The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 369, Life First

The power struggle between the Duke of Liang and Hua Changxi has attracted much attention.

After the news of the Hua family joining the Xuanyuan Mansion spread, everyone understood that the Duke of Liang had lost, but they were still interested in how Hua Changxi would treat the Duke of Liang's mansion.

Many people were disappointed to learn that Hua Changxi had only forced the Duke of Liang to take the "Cocoon-Making Pill" and then stopped there.

Many people want the situation to become more chaotic so that they can profit from the chaos.

Unfortunately, Hua Changxi still wasn't impulsive enough.

In the forbidden area of ​​the palace, after learning about the Duke of Liang's ordeal, Chu Tianxun said angrily, "The Duke of Liang is a member of the royal family, and Hua Changxi really doesn't respect the royal family at all."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor glanced at the silent Emperor Emeritus and carefully spoke: "Uncle, you overestimate Hua Changxi. She is not a person of officialdom. Judging from the news that Junhao sent back, she is a stubborn person."

"When the Duke of Liang injured her, she retaliated against him. I think that in dealing with the Duke of Liang, she probably never considered that the royal family was involved."

Chu Tianxun was somewhat annoyed by the Emperor's rebuttal. Back outside the Xuanyuan Mansion, he had personally witnessed Hua Changxi's fearlessness towards the royal family.

If it were any other force, it would be one thing, as it would involve too many people. But Hua Changxi is just one person, and the Hua family is not a threat. Even with the Dingyuan Earl's Mansion, they are no match for the royal family.

People like this dare to provoke the royal family, and the royal family is unable to suppress them. Isn't this a way of telling the world that the royal family is declining?

However, although he was an elder, he could not directly refute the emperor, so Chu Tianxun could only express his dissatisfaction with silence.

The Emperor ignored Chu Tianxun and instead looked at the Retired Emperor: "Father, the matter of the Duke of Liang is a minor matter. What the royal family really needs to pay attention to is the matter of Nanxiang County and the Vermilion Bird Army dispatched by Lingguang Palace."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the royal elders present all changed.

The imperial family had begun planning for Nanxiang County long ago.

Shortly after the appearance of Lingguang Palace, the royal family learned that Nanxiang County was the site of Nanxiang City and that the area around Nanxiang City was full of blessed lands. In recent years, they have been sending cultivators to search for information about these blessed lands.

Unfortunately, the harvest was minimal.

In fact, the royal family is also paying close attention to not only the Southern Elephant City, but also the Eastern Elephant City, the Western Elephant City, and the Northern Elephant City. Unfortunately, only the Southern Elephant City has shown unusual signs, and among the other three Elephant Cities, only the Eastern Elephant City has recently shown any activity.

Seeing that no one spoke, the Emperor had no choice but to speak again: "Nanxiang County is still under the rule of the imperial court. Now the Vermilion Bird Army has begun to inspect Nanxiang County. We must make a statement on this."

If other forces wanted to interfere in the affairs of Nanxiang County, the royal family would not hesitate to drive them away. However, they are now facing the Vermilion Bird Army.

In controlling Nanxiang County, the Zhuque Army had a more legitimate claim than the imperial court. However, the imperial family was not without room for maneuver, but the degree of control had to be carefully managed.

The Emperor Emeritus spoke up: "Have you found out anything about the city lord's decree for Nanxiang City? Also, how many of the blessed lands around Nanxiang City have you found?"

The Emperor sighed: "There has been no news of the City Lord's Decree so far. As for the blessed lands, only three unusual places have been found, but none of them can be entered. Currently, we have only sent cultivators to occupy those three places."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor Emeritus's face immediately darkened: "Continue to send more people to search. The city lord of Nanxiang City must be a member of the Chu royal family."

There was a pause.

"Avoid open conflict with the Vermilion Bird Army's patrols, but keep them undercover."

The Emperor Emeritus looked at Chu Tianxun: "Brother Xun, you personally lead a group to find out the strength of the Vermilion Bird Army. I need to know just how powerful they really are."

Chu Tianxun nodded in agreement without saying a word.

The Emperor Emeritus gave a satisfied "hmm," then narrowed his eyes and said, "The Vermilion Bird Army is formidable. The royal family will temporarily retreat, but as long as we receive the order from the Lord of Nanxiang City, the Vermilion Bird Army will have to obey our orders. Lingguang Palace is merely a training ground for the Chu family."

The retired emperor was determined to obtain Nanxiang City—no, it should be Sixiang City.

Only by conquering any one of the Elephant Cities can the royal family truly establish a foothold amidst the resurgence of spiritual energy.

Even if they can no longer be the supreme ruler in the future, they will still be one of the top ten powers in the Central Continent, capable of influencing not only the situation in the Central Continent but also the entire Four Spirit Realms.

The more the Emperor Emeritus thought about it, the stronger his desire became: "You must spare no expense to obtain at least one City Lord's Token." The royal elders present immediately responded and made their promise.

The Emperor looked at the determined Retired Emperor and the group of fanatical relatives, feeling quite helpless.

The royal family has people and power, but with the revival of spiritual energy, many things depend on chance, and the royal family can no longer have everything go as smoothly as before.

The news of the Vermilion Bird Army taking over Nanxiang County immediately became the focus of all forces, sparking heated discussions and prompting many to send people to Nanxiang County to investigate.

The matter of the Duke of Liang was thus covered up and no one paid any more attention to it.

Hua Changxi arranged for the Hua family to stay in the Xuanyuan Mansion, resolved the 'grudge' with the Duke of Liang, and seeing that Danyuan Peak was operating well and she didn't need to worry about it much, she turned her attention to Nanxiang County.

During the day, she teleported to Lingguang Palace and traversed the skies above Nanxiang County to personally monitor the movements and actions of the Vermilion Bird Army; in the evening, she teleported back to Danyuan Peak to show her face and indicate that she was at Danyuan Peak.

After running back and forth between Danyuan Peak and Nanxiang County for five days, she finally received a message from the Hua family, informing her that they were ready to enter the Xuanyuan Mansion.

Upon receiving the message, Hua Changxi went directly to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.

Hua Dalang chose to stay in the Demon Suppression Army, Hua Sanlang stayed at Danyuan Peak, and Hua Liulang stayed at the Weapon Saint Palace. The three extra spots were given to members of the Hua clan with the approval of Old Master Hua.

Of these, two were reserved for the Earl's family, and the remaining spot was given to the ancestral home of a prominent clan.

Hua Changxi didn't bother with this, and simply gave the two copies of "One Thought to Power" to Yao Shi and Hua Minghe: "Father, Mother, these are for you."

Everyone in the Hua family looked over, and they were all a little envious.

Hua Minghe was still a little embarrassed, but Yao ignored the Hua family's gaze and, with a smile, under Hua Changxi's guidance, performed the blood oath to activate the bond, and then added Hua Changxi as a friend.

Hua Changxi smiled and said, "Father, Mother, you can use this to send me messages from now on."

Afterwards, Hua Changxi personally escorted the Hua family members to the outside of the Xuanyuan Mansion's barrier. She did not enter the mansion to pay her respects to the five Xuanyuan generals. Seeing that the Xuanyuan army had come out to greet the Hua family members, she bid them farewell and then left directly.

Grandpa Hua and the rest of the Hua family were somewhat disappointed by this. They all hoped that Hua Changxi could send them in, perhaps out of respect for her, they could receive more preferential treatment.

Unfortunately, Hua Changxi didn't consider them much.

When Hua Changxi returned from Xuanyuan Mansion to the bamboo house on Danyuan Peak, it was already dark. Ye Lingxuan and the others had already left, but Yu Fu and the other three were waiting outside the bamboo house.

They came to submit a summary report.

Hua Changxi glanced at the report, which was very detailed and clear. Considering that Nanxiang County was taking up a lot of her energy, she pondered for a while and then took out two one-patterned Xuanhuang Fruits and two two-patterned Xuanhuang Fruits.

Yu Fu and the other three did not recognize the Xuanhuang Fruit, but they still stopped breathing after smelling its enticing aroma.

"This is the Xuanhuang Fruit."

Hua Changxi looked at Yu Fu and the other three: "Jia Lu, Zhao Xi, your ancestral bloodlines are not as strong as Zhou Shou's and Yu Fu's. Take these two One-Pattern Xuanhuang Fruits and consume them. They can break the shackles of your physical bodies to the greatest extent possible."

"Zhou Shou, Yu Fu, take these two two-patterned Xuanhuang fruits and consume them."

Yu Fu and the other three received the Xuanhuang Fruit with trembling hands.

The Duke of Liang had been making a fuss for three years but had not been able to obtain the Xuanhuang Fruit from his master. They had done nothing and yet obtained it so easily.

Hua Changxi looked at the four of them and said, "You four are my capable assistants at Danyuan Peak. In the future, when I am not around, I hope you can help me guard Danyuan Peak."

Yu Fu and the other three immediately replied in unison, "Master, rest assured, we will live and die with Dan Yuan Peak."

Hua Changxi chuckled: "It's not that serious. If a life-threatening situation really occurs, I will allow you to prioritize your own lives, provided you don't betray Danyuan Peak."

Upon hearing this, Yu Fu and the other three were deeply moved, and their gazes toward Hua Changxi held a newfound reverence.

(End of this chapter)