Chapter 296: Intercepting Someone
After entering September, cultivators from outside the Capital City who wished to apply to the Five Great Sacred Lands began arriving in the capital.
For the first half of the month, Hua Changxi was quite worried that the arrival of cultivators would threaten the normal lives of ordinary people. She would patrol the area around East City every noon and evening.
Fortunately, most cultivators were here to apply to the Sacred Lands, and they generally adhered well to the regulations set by the Capital City prohibiting cultivators from flying and fighting.
Hua Changxi also contacted Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen several times to inquire about the situation in other districts, and they all reported that nothing unusual had happened.
Seeing that the cultivators entering the capital did not cause any unrest as the Royal Family had feared, Hua Changxi’s worries gradually subsided. She reduced her patrols from twice a day to once a day, and then to once every three days.
“Line up one by one.”
“To be accepted into Dan Yuan Peak, testing your Spiritual Root is the first step. As long as you have a Wood Spiritual Root, you have a chance to join Dan Yuan Peak.”
At the foot of Dan Yuan Peak, Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue, along with several Laborers from the Personnel Department, were responsible for testing the Spiritual Roots of those who came to register.
Due to the large number of people, both of them were extremely busy.
Starting from mid-September, hundreds of people would come to Dan Yuan Peak to register every day. Although they were busy every day, their spirits were incredibly high.
“The second step is that after your Spiritual Root is tested, someone will guide you into the hall, and then explain the various precautions you need to observe for entering Dan Yuan Peak and the Secret Realm.”
“Remember, this is a two-way choice.”
“If any of you feel you cannot abide by the rules and regulations of Dan Yuan Peak and the Dan Yuan Secret Realm, do not waste your time. Please seek your opportunities elsewhere.”
“The third step is for those with a Wood Spiritual Root who can comply with all rules and regulations to be taken to the Dan Yuan Peak Summit for a Heart Demon Oath test.”
“As long as you pass the recognition of the Oath Tablet, you can become a member of Dan Yuan Peak. If you do not receive the recognition of the Oath Tablet, please return from whence you came.”
“Of course, being accepted into Dan Yuan Peak does not mean you can stay permanently. Dan Yuan Peak will have irregular assessments, so after joining Dan Yuan Peak, please do not slack off.”
Halfway up Dan Yuan Peak, Hua Changxi stood on a Spirit Cloud, watching the bustling registration scene at the foot of the mountain with a smile.
The thought that the Apprentices accepted into Dan Yuan Peak were approaching ten thousand, and that there were even those with exceptional Alchemy talent among them, made Hua Changxi even happier.
However, other factions within the Medical Affairs Department were becoming somewhat envious of the fervent recruitment at Dan Yuan Peak.
Because of this, on September 25th, the Spiritual Realm Pavilion specifically convened a meeting of Secret Realm Masters.
In the Council Hall, once most of the Secret Realm Masters had arrived, Long Chenyi spoke first: “I must say, Hua Changxi’s method of cooperating with other Sacred Lands to post recruitment notices everywhere is truly excellent. Dan Yuan Peak must have recruited several thousand apprentices this month alone.”
Bai Zhixin nodded in agreement: “Yes, it not only solved Dan Yuan Peak’s recruitment problem but also promoted the cross-regional integration and exchange among cultivators from various places.”
Seeing that the Guardian Family had initiated the conversation, Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying also joined in with smiles.
Yuan Tianchou: “Isn’t that right? Nowadays, many teahouses and restaurants in the Capital City have become places for cultivators to gather and exchange. Cultivators gather together, sharing their experiences and cultivation insights. My fellow disciples and I have listened in a few times and found it very rewarding.”
Mu Qingying added: “After meeting cultivators from all over, I truly understand what it means when they say there’s always someone better.”
With cultivators from all regions arriving in the capital, everyone was paying attention, and they began to share their own experiences and insights one after another.
Seeing that everyone was talking enthusiastically and showing no signs of getting to the main topic, Xia Ziyang looked towards Meng Qingyao.
Meng Qingyao then looked at Xia Zhen. Seeing him with his head down, lost in thought, she hesitated before finally speaking up to interrupt everyone: “Alright, everyone, please pause for a moment.”
After everyone fell silent, Meng Qingyao continued: “The reason I’ve gathered everyone here today is primarily to discuss the matter of Secret Realm recruitment.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present fluctuated.
Everyone understood Meng Qingyao’s intention: they simply wanted to ride the wave of Dan Yuan Peak’s recruitment to recruit a batch of talented individuals themselves.
Watching hundreds and thousands of cultivators join Dan Yuan Peak every day, especially with many of them possessing exceptional talent, it would be a lie to say they weren’t envious.
Talent is always a valuable resource, no matter the time, so the more, the better.
Xia Ziyang spoke: “From what I know, many of the apprentices accepted into Dan Yuan Peak have Dual Spiritual Roots or Triple Spiritual Roots, and even a considerable number have Single Wood Spiritual Roots.”
“With so many outstanding cultivators, Hua Changxi alone cannot possibly train them all.”
“Given the large number of cultivators who register at the Medical Affairs Department daily, I believe we can help Hua Changxi share some of the burden.”
These words echoed the sentiments of many Secret Realm Masters. They remained silent, implicitly agreeing.
Although Mu Qingying also wanted to recruit some talent for her own Secret Realm, she still spoke up in opposition: “Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for us to do this?”
“We didn’t contribute any effort in posting recruitment notices across various regions. If we also recruit apprentices, it would be like snatching people from Dan Yuan Peak.”
Xia Ziyang chuckled: “Fellow Daoist Mu, that argument doesn’t hold much water. It’s a cultivator’s freedom to choose which Secret Realm to join. How can you say we are snatching people?”
Mu Qingying frowned: “But all the cultivators who come to the Medical Affairs Department from outside the capital are here for Dan Yuan Peak.”
Xia Ziyang expressed his disagreement: “That’s because they only have Dan Yuan Peak as an option if they want to join a Sacred Land.”
“We are the Secret Realm Masters of the Divine Wood Secret Realm, and we also represent a Sacred Land. If we recruit apprentices, it’s giving more choices to cultivators from outside the capital. What’s wrong with that?”
The Secret Realm Masters from the Guardian Family side expressed their agreement with these words.
Yuan Tianchou knew that if this continued, Mu Qingying would offend someone, so he quickly gave her a meaningful look.
Mu Qingying saw it but ignored him: “If we want to poach people from Dan Yuan Peak, we at least need to get Hua Changxi’s consent, right?”
Seeing Mu Qingying’s persistence, a hint of annoyance flashed in Xia Ziyang’s eyes: “Fellow Daoist Mu is mistaken again. Hua Changxi is a member of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. Decisions passed by the majority in a Spiritual Realm Pavilion meeting should be unconditionally obeyed by her.”
Mu Qingying was amused by these words. She ignored Xia Ziyang and turned to Meng Qingyao: “Pavilion Master, do you also think so?”
Seeing everyone looking at her, Meng Qingyao knew she had to state her position: “As long as it is something that can promote the development and growth of the Sacred Lands, we Secret Realm Masters should actively pursue it.”
She paused and looked at Mu Qingying.
“It is true that Hua Changxi spread the news about the Dan Sheng Hall recruiting apprentices, but to prohibit other Secret Realm Masters from recruiting cultivators from outside the capital solely for this reason would be too overbearing of Hua Changxi.”
Mu Qingying couldn’t help but sneer: “The Spiritual Realm Pavilion has held meetings, but Hua Changxi has never been notified, has she?”
Xia Ziyang immediately retorted: “It’s because Hua Changxi doesn’t have the Spiritual Realm Pavilion in her heart. If she truly considered herself a member of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion, she should have come to pay her respects to the Pavilion Master proactively.”
Mu Qingying looked at him, her face full of sarcasm: “Whatever you say goes, then.”
Seeing this, Xia Ziyang also became annoyed: “If Fellow Daoist Mu is going to defend Hua Changxi so vehemently, then don’t recruit cultivators from outside the capital.”
“Why should that be?”
Yuan Tianchou retorted before Mu Qingying: “If other Secret Realm Masters can recruit, then Qingying can naturally recruit as well. Fellow Daoist Xia, the Spiritual Realm Pavilion is not yours to dictate. Everyone has the freedom to express their opinions.”
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Meng Qingyao spoke: “What is the purpose of recruiting apprentices? It is for the development and growth of the Sacred Lands, not for any individual.” She then looked at Mu Qingying.
“Secret Realm Master Mu, you must remember that you bear the responsibility of strengthening the Sacred Lands.”
“Recruiting apprentices is a common task for all Secret Realm Masters of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. Each Secret Realm must recruit at least five thousand apprentices.”
“Today’s meeting is adjourned. Everyone may be dismissed.”
No matter how unwilling Mu Qingying was, she could not say anything more at this point.
Xia Zhen, who had been sitting silently below Meng Qingyao, watched as Meng Qingyao suppressed Mu Qingying and the others, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Starting from September 27th, all Secret Realm Masters set up registration points for recruiting apprentices at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Department.
After all, the number of cultivators entering the capital from outside each day was limited. With the Five Great Sacred Lands dividing them, the number of people registering at the Medical Affairs Department was not too large. Now, with a large portion being intercepted by other Secret Realms, the number of people registering at Dan Yuan Peak plummeted.
“Shameless, truly too shameless!”
The Personnel Department felt the reduction in registration numbers most acutely. Pharmacist Xu was so angry he wanted to overturn all the registration booths at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Department.
The various Stewards of Dan Yuan Peak also attached great importance to this matter and gathered in the Personnel Department to discuss countermeasures.
That evening, when Hua Changxi emerged from the Secret Realm and was preparing to patrol East City, she was intercepted by the Stewards at the Personnel Department.
After hearing the Stewards’ report about other Secret Realms poaching their applicants, Hua Changxi was somewhat annoyed but not overly angry.
She knew such things were unavoidable, and moreover, it was good for the development of the Sacred Lands that other Secret Realm Masters were also recruiting.
She just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, and that the people from the Spiritual Realm Pavilion hadn’t even informed her.
Hua Changxi looked at the Personnel Department staff and the Stewards, whose faces were turning green with anger, and asked with a smile: “What do you think should be done about this matter?”
Pharmacist Xu quickly replied: “We cannot let other Secret Realms snatch the registering cultivators.”
Hua Changxi shook her head: “That might be a bit difficult. I can’t fight against all the Secret Realm Masters by myself, and I can’t stop cultivators from outside the capital from choosing to join other Secret Realms.”
Yu Fu and the others felt that the matter was rather tricky.
Wan Feng hesitated for a moment before stepping forward: “Peak Master, I think other Secret Realms should compensate you.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi became interested: “How should they compensate?”
Wan Feng: “Not to mention the manpower and financial resources Hua Changxi expended in posting recruitment notices across various regions, even for cultivators entering the capital, Hua Changxi paid a large sum of Resources to the Imperial Court and also had to patrol East City.”
“If other Secret Realm Masters want to recruit apprentices, that’s fine, but they should share your expenses.”
Hua Changxi smiled, flipped her wrist, and handed the list of Resources provided to the Royal Family to Wan Feng, smiling at him: “I’ll leave this matter to you.”
Wan Feng was stunned for a moment, then quickly took the list: “Peak Master, rest assured, I will do my best to complete the task.”
