Chapter 230: The First Circle

On New Year's Eve, the appearance of the Guardian Family at the Medical Bureau had only passed two or three days, yet it triggered a tsunami-like storm within the cultivator community, and this storm showed signs of intensifying.

"With the Guardian appearing at the Medical Bureau, it will undoubtedly draw the attention of many people. Coupled with the Divine Wood Secret Realm, it won't be long before the Medical Bureau becomes the center of the storm."

"Not just the Medical Bureau—the other four Sacred Lands won't escape either."

"The Guardian Family has already shown up at the Alchemy Saint Hall, and they certainly won't be absent from the other Sacred Lands."

Hua Changxi looked at Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen, who all wore worried expressions whenever the Guardian Family was mentioned, and her eyes flickered.

Tong Yao was the heir of the Artifact Saint Palace, Jing Liao was the heir of the Talisman Saint Pavilion, and this Yan Zhenzhen was most likely the heir of the Formation Saint Sect.

Well, well—she had met the heirs of three Sacred Lands at once.

Hua Changxi then thought of herself. Was she considered an heir of the Alchemy Saint Hall?

Probably not.

She had indeed never received the inheritance of the Alchemy Saint Hall; the alchemy and medical skills she displayed were all taught by the Divine Farmer Cauldron.

Although the Divine Farmer Cauldron might have some connection to the Alchemy Saint Hall, the Cauldron came with her when she transmigrated; it was not specifically bestowed upon her by the Alchemy Saint Hall.

Hua Changxi used to consider calling herself the heir of the Alchemy Saint Hall, but now she no longer had that thought.

She had a clear positioning for herself regarding the Alchemy Saint Hall: she was merely a lecturer spreading the Dao of alchemy and medicine for the Hall.

As for things like guarding the Array Eye or shouldering the mission of revitalizing the Sacred Land—none of that should come near her.

Her shoulders were too thin to bear such great pressure.

"Ahem~"

Hua Changxi broke the silence of Tong Yao and the other two with a cough.

Tong Yao then remembered and said to Yan Zhenzhen, "Fellow Daoist Yan, Fellow Daoist Hua came to see you to discuss a cooperation."

Yan Zhenzhen knew that Hua Changxi had come to ask her to set up teleportation arrays, so she said, "Jing Liao told me everything. You saved us in the Netherworld Kun Gate Pass. If you want to set up teleportation arrays, I can do it free of charge."

Hua Changxi: "How could I let you do that? I need to set up quite a few teleportation arrays."

Yan Zhenzhen's expression paused for a moment, then she reminded, "Fellow Daoist Hua, the array stones used for teleportation arrays are no ordinary stones. If you want to buy them, it will cost quite a few spirit stones."

Hua Changxi: "I've already prepared the array stones for the teleportation arrays."

Hearing this, Yan Zhenzhen had little more to say: "How many teleportation arrays do you want to set up?"

Hua Changxi: "For now, I'll set up four teleportation arrays."

One at Lingguang Hall, one at the Five Finger Mountain, one at the Shennong Medicine Shop in Feng'an Ward, and one inside the Medical Bureau's No. 13 Pavilion.

Upon hearing that Hua Changxi wanted to set up four teleportation arrays, Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen all had their eyes flicker.

From the number of teleportation arrays, one could actually infer some things.

Fellow Daoist Hua must have at least four places to stay!

Hua Changxi looked at Yan Zhenzhen: "Fellow Daoist Yan, I also know a bit about installing array platforms. You just need to help me carve the array patterns and the runes on the array stones."

Hearing this, Yan Zhenzhen quickly glanced at Jing Liao and Tong Yao, understanding that Hua Changxi didn't trust them.

Yan Zhenzhen didn't mind: "Alright."

Hua Changxi continued, "Besides the four teleportation arrays just mentioned, I also need to set up one teleportation array for entering and exiting the secret realm, and another from the first level of the secret realm to the second level."

Yan Zhenzhen looked surprised: "From the first level to the second level? Does the Divine Wood Secret Realm that Fellow Daoist Hua obtained have multiple levels?"

Hua Changxi only nodded without elaborating. Then she turned to look at Tong Yao.

"The two teleportation arrays in the secret realm also need corresponding entry and exit tokens."

"Fellow Daoist Tong, I need one hundred thousand identity tokens that match the teleportation arrays. Can you forge them for me?"

One hundred thousand identity tokens!

Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen's eyelids twitched when they heard this. Just how big was the Divine Wood Secret Realm that Fellow Daoist Hua had obtained, that she needed to craft so many identity tokens?!

Hua Changxi continued, "Fellow Daoist Tong, I've heard of a type of spirit artifact called the mother-child artifact. I hope you can forge the identity tokens as mother-child artifacts."

"All the child identity tokens' entry and exit records from the secret realm should be immediately aggregated onto the mother token. This way, it will be convenient for me to manage the medicine farmers."

Tong Yao fell silent for a moment. While mother-son artifacts weren't hard to forge, Fellow Daoist Hua needed far too many of them.

"Fellow Daoist Hua, is there anything else you need?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "Apart from entry tokens, I also need you to forge an Oath Stele for me, to be placed at the entrance of the secret realm."

Tong Yao's eyes widened: "You want an Oath Stele forged too?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "That's the condition for entering and leaving the secret realm. They must swear allegiance to the Dan Saint Hall. While working inside the secret realm, the interests of the Dan Saint Hall must come before anything else. No betraying the holy land."

Yan Zhenzhen: "Isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Hua Changxi looked at her: "Anyone who enters the secret realm to work, I will teach them to identify spirit medicines, grow spirit medicines, process spirit medicines, and refine spirit pills."

"I can even provide a portion of the spirit medicines needed for pill refinement."

"I've spent time and effort training them, and the Divine Wood Secret Realm provides cultivation resources. What's wrong with making them swear an oath?"

She paused.

"You know the current situation in the Medical Department. The imperial family and noble families have people planted everywhere. I can't do someone else's work for them."

Hua Changxi didn't think herself capable of sacrificing everything for the Dan Saint Hall, but since she had obtained the Divine Wood Secret Realm, she could at least train more spirit medicine identifiers, processors, and pill refiners for the Hall.

Yan Zhenzhen fell silent.

Tong Yao and Jing Le exchanged a glance. It was to swear allegiance to the Dan Saint Hall, not to Fellow Daoist Hua.

At that moment, the two of them gained a deeper understanding of Hua Changxi's character.

Tong Yao smiled: "Fellow Daoist Hua makes a good point. I'll forge the Oath Stele myself."

Jing Le added: "As luck would have it, this humble monk only recently mastered inscribing the 'True' primal rune, so I can lend Fellow Daoist Tong a hand."

Tong Yao's face lit up: "That's excellent! With the 'True' primal rune, anyone insincere will have nowhere to hide before the Oath Stele." Then he looked at Hua Changxi.

"Apart from the Oath Stele and identity tokens, is there anything else Fellow Daoist Hua wants forged?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "Yes, I need a batch of spirit medicine bottles, dharma robes, storage pouches, spirit hoes, and such. But those aren't urgent. Let's get the Oath Stele and identity tokens done first, then discuss the rest."

Tong Yao smiled: "Fellow Daoist Hua has brought me a big order! Don't worry, once I return, I'll give the order and have the disciples of the Artifact Saint Palace rush to craft what you need."

Hua Changxi smiled back: "Then many thanks to Fellow Daoist Tong. However, for us to cooperate long-term, it's best if we share our respective price lists. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Tong?"

Tong Yao nodded: "I'll compile a price list for spirit artifacts as soon as I get back."

Hua Changxi: "Then it's settled. I'll also give Fellow Daoist Tong a price list for pills as soon as possible. From now on, I supply pills and you supply artifacts—we'll trade what each other needs."

"Hey, hey, hey~"

Yan Zhenzhen spoke up: "Don't just think about yourselves, you two! What about me and Jing Le? We can trade too."

Hua Changxi immediately laughed: "Of course I haven't forgotten you two. Whether formation plates or spirit talismans, they're all indispensable cultivation resources for cultivators."

Yan Zhenzhen smiled: "Alright then, Jing Le and I will also put together a price list for formations and spirit talismans. Then we can all trade together." As she spoke, joy appeared on her face.

"Hmph, those senior martial brothers of mine all have their own little circles for exchanging news and resources. I wanted to join, but none of them were willing to bring me along. Now it's great—I have my own circle too."

Hearing the word "circle," Hua Changxi smiled and glanced at Tong Yao and Jing Le.

Both of them could be considered trustworthy. As for Yan Zhenzhen, since she could befriend these two, her character was probably not too bad.

A circle...

She had always tried to enter the circles of cultivators, but never expected her first breakthrough to be like this.

Truly, "plant willows with care, and you may not get shade; but a careless twig may grow into a tree that gives shade!"