The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 250, The Driving Force of the Times (19)

Xia Zhen wasn't the only one who both loved and hated Hua Changxi; other forces also harbored similar feelings.

After the Xia family, a guardian clan, appeared in the Department of Medicine, their ambition to seize the top position in the Pill Saint Hall became blatantly obvious.

Given the disparity in strength, the various factions that had been laying their groundwork in the pharmaceutical sector for many years had no choice but to compromise. However, this did not mean that they would willingly relinquish their interests, especially since the Xia family was about to take the largest slice of the pie upon their arrival.

The Xia family's intention in promoting Meng Qingyao was quite clear: they wanted to mold her into a leader who would drive the revival of the Dan Sheng Temple.

Meng Qingyao's displayed talent in alchemy, along with the resources she could control, was indeed enough to attract a large number of followers.

In this regard, no one can really find a suitable person to compete with her.

Thankfully, there's Hua Changxi!
Although Hua Changxi is inferior to Meng Qingyao in every aspect, he seems to be a natural counter to Meng Qingyao. Every time the Xia family tries to build momentum for Meng Qingyao, Hua Changxi seems to steal the spotlight.

This was the case when the sacred tree bestowed the secret realm, and it was also the case when the masters of the Qihuang Hall took turns teaching.

Everyone was happy that Hua Changxi could outmaneuver Meng Qingyao, but they weren't particularly optimistic about Hua Changxi himself.

There's no other reason than that this person is too unconventional, seemingly not understanding what 'cooperation' is, and too lazy to even rely on his own family, which is truly speechless.

For these aristocratic families, those who go it alone cannot go far.

However, it was Hua Changxi who caused the appearance of the Altar of Pills, and now seeing the Prince of Shou being forced to kneel under the Altar of Pills, Hua Changxi's importance in their hearts has increased.

Let's wait and see. We're only in the initial stage of the spiritual energy revival right now; everything is just beginning.
The power that had been suppressing Prince Shou was only removed when the sun was shining brightly.

When the onlookers saw that Prince Fu was leading Prince Shou toward Ninth Street, they quickly retreated.

Currently, the largest faction in the Department of Medicine is the powerful and wealthy faction led by the royal family, and the protectorate faction led by the Xia family.

Although the powerful and privileged faction is not as united as the righteous faction and is riddled with internal divisions, they can still act in unison and stand together against external forces when it comes to matters involving the struggle for interests.

The emergence of the Altar of Elixir has revealed a touch of the sacred land to the Department of Medicine, and has also inspired the powerful faction to fight for control of the sacred land.

Currently, the most important resource for the Pharmaceutical Department is the Divine Tree Secret Realm.

Hearing that Hua Changxi was going to open the secret realm, the powerful and wealthy faction gathered at the No. 3 Qihuang Hall, which was now under the control of the Heavenly Department.

These three high-grade secret realms are being watched closely by all sides.

The high-grade secret realms in Meng Qingyao's possession are controlled by the Xia and Meng families, making it difficult for others to get any benefits.

Gu Xing had the same problem. That old guy only allowed alchemists to enter, but alchemists weren't as common as cabbages, and there weren't many of them in the hands of any party, so it was impossible to obtain a large amount of resources from the secret realm.

Now, only the one in Hua Changxi's hand remains.

As the leading family in the capital, Tang Yufeng broke the silence with a smile when he saw that everyone was silent: "The high-grade secret realm that Master Hua holds is finally going to open. We should give it our full support."

Wen Lanzhou, the eldest disciple of the Sanqing Palace, was the first to respond: "Of course."

Because of the appearance of the guardian families, neither the Tang family nor the Sanqing Palace were able to retain their positions as heads of the Qihuang Hall, which was a considerable loss for them.

Other secret realm masters all have powerful family backgrounds and extensive connections, making it difficult for outsiders to interfere with the secret realms they control.

Hua Changxi, with his humble origins, limited vision and perspective, and lack of ability to utilize his resources, was the perfect target for them to exploit.

Gu Jinfan glanced at Huo Yunxiao: "I heard that when Master Huo went to collaborate with Master Hua, she refused?"

Huo Yunxiao remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingying recalled that she herself only learned what the master of the Divine Tree Secret Realm represented after her master's explanation, and couldn't help but say, "She probably doesn't know what the secret realm she possesses represents, does she?"

After the spiritual energy revival, what is most important?

Identity, family background?
No, those are all things of the past. The most important thing is to have enough cultivation resources. And the Divine Tree Secret Realm is undoubtedly a rich and high-quality resource, and a resource that is inexhaustible and ever-renewing.

Even a low-grade divine tree secret realm contains enough cultivation resources to control countless people for one's own use.

Clearly, Hua Changxi seemed completely unaware of this.

Gu Jinfan shook his head: "She thinks that by rejecting Master Huo's proposal for cooperation, she can stop all parties from planting people into the secret realm? That's wishful thinking."

Gu Jinfan had very complicated feelings about Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi is a variable, because her existence has caused many major events in the Four Spirit Realms to take different paths than in her previous life. However, sometimes her way of dealing with people is really hard to describe.

In her past life, there were several cultivation geniuses like her who were reckless and did whatever they wanted, but without exception, they all perished early.

How far can Hua Changxi go?
After listening to Gu Jinfan's words and glancing at the calculating glint in the eyes of everyone present, Mu Qingying sighed silently.

She could imagine that most of the apprentices Hua Changxi would recruit afterward would be people planted by various parties.

Hua Changxi had no idea how powerful the royal family and aristocratic families were. If they didn't want her to recruit people, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to recruit a single person.

On the side of the Protectorate, Meng Qingyao and others also gathered together to discuss Hua Changxi's opening of the secret realm to recruit apprentices.

Dongfang Xu: "Judging from Hua Changxi's words, it seems that anyone can sign up to participate?"

Meng Yuchuan scoffed: "Hua Changxi may want to restrict her, but does she have the ability?"

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Since anyone can go, we can also send people into Hua Changxi's secret realm."

Meng Qingyao frowned and remained silent. She didn't think Hua Changxi would be foolish enough to let anyone into her secret realm so easily.

Seeing that many people were eager to try, Dongfang Hao couldn't help but say, "Hua Changxi's conditions for recruiting apprentices have not yet been announced, and everything is still unknown."

There was a pause.

"I think things may not turn out the way you expect."

Meng Yuchuan looked unconvinced: "Brother Hao, you think too highly of Hua Changxi. She has no background and no one to rely on, so she can't stop various parties from planting people into the secret realm."

"If others can plant their own, then of course we can too."

"There are so many spiritual herbs and fruits in the secret realm. Rather than letting them benefit the royal family, we might as well keep them."

Dongfang Xu also felt that Hua Changxi could not stop people with ulterior motives from entering the secret realm, and said with a smile: "I have been to Qingyao's and Senior Gu's seventh-grade secret realms. I also want to go and see Hua Changxi's high-grade secret realm."

"When the Dan Yuan Secret Realm starts recruiting apprentices, I'll sign up too."

Jiang Nianyi and the others also showed similar smiles.

Just as everyone was sharpening their knives, eager to take a bite out of Hua Changxi, Hua Changxi was admiring the oath monument that Tong Yao had helped her forge at the Weapon Saint Palace.

Jing also arrived, holding the Two Elements Talisman Brush, a divine artifact from the Talisman Saint Pavilion, and laboriously sketched out a 'True' character.

Once the character for 'true' was formed, it disappeared into the oath monument.

Seeing that the runes had completely merged with the oath monument, he wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and smiled at Hua Changxi.

"Due to my limited cultivation level, the runes I inscribed are not very powerful. However, as long as someone is at or below the Nascent Soul stage, if their heart is not sincere, the oath monument will attract heavenly lightning."

Hua Changxi thanked him sincerely, then smiled and said, "It's enough to influence cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage for now. When Master Jingle's cultivation improves in the future, I'm afraid I'll still need your help."

Jing laughed and said, "No problem, no problem."

(End of this chapter)