Chapter 264: Not Enough Time
After Hua Changxi handed over all the arrangements, she returned to the alchemy room, then activated the Divine Wood Leaf in her Dantian and flashed into the Dan Yuan Secret Realm.
This time, bringing people to swear allegiance and join the Dan Yuan Secret Realm truly surprised and delighted her.
She was surprised by the appearance of the Undying Divine Wood.
She was delighted because she not only became the Peak Master of Dan Yuan Peak but also received a Saint Pill and a newly sprouted Xing Mu Branch from the Undying Divine Wood.
Hua Changxi felt the Xing Mu Branch in her Dantian and the Saint Pill in her Sea of Consciousness, her mood being exceptionally pleasant.
Apart from these unexpected gains, the commotion caused today was enough to break the boycott jointly initiated by Prince Shou and others against her.
Now, there must be many people within the Medical Affairs Department who wish to join the Dan Yuan Secret Realm.
Time in the Secret Realm is the same as in the outside world. Seeing that it was already dark and remembering that she had to recruit hundreds of retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers tomorrow, Hua Changxi decided not to return to Lingguang Hall to cultivate tonight.
Hua Changxi quickly took out the remaining over nine thousand Identity Tokens and began imprinting the character ‘Yuan’ on each one.
Two hours passed, and all the Identity Tokens were imprinted.
With over three hours left until dawn, Hua Changxi pondered for a moment and decided to refine pills.
『Third-grade Alchemist （Supreme-grade Pill ）: Alchemy 1508 furnaces 1508/10000』
Looking at her alchemy grade, which had not improved, Hua Changxi felt a bit helpless. Since the new year, she had been busy and had no time for alchemy.
“Once the recruitment of apprentices stabilizes, I must quickly improve my alchemy grade.”
Now, she had to seize the time to refine a batch of First Rank Elixirs that she had promised to give to the apprentices.
There were many mature First Rank Spiritual Medicines on the first level of the Secret Realm. Hua Changxi began to pick the Spirit Grass needed to refine First Rank Spirit Origin Pills.
She did not pick them directly but controlled her Spiritual Power to do so. As she was in the Nascent Soul Realm, picking them was very swift. By dawn, she had picked tens of thousands of First Rank Spirit Grass.
Each level of the Dan Yuan Secret Realm has two spirit rivers, one running north-south and the other running east-west.
Hua Changxi looked at the mountain-like pile of spiritual medicines before her, feeling a bit of a headache; there wasn’t enough time.
Although dozens of apprentices were recruited yesterday, they would be opening roads on Dan Yuan Peak today. This meant that she alone had to wash and prepare all these spiritual medicines.
“I need to quickly cultivate a batch of apprentices.”
Otherwise, if everything depended on her alone, she would be exhausted to death.
Seeing that it was already bright, Hua Changxi flashed out of the Secret Realm. As soon as she exited the alchemy room, she saw Pharmacist Xu and others waiting in Qihuang Hall.
“Have all the resumes of the retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers been filled out?”
Pharmacist Xu stepped forward and replied, “They have all been filled out.”
Hua Changxi nodded, “Alright, everyone will go up to Dan Yuan Peak together later.” She paused, “What about Eunuch Yu and the others?”
Pharmacist Xu: “Steward Yu has already taken the apprentices recruited yesterday up to Dan Yuan Peak to work.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi was very satisfied with Eunuch Yu’s proactiveness. She looked at Pharmacist Xu, “Uncle Xu, from now on, you will be the Steward in charge of recruiting apprentices for the Secret Realm.”
Pharmacist Xu’s expression brightened upon hearing this, “Jiu Niang, Hall Master, please rest assured, I will do my job well.”
Seeing Hua Shuran and the others looking at her expectantly, Hua Changxi continued, “From now on, the seven of you will follow Steward Xu and obey his commands.”
The seven of them, Hua Shuran included, immediately looked dejected upon hearing this.
Hua Changxi ignored them and left Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall with hundreds of retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers.
Watching their retreating figures, Hua Shuran, Hua Wanyue, He Siqi, and He Siqi exchanged helpless glances. Regret flickered in their eyes.
They never expected that Hua Changxi would turn the tables so quickly.
Yesterday, everyone avoided her, but now they wanted to curry favor with her, yet they were no longer in Hua Changxi’s good graces.
Zhu Yu looked at the visibly delighted Pharmacist Xu and suddenly asked, “Steward Xu, the Hall Master didn’t ask the eight of us to go up to Dan Yuan Peak to swear an oath. So, are we considered part of the Dan Yuan Secret Realm?”
Pharmacist Xu’s expression faltered, and the smile on his face slowly faded.
Zhou Bin: “Qihuang Hall is Qihuang Hall, and the Secret Realm is the Secret Realm. Perhaps in the Hall Master’s heart, we are just Medicine Children of Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.”
Zhu Yu looked at Pharmacist Xu, “Steward Xu, the Hall Master values you. Can you ask the Hall Master about it?”
Pharmacist Xu knew that Hua Changxi was wary of them, the Medicine Children, and also knew that Zhu Yu and the others were spies from other factions. He also knew that Hua Changxi appointing him as Steward was due to their past relationship.
He did not want to deplete the goodwill between him and Hua Changxi for Zhu Yu and the others, so he smiled and vaguely replied, “If there’s an opportunity, I’ll ask the Hall Master.”
Seeing everyone looking dispirited, Pharmacist Xu added, “If we do the tasks assigned by the Hall Master well, I believe she will recognize everyone. If we can’t even complete the tasks given, then we truly won’t have a chance to stay by the Hall Master’s side.”
Just then, the Communication Talisman on Hua Shuran’s waist moved. Soon, she walked towards Pharmacist Xu, “Steward Xu, Hua Clan Members are coming to register, and the Hall Master’s brother is among them.”
Pharmacist Xu immediately smiled, “The Hall Master has instructed that everyone can come to register. Go and welcome them.”
Hua Shuran thanked him and left Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall with Hua Wanyue.
Watching the two of them leave, Pharmacist Xu shook his head. The Hua Clan members did not immediately step forward to support Hua Changxi, so they probably wouldn’t fare well.
On the other side, Hua Changxi did not directly ride her cloud with the hundreds of retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers to Dan Yuan Peak. Instead, she led them on foot through the Plaza before riding her cloud to the Dan Yuan Peak Summit.
Others who noticed this scene all paid their respects.
On the second floor of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, Meng Yuchuan watched Hua Changxi and her entourage swagger across the Plaza and immediately snorted, “This Hua Changxi really doesn’t miss any opportunity to show off.”
In the room, besides Meng Qingyao, were the brothers Dongfang Hao and Dongfang Xu.
Dongfang Hao: “Perhaps, she isn’t trying to show off.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Yuchuan became displeased, “Brother Hao, why do you always speak up for Hua Changxi?”
Dongfang Hao’s expression did not waver at Meng Yuchuan’s words, “I am merely stating facts.”
Meng Qingyao spoke, “Brother Hao, did you discover something?”
Dongfang Hao: “I once read in an ancient book that flying is prohibited in plazas with altars.”
Meng Yuchuan’s face stiffened, then he said coldly, “This Hua Changxi is too insidious. Since she knew that flying was prohibited in the Plaza, why didn’t she tell everyone?”
Seeing Meng Yuchuan like this, Dongfang Hao couldn’t help but raise his hand to rub his forehead.
Dongfang Xu couldn’t stand it and let out a scoff, “Hua Changxi said it, but would you have listened? I saw that you would have found other excuses to slander Hua Changxi then.”
Meng Yuchuan’s face turned ugly, “You…”
Seeing that they were about to argue, Meng Qingyao quickly intervened and said to Dongfang Hao, “I want to emulate Hua Changxi and set up an Oath Tablet to recruit apprentices.”
Dongfang Hao agreed upon hearing this. Seeing Meng Qingyao looking a bit downcast, he comforted her, “Cultivation is about pursuing a long and distant path. Occasional gains and losses are insignificant.”
