Chapter 192: Strength Above All

Hua Changxi had truly not expected that the other end of the Artifact Saint Palace's teleportation array would be the Southern City office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The shock on her face was too obvious; Tong Yao saw it and cleared his throat: "With the Fusang Divine Tree appearing, all major powers are watching the Artifact Refining Workshop. I could only bring you, Daoist friend, through this passage."

Hua Changxi's heart stirred upon hearing this: "Did you set up many teleportation arrays?"

Tong Yao nodded: "Of course—even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. The Five Holy Lands, every faction wants a piece, and the imperial investigations are pervasive; we naturally have to be extremely cautious."

The exit of the teleportation array was located in an abandoned yard behind the Embroidered Uniform Guard office. Tong Yao spoke while leading Hua Changxi over a wall into a dark alley, and after crossing the alley, the two reached a bustling street.

Hua Changxi didn't ask much about the Embroidered Uniform Guard matters, her mind occupied with thoughts of the teleportation array.

She had long wanted to set up a teleportation array but had kept putting it off due to her lack of technical knowledge. Now that she had finally found someone to talk to, she naturally wanted to probe further.

"Daoist Tong, besides artifact refining, do you also know array formations?"

Tong Yao shook his head: "Setting up arrays is a very meticulous task. I spend my days delving into artifact refining and have no time to study formations." He paused, looking at Hua Changxi, "Daoist Hua, do you want to set up a teleportation array?"

Hua Changxi nodded in admission: "Yes."

Tong Yao: "I can't set up arrays, and the Artifact Saint Palace disciples specialize in artifact refining. However, I can introduce someone skilled in formations to you, Daoist Hua."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Then I'll thank you in advance, Daoist Tong."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard office was not far from the Artifact Refining Workshop. Not long after they walked, they saw the cordoned-off street ahead. Behind that street was the Artifact Refining Workshop, the hottest topic of discussion lately.

Seeing the workshop surrounded by imperial troops, Tong Yao's expression turned grim, and Hua Changxi furrowed her brows as well.

Nothing else—she saw her father and her eldest brother.

Hua Dalang was now a member of the Demon-Suppressing Army; his presence outside the workshop was understandable. But her father, Hua Minghe, was just a constable of the Six Doors Bureau—why was he also guarding the street?

Hua Changxi shifted her attention from her father and brother, scanning the other forces surrounding the street. Soon, her eyes flickered: "The imperial court indeed has deep reserves—most of the cultivators sent to cordon off the area are at the Qi Sea realm."

The Demon-Suppressing Army handled all matters related to spiritual energy recovery, had abundant cultivation resources, and naturally possessed great strength. But among the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, Qi Sea realm cultivators also made up seventy to eighty percent, and there were even over a dozen Core Formation cultivators.

Tong Yao's expression was somewhat complicated: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot weren't this strong before. A little over a month ago, when the Fusang Divine Tree appeared and spiritual energy surged, many fire-attributed cultivators near the workshop took the opportunity to break through."

Hua Changxi hadn't expected this reason: "So the imperial court will be even more determined to seize the Five Holy Lands."

Tong Yao nodded: "Not just the imperial court—other powerful noble families won't let go either." He said with resignation, "With so many eyes watching, the Artifact Saint Palace disciples have no choice but to be extra cautious in their daily lives and try hard to stay hidden."

Hua Changxi didn't quite agree with this approach: "But hiding all the time isn't good for the Holy Land's development either, is it?"

Tong Yao smiled bitterly: "There's no other way. The imperial court and some cultivation families have too deep a foundation. If the Artifact Saint Palace dares to show itself, these forces will definitely meddle. Then who really calls the shots at the Artifact Saint Palace—who can say?"

"Aren't you, Daoist Hua, from the Medical Herbs Bureau? Now the bureau is under imperial control, and the vast majority of alchemists have chosen to side with the imperial court and noble families. Even if the successor of the Alchemy Saint Hall appears someday, how many do you think will listen to him?"

Hua Changxi instinctively retorted: "The Medical Herbs Bureau is the Medical Herbs Bureau. The Alchemy Saint Hall is the Alchemy Saint Hall."

Tong Yao glanced at her: "The Alchemy Saint Hall has the duty of guarding the array core and also teaching medicine and alchemy—both need people. With people controlled by the imperial court, even if the successor has impeccable legitimacy, they'll still be rendered powerless."

This remark made Hua Changxi think again of the collaboration with You Lao and the others in the Three Fork Medicine Valley to develop the fire-attribute ore mine.

Even the fire-attribute ore mine she had voluntarily given up, euphemistically saying it was for Hua Liulang to practice on—unless she went on a killing spree, she couldn't change the fact that she had no leverage over You Lao and his three companions.

She was indeed being sidelined!

"You make a good point."

Tong Yao sighed: "Senior Brother often says managing people is the hardest. Power struggles and resource allocation are severe tests of one's ability."

Hua Changxi's shortcomings in this area were obvious, and she was also unwilling to deal with such matters, so she nodded vigorously in agreement: "You're absolutely right. Managing people is so troublesome. It's better to focus on cultivation and improving one's skills."

Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi: "But if you don't hold power, you'll always be constrained by others. In the end, people can't live in isolation."

Hua Changxi didn't agree with this: "If I'm invincible, who can do anything to me?"

Hearing this, Tong Yao was taken aback, suddenly realizing that this female cultivator, whose strength far surpassed his own, seemed... perhaps a little too... pure?

Seeing Tong Yao's strange expression, Hua Changxi asked: "What, am I wrong?"

Tong Yao shook his head: "Not wrong. I just think... you, Daoist Hua, don't seem like someone who advocates violence."

Hua Changxi: "Of course I'm not."

Tong Yao looked puzzled: "Then why do you think violence can solve everything?"

Hua Changxi paused for a moment, then said: "I didn't say violence can solve everything. I meant that if my strength is great enough, no one can harm me, and no one can stop me from doing what I want to do."

Tong Yao: "That's exactly the mindset of putting strength above all else."

Hua Changxi retorted: "What's wrong with putting strength above all else?"

Tong Yao was silent for a long moment: "It's not wrong. I mean, Fellow Daoist Hua, is there no one you care about? If someone you care about obstructs you from doing something, what would you do?"

Hua Changxi was stumped, and only spoke after a long while: "The people I care about must care about me. If they care about me, how could they obstruct me from doing what I want? Fellow Daoist Tong, your words truly make no sense."

Seeing that she had turned his words back on him, Tong Yao was momentarily speechless: "...People are different; there will definitely be disagreements." He paused, "Actually, I used to think similarly to Fellow Daoist Hua, but later I experienced some things and realized that pursuing absolute strength above all else is a kind of torture on oneself. In doing so, you can neither find yourself nor see others."

Hua Changxi did not agree with this at all: "That is your feeling, Fellow Daoist. In the pursuit of strength, I feel a great sense of accomplishment."

After all, they had only met once, so Tong Yao felt it inappropriate to speak too deeply with a stranger. He coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject: "Are you familiar with the capital, Fellow Daoist Hua? Do you have a place to stay?"

Hua Changxi did not dwell on the previous topic either: "Mm."

Tong Yao handed over a communication talisman: "I need to go back and watch over Xiayang and Xiaxue. If anything comes up in the future, Fellow Daoist Hua, use this communication talisman to contact me. As for setting up the formation and lighting the white jade lotus petals, I'll contact my friends once I return. As soon as they reply, I'll inform you immediately, Fellow Daoist."

Hua Changxi nodded and thanked him: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Tong."

Watching Tong Yao disappear into the crowd, Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and thought about their conversation. She shook her head with a wry smile: "People really are so different. To think someone would consider pursuing strength above all else to be wrong?"