Chapter 237: The Era’s Pusher
The selection of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion Master was determined by drawing lots, with each Secret Realm Master having the opportunity to serve. Everyone, except for Long Chenyi, was satisfied with this arrangement.
The first Pavilion Master of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion was Meng Qingyao, who drew lot number one.
“Qingyao, from this moment on, you are the Pavilion Master of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. As the first Pavilion Master, you must set a good example.”
Xia Zhen smiled at Meng Qingyao, gesturing for her to take the main seat.
Under everyone’s gaze, Meng Qingyao steadied her mind and calmly stepped forward, looking at the Secret Realm Masters.
“Everyone, I, Qingyao, am fortunate to serve as the first Pavilion Master. If I do anything improperly in the future, I ask for your guidance and tolerance.”
“Now that the Sacred Lands are in slumber, since we have received the recognition and blessings of the Divine Wood, we should work together in unity for the early resurgence of the Sacred Lands.”
The Secret Realm Masters were very accommodating and expressed their support.
Master Zhang looked at Xia Zhen, knowing that Meng Qingyao and the Xia Family were on the same side. He smiled and asked, “Pavilion Master, we naturally hope for the early resurgence of the Sacred Lands, but we have always lacked the means. Do you have any specific leads?”
The ruins of the Five Great Sacred Lands were all located in the Capital City. In order to obtain the inheritance of the Sacred Lands and become a Holy Land Master, the Royal Family and nobles alike displayed their unique abilities, like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.
Unfortunately, after centuries of investigation, not only had the Sacred Lands not resurged, but not even a trace of their inheritance had been uncovered.
Could the Xia, Bai, Wu, and Zhu families, as Guardian Families, hold the key to the resurgence of the Sacred Lands?
Meng Qingyao shook her head. The Guardian Families did not know how to bring about the resurgence of the Sacred Lands. If they did, the Five Great Guardian Families would have already appeared and taken control of the Five Great Sacred Lands.
“From ancient times to the present, too much time has passed. For the Sacred Lands to reappear, we must explore together.”
“However, the Dan Sheng Hall bears the responsibility of spreading Medical Skills and the Pill Dao. I believe that as long as we strive in this direction, the Sacred Hall will surely reappear in the future.”
“Just like Qihuang Hall, Qihuang Hall is undoubtedly a place for lectures. The primary task for us Secret Realm Masters is to lecture more at Qihuang Hall.”
Xia Zhen chimed in, “Indeed. Prince Shou has already made arrangements. Starting from the sixteenth of the first lunar month, all eighteen Qihuang Halls will begin lecturing in rotation.”
Among the eighteen Qihuang Halls, only Heavenly Department Minister Wei Zhenjie, Medical Affairs Department Head Gu Qiming, and Gu Jin Fan of the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion did not receive a Secret Realm. The others were all Secret Realm Masters.
The Secret Realm Masters did not object to lecturing at Qihuang Hall.
After all, they had obtained the Divine Wood Secret Realm and were certainly expected to do something substantial for the Sacred Lands.
Xia Zhen looked at Meng Qingyao, “Qingyao, please continue.”
Meng Qingyao said, “In addition to lecturing at Qihuang Hall, I suggest that each of us should contribute a portion of the Spiritual Medicine from our respective Secret Realms each year to cultivate Alchemists.”
The output from the Secret Realms directly involved the personal interests of the Secret Realm Masters, and the crowd immediately began to discuss.
Gu Xing remained silent throughout, knowing that this proposal would surely pass.
The appearance of members of the Guardian Families in the Medical Affairs Department had actually infringed upon the interests of the Royal Family.
Although everyone knew that the Medical Affairs Department was the ruins of the Dan Sheng Hall, it was still a department of the Imperial Court and was under the control of the Royal Family.
To appease the Royal Family, the Guardian Families would certainly have to cede a portion of the Secret Realm’s profits.
Meng Qingyao’s proposal was likely something Xia Zhen and the others had already discussed.
As for Mu Qingying and others…
The Divine Wood Secret Realm was like a coveted prize, with all parties eyeing it.
Mu Qingying and others were more deeply entangled with the Royal Family and the nobles of the Capital City. If they did not contribute any benefits, they would certainly be collectively targeted.
Even if these individuals were unwilling, no one would step forward to oppose it at this time.
Just as Gu Xing had predicted, after a period of discussion, no one stood up to oppose Meng Qingyao’s proposal.
However, everyone had their own ideas about how much of the Secret Realm’s output should be contributed.
Everyone present knew that the current Medical Affairs Department was almost entirely staffed by individuals placed by the Royal Family and nobles. It was uncertain whether the Secret Realm’s output would be used to cultivate people for the Sacred Lands or for the various nobles.
No one was willing to use their own resources to bolster the influence of others, especially when those others might include their rivals.
“The Secret Realms we obtained are all different. It would be unfair for everyone to contribute the same amount of output, wouldn’t it?”
“Exactly. In my opinion, it would be best to determine the amount of Spiritual Medicine to be contributed based on the grade of the Secret Realm.”
There were various opinions, and finally, Gu Xing stepped forward to make the decision: each Secret Realm Master would contribute one-tenth of their annual output.
This output would be uniformly submitted to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, and the Pavilion Master would be responsible for its distribution.
With that, the first meeting of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion concluded.
This meeting confirmed Meng Qingyao as the first Pavilion Master, established that the Secret Realm Masters would impart Medical Skills and the Pill Dao at Qihuang Hall, and set the requirement for each Secret Realm to contribute one-tenth of its annual output for the cultivation of Alchemists in the Medical Affairs Department.
As soon as the meeting ended, Prince Shou’s side learned of everything.
“Heh, so the members of the Guardian Families also engage in isolation and exclusion!”
Prince Shou wore a sarcastic smile.
Chu Junhao sighed, “On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Hua Changxi was indeed a bit too disrespectful to Xia Zhen.”
Prince Shou smiled, “Therefore, she deserves to be ostracized.” His smile faded as he continued, “I heard that Huo Yunxiao approached her to discuss cooperation, but she refused?”
Chu Junhao looked helpless, “Yes.”
Prince Shou snorted disdainfully, “Hua Changxi doesn’t think she can manage a high-grade Secret Realm all by herself, does she?”
Chu Junhao remained silent.
Prince Shou looked at his nephew, “I know you want to befriend Hua Changxi, but don’t be too eager. Remember, you are the Emperor’s son, a Prince. Do not tarnish your status.”
Chu Junhao replied, “Junhao will heed Imperial Uncle’s teachings.”
Prince Shou added, “Managing a Secret Realm requires people. Hua Changxi has no one. I think she hasn’t quite grasped the situation yet.”
“Since ancient times, those who offer themselves up willingly are often looked down upon. Let her frolic for a while first.”
“When the other Secret Realms are on track, let’s see how anxious Hua Changxi becomes.”
“At that time, she won’t be the one making demands.”
Chu Junhao was not very optimistic about this. Given Hua Changxi’s displayed personality, she didn’t seem like someone who would beg.
However, when a person is truly pushed to a desperate situation, bowing down is the only solution. Even the proudest person can only have their sharp edges smoothed.
Prince Shou stopped talking about Hua Changxi and said with a grim expression, “Only one-tenth of the output from each Secret Realm. The Xia Family truly shows no respect to the Royal Family.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Junhao hesitated and said, “Imperial Uncle, one-tenth of the output from one Secret Realm, and eighteen Secret Realms means eighteen portions of output.”
That’s not a small amount.
Prince Shou snorted, “What do you know? Is all that output going to the Royal Family? We still have to share it with other nobles.”
Thinking of the increasingly complex situation, Chu Junhao’s expression also became solemn.
Meanwhile, other factions were also discussing the Spiritual Realm Pavilion.
Department Head Gu, not being a member of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion as he did not obtain a Divine Wood Secret Realm, could not attend the meeting. He could only learn about all the contents of the meeting through the accounts of Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou.
Department Head Gu showed no reaction to other matters. The only thing that puzzled him was why Gu Xing did not speak up for Hua Changxi!
Hua Changxi was one of the only two people who lit the first-grade incense. Why would Senior Gu not offer her any support?
In the Old Plaza Courtyard, someone also asked Gu Xing this question.
“Uncle Gu, why didn’t you speak up for Changxi? You thought highly of her, didn’t you?”
Gu Xing looked at the old woman who spoke. If Hua Changxi were here, she would surely recognize that the elder was Granny Sun, who used to guard the kitchen in the Labor Department.
“Little Sun, Hua Changxi is too headstrong.”
“Jade cannot be shaped without polishing. People like her cannot be changed by words; only when she stumbles in her actions will she reflect on her behavior.”
“Most importantly, I observe that the girl lacks a sense of responsibility. She wants to benefit from the Sacred Lands while also staying out of it.”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
“The Xia Family’s ambition is immense. Their leading the charge into the world, aiming for the position of Holy Land Master, shows this. Today, Xia Zhen deliberately left Hua Changxi out to tell everyone, both openly and secretly, that the Dan Sheng Hall matters are decided by the Guardian Families.”
“The rumors about the Public Secret Realm have already confirmed the Xia Family’s ambition. Hua Changxi is the ‘sacrificial bird’ they intend to target.”
“Just wait and see. The Guardian Families will continue to target that girl in the future.”
Granny Sun listened and couldn’t help but anxiously say, “Uncle Gu, since you know everything, are you just going to let those people suppress Changxi?”
Gu Xing replied, “. That girl’s actions are too wishful thinking. Someone has to break her naive ideas.”
The Guardian Families are the best candidates. Coincidentally, they have also nominated Meng Qingyao, whose talent and opportunities are no less than Hua Changxi’s.
Faced with the constraints of family ties, Hua Changxi could decisively leave. But how would she deal with external oppression by powerful forces?
