[{"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-215":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},151901,261,"Chapter 215: Lone Ranger","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-215",215,"\u003Cp>Gu Jinfan's eyelids twitched violently when she saw that Xia Zhen was the first to finish his exchange with Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only her, but also the cultivators from the Guardian Clan noticed it; although most people thought Xia Zhen simply didn't want to argue with Hua Changxi, some sensed something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Hao's gaze toward Hua Changxi grew much more serious than before; he finally understood why the intelligence said that this person had poor relationships with everyone around her—she was too opinionated, and once someone offended her, she would strike back with full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting along with someone like this required not only matching strength but also a strong state of mind. The weak could never gain any advantage from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Hao looked at Meng Qingyao: \"She truly is a formidable opponent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Meng Qingyao's eyes flickered with uncertainty, a mix of apprehension and eagerness to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua Changxi in the middle of the arena, Huo Yunxiao's admiration was written all over his face; he gave her a thumbs up: \"Chief Hua, you really suit my taste. I'm determined to make you my friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced at him without saying a word. Sensing spiritual fluctuations from the high altitude behind her, she turned around and saw Wei Zhenjie, the head of the Heavenly Department, and a white-robed Taoist with an immortal bearing holding a fly whisk, flying swiftly toward them on a flying sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao followed her gaze, then his face lit up as he shouted to Wen Lanzhou, the master of Hall No. 4: \"Lanzhou, our masters are here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did everyone look up and see Director Wei and Heavenly Master Zhang arriving together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen and the cultivators from the Guardian Clan felt a twinge of disappointment when they saw the two arrive so quickly; they had hoped they would come later, so that their own people could worship the Sacred Tree first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie and Heavenly Master Zhang landed at the edge of the square, still some distance from the altar, and Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou quickly stepped forward to greet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After joining them, Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou rapidly recounted, taking turns, everything that had happened since the Guardian Clan arrived at the Medical Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A female cultivator brought by the Guardian, named Meng Qingyao, lit the Alchemy Fire of the Second Street.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among the seven hall masters who received wooden plaques, only Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, and Shen Qianfan managed to light the Triple-Deng Incense and obtain the Divine Wood Secret Realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Gu and Gu Jinfan both tried to light the First-Grade Incense, but both failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhu Qinghuan's situation is a bit strange; she got a wooden plaque but couldn't even light the Third-Grade Incense. No one knows why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hua Changxi lit the First-Grade Incense, but she didn't look very happy. I carefully checked her expression—it wasn't an act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid all the information, Wei Zhenjie paid special attention to two points: one, that Meng Qingyao lit the Second Street Alchemy Fire; two, that Hua Changxi lit the First-Grade Incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After filling in the information gap, the four of them walked toward Xia Zhen and Gu Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Wei Zhenjie chatted with Heavenly Master Zhang as they walked: \"I thought the Guardian wouldn't show up for at least a few more years, but I never expected him to come so soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Master Zhang: \"Probably because of the sudden flash of the Fusang Sacred Tree a while ago, which made the Guardian sense something, forcing him to appear ahead of schedule.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie nodded: \"Now that the Guardian has appeared, the capital is bound to get more and more lively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Master Zhang corrected him: \"Not the capital, but Zhongzhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital was defined by the Great Jin Dynasty, while Zhongzhou was the center of the Four Spirits Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie smiled, looking at the young cultivators brought by Xia Zhen, and sighed: \"The Guardian is truly formidable, finding so many exceptionally talented prodigies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Master Zhang agreed with a nod: \"With their addition, the reappearance of the Sacred Land will be accelerated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie chuckled: \"That's not necessarily true. They might even hinder its reappearance. Sometimes, too many prodigies isn't necessarily a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Master Zhang paused for a moment: \"In ancient times, the five Sacred Lands were the most coveted cultivation paradises for all cultivators in the Four Spirits Realm. Now that the Sacred Land is about to reappear, it's only natural that everyone would swarm in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many hands make light work. Even if there are obstacles, it's still better than being stuck in rigidity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The capital is ultimately the royal family's domain. Only with the entry of these people can the stagnant water be stirred. As for who will ultimately stay, it's up to each to rely on their own abilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie smiled: \"The Heavenly Master is right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing at the end of the crowd, Hua Changxi watched the Heavenly Department Director and Heavenly Master Zhang approaching and wanted to use her Observation Technique to probe their depth, but thinking back to how she was almost caught by Xia Zhen, she dropped the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Wei Zhenjie and Heavenly Master Zhang sensed a burning gaze fixed on them. When they looked up, they saw it was a female cultivator in red, about fifteen or sixteen years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dazzling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blazing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the unified impressions the two had of Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, that person is Hua Changxi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao noticed their gazes and quickly introduced them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie smiled. \"He really is quite bold.\" Few people dared to stare at him so openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tianshi indeed looked stunned as he stared at his apprentice Wen Lanzhou. \"She is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou nodded. \"Hua Changxi is Junior Sister Changxin's twin sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tianshi, who usually wore an air of serene detachment as if he saw through all worldly affairs, rarely showed such emotion today—his face cycling between shock and confusion. \"What is Hua Changxi's aptitude?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou said, \"Single fire spiritual root. Her exact aptitude is unclear for now, but from the signs she has shown, it is definitely not low.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tianshi was puzzled. \"If that's the case, why did Junior Brother Qingyun only bring Changxin back back then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This question was exactly what Wei Zhenjie also wanted to know. \"Yes, why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao chimed in, \"Maybe because Hua Changxi had an unpleasant temperament as a child. Daoist Qingyun found her troublesome and didn't bring her back to Taisu Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tianshi directly dismissed this reason. \"No, Junior Brother Qingyun would not hold a grudge against a little girl.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, the four had already arrived in front of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Apologies for our lateness, making Senior Gu and Senior Xia wait so long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie clasped his fists and walked toward Gu Xing and Xia Zhen. Zhang Tianshi had also resumed his calm demeanor, following closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou did not follow; they stood directly beside Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at them. \"Why was Zhang Tianshi staring at me like that just now? It felt almost as if he recognized me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao looked at her and laughed. \"You really are sharp.\" She had been the first to notice when his master and Zhang Tianshi arrived at the Medical Department, even before Senior Xia of the Guardian Families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou, however, looked at her oddly. \"Don't you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was a bit confused. \"Know what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou said flatly, \"My master comes from Taisu Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes went wide, and she said in surprise, \"So you and my sister Changxin are from the same sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Huo Yunxiao was a bit speechless now. \"My dear Pavilion Master Hua, you don't even know these things?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment. \"I don't really like socializing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao directly complained, \"That's too extreme. Are you plugging your ears and ignoring the world outside? You don't have to know every detail about the various factions in the capital, but at least you should have a general idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you become a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're even a lone wanderer—you need to gather information from all sides even more. Otherwise, how will you obtain cultivation resources?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew she was indeed lacking in this area, but she didn't want to expose her shortcomings in front of outsiders, so she ignored Huo Yunxiao and looked directly at Wen Lanzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pavilion Master Wen, is my sister Changxin doing well at Taisu Palace? When will she come home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou said, \"Rest assured, Pavilion Master Hua. Junior Sister Changxin is a personal disciple of the sect leader and is looked after by her senior brothers and sisters, so she has nothing to worry about at Taisu Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, Junior Sister Changxin is out on a training journey with the other sect brothers and sisters. When she can return is still unclear for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi looked disappointed. \"I haven't seen my sister Changxin in years. Where are they training?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou said, \"This... I'm afraid I cannot tell you, Pavilion Master Hua. Rest assured, with so many fellow disciples there, Junior Sister Changxin will certainly be safe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi didn't press further. Just then, Wei Zhenjie, Zhang Tianshi, Xia Zhen, and Gu Xing had finished their pleasantries, and the two were about to begin worshipping the divine tree.\u003C\u002Fp>",1585,"2026-05-29T04:10:48.594Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","09ac63aa0ef90417c28af87b5552ed29fc1de1d5811b9f6f6a559b7820b47fe2","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-216","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-214",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]