[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-126":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},151812,261,"Chapter 126: Region Expands","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-126",126,"\u003Cp>Capital, Qintian Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just at the moment when Lingguang Palace appeared, spiritual light flashed on a white jade stone table on the top of Qintian Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Qi, the director of the Imperial Observatory, sensed the movement and immediately ran quickly to the top of the tower. Seeing the pattern on the stone table, his expression couldn't help but shake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the white jade stone table, a continent appeared, and on the southern side of the continent stood a magnificent red palace—Lingguang Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from Qintian Tower, a strange phenomenon also occurred at Guangyin Tower. The historical records of the Four Spirit Realms appeared again, spiritual light gathered, and a line of words was written on the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the seventh day of the sixth month in the year 4990 of the Qiling era, Lingguang Palace appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the southernmost part of Great Jin, deep in the vast South Sea, the mist dissipated, and a vast, boundless giant land slowly emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the land, red-rock mountains and giant mountains continuously spewing flames could be seen everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, outside Lingguang Palace, after the Demon-Suppressing Army left, Prince Fu was unwilling to let this relic fall into others' hands and wanted to send people into Lingguang Palace to investigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials of the Ministry of Justice wanted to show off in front of Prince Fu, so they dispatched the people from Six Doors Bureau to take the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the order, the people from Six Doors Bureau all had solemn expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Constable Xie Zhixun looked at his subordinates and whispered instructions, \"Be careful after going in, and don't mess with anything inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the unease of others, Hua Minghe, who was already a cultivator, was more excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Six Doors Bureau mostly dealt with matters concerning martial artists of the jianghu, but they had never participated in major events like exploring relics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, led by Xie Zhixun, the people of Six Doors Bureau crossed the gate tower and walked toward the majestic palace complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when they stepped onto the red-jade pavement, most of the Six Doors Bureau people jumped back and quickly turned around and returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, the ground inside is scalding hot. Walking on it feels like walking on red-hot iron plates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feet of several Six Doors Bureau people were scalded bloody and raw, making walking difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing this, Prince Fu frowned, was silent for a moment, and then sent the several cultivators behind him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the cultivators crossed the gate tower, they didn't go far before they also quickly turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prince, after crossing the gate tower, we are unable to use our spiritual power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for cultivators with a fire spiritual root, although the other cultivators weren't scalded through like the martial artists from Six Doors Bureau, the soles of their feet were also unbearably burned by the scorching heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems that only cultivators with a fire spiritual root can enter this Lingguang Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning this, Prince Fu looked at those present?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials exchanged glances and all sent out the cultivators with fire spiritual roots that they had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the dozen or so cultivators with fire spiritual roots crossed the gate tower, although they could not use spiritual power, the red-jade ground posed no harm to them. These people safely walked to the foot of the red-jade steps and climbed up the steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them successfully ascend the steps, Prince Fu and the officials looked a bit relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when those people reached the first palace and tried to open its door, a red light appeared and directly blasted them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dozen or so cultivators fell from the tens-of-meters-high steps and heavily crashed onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this scene, Prince Fu's face immediately darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor had already taken control of several relics, and he (Prince Fu) had some understanding of the ownership rules of relics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Lingguang Palace clearly already belonged to that black-robed person. Unless that black-robed person was willing to give up Lingguang Palace, the only way for others to have a chance to compete was to kill him, leaving Lingguang Palace without an owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Which faction sent that black-robed person?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dangerous light flickered in Prince Fu's eyes. Lingguang Palace was right in the capital's territory, coming to the imperial family's domain to slap their faces. It seemed that as spiritual energy revived, some people could no longer sit still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honored officials, my imperial brother is still waiting for our reply. You will follow me to the palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to explore Lingguang Palace, staying here was a waste of time, but the identity of the black-robed person had to be identified. Prince Fu left a squad of personal guards to watch the place, then led the officials present back to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Justice officials originally also wanted to leave the Six Doors Bureau people to guard here, but Xie Zhixun disagreed, saying many were injured and needed to go back to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Hua Minghe and the others were able to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother He, what kind of medicine did you apply to us? The effect is really good; the soles of my feet hardly hurt anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the capital, Xie Zhixun found an ox cart to carry those subordinates with severely injured feet. Although they weren't walking, they were still in unbearable pain until Hua Minghe applied medicine to them, and then they felt alive again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe smiled and said, \"This medicinal powder was concocted by our third son. If you find it good, I'll bring some for you later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun looked over, signaling Hua Minghe to hand him the medicine for a look. After examining it, he raised an eyebrow and said, \"Minghe, the medicine your third son made is a bit different from ordinary golden wound medicine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trusting his comrades-in-arms who had faced life and death together, especially Xie Zhixun who always looked out for him, Hua Minghe blurted out, \"The formula came from my ninth daughter... she stumbled upon it in a medical text by chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun glanced at him. \"That little girl who was captured two years ago by that demonic monk for a sacrifice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe nodded. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun chuckled. \"Your little daughter is brave and clever, knowing how to save herself. Of all the people taken by those demonic monks and priests, she's the only one I know who survived.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, Hua Minghe felt a lingering fear when recalling his daughter's kidnapping and blood sacrifice: \"My ninth girl's temperament—sometimes I think her boldness is a good thing, but other times I feel too much boldness isn't good either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If she were a boy, I'd absolutely be laughing in my dreams. But she's a young lady; being too bold truly makes me worry she won't find a husband.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun patted Hua Minghe's shoulder reassuringly. \"By the way, didn't you say earlier she entered the Service Hall of the Medical Department as a servant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe gave an \"Mm.\" \"I wanted her to come home, but she wasn't willing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun was surprised. \"You forbid her from the Medical Department, and she can disobey your orders as her father?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe smiled awkwardly, finding it hard to admit he couldn't control his daughter, so he covered up: \"She's a grown girl now; it's not good for me to interfere too much in her affairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun was a bit speechless. \"I think you're just too indulgent with her.\" He paused. \"Actually, it might be fine to let your little daughter stay in the Service Hall for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his voice, he continued, \"Right now, many nobles and officials in the court are trying to stuff their juniors into the Medical Department. I've heard the Seventh Prince also went there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those at the top never stir without benefit. They're all rushing into the Medical Department, so there must be some advantage inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since your daughter is already there, let her stay put and watch how those high-ups act. If she follows suit, she'll at least get a taste of the spoils.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe nodded after hearing this. \"I'll tell Jiu Niang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, someone started grumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's going on? Usually, it takes a little over an hour to reach the city gate. We've been walking so long today, why can't we even see the gate yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun and Hua Minghe's attention was drawn over, and at that moment, they too noticed something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun turned back to look at the still clearly visible, majestic Lingguang Hall, his expression shaken. \"Nanxiang County has grown larger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates were all shocked upon hearing this. \"How could Nanxiang County get bigger?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun shook his head. \"I don't know. But earlier, commoners had reported to the court that some mountains and rivers had expanded. Those matters were all suppressed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This world... is about to change!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun suddenly looked at Hua Minghe. \"Minghe, we're all brothers who've faced life and death together. If it's not too difficult, could you tell everyone how to become a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe stared at Xie Zhixun in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun pointed at all the subordinates. \"After passing through the gate tower, they were all injured. Only you and I were not. I escaped injury because of my shoes. What about you? What was your reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I observed those who passed the gate tower afterward—anyone who was a cultivator wasn't hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Xie Zhixun's keen power of observation, Hua Minghe didn't deny being discovered as a cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief, are you really a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few constables who worked under Hua Minghe, ignoring the pain in their feet, crowded around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you become a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did it happen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can we become cultivators too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, Hua Minghe raised a hand to stop them and turned to Xie Zhixun. \"Chief Constable, I didn't become a cultivator through my own efforts. I can't promise anything to everyone, but I can ask about it for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun smiled and patted Hua Minghe's shoulder. \"That's already more than enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning they too might become cultivators, the men of the Six Gates were invigorated, but soon they became dispirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For no other reason than that Nanxiang County's area had expanded several dozen times its original size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe and his party walked for three days and three nights before finally seeing the south city gate of the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, Nanxiang County doesn't even look like a county anymore—I'd say it's clearly a large prefecture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Zhixun and Hua Minghe had never expected Nanxiang County to have grown so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their subordinates' exhausted expressions, Xie Zhixun directly sent them home to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, a major battle was still raging at the Gen Gate of the Nine You Underworld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heaven Division had deployed half of its Demon-Suppression Army. After several days of fierce fighting, they had seized the Gen Gate Bridge, captured the Nether Dragon Pavilion, and taken Ox-Head Mountain. Just as Wei Zhenjie was about to attack White Bone Mountain, he was informed that it had already been taken by the Duke of Xin's Manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this news, Wei Zhenjie was so angry he wanted to hit someone. \"Why is the Duke of Xin's Manor everywhere?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi, standing off to the side, waited until Wei Zhenjie had vented his anger before speaking. \"The Duke of Xin's Manor reacted so quickly because Gu Jinfan tipped them off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Madame White Bone was directly trapped and killed by Gu Jinfan using the Kunlun Mirror.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Wei Zhenjie narrowed his eyes. \"That Gu Jinfan is quite a figure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi agreed with this assessment. Earlier, on Mount Kunlun, he had witnessed that young lady's boldness; if not for her charge, the Duke of Xin's Manor would never have returned fully laden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi looked at Wei Zhenjie. \"Master, this upheaval at Gen Gate—what exactly is the cause?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heaven Division had stationed people at all nine gates of the Nine You. As soon as Wei Zhenjie arrived at Gen Gate, he learned the full details of the incident. He sighed and said, \"The elder monk Longmei of the Xiangguo Temple is dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A while ago, I received word that Xiangguo Temple and the Celestial Masters' Residence wanted to send their disciples to train in the Nine You. Later, the Sanqing Palace and the Taisu Palace also got involved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder Longmei led the group—about twenty or thirty people—all direct disciples, coming to train in the Nine You. Ordinarily, it wouldn't have been dangerous, but they ended up entering the Soul-Reaping Forest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi's expression stiffened. \"Entering the Soul-Reaping Forest—they were trying to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie said calmly, \"The training was a pretext. Their real goal should have been to seize the Two-Emblem Talisman Brush.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi asked urgently, \"Did they get the Two-Emblem Talisman Brush?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie shook his head. \"I don't know. Elder Longmei and his group were captured and brought to Ox-Head Mountain, locked into the Soul-Devouring Well. They should have had their spiritual power drained by the Soul-Devouring Tree, but their fate wasn't sealed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A female cultivator who had drunk the Spiritual Seal Soup but could still use spiritual energy was also thrown into the Soul-Devouring Well. It was she who rescued them from that well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi: \"How did she do it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie narrowed his eyes. \"That female cultivator can condense the Vermilion Bird Flame of the Annihilated Primordial Spirit. Do you know why the Nether Dragon was severely wounded? It was injured by the Vermilion Bird Flame. We managed to capture the Nether Dragon Pavilion so easily because the ghosts in the Styx River at the Gen Gate section were all burned to death by the Vermilion Bird Flame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vermilion Bird Flame...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi thought of something and immediately told Wei Zhenjie about the Lingguang Hall being seized by a black-robed person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wei Zhenjie slammed his hand on the table. \"Lingguang Hall... When the Vermilion Bird Emperor walked among mortals, he called himself Lord Lingguang. Why didn't I think of that before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had thought of it earlier, he would never have considered taking over Lingguang Hall less urgent than coming to the Nine You. He absolutely would have led a team personally to take charge of Lingguang Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That black-robed person must be the female cultivator who fought the Nether Dragon. To gravely wound the Nether Dragon, her cultivation is certainly not merely at the Core Formation stage. A Nascent Soul stage expert, and the Heaven Division received no intelligence at all—where did she come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi looked at him. \"Master, I think I know who she is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie: \"Who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi: \"The Fire Lotus Immortal of Five Finger Mountain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie stroked his chin thoughtfully. \"Come to think of it, it really could be her. Have you found out her identity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi shook his head. \"Every time the Fire Lotus Immortal appears, she only summons the siblings An Ran and An Ze. Anyone who has seen her has sworn a heart demon oath—there's no way to uncover her background.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The mountain spirit and the Welcoming Pine of Five Finger Mountain should know, but we can't capture them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie: \"Continue monitoring Five Finger Mountain. We must find out the Fire Lotus Immortal's identity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Meng Ziyu and Ye Jingzhou arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister, Commander, look at this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of them carried a wooden tray filled with storage artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junyi stepped forward to examine them and frowned. \"The demons of Ox-Head Mountain have slaughtered so many of our human cultivators.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie said nothing, simply instructing Meng Ziyu and Ye Jingzhou to distribute the storage artifacts from the trays to the soldiers who had performed outstandingly in this campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the two left, Wei Zhenjie smiled at Chu Junyi. \"Come, let me take you to see the Soul-Devouring Well. Beneath Ox-Head Mountain lies a soul crystal mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that we've taken Ox-Head Mountain, I no longer have to worry about lacking cultivation resources when I advance to the Spirit Platform stage. Actually, we should thank that Fire Lotus Immortal. If she hadn't set the Styx River ablaze, it wouldn't have been so easy for us to break into Gen Gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2732,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","1817924186415f3f61135112ac26366095699b372786adb47789ab9d5725f3a3","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-127","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-125",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]