogance. She didn’t even spare the Royal Family her regard; her boldness was boundless.
At this moment, Department Head Gu had also appeased Prince Shou and escorted him away from the Assembly Hall. Only then did others dare to follow.
“Hey, why are you all gathered here? Aren’t we going to the Plaza?”
The people from the Medical Affairs Department came out a step later and found that the people from the Guardian Families were blocking the entrance to the Pilgrimage Road.
The shortest path to the Plaza was the Pilgrimage Road. Hua Changxi did not want to take the Pilgrimage Road. After leaving the Assembly Hall, she intended to break away from the crowd and go to the Plaza through the alleys of Ninth Street. However, seeing the Guardian Families blocking the entrance, she couldn’t help but go closer to see what they were up to.
As she approached the entrance, Hua Changxi saw that the Pilgrimage Road was empty. Only a woman in green stood with a solemn and reverent expression at the intersection of Second Street, her hands clasped together, forming seals with her fingers, as if brewing something.
It was her, Meng Qingyao, the female Cultivator with the Fire-Wood Spirit Body!
“What is she doing?”
“Performing a ritual?”
The people from the Medical Affairs Department discussed amongst themselves.
Someone suddenly spoke, “She’s going to light the Pill Fire of Second Street.”
Hua Changxi followed the sound and saw that the speaker was Gu Jin Fan.
The Cultivators from the Guardian Families also looked at Gu Jin Fan. A young male Cultivator chuckled, “Finally, someone with extraordinary insight.”
The Cultivators from the Medical Affairs Department were furious upon hearing this and wanted to retort. However, the Cultivators from the Guardian Families had already turned their heads, continuing to gaze at the intersection of Second Street on the Pilgrimage Road.
“It smells so good~”
“It’s the Incense of Pills, such a rich Incense of Pills.”
On the Pilgrimage Road, green radiance continuously emanated from Meng Qingyao’s sealing fingertips. The radiance split into two, quickly converging into the two lanterns hanging high on the left and right sides of the intersection.
Watching her so seriously, Hua Changxi tried hard to recall the scene of her lighting the Pill Fire of First Street. She felt that her own Pill Fire lighting back then was indeed rather hasty compared to Meng Qingyao’s.
After about fifteen minutes, green lantern light ignited within the lanterns.
“She lit it! Qingyao has lit the Pill Fire of Second Street.”
