Chapter 239: The Era’s Pusher
There were too many people outside Number One Qihuang Hall; it was impossible to squeeze in.
Hua Changxi thought she would have opportunities to listen to Mu Qingying’s lectures in the future. Just as she was hesitating whether to leave, a group of young cultivators led by Meng Qingyao arrived.
“Make way!”
“Make way!”
The crowd outside the impenetrable Number One Qihuang Hall parted automatically to the left and right upon seeing the newcomers, clearing a path in the middle.
Once the path was cleared, Meng Qingyao and her group calmly walked towards Number One Qihuang Hall.
“Hall Master Hua!”
Dongfang Hao was a thoughtful and cautious person, paying close attention to his surroundings. He quickly noticed Hua Changxi standing in the crowd.
Because of his exclamation, Meng Qingyao and the others walking ahead stopped and all looked towards Hua Changxi.
Seeing Hua Changxi, Meng Qingyao immediately smiled and invited, “Hall Master Hua, you’ve arrived too. Shall we enter the hall together?”
Hua Changxi looked at her, then at the crowded people on both sides, and smiled as she refused, “No, I’m not used to this.”
Hearing her refusal, Meng Qingyao’s expression stiffened, while Dongfang Hao’s eyes flickered.
Not used to this?
Dongfang Hao looked around, a look of confusion on his face. What was Hua Changxi not used to?
“Hmph~”
Meng Yuchuan, seeing Hua Changxi so dismissive of his sister’s kind offer and so ungracious, immediately sneered, “Hall Master Hua puts on quite an act.”
“You didn’t give Senior Xia face before, and today you’re not giving the Pavilion Master of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion face. Don’t you know the word ‘rules’?”
Hua Changxi sized up Meng Yuchuan. “Who are you?”
Meng Yuchuan was almost broken by Hua Changxi’s casual question. He was, after all, the brother of the Pavilion Master of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. He had been helping his sister manage their two high-grade Secret Realms, and he knew all the nobles in the Capital City. He never expected Hua Changxi to ignore him so completely.
“Hua Changxi, listen carefully. My name is Meng Yuchuan, and I am the brother of the Pavilion Master of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion.”
Hua Changxi glanced at Meng Qingyao and smiled again, asking, “What Spiritual Realm Pavilion? I’ve never heard of it.”
She admitted that she was angry about being excluded and isolated by the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. Since the Spiritual Realm Pavilion had convened a meeting without inviting her, she would simply not acknowledge its existence.
As expected, her words immediately drew frequent attention from everyone.
Seeing Hua Changxi foolishly expose her own weakness, Meng Yuchuan immediately said unceremoniously, “Hall Master Hua is too haughty and unwilling to cooperate with the various Secret Realm Masters, so you weren’t invited to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion’s first meeting.”
“Hall Master Hua, you’re not upset about this, are you?”
Hua Changxi smiled at Meng Yuchuan, her peripheral vision on Meng Qingyao, and did not respond immediately.
In Meng Yuchuan’s eyes, this reaction was Hua Changxi feigning composure. He then continued with a smile, “If Hall Master Hua wishes to join the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, you only need to obtain the Pavilion Master’s consent.”
“As long as the Pavilion Master allows it, you can attend the next meeting and won’t be ignorant of what the Spiritual Realm Pavilion is.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally burst into laughter. “Meng Yuchuan, is it? I think your brain isn’t working properly. I don’t know about the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, nor did I attend your so-called meeting, so why would I acknowledge any Spiritual Realm Pavilion Master?”
Meng Qingyao was the pride of the Meng Family. Meng Yuchuan could still restrain himself when he was ignored, but seeing Meng Qingyao ignored, he couldn’t hold back.
“Hua Changxi, you’ve gone too far.”
Seeing Meng Yuchuan stamping his feet in anger, Hua Changxi’s mood greatly improved. “How have I gone too far? I haven’t joined the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, so isn’t it normal for me not to recognize the Pavilion Master you elected?”
Meng Yuchuan had truly never encountered someone who spoke so recklessly. He was so angry he didn’t know how to retort. “The Spiritual Realm Pavilion is strongly supported by Senior Xia and Senior Gu. How dare you not acknowledge it?”
The smile on Hua Changxi’s face deepened. “I just don’t acknowledge it. What can you do?”
Seeing that her brother’s emotions were completely controlled by Hua Changxi, Meng Qingyao had to step forward. “Hall Master Hua, the Spiritual Realm Pavilion is on Ninth Street. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it’s still there!”
After speaking, she looked at Meng Yuchuan.
“Brother, Fellow Daoist Mu is about to start her lecture. Let’s hurry into the hall.”
Saying this, she looked at Hua Changxi again.
“Since Hall Master Hua is not accustomed to traveling with us, please feel free to do as you please.”
Watching Meng Qingyao leave without giving her a chance to retort, Hua Changxi felt a bit stifled.
This Meng Qingyao was much stronger than her brother. With just a few words, she made Hua Changxi seem like the one being unreasonable.
“What are you still standing there for?”
Gu Xing, accompanied by Granny Sun, had also arrived at Hall One. Seeing Hua Changxi standing still, he worried she might leave in a huff and could only prompt her.
Granny Sun also repeatedly signaled to Hua Changxi, “Changxi, hurry up.”
Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised to see that Gu Xing had also come to listen to the lecture. After a moment of hesitation, she still led Pharmacist Xu and the other eight into Hall One.
As she stepped through the hall gate, Hua Changxi paused and looked back at those who could only remain outside.
After entering Hall One, Gu Xing was directly led to the frontmost seat. Hua Changxi did not follow and stood by the courtyard gate.
Today was the Qihuang Hall Master’s first public lecture. Compared to the Hall Masters previously chosen based on power, the current Hall Masters had either obtained a Wooden Token or the Divine Wood Secret Realm.
In other words, they were all people recognized by the Dan Sheng Hall!
Being recognized by the Dan Sheng Hall meant they undoubtedly possessed extraordinary abilities in Medical Skills and the Pill Dao. It was precisely because of this belief that so many people came to listen.
However, Qihuang Hall was only so large and could not accommodate too many people. Those who could enter the hall to attend the lecture today were those with strong connections and backgrounds.
Among them were many whose true intentions were not in the Pill Dao or Medical Skills; they were there to gauge the strength of the various Hall Masters.
For example, Prince Shou and other royal relatives, and Duke Xin and other nobles and high officials.
Seeing the best seats occupied by a group of laypeople, Hua Changxi immediately felt that today’s lecture was not worth listening to.
“Hall Master Hua!”
Huo Yunxiao saw Hua Changxi and quickly walked over. “I saved a seat for you. Come, let’s sit inside.”
Hua Changxi glanced at the crowd of nobles seated inside and stood still. “No need.”
The people inside had been watching the argument between Hua Changxi and the Meng siblings outside. Huo Yunxiao, seeing Hua Changxi push him away again, felt a bit annoyed.
Honestly, if Hua Changxi couldn’t produce Supreme-grade Pills and didn’t control high-grade Secret Realms, he wouldn’t want to interact with someone like her too much.
She was too difficult to deal with!
Hua Changxi noticed the flash of annoyance in Huo Yunxiao’s eyes. “You are a Cultivator. Cultivators cultivate their hearts. Compromising yourself too much is detrimental to your cultivation.”
Huo Yunxiao’s expression stiffened, a mix of embarrassment and surprise.
He was embarrassed that his thoughts had been seen through by Hua Changxi; he was surprised that Hua Changxi was advising him.
Huo Yunxiao was silent for a moment before returning to his usual cheerful demeanor. “If Hall Master Hua could be a little kinder to me and not resist me so much, then I wouldn’t be compromising myself.”
Hua Changxi looked at him. “But if that were the case, I would be the one compromising.”
Huo Yunxiao: “…”
Seeing his defiance, Hua Changxi smiled. “You are trying to influence me with your will. Even if you compromise, it’s self-inflicted.”
“I am defending myself, and in the eyes of people like you, it becomes my fault.”
“Fellow Daoist Huo, do you think we are the same kind of people?”
