[{"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-206":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},151892,261,"Chapter 206: Clash","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-206",206,"\u003Cp>Apart from the two main seats, the conference hall only had two rows of thirty-six tables and chairs. The Guardian family had brought forty to fifty people, plus the eighteen hall masters and the various officials of the Medical Bureau, so there were definitely not enough seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Prince Shou led the white-haired old man into the conference hall, he had him sit in the main guest seat on the right. After everyone was seated, he took the main seat on the left, while Director Gu sat in the side seat below Prince Shou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the others took their seats one by one, directly splitting into two camps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people brought by the Guardian family sat on the chairs on the right, and the people from the Medical Bureau sat on the chairs on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the number of chairs was insufficient, there was no scene of fighting over chairs; everyone tacitly chose to either sit or stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Medical Bureau's side, Chu Junhao did not sit down but chose to stand behind Prince Shou; Xie An, Mu Qingying, and Yuan Tianchou also did not sit but stood behind Director Gu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other hall masters very modestly gave up their seats to the various officials. In the end, only the hall masters representing the four princely houses of East, South, West, and North (the non-imperial surname princely houses), and Huo Yunxiao representing the Heaven Division, sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those without seats, they could only stand behind the chairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Guardian family's side, it was the same. Many young cultivators chose to stand behind the middle-aged cultivators, and only a few young cultivators sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After both sides had taken their seats, even though nothing had been said yet, a stance of confrontation unfolded in the exchange of glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those seated on the Medical Bureau's side, Hua Changxi had spoken with Huo Yunxiao, who was sitting at the very back, so she directly stood behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi watched the two groups engaged in a silent confrontation, saw Prince Shou and the white-haired old man on the main seats far away, laughing and talking as if no one else were around, as if they had already forgotten the others in the room. She lightly patted Huo Yunxiao's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao was engaged in a contest of stares with the male cultivator opposite him. Hua Changxi's \"surprise attack\" directly interrupted his brewing momentum, and he turned back somewhat irritably. But when he saw it was Hua Changxi, and remembering her alchemy skills, he forced a smile: \"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"I should be asking you. What are you doing? Comparing who has bigger eyes? So childish?\" In her view, being direct and stating matters was much more efficient than all this roundabout nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao was a bit speechless: \"What do you know? This is a silent contest.\" Knowing that Hua Changxi came from a humble background and didn't understand many things, seeing the impatience in her eyes, he explained in a low voice, \"You should learn from this. When two unfamiliar groups meet, they always first feel out the other's foundation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, thoughtful: \"Like this silent contest you're doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao: \"When two come face to face, the brave wins. Don't underestimate this silent contest. Yes, it doesn't show the other's true strength, but it can show a bit of a person's mental fortitude.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If one's mental fortitude is not strong enough, even if their strength is great, they are nothing but a paper tiger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Prince and that white-haired senior deliberately left us hanging, giving us a chance to probe each other, wanting to see who would lose composure first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Huo Yunxiao sized up Hua Changxi: \"Obviously, you are the most impatient and can't stand this silent contest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi opened her mouth to retort, but after a pause, she swallowed back the rebuttal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao knew she was unconvinced and said with amusement: \"Don't be unconvinced. In a silent contest, whoever speaks first loses. Do you know why? Their mind is unsettled, revealing fear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi wanted to roll her eyes, but she held back. She indeed knew very little about this kind of roundabout social games. Even if she disdained using them, she should at least know and understand them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou and the white-haired old man, sitting on the main seats, seemed to be engrossed in small talk and laughter, but in fact, both were closely observing each other's people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was engaged in a contest of stares, only Hua Changxi and Huo Yunxiao were whispering. The two undoubtedly drew the attention of the white-haired old man and Prince Shou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man smiled: \"The people of the imperial court truly are bold and courageous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou gave an embarrassed smile: \"We've been discourteous; you must excuse our rudeness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man smiled and no longer looked at Hua Changxi and Huo Yunxiao: \"The people I have brought this time are all rising stars with considerable alchemy talent. I believe that with their addition, the Saint Alchemy Hall will surely be able to reappear in the world soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the smile on Prince Shou's face almost couldn't be maintained, and Chu Junhao, standing behind him, changed color directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others in the Medical Bureau also heard it, and everyone's expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi murmured: \"So they really did come to take over the turf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Huo Yunxiao's brows immediately furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guardian family has come to the Medical Bureau. I wonder if Master has received the news yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou forcibly suppressed his dissatisfaction. The Guardian family's foundation was unfathomable, not something the imperial family could confront directly. He could only force a stiff smile: \"Senior's Xia family are the guardians of the Central Continent. This prince trusts the judgment of the guardians.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the group of young men and women he had brought, and said to a male cultivator standing at the very front: \"Ziyang, lead everyone forward to pay respects to the Prince and the colleagues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his words fell, the group of young men and women stepped forward one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xia Ziyang pays respects to the Prince.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ziyang first bowed deeply to Prince Shou at a ninety-degree angle, then cupped his hands in a peer-to-peer salute to the others on the Medical Bureau's side: \"Greetings to all. Please guide me in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at this person and once again used the Observation, Auscultation, Inquiry, and Pulse-Taking Technique. As long as she didn't look at the white-haired old man, she wouldn't be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood spirit physique, cultivation at the late Core Formation stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xia Ziyang, a dozen or so men and women came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bai Zhixin pays respects to the Prince and greets all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wu Lingyue pays respects to the Prince and greets all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhu Jinglan pays respects to the Prince and greets all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long Chenyi and Long Jin pay respects to the Prince and greet all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dongfang Hao and Dongfang Xu pay respects to the Prince and greet all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiang Nianyi pays respects to the Prince and greets all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of these people wore treasures that concealed their cultivation levels. Hua Changxi, through her Observation, Auscultation, Inquiry, and Pulse-Taking Technique, could see that they were all Wood Spirit Bodies, the lowest cultivation level among them being late Core Formation stage, and half of them were Nascent Soul stage cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That male cultivator named Dongfang Hao was even a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and his spirit body was somewhat unusual; she couldn't quite see through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meng Qingyao pays respects to the Prince and greets all fellow Daoists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This female cultivator was even more remarkable: a Fire-Wood Spirit Body, a mid Nascent Soul stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was shocked at the strength of these people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was she shocked, but the others in the Medical Department were also in shock. Although these people did not announce their family backgrounds, many could guess the families behind them from their surnames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou and Director Gu exchanged a silent glance, both understanding in their hearts that they could not stop these people from entering the Medical Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man smiled again and spoke: \"Prince, the Medical Department is the benchmark for the art of medicine in Great Jin. I have heard that all eighteen Qihuang Halls in the Medical Department have selected their hall masters. I would like to meet them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the white-haired old man mention the Qihuang Halls and that he wanted to meet the hall masters, Prince Shou and Director Gu's expressions both turned serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi noticed that some hall masters suddenly became restless. Seeing that Huo Yunxiao was also like this, she flickered her eyes and then showed a look of realization: \"They are not here to seize control of the Medical Department; they are here to compete for the Qihuang Halls.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1515,"2026-05-29T04:10:48.594Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","372cdee23960dec474b3a6409a28d2c901bd198ef1bb4156f4ebe78063ca54ab","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-207","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-205",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]