Chapter 212: Greed, Anger, Ignorance
“Mu Qingying, what kind of Secret Realm did you obtain?”
The three grades of Pill Incense corresponded to different grades of Divine Wood Secret Realm, but no one knew the specific grades of Divine Wood Secret Realm, not even the people from the Guardian Families. Therefore, when Mu Qingying obtained the Divine Wood Leaf, everyone looked at her eagerly. Prince Shou even directly inquired about the situation of the Secret Realm she had acquired.
Mu Qingying naturally did not want to tell outsiders the grade of the Divine Wood Secret Realm she had obtained. Just as she was about to ask Department Head Gu for help, Gu Xing preempted her and resolved the situation.
“The Divine Wood Secret Realm is a gift from the Divine Wood. No one is allowed to inquire about it except the Holy Land Master.”
Prince Shou’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon hearing this. He knew that old man Gu Xing was warning him not to let him and the Royal Family meddle with the Divine Wood Secret Realm.
He disdained this thought; there was nothing the Royal Family wanted that they couldn’t obtain.
Prince Shou saw that after Mu Qingying heard Gu Xing’s words, she quickly returned behind Gu Qiming, showing no intention of answering him. Despite his dissatisfaction, he didn’t say anything further.
He noticed that the people from the Guardian Families also wanted to know the grade of the Divine Wood Secret Realm. He had been too eager just now and shouldn’t have asked in such a setting.
Gu Xing ignored the people with their varied expressions. All things have two sides. Obtaining a Divine Wood Secret Realm was indeed a great opportunity, but without the corresponding ability to protect it, a good thing could turn into a bad one.
If one couldn’t even protect a Secret Realm, then for the development of the Sacred Land, such people should be replaced sooner rather than later.
“Continue.”
With Mu Qingying leading the way, everyone had a general understanding of the process of worshipping the Divine Wood.
Number Two Qihuang Hall was managed by Department Head Gu’s Eldest Disciple, Xie An. However, the Wooden Token was obtained by Department Head Gu, so Department Head Gu personally stepped forward to worship the Divine Wood.
Looking at the three types of Pill Incense on the offering table, Department Head Gu’s expression was very hesitant. He was no stranger to Secret Realms, and as a confidant of the Heavenly Department Minister, he had explored several Secret Realms with the Demon Suppressing Army.
Secret Realms varied greatly. Some Secret Realms had thin Spiritual Energy, with very few even low-grade Spiritual Medicine, while others were covered with Spiritual Medicine and Spiritual Fruit everywhere.
The higher the grade of the Divine Wood Secret Realm, the richer the Resources within it would undoubtedly be.
Department Head Gu certainly wanted a higher-grade Secret Realm. If, as he suspected, the condition for lighting the Pill Incense was related to contributions to the Sacred Land, then his diligent and conscientious management of the Medical Affairs Department over the years should also count as a contribution to the Sacred Land, right?
Could he light First-grade Incense?
Department Head Gu’s hand wavered between the First-grade Incense and the Second-grade Incense. Although he wanted to play it safe and choose the Second-grade Incense, in the end, he steeled himself and picked up the First-grade Incense.
Regardless, Mu Qingying was his disciple. She had already obtained a Secret Realm, so his side was secured. Now was the stage of Spiritual Energy Revival’s outbreak, a time of great contention. He would take a gamble now. If he won, he and his disciple would have better Development in the Dan Sheng Hall in the future.
Seeing Department Head Gu pick up the First-grade Incense, a hint of disdain flashed in Xia Zhen’s eyes. Gu Xing’s expression changed slightly, and he sighed inwardly.
Greed, anger, ignorance – the three poisons of the human heart!
Without overcoming these three trials, one could not go far.
After bowing nine times to the Divine Wood Cauldron, Department Head Gu nervously and anxiously inserted the incense into the Divine Wood Cauldron, then eagerly anticipated the incense burning.
Unfortunately, the incense showed no signs of burning.
Looking at the unresponsive incense, Department Head Gu was filled with disappointment and anxiously looked at Gu Xing, “Senior Gu, my heart was not sincere just now. I will kowtow again.” Saying this, he reached out to pull the incense out of the Divine Wood Cauldron.
At this moment, Xia Zhen stepped forward and held Gu Qiming’s hand, “Department Head Gu, each person only has one chance to worship the Divine Wood.”
Gu Qiming couldn’t break free from Xia Zhen’s restraint and looked to Gu Xing for help.
Gu Xing looked at him and sighed, “Opportunity knocks but once. Step down.”
“Master.”
Xie An, Mu Qingying, and Yuan Tianchou all stepped forward with worried expressions, standing on either side of Gu Qiming.
Looking at his three disciples, Gu Qiming wore a wry smile and forcibly suppressed his unwillingness with reason, “Everyone, please forgive me. I lost my composure just now.” After speaking, he led his three disciples back to the side.
Since Gu Qiming did not light the incense, it was equivalent to an extra stick of incense for those who would worship the Divine Wood afterward. While everyone rejoiced inwardly, they also worried that they might not be able to light the incense themselves.
Next were Number Three Hall and Number Four Hall, but since Master Zhang and the Heavenly Department Minister did not come, it directly fell to Yuan Tianchou of Number Six Hall.
Yuan Tianchou, having been lectured by his Master, like Mu Qingying, directly chose Third Grade Incense. It was unclear if it was due to obtaining the Wooden Token, but the Third Grade Incense ignited as soon as it was inserted into the Divine Wood Cauldron, and the rising green smoke coalesced into a green leaf that fell into his hand.
“Those who obtained a Wooden Token can apparently light the incense as long as they choose Third Grade Incense,” someone muttered softly.
Huo Yunxiao thought the same. He glanced at Hua Changxi, who was deep in thought beside him, and whispered, “What do you think determines whether the incense lights? Could it be that everyone who gets a Wooden Token can only choose Third Grade Incense?”
Hua Changxi didn’t respond, merely glancing at Meng Qingyao opposite her.
Previously, she thought the Guardian Families arranged for Meng Qingyao to ignite the Second Street Pill Fire to gain prestige, but now… she felt that having Meng Qingyao ignite the Second Street Pill Fire was to enable her to light a higher-grade Pill Incense.
Divine Wood Blessing: how is the amount of fortune bestowed determined?
If she were the Holy Land Master, she would definitely base it on everyone’s contributions to the Sacred Land.
Thinking this way, Hua Changxi felt she had figured out the condition for lighting the Pill Incense.
“No way, Gu Jinfan is also going to choose First-grade Incense? Isn’t she afraid of ending up with nothing, just like Department Head Gu?”
Huo Yunxiao’s exclamation pulled Hua Changxi back from her thoughts. She focused her gaze and saw Gu Jinfan hesitating with a stick of First-grade Incense.
No one expected that after Department Head Gu’s precedent, someone would still choose First-grade Incense.
Some Cultivators from the Medical Affairs Department showed some emotional fluctuation, recalling Gu Jinfan’s mysterious precognitive abilities.
The Cultivators from the Guardian Families, however, looked on with anticipation and mockery. They anticipated Gu Jinfan choosing First-grade Incense quickly, thus providing another stick for them to worship the Divine Wood; their mockery was for her overestimation of her abilities.
Gu Jinfan struggled with the First-grade Incense for a while, thinking that since she had returned from rebirth, she was already a person of great Luck. If she could obtain a high-grade Divine Wood Secret Realm, it would undoubtedly have an immeasurable effect on the reappearance of the Dan Sheng Hall. She believed the Divine Wood would favor those with deep Luck.
With this thought, Gu Jinfan firmly walked towards the Divine Wood Cauldron with the First-grade Incense.
Seeing her like this, Xia Zhen’s eyes had just shown a hint of disdain when he noticed Gu Xing’s solemn gaze. His heart tightened, and he re-examined Gu Jinfan.
To be valued by the Sacred Land Gatekeeper, could this Female Cultivator have something unusual about her?
In Xia Zhen’s estimation, only Meng Qingyao should be able to light First-grade Incense. If someone from the Medical Affairs Department also lit First-grade Incense, it would be very detrimental to Meng Qingyao’s future succession to the Dan Sheng Hall.
Xia Zhen’s expression turned serious. After watching Gu Jinfan perform the nine kowtows, he watched her nervously insert the First-grade Incense into the Divine Wood Cauldron.
After a few breaths, seeing no signs of the incense igniting on its own, Xia Zhen smiled.
As he expected, unless one had made great contributions to the Sacred Land, it was impossible to light First-grade Incense.
Looking at the unresponsive incense, Gu Jinfan was stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief. How could this be? Why didn’t the incense burn? She was someone who had returned from rebirth and had a profound impact on the trajectory of the entire Four Spirit Realm.
Gu Xing was somewhat disappointed that Gu Jinfan did not light the First-grade Incense.
This Female Cultivator gave him a complex feeling. She seemed to know many things, and her words were mostly for the benefit of the Dan Sheng Hall. He was somewhat looking forward to her injecting some vitality into the revival of the Dan Sheng Hall.
Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to have the ability.
