Chapter 309: Volunteering
After Hua Changxi had Yu Fu announce the 《Qi Huang Body Refining Technique》, she no longer concerned herself with other matters. Instead, she returned to her bamboo house, preparing to process the corpses of three Nascent Soul Demonic Beasts.
After retrieving the three demonic beast corpses from the Sumeru Mustard Seed, Hua Changxi, who was hesitating on where to begin, suddenly remembered Hall Number Four Qihuang and Hall Number Five Qihuang.
Hall Number Four Qihuang taught the meridians’ pathways and constituent contents of humans, animals, and plants, involving dissection, acupuncture, anesthesia, massage, and other subjects.
Hall Number Five Qihuang taught the decomposition, extraction, and fusion of animals, plants, minerals, and other substances.
These were the perfect places to process the three demonic beast corpses. She could also bring some apprentices along to observe how to dissect demonic beast corpses and extract demonic beast blood.
“The Hall Master of Hall Number Four Qihuang is Master Zhang, who hails from Taisu Palace; the Hall Master of Hall Number Five Qihuang is the third young master from Prince Dong’an’s Estate.”
She hadn’t had any conflicts with either of them. If she paid a certain price, they should allow her to borrow the Qihuang Halls, right?
Thinking this, Hua Changxi directly sent a communication talisman to Yu Fu, asking him to come to the bamboo house to find her.
Watching the communication talisman fly away, Hua Changxi’s expression shifted as she recalled the Sound Transmission Technique she had overheard at the Star Gazing Tower.
If she knew the Sound Transmission Technique, then on Dan Yuan Peak, to see anyone she wanted, all it would take was a single sound transmission, which was both convenient and fast.
She had too little knowledge of cultivation. Techniques like the Sound Transmission Technique, which were not of very high rank, she didn’t even know.
Knowledge was also a part of strength. Her lack of knowledge sometimes brought her unexpected trouble and crises.
Although Tong Yao and the other two were not as strong as her in cultivation, they knew much more than she did and had more channels for obtaining information. At times, by possessing an information advantage, they could directly compensate for their shortcomings in cultivation.
“Ultimately, the circle of cultivators I’ve interacted with is too narrow.”
She had to find a way to broaden her circle.
In less than fifteen minutes, Yu Fu arrived at the bamboo house.
Hua Changxi looked surprised: “Why are you so fast this time?”
Yu Fu: “Master, I happened to have something to report to you.” As he spoke, he took out a stack of reservation orders for Body Tempering Medicinal Bath Spiritual Medicine Packs.
Hua Changxi took them and looked them over, also somewhat surprised: “Why are so many people pre-ordering?”
Yu Fu: “Indeed.” He paused, “Master, the Heavenly Department also placed an order. The person who came was your Eldest Brother, accompanied by Hall Master Huo. He is currently in the Personnel Department, being hosted by Steward Xu. Master, would you like to see him?”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: “Eldest Brother is visiting Dan Yuan Peak for the first time, so I should see him.” After saying this, she dropped the matter and turned to discuss borrowing the Qihuang Halls.
“Later, you will go to Hall Number Four Qihuang and Hall Number Five Qihuang. I wish to borrow these two Qihuang Halls tonight. Please ask them if they are willing.”
Although Yu Fu was surprised, he did not ask for the reason. After agreeing, and seeing that Hua Changxi had no further instructions, he left.
After he left, Hua Changxi sent a communication talisman, summoning Zhou Shou from the Mission Hall.
“Master, you sent for me.”
Hua Changxi handed him the reservation orders that Yu Fu had given her: “Select a group of apprentices who are familiar with spiritual medicines and are meticulous. They will be specifically responsible for preparing the Body Tempering Medicinal Bath Spiritual Medicine Packs.”
She paused, “How are Ye Lingxuan and Jiang Henian and the others at doing their work?”
Zhou Shou thought carefully: “They are quite diligent. The tasks they undertake are all completed well.”
Hua Changxi: “That person named Zhang He, since she is a Third-Rank Spiritual Plant Master, she should be very familiar with spiritual medicines. Assign her to prepare the Body Tempering Spiritual Medicine Packs, and have her monitor the quality.”
Zhou Shou agreed: “Yes.”
Since Hua Changxi knew that Ye Lingxuan and the others were successors of Dan Sheng Hall, although she disliked their intention to ‘reap the rewards without effort,’ she knew they would not harm Dan Yuan Peak and were capable. Therefore, she intended to make good use of them.
“Wang Yangeng will be assigned to planting spiritual medicines, and Xiao Xuan will be assigned to spiritual medicine preparation. During this time, they can guide other apprentices.”
“As for Ye Lingxuan and those alchemists, they will all be assigned to the Alchemy Room to refine Spirit Origin Pills and Bigu Pills.”
Zhou Shou: “Yes.”
Hua Changxi added: “The development of the first level of the Secret Realm is about to conclude. Next, we will prepare to develop the second level of the Secret Realm.”
“For the first level of the Secret Realm, even apprentices without a foundation in medical skills or pill dao could participate. However, the second level is different. Apprentices participating in the development of the second level of the Secret Realm must have a cultivation above the Qi Sea Realm and must have thoroughly studied the 《Spiritual Medicine Compendium of First Rank》 and the 《Spiritual Medicine Preparation Compendium of First Rank》.”
“Therefore, go and formulate an assessment plan. In two months, it will be the end of the year. Dan Yuan Peak will hold an assessment at the end of the year. All apprentices who wish to participate in the development of the second level of the Secret Realm must take the assessment and pass it.”
Zhou Shou diligently noted down Hua Changxi’s instructions: “Master, rest assured, I will start preparing as soon as I return.”
Hua Changxi: “Good, that’s all for today. You may go and attend to your duties.”
After Zhou Shou left, Hua Changxi also left the bamboo house. She did not immediately descend the mountain by cloud to the Personnel Department to see Hua Da Lang, but instead entered the Secret Realm and summoned Hua Sanlang.
“Third Brother, Eldest Brother is here. Do you want to see him?”
Hua Sanlang was quite pleased to hear that Hua Da Lang had arrived: “Of course, I want to see him. Eldest Brother is in the Demon Suppressing Army and is well-informed. I’ve been staying on Dan Yuan Peak and know nothing. With Eldest Brother here, he can tell me about things outside.”
Thus, Hua Changxi brought Hua Sanlang down the mountain.
Along the way, the siblings didn’t talk much, and the atmosphere was somewhat cold.
“Peak Master!”
As the siblings were nearing the Logistics Department, Chu Junhao suddenly appeared and called out to Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi looked at the Seventh Prince standing before her and asked with a smile, “What is it?”
Chu Junhao adopted a very humble posture: “Peak Master, I seek an audience this time because I wish to request an opportunity to learn alchemy.”
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow, remaining silent.
Seeing her lack of reaction, Chu Junhao continued: “I’ve learned that in November, a batch of apprentices will follow the Peak Master to Qihuang Hall to learn alchemy. I am not on the list, which is why I presumptuously waited here to seek an audience and request an opportunity from the Peak Master.”
Hua Changxi saw that he was quite honest and asked curiously, “Chu Junhao, you are a Prince. Honestly, I can’t understand why you would come to Dan Yuan Peak to be an apprentice?”
“If you want to learn medical skills or alchemy, there are surely many people willing to teach you. Why must you seek hardship for yourself?”
Chu Junhao had come to understand Hua Changxi’s personality quite well. Knowing that she disliked beating around the bush, he decided to abandon the usual maneuvering and games he played with others and speak his mind directly.
“Yes, I am a Prince. If I want to learn medical skills and alchemy, I don’t necessarily need to come to Dan Yuan Peak.”
“However, Dan Yuan Peak is not just a place to learn medical skills and pill dao. Becoming a disciple of Dan Yuan Peak also signifies gaining a status, the status of a disciple of Dan Sheng Hall.”
“I’m not afraid of the Peak Master laughing, but although the Royal Family does control vast resources, there are also many royal scions. I can obey arrangements, but these arrangements may not be what I desire. If I want to walk the path I wish to take, I must strive for it myself.”
“Joining Dan Yuan Peak is a struggle I am undertaking for myself.”
These words were quite moving. After hearing them, Hua Sanlang developed a certain change in his perception of Chu Junhao, this noble scion, and even showed a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
Hua Changxi, however, merely smiled faintly: “If you wish to gain the status of a disciple of Dan Sheng Hall, you can join Shenhe Peak or Qingyao Peak or Xuanhuang Peak as well?”
“Especially Qingyao Peak and Xuanhuang Peak. With your status, if you were to join these two peaks, you would certainly not be just an apprentice.”
Chu Junhao smiled: “But among the four peaks, only Dan Yuan Peak has received the recognition of the Divine Wood. Furthermore, Dan Yuan Peak is the most pure, and one can truly learn many things there.”
Although Chu Junhao’s answer was quite sincere, it was not enough to move Hua Changxi: “The list of apprentices who will learn alchemy in November has selection criteria. You are not on the list, which means you are unqualified in certain aspects.”
“There are more and more apprentices on Dan Yuan Peak. If everyone wanted to strive for opportunities for themselves, wouldn’t it be chaos?”
“If you truly wish to learn alchemy, then wait. I dare not guarantee anything else, but for those who genuinely want to learn alchemy and medicine, opportunities will definitely be given.”
After speaking, she prepared to descend the mountain.
Hua Sanlang felt that Chu Junhao had already put aside his princely dignity, yet he was still rejected by his own sister. His mood couldn’t help but fluctuate.
Jiu Niang was not only cold to her family but also to everyone else!
Chu Junhao, however, showed no change in expression. Knowing that sentimentality wouldn’t move Hua Changxi, he changed his approach: “Peak Master, I have some unique advantages compared to other apprentices.”
“If the Peak Master is willing to give me an opportunity, I am willing to ‘give you a peach, and repay you with jade.'”
These words made Hua Changxi stop in her tracks and turn to look at Chu Junhao: “Is that so?”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s interest, Chu Junhao smiled: “Of course. The Chu Dynasty has ruled Great Jin for nearly a thousand years, so there are still things we can present. Although I am just one of many princes, I am still a Prince.”
Hua Changxi thought of her own shortcomings in terms of limited information.
