Chapter 225: Women's Army

On the first day of the new year in the 24th year of Yongxing, the Hua family courtyard was bustling early.

After hearing the commotion, Hua Changxi sealed up several furnaces of third-grade supreme pills she had refined, put away her cauldron, and then lifted the restrictions in her room.

Last night after returning to her room, she had wanted to cultivate, but as soon as she began, she drained all the spiritual energy from the Hua family courtyard.

At her current cultivation speed, she could absorb over four million points of spiritual energy in one hour; the spiritual energy in the Hua family courtyard existed because of the spirit-gathering array they had set up.

Hua Changxi didn’t understand formations, so she could only copy the pattern to set up a simple low-grade spirit-gathering array, and the spirit stones used to maintain it were few—hardly enough to support her cultivation.

After replenishing the spirit stones through the night, she had no choice but to take out her cauldron and refine pills.

[Third-Grade Alchemist (Supreme Pill): Refined 1,508 furnaces 1,508/]

Hua Changxi glanced at the alchemy data; to advance to a fourth-grade alchemist, she still needed to refine over eight thousand more furnaces of third-grade pills.

“I’ll have to spend more time on alchemy from now on.”

The appearance of Xia Zhen and his group had ultimately created a sense of urgency in Hua Changxi’s heart, especially when facing Meng Qingyao, who had ignited the second-tier Dan Fire, stirring a competitive spirit in her.

Meng Qingyao possessed a Fire-Wood spirit body and could be called a natural-born alchemist. Her talent in alchemy was certainly unmatched by others, but Changxi had the Shennong Cauldron as her cheat.

In terms of external hardware conditions, Hua Changxi felt she and Meng Qingyao were evenly matched.

Because they were equally matched, it gave her the desire to compete and see who was superior.

In the past, when refining pills, she had no comparable benchmark; with Meng Qingyao’s arrival, it served as both a spur and a mirror for her.

The Hua family courtyard grew livelier by the minute. Hua Changxi cast a cleansing spell, tidied her appearance, and opened her door, only to see many members of the Hua clan standing in the courtyard, there to pay New Year’s respects.

“Jiuniang, come quickly and pay respects to the uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters of the clan.”

Hua Changxi was pulled to the side by Hua Dalang, receiving one family after another of Hua clan members who came to offer New Year’s greetings.

Every household in the Hua clan that had cultivators came to pay respects to Hua Bin’s family today.

In the fifteen years since she had crossed over, this was Hua Changxi’s first time interacting with so many clan members, and her face was stiff from smiling.

She knew that as long as she had to interact with people, welcoming and seeing them off was unavoidable, but making small talk and exchanging pleasantries with a group of people she didn’t know at all—she really couldn’t muster any interest.

At noon, after lunch, Hua Changxi slipped away.

“Mother, I’m going out to pay New Year’s calls.”

Watching Hua Changxi disappear from the courtyard in the blink of an eye, the Hua family was somewhat helpless.

Old Master Hua frowned deeply: “The Earl’s mansion sent word that the young heir will also come by in the afternoon.”

The heir’s visit was undoubtedly for Jiuniang, but now Jiuniang had gone out, which made the Hua family, receiving the Earl’s heir for the first time, feel uncertain.

Hua Minghe: “Since the heir is here to pay New Year’s respects, as long as we don’t err in etiquette, it will be fine.”

Old Master Hua sighed: “That will have to do.” After speaking, he looked at the many grandchildren and felt regret once again.

Why did the most promising descendant of the family have to be none other than Jiuniang, who was always rebellious!

After leaving the Hua family, Hua Changxi went straight to Xu’s Medicine Shop.

She had been keeping Xu Ling’s bloodline atavism in mind, and now that Pharmacist Xu was working for her, she had to find out exactly what was going on with Xu Ling.

“Uncle Xu.”

On the first day of the new year, the Xu’s Medicine Shop was almost empty. Pharmacist Xu was leading an apprentice in taking inventory of the medicinal herbs in the cabinets.

When Pharmacist Xu saw Hua Changxi, his face lit up with joy: “Jiuniang, what brings you here?”

Hua Changxi smiled: “I came to pay you New Year’s greetings.”

Pharmacist Xu put down his work and led Hua Changxi to the back courtyard.

After they exchanged a few pleasantries, Hua Changxi asked, “Uncle Xu, why don’t I see Lingling?”

As soon as Xu Ling was mentioned, Pharmacist Xu’s face showed worry: “Lingling is on duty; her shift off won’t come for a few more days.”

Hua Changxi looked surprised: “Lingling is working outside? Where is she serving?”

Pharmacist Xu sighed: “Jiuniang, do you know about the Demon Suppression Army?”

Hua Changxi nodded.

Xu Yaoshi said: "The Right General of the Demon-Suppressing Army is His Majesty's eldest son, His Highness Jun Ling. Under his command is an all-female troop called the Women's Army."

"The one managing the Women's Army is none other than the second daughter of the Wu'an Marquis Manor, Wu Liyun."

"Some time ago, Lingling encountered a runaway carriage on the street. To save a child, she struck the carriage and sent it flying. Wu Erniang happened to witness this and recognized Lingling as a body cultivator."

Having said this, Xu Yaoshi turned to Hua Changxi again and asked: "Jiuniang, do you still remember Master Konghai, who cured Lingling's somnolence?"

Hua Changxi nodded again: "Of course I remember."

Xu Yaoshi continued: "After Master Konghai cured Lingling's somnolence, he also left her a Body Tempering Technique. Lingling started her cultivation journey relying on this technique."

"In Wu Erniang's women's troop, all the members are cultivators. Seeing that Lingling's skills were impressive, Wu Erniang recruited her into the army."

"I didn't want Lingling to join the Demon-Suppressing Army, but she insisted on going."

"Lingling told me that cultivators need a lot of resources to cultivate, so she had to go earn cultivation resources, and the Demon-Suppressing Army was the best place for it."

Hua Changxi had always worried that the monk Konghai who had previously saved Xu Ling was a member of the demon race, afraid that Xu Ling was being manipulated. Now that she learned Xu Ling had joined the Demon-Suppressing Army, her worries lessened somewhat.

The Demon-Suppressing Army would definitely screen its recruits. If Xu Ling had any abnormalities, the army would most likely detect them.

Afterwards, Hua Changxi talked with Xu Yaoshi for a while longer, then left Xu's Herb Shop and went to Shennong Herb Shop in Feng'an Ward to see Pucao and Aniu. She didn't return to the Hua family courtyard until nightfall.

"What? The marquis manor gave our family a five-courtyard mansion?"

At the dinner table, Hua Changxi was informed by Hua Liulang about the manor's heir giving their family a house.

Seeing Hua Changxi frown, Hua Ershu immediately explained: "The heir said our courtyard is too small—with so many people in the family, it's not enough space. He said we should move to a bigger house, and then handed over a deed."

Hua Liulang glanced at Hua Changxi's expression: "The family didn't want to accept it, but the heir insisted. We really couldn't refuse..."

Hua Changxi shot a glare at Hua Liulang: "Sixth Brother, why are you looking at me? The heir giving us a house and the family accepting it—neither has anything to do with me." Having said that, she buried her head in her meal.

Seeing her reaction, the Hua family members all wore troubled expressions.

Hua Laoyezi was about to say something, but Hua Laotaitai firmly held him back.

Hua Laotaitai smiled and said: "We accepted the deed because it would have been awkward to refuse the heir's goodwill in front of the clansmen. But we definitely won't move into that mansion. After some time, your grandfather will return the deed."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi raised her head and looked at Hua Liulang: "How was the output of the Fire Spirit Mine last year?"

Hua Liulang: "Not bad."

Hua Changxi: "Our courtyard is indeed a bit small. Let's allocate some spirit stones and buy a bigger house." She paused, "We can buy our own house, why take someone else's?"

Hua Dalang spoke up: "In the capital right now, even with money, you can't find a suitable house."

Hua Changxi looked at him in surprise.

Hua Dalang: "Good locations and good houses are all in the hands of nobles and wealthy families. In the past, the turnover of vacant houses in the capital was fairly high, but as more and more people flood into the capital, the houses are no longer enough."

"Nowadays, many places around the capital are building extensions everywhere."

After hearing this, Hua Changxi was taken aback. She really hadn't paid attention to this situation.

Hua Laotaitai: "If we can't buy a house, then we won't. Our current home is enough for us. Alright, let's stop this topic and eat."