Chapter 97: Spreading the Dao
As the Heavenly Department Minister in charge of the Demon Suppressing Division, Medical Affairs Department, and Martial Arts Academy, Wei Zhenjie’s observations of the outside world were extremely meticulous. When he arrived at the plaza, the first thing he noticed was the gate of the Old Courtyard.
The courtyard gate, which had always been only slightly ajar, was now completely open.
“Who opened the courtyard gate?”
Wei Zhenjie looked at Gu Qiming beside him.
Gu Qiming was stunned. He both admired and revered the Heavenly Department Minister who had promoted him. While revering him, he also yearned for his approval.
He hadn’t paid any attention to how the Old Courtyard gate was opened.
Having entered and exited the Old Courtyard many times, he naturally knew that the courtyard gate had been immovable before. How it had been fully opened indicated a major problem.
A major oversight had occurred, and Gu Qiming instinctively wanted to conceal it. Thus, he lied, “Senior Gu opened it himself. He also said not to bother warning those who might have designs on the Old Courtyard.”
Wei Zhenjie kept his gaze on the Old Courtyard and didn’t notice Gu Qiming’s expression change. Upon hearing his words, he solemnly stepped into the Old Courtyard, saying, “Senior, I hope you are well.”
Gu Xing lay on the lounge chair with his eyes closed. Hearing the voice, he opened them and looked at the newcomer. “Ah, it’s young Wei. You’re here.” After saying this, he closed his eyes again.
Wei Zhenjie was accustomed to this.
Before being promoted to Heavenly Department Minister, he was the Department Head of the Medical Affairs Department. Back then, when he visited the Old Courtyard, Senior Gu was very warm towards him. But after he went to the Heavenly Department and visited again, Senior Gu stopped looking at him.
He could feel that Senior Gu was disappointed in him.
However, he hadn’t understood what Senior Gu was disappointed about before. But now, after seeing the fully opened gate of the Old Courtyard and the two lanterns lit on First Street, he seemed to understand a little.
Wei Zhenjie solemnly bowed to Gu Xing, saying, “This junior has failed to live up to Senior’s expectations.”
Gu Xing opened his eyes and watched him quietly for a moment. “It’s not a failure. I was too attached before. Everyone has their own destiny. You just need to not fail yourself.”
Wei Zhenjie’s expression moved, and he said, “Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”
Gu Xing looked at him. “The Demonic Beasts are becoming more rampant, aren’t they?”
Wei Zhenjie’s eyes flickered, and he smiled. “Even without leaving the courtyard, Senior knows everything under heaven.”
Gu Xing neither confirmed nor denied this, merely offering a piece of advice: “You have Alchemists under you, right? Arrange for them to go to First Street. The Demonic Beasts and Demonic Plants will become more powerful. Prepare more Pills, and fewer people will die.”
Wei Zhenjie had come to the Old Courtyard precisely to inquire about the lit lanterns on First Street. Seeing Gu Xing close his eyes again, appearing unwilling to say more, he felt helpless.
“I heard someone disturbed Senior yesterday. Please rest assured, Senior, such a thing will not happen again.”
Gu Xing waved his hand. “You don’t need to interfere. Whatever happens to this courtyard in the future, let it be.”
Wei Zhenjie probed, “Didn’t Senior say before that you would live in the courtyard for a lifetime? Why are you willing to hand it over to others now?”
Gu Xing opened his eyes again and looked at the courtyard entrance. “The Dan Sheng Hall has opened its doors, welcoming its master!”
Hearing this answer, Wei Zhenjie’s expression trembled.
Gu Xing looked at him. After all, he was a junior he had once placed great hope in. He offered guidance: “You don’t need to investigate further. I really have nothing to tell you. If I could truly intervene in anything, how would I have ended up in this state?”
“Young Wei, you’ve left the Medical Affairs Department. Your opportunities are no longer here.”
“Our Realm is reviving. Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, Ruin Secret Realms, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures will become more and more abundant. Go find your opportunities outside.”
Wei Zhenjie knew that Senior Gu had already said enough to him today. Seeing him close his eyes again, he felt too embarrassed to speak further. “Senior, I have troubled you again. Please take care.”
With that, he turned to leave the Old Courtyard. As he walked away, he glanced at the Wooden Tokens hanging on the wall.
He remembered that when he first entered the Old Courtyard, there were eighteen Wooden Tokens hanging on the wall. Now, only nine remained.
As he stepped over the threshold, Wei Zhenjie suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Gu Xing, and exclaimed in surprise, “Senior… your twilight aura seems to have faded a bit.”
Gu Xing’s eyelids twitched, but he did not respond.
Wei Zhenjie watched him silently for a moment, then left.
As soon as he came out, Gu Qiming immediately followed.
Wei Zhenjie looked at him. “How many medical academies are there on First Street?”
Gu Qiming replied, “Excluding the Medical Affairs Department Building, there are eighty medical academies.”
Wei Zhenjie thought for a moment and said, “Prepare twenty of them. I will arrange for people to come this afternoon.” He paused and looked at Gu Qiming.
“In the Kunlun Mountain Ruins, someone found some ancient texts that mention the Dan Sheng Hall. Coupled with the lighting of the Pill Fire on First Street, you need to be mentally prepared. Various forces will soon be targeting the Medical Affairs Department.”
“This time, the various factions won’t just make casual moves or install collateral branches. They will deploy their direct descendants.”
Gu Qiming’s expression became solemn. “Minister, how should I arrange things then?”
Wei Zhenjie looked at him. “As a Third Rank official, who can you arrange among the nobles of the Capital City? Let them fight amongst themselves. It will also serve to gauge the strength of each faction.”
Gu Qiming nodded, indicating he understood what to do.
Wei Zhenjie strode forward. “There’s one more thing. Hurry and find out who the nine people are that Senior Gu has given Wooden Tokens to.”
Gu Qiming quickly replied, “My two disciples and I each have one, which makes three. Minister, you also have one, and Master Zhang of the Celestial Master’s Mansion has one. Gu Jin Fan might also have one. This leaves three Wooden Tokens whose ownership is still unknown.”
Wei Zhenjie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Gu Jin Fan, the Young Woman from the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion?”
Gu Qiming nodded. “Yes, it’s the Seventh Young Woman of the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion. Does Minister also know her?”
Wei Zhenjie said, “Keep a close eye on her. In the Kunlun Mountain Ruins, Gu Jin Fan found many good things for the Gu Family. I want to know if this Young Woman is just lucky or if she harbors other secrets.”
Gu Qiming had long felt that Gu Jin Fan was unusual and quickly agreed.
As they spoke, they quickly crossed the plaza.
Among the onlookers, Hua Changxi watched the two of them, her eyes flickering. The Heavenly Department Minister and the Medical Affairs Department Head had no Spiritual Energy fluctuations on them. Were these two not Cultivators?
This was clearly impossible.
Perhaps, like her, they were either cultivating a breath-concealing technique or possessed a rare treasure.
She wondered how high their Cultivation levels were.
The arrival of the Heavenly Department Minister caused a stir throughout the Medical Affairs Department. After watching the commotion, Hua Changxi went to Number Nine Qihuang Hall.
Holding the Wooden Token, Hua Changxi carefully searched every corner of the courtyard again. Unfortunately, she still found nothing unusual, and the Wooden Token showed no reaction.
Not expecting to uncover the secret of Qihuang Hall in one go, Hua Changxi put away the Wooden Token and was about to start Alchemy when Yu Hui, sweating profusely, rushed in.
“Sister Changxi, you’re indeed here.”
Hua Changxi looked at his flustered appearance and asked, “Did something happen?”
Yu Hui walked to her side and asked urgently in a hushed voice, “Sister Changxi, can you treat Cultivators?”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. “Do you know Cultivators?”
Yu Hui shook his head. “It’s not me, it’s my Godfather.” Seeing that Hua Changxi didn’t deny it, he continued, “Didn’t you say before that you wanted to teach at Qihuang Hall? If you can save my Godfather’s person, the other two Qihuang Halls he holds will be yours to use.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally reacted. “Have your Godfather send the person here. I’ll see if I can treat them first.”
With that, Yu Hui immediately rushed out of the courtyard. Soon, he returned carrying a middle-aged Eunuch in great pain, accompanied by Eunuch Yu.
Entering the room, Yu Hui gently placed the Eunuch down. As soon as the Eunuch stood on the ground, he clutched his abdomen, his features contorted in pain, yet he didn’t utter a sound.
Eunuch Yu looked anxiously at Hua Changxi. “Hua Changxi, please take a look at Eunuch Xuan. If he is cured, there will be a generous reward.”
Hua Changxi gestured for Yu Hui to help the man sit on a chair. Observing the Eunuch’s pained expression, she took his pulse and asked a few questions. Upon learning that he had consumed an unknown Pill, she took out a Detoxification Pill for him.
Eunuch Xuan’s face fell with disappointment upon hearing it was a Detoxification Pill.
Eunuch Yu quickly added, “Eunuch Xuan has already taken a Detoxification Pill, and it was useless.”
『Diagnostic Technique （Beginner ）: Diagnosis 3/10』
Hua Changxi calmly observed the text that appeared in her vision. “The Detoxification Pill he took was for physical poisons, so naturally, it was useless. My Detoxification Pill is different.”
Eunuch Xuan listened, then looked at Eunuch Yu. Seeing Eunuch Yu nod at him, he took the Pill with a ‘might as well try’ attitude.
Not long after taking the Pill, Eunuch Xuan began to sweat. The man who had remained silent until now started to let out pained roars from his throat. He collapsed to the ground as if drained, his body hunched like a cooked shrimp.
Seeing this, Yu Hui and Eunuch Yu’s expressions changed drastically.
Hua Changxi said, “Don’t worry, this is the process of detoxification.”
Eunuch Xuan lay on the ground for a full quarter of an hour, his sweat soaking the floor. His contorted face slowly relaxed. A few minutes later, he regained some strength and sat up on his own.
Seeing this, Yu Hui and Eunuch Yu quickly went to help him up.
After sitting on the chair and recovering for a while, Eunuch Xuan looked at Hua Changxi and said gratefully, “Thank you, Young Woman, for saving my life.”
Hua Changxi smiled. “You are a friend of Eunuch Yu, and Eunuch Yu asked for my help, so I naturally did my best to assist you.”
Seeing Hua Changxi give him face, Eunuch Yu also looked at her gratefully.
Eunuch Xuan smiled at Eunuch Yu. Although he said nothing, Eunuch Yu’s eyebrows rose with joy.
“Young Woman Hua, I also took a Detoxification Pill before, but it was completely useless. Why was your Detoxification Pill able to cure the poison in me?”
Hua Changxi looked at him. “The Detoxification Pill you took before, if I’m not mistaken, was for physical poisons. However, the poison you have doesn’t harm your body; it’s corroding your Dantian Qi Sea.”
“Fortunately, you came quickly. The poisonous energy hasn’t overflowed from your Dantian and flowed into your Spiritual Meridian. Otherwise, your Spiritual Meridian might have been corroded. Spiritual Meridians are very fragile. Once corroded, even if you are eventually treated, your cultivation aptitude will be greatly reduced.”
Eunuch Xuan listened with a look of lingering fear.
Yu Hui asked curiously, “Are there poisons that don’t harm the body?”
Hua Changxi smiled. “Eunuch is a Cultivator. The poison he contracted was specifically targeting his Dantian Qi Sea and Spiritual Meridian. If not treated promptly, his path of cultivation would be directly cut off.”
“For a Cultivator, being unable to cultivate might be more unbearable than death.”
Yu Hui was speechless. “The methods of Cultivators are so terrifying. Sister Changxi, how did you realize Eunuch Xuan’s Dantian Qi Sea was poisoned?”
Hua Changxi smiled and explained to Yu Hui the diagnostic process of the Four Diagnostic Methods she had just performed on Eunuch Xuan. During this, she suddenly noticed patterns appearing on the previously bare stone wall in the room, and a white light flashed across her waist.
Yu Hui exclaimed in surprise, “Sister Changxi, you’re glowing!”
Hua Changxi didn’t respond to Yu Hui, merely smiled at the three people present.
Eunuch Xuan was a Cultivator and knew that Cultivators had many methods. His eyes flickered as he glanced at Hua Changxi. He stood up and said, “I am the Chief of Punishments of the Eastern Depot. If Young Woman Hua ever needs my help, I will certainly assist you.”
Hua Changxi hadn’t expected Eunuch Xuan to be from the Eastern Depot, which explained why Eunuch Yu was so anxious about him. She smiled and stood up, saying, “Then I thank you in advance for your care, Eunuch.”
Eunuch Xuan exchanged pleasantries with Hua Changxi for a while longer, then left with Eunuch Yu.
Only Hua Changxi and Yu Hui remained in the courtyard.
Yu Hui knew he had said something he shouldn’t have and looked a bit awkward.
Hua Changxi smiled. “Brother Yu, you seemed quite interested in Cultivator poisoning just now. Shall I tell you more?”
Yu Hui’s expression brightened. “Will it take up too much of your time?”
Hua Changxi replied, “I’m not busy anyway. Come, I’ll explain it to you in detail.”
Over the next hour, Hua Changxi discovered that explaining toxicity to Yu Hui elicited no reaction from the Wooden Token. However, when she explained the diagnostic procedures of the Four Diagnostic Methods, not only did the Wooden Token light up again, but she also saw a complete set of images appear on the stone wall on the north side of the room.
“Brother Yu, I suddenly remembered I have some things to do. I’ll tell you about other things next time.”
“Oh, alright. Then I’ll be going.”
After Yu Hui left, Hua Changxi immediately took out the Wooden Token. Seeing that it hadn’t changed, she quickly walked to the stone wall.
At this moment, the images were no longer visible on the stone wall.
Hua Changxi, unwilling to give up, reached out to the wall, trying to feel and explore. To her surprise, as soon as her hand touched the stone wall, the images reappeared.
This image was very simple, depicting people.
A person sitting cross-legged on a Cushion was in the center. To his left, right, and directly opposite, were densely packed people sitting cross-legged.
That was the entire picture.
Hua Changxi looked closely. “This feels like a lecture, doesn’t it?”
“Could Qihuang Hall be a place for lectures?”
Lecturing
Hua Changxi looked at the image, where everyone was sitting cross-legged. “These people should all be Cultivators.”
Mortals attend lectures, but Cultivators…
“Spreading the Dao?!”
“Qihuang Hall is a place for Spreading the Dao?!”
Hua Changxi felt as if she had discovered the secret of Qihuang Hall. However, she wasn’t entirely sure and needed further verification.
To test her theory, Hua Changxi went directly to the Sixth Bureau and summoned Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yun Chu, and about ten other people to Qihuang Hall, and then began to lecture them on the diagnostic procedures of the Four Diagnostic Methods.
During this time, four more patterns appeared on the stone wall, and the Wooden Token she had placed in the corner of the roof lit up four times.
