Chapter 239: Era's Driving Force (8)

The crowd outside No. 1 Qi Huang Hall was too large; there was simply no way to squeeze in.

Hua Changxi figured she would definitely have another chance to hear Mu Qingying lecture in the future, and was hesitating whether to leave when a group of young cultivators led by Meng Qingyao arrived.

"Make way!"

"Make way!"

Outside the packed No. 1 Qi Huang Hall, the thronging crowd saw who was coming and immediately squeezed back to the left and right, clearing a path down the middle.

Once the way was clear, Meng Qingyao and her group calmly walked toward No. 1 Qi Huang Hall.

"Hall Master Hua!"

Dongfang Hao was a meticulous and cautious person who paid special attention to his surroundings; he quickly noticed Hua Changxi standing among the crowd.

Because of his call, Meng Qingyao and the others, who were walking in front, all stopped and turned in unison to look at Hua Changxi.

Seeing Hua Changxi, Meng Qingyao immediately smiled and invited her: "Hall Master Hua is here too. Let's go in together."

Hua Changxi looked at her, then at the crowded people on both sides, and declined with a smile: "No, I'm not used to this."

Hearing her refusal, Meng Qingyao's expression stiffened, while Dongfang Hao's eyes flickered.

Not used to it?

Dongfang Hao glanced left and right, looking puzzled—what was Hua Changxi not used to?

"Hmph~"

Seeing Hua Changxi treat his sister's kindness so coldly and snub her so blatantly, Meng Yuchuan immediately sneered: "Hall Master Hua really puts on quite a show of importance."

"First you disrespected Senior Xia, and today you disrespect the Lingjing Pavilion Master—don't you know the meaning of 'rules'?"

Hua Changxi looked Meng Yuchuan up and down: "Who are you?"

Meng Yuchuan was almost pushed past his breaking point by Hua Changxi's flippant question—he was, after all, the elder brother of the Lingjing Pavilion Master; for some time now he had been helping his sister run one of the only two high-grade secret realms, and had come to know all the powerful figures in the capital; he had never expected to be so thoroughly ignored by Hua Changxi.

"Hua Changxi, you listen to me: my name is Meng Yuchuan, and I am the Lingjing Pavilion Master's brother."

Hua Changxi glanced at Meng Qingyao and asked with a smile: "What Lingjing Pavilion? Why haven't I heard of it?"

She admitted she was angry at being excluded and isolated by the Lingjing Pavilion. Since they had called a meeting without inviting her, she would simply refuse to acknowledge the Lingjing Pavilion at all.

Sure enough, as soon as she said this, it immediately drew everyone's frequent stares.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was foolish enough to expose her own weakness, Meng Yuchuan said bluntly: "Hall Master Hua puts on too many airs and is unwilling to cooperate sincerely with the other secret realm masters, so the Lingjing Pavilion didn't even invite you to its first meeting."

"Hall Master Hua, you wouldn't be angry about that, would you?"

Hua Changxi smiled at Meng Yuchuan, but from the corner of her eye she was watching Meng Qingyao, and did not respond immediately.

To Meng Yuchuan, this reaction seemed like Hua Changxi putting up a brave front, so he continued with a laugh: "If Hall Master Hua wants to join the Lingjing Pavilion, all she needs is the Pavilion Master's approval."

"As long as the Pavilion Master allows it, you can attend the next meeting, and then you won't be completely clueless about what the Lingjing Pavilion is."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally laughed out loud: "Meng Yuchuan, is it? I think you're not very bright. I neither know about the Lingjing Pavilion nor have I attended your so-called meeting, so why would I recognize any 'Lingjing Pavilion Master'?"

Meng Yuchuan could still hold back when he himself was ignored, but seeing Meng Qingyao disrespected made him lose his temper.

"Hua Changxi, don't go too far!"

Seeing Meng Yuchuan hopping mad, Hua Changxi felt in a much better mood: "How have I gone too far? I haven't joined the Lingjing Pavilion, so isn't it only natural that I don't recognize the master you all elected?"

Meng Yuchuan had truly never met anyone who spoke with such reckless disregard for consequences; he was so angry he didn't know how to retort: "You... the Lingjing Pavilion has the full support of Senior Xia and Senior Gu—how dare you not recognize it?"

The smile on Hua Changxi's face deepened: "I simply won't recognize it. What can you do about it?"

Seeing that her brother's emotions were completely under Hua Changxi's control, Meng Qingyao had no choice but to step forward: "Hall Master Hua, the Lingjing Pavilion is on Ninth Street. Whether you recognize it or not, it's still there!"

After saying this, she looked at Meng Yuchuan.

"Brother, Fellow Cultivator Mu is about to start his lecture. Let's hurry into the hall."

Then she turned to Hua Changxi.

"Since Hall Master Hua isn't used to traveling with us, feel free to do as you please."

Watching Meng Qingyao stride away without giving her a chance to retort, Hua Changxi felt somewhat stifled.

This Meng Qingyao was much stronger than her brother; with just a few words, she made it seem like I was the one being unreasonable.

“What are you still standing there for?”

Gu Xing, accompanied by Granny Sun, also arrived at Hall One. Seeing Hua Changxi standing still, worried she might leave in a huff, he could only offer a reminder.

Granny Sun repeatedly signaled to Hua Changxi with her eyes: “Changxi, hurry up and follow.”

Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised to see that Gu Xing had also come to attend the lecture. After a moment’s hesitation, she still led Xu Yaoshi and the other seven into Hall One.

As she stepped through the hall’s entrance, Hua Changxi paused and looked back at those who could only remain outside.

After entering Hall One, Gu Xing was directly led to the very front. Hua Changxi did not follow him but instead stood by the courtyard gate.

Today was the first public lecture by the master of Qihuang Hall. Compared to previous hall masters chosen through power and influence, the current hall masters had either obtained a wooden token or gained entry to the Divine Wood Secret Realm.

In other words, they were all people recognized by the Elixir Saint Hall!

Those who could gain recognition from the Elixir Saint Hall surely possessed extraordinary skills in medicine and alchemy. It was precisely because of this belief that so many people came to attend the lecture.

But Qihuang Hall was only so big and could not hold too many people. Those who managed to enter the hall to listen today were all those with strong connections and backgrounds.

Among them were quite a few whose ambitions lay not in alchemy or medicine at all—they came to size up the abilities of each hall master.

For example, King Shou and other imperial relatives, as well as Duke Xingguo and other nobles and high-ranking officials.

Seeing the best seats occupied by a group of laymen, Hua Changxi suddenly felt that today’s lecture was not worth listening to.

“Hall Master Hua!”

Huo Yunxiao spotted Hua Changxi and quickly walked over: “I saved a seat for you. Come, let’s go sit inside.”

Hua Changxi glanced at the crowd of power and influence seated inside the hall and stood still without moving: “No need.”

The dispute between Hua Changxi and the Meng siblings outside the hall had been closely watched by those inside. Seeing Hua Changxi once again rebuffing him like this, Huo Yunxiao couldn’t help but feel a bit irritated.

To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that Hua Changxi could produce top-grade pills and controlled a high-grade secret realm, he really wouldn’t bother having much to do with someone like her.

Too hard to please!

Hua Changxi noticed the irritation that flashed through Huo Yunxiao’s eyes: “You are a cultivator. Cultivators cultivate the mind. Too much self-abasement is detrimental to your cultivation.”

Huo Yunxiao’s expression stiffened, somewhat embarrassed and also somewhat surprised.

Embarrassed because his thoughts had been seen through by Hua Changxi; surprised that Hua Changxi was offering him advice?

Huo Yunxiao was silent for only a moment before his smile returned: “If Hall Master Hua could be kinder to me and resist me less, then I wouldn’t feel wronged.”

Hua Changxi looked at him: “But if that were the case, then I would be the one wronged.”

Huo Yunxiao: “……”

Seeing that he was unconvinced, Hua Changxi smiled: “You try to impose your will on me. Even if you feel wronged, you brought it upon yourself.”

“When I defend myself, in the eyes of people like you, it is I who am in the wrong.”

“Daoist Huo, do you think we are on the same path?”