Chapter 265: Setting the Standard
After Hua Changxi brought the retired Demon Suppressing Army to the summit of Dan Yuan Peak, she watched over ten people take their oaths. Seeing that there were still hundreds of people behind them, and not wanting to spend the entire day on this, she called over Eunuch Zhao, who managed the Merit Hall.
“Take these hundreds of identity tokens. You will supervise them taking their oaths later.”
Eunuch Zhao solemnly accepted. “Master, rest assured, I will complete the task well.”
There were prohibitions on Dan Yuan Peak. If Hua Changxi did not open them, outsiders would not be able to ascend. With the identity tokens placed with Eunuch Zhao, she was not worried about any trouble.
Afterward, Hua Changxi called Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia and took them into the Secret Realm.
Upon entering the Secret Realm, Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia were stunned to find that as far as the eye could see were boundless spiritual medicines.
At this moment, both of them felt incredibly fortunate that they had chosen to follow Hua Changxi.
The first level of the Secret Realm was divided into four regions: northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast, demarcated by two spiritual rivers running north-south and east-west.
Hua Changxi quickly led Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia on a tour of the first level of the Secret Realm, and then, she took them to focus on exploring the southeast region.
“There aren’t many apprentices right now, so we’ll start by developing the southeast region first.”
“The first step is to harvest the spiritual medicine. After harvesting, it will need to be washed and prepared.”
“The second step is the allocation of medicine fields, their upkeep, and the planting of the next batch of spiritual medicine.”
Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Zhou as they walked and spoke, “You are the Mission Hall Steward, you must have a clear understanding of these matters. Also, you need to provide me with a plan for managing the Mission Hall and assigning tasks as soon as possible.”
Eunuch Zhou quickly replied, “Master, rest assured. I have managed quite large medicine farms before, so I am quite familiar with these things. I am already drafting the plan and will submit it to you as soon as it’s done.”
Hua Changxi ‘hmm’-ed. “Remember, when assigning tasks, fairness and justice are paramount. After the Mission Hall’s plan is finalized, it must be posted for everyone to see.”
Hearing this, Eunuch Zhou began to feel pressure, and Eunuch Jia’s expression also changed.
When they were stewards in the Labor Department before, many of the tasks assigned from above were concealed by them, and the laborers below could only follow their orders.
As long as the task was completed and the result was good, the superiors would not investigate the process.
It was easier to command the subordinates if they knew nothing.
Stewards, positioned in the middle, could intercept most of the benefits. As for any trouble, naturally, the subordinates would take the blame.
Deceiving superiors and manipulating subordinates was their survival rule.
Now, this survival rule would not work with their Master.
If the subordinates truly knew everything, the pressure on them as stewards would be much greater. Not only would they be supervised by the subordinates, but they would also need to bear more responsibility.
Hua Changxi then looked at Eunuch Jia. “In the future, there will be more and more apprentices in the Secret Realm, and there will surely be friction between them. You also need to provide me with a plan for maintaining order in the Secret Realm as soon as possible.”
Eunuch Jia quickly agreed.
Hua Changxi said as she toured, “The newly recruited apprentices, upon entering the Secret Realm, will first start working in the southeast region we are currently touring.”
“After the southeast region is managed well, we will then advance to the southwest region, northwest region, and northeast region.”
Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia nodded, indicating they had taken note.
Hua Changxi added, “Once the recruited apprentices enter the Secret Realm, you can select some helpers.”
Eunuch Zhou asked, “Master, is there a limit to the number of people?”
Hua Changxi replied, “The Law Enforcement Hall, Mission Hall, Logistics Department, and Merit Hall will each be temporarily allocated fifty people. If more personnel are needed in the future, you must draft a plan for me, stating the reasons, and I will decide based on the situation.”
Afterward, the three continued to tour the Secret Realm, discussing some of the detailed rules for managing the Secret Realm as they went.
Since Dan Yuan Peak appeared, the plaza of the Medical Affairs Department had been crowded.
Seeing Hua Changxi ascend to the summit of Dan Yuan Peak with a group of retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers, the various Secret Realm Masters, Qihuang Hall Masters, Prince Shou, Xia Zhen, and others also gradually arrived at the plaza.
At this moment, all these people were gazing at Dan Yuan Peak.
The foot of Dan Yuan Peak and the plaza were not at the same level; the former was at least a thousand meters below the latter. Standing on the plaza and looking down at the foot of Dan Yuan Peak was like standing on a cliff.
Prince Shou and Xia Zhen had both dispatched cultivators to fly down, intending to investigate the situation on Dan Yuan Peak. However, they could only mill about at the foot of the mountain and were unable to ascend.
Upon seeing this, Xia Zhen said gravely, “Dan Yuan Peak is protected by a prohibition, and outsiders cannot ascend the mountain.”
Hearing this, everyone looked towards Eunuch Yu and his group, who were excavating the mountain path on Dan Yuan Peak.
Prince Shou frowned and looked at Huo Yunxiao. “I heard that those who successfully joined the Dan Yuan Secret Realm yesterday each received an identity token?”
Huo Yunxiao nodded. “That’s right.”
Xia Zhen heard this and smiled. “It seems that identity token not only allows entry into the Dan Yuan Secret Realm but also entry into Dan Yuan Peak.”
As soon as he said this, Huo Yunxiao noticed that the expressions of many people changed.
As someone who dealt with the most cultivator-related cases in the Demon Suppressing Army, he knew all too well that some cultivators would commit murder and robbery to seize opportunities.
Although those who joined the Dan Yuan Secret Realm were no longer part of the Demon Suppressing Army, he did not want to see them become targets of those with ill intentions. He immediately said, “The identity token is bound to the person on a one-to-one basis. Even if someone accidentally obtained a token, it cannot be activated by someone who is not the intended recipient.”
Xia Ziyang looked over and smiled. “Fellow Daoist Huo, how do you know so clearly?”
Huo Yunxiao’s expression was calm. “I tried it.”
The crowd didn’t know if he was telling the truth, but they could guess that simply taking the identity tokens of the Dan Yuan Secret Realm apprentices would likely be useless.
Unable to ascend Dan Yuan Peak to investigate, the crowd did not linger on the plaza. Xia Zhen led Xia Ziyang and others back to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, while Prince Shou took Chu Junhao and others to find Gu Xing.
“Senior Gu, I believe Hua Changxi should open the prohibition on Dan Yuan Peak and allow others free entry and exit.”
Gu Xing glanced at Prince Shou and couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Seeing this, Prince Shou, though angered, suppressed his emotions. “Senior Gu, my suggestion is entirely for the sake of the Sacred Land’s revival.”
“Think about it, the Sacred Land surely has more than one peak. If Dan Yuan Peak is opened, perhaps it will lead people to discover opportunities to open other peaks.”
Gu Xing looked at Prince Shou. “I am merely a gatekeeper, my status is like that of a guard for the Imperial Palace; Hua Changxi, on the other hand, is like an official with real power in the Six Ministries.”
“Does Your Highness think that officials of the Imperial Court would listen to a mere gate guard?”
Seeing that Prince Shou still wanted to say something, Gu Xing waved his hand. “Your Highness, please do not trouble this old man. Back then, you did not allow Hua Changxi to recruit apprentices, and I could only stand by and watch.”
Prince Shou inwardly resented Gu Xing’s stubbornness but could do nothing about him. He could only leave with a grim expression. Upon exiting the Old Courtyard, he said fiercely, “Let’s go to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion.”
Since the old man was unwilling to intervene, he would go find Xia Zhen. He didn’t believe Xia Zhen wouldn’t want to investigate Dan Yuan Peak.
Watching Prince Shou, who had returned empty-handed and was angrily heading towards the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, Chu Junhao felt a heavy heart.
The royal family’s control over the Medical Affairs Department was weakening. Now, to achieve anything, they had to join forces with the Guardian Families.
Meanwhile, inside the Dan Yuan Secret Realm, Hua Changxi had finished touring the southeast region of the first level with Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia.
After Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia had a general idea of the situation on the first level of the Secret Realm, they left and went to draft the operational management plans for the Mission Hall and Law Enforcement Hall.
As for Hua Changxi, she did not leave the Secret Realm but went to wash and prepare the First Rank Spirit Grass she had harvested the previous night.
