Chapter 241: Era's Catalyst (10)

For Hua Changxi, one of the only two people who obtained the high-grade divine tree secret realm, all parties were still very concerned.

Upon learning that she was going to give a lecture in the square, reactions varied.

Those outside the Medicine Department were merely surprised; for them, the location of the lecture wasn't important—what truly mattered was the content of the lesson and the skills she demonstrated.

But those inside the Medicine Department reacted quite differently. Most hall masters felt Hua Changxi was being eccentric and trying to stand out, while the herbalists, apprentices, and disciples who wanted to attend but couldn't squeeze into Qi Huang Hall found her gesture very considerate.

On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month, as the first rays of dawn appeared, tens of thousands of meditation cushions were laid out in orderly arcs centered around the stone cauldron in the Medicine Department square.

Around the stone cauldron, several rows of herb racks were set up, on which cleaned spirit herbs were laid out to dry.

Early in the morning, apprentices, disciples, and menial workers who wanted to secure a good spot to learn as much medical and alchemical knowledge as possible had already arrived at the square.

Seeing the arrangement of the square, these people were first a bit stunned, then filled with joy.

"Everyone who came to listen today should be able to get a seat."

Although these people had arrived the earliest, they did not sit in the rows of cushions near the stone cauldron but actively chose relatively far back positions.

By the time the eight medicine lads from the No. 13 Qi Huang Hall arrived at the square, the middle rows of cushions were fully seated, while the very front cushions remained unoccupied.

Seeing this, Hua Shuran and the others recalled Hua Changxi's instructions from the previous day and all looked at Medicine Officer Xu.

Medicine Officer Xu was full of helplessness inside. He swallowed hard, steeled himself, and strode over to those seated in the middle.

"Everyone, please move forward. Hall Master Hua said that opportunity is reserved for those who are prepared. Those of you who came first have the chance to choose the best seats."

With Medicine Officer Xu leading the way, Hua Shuran and the other six gradually joined in.

"Everyone, sit closer. Although Hall Master Hua will use sound transmission during her lecture so everyone can hear, the experience of sitting in front is definitely different."

"When Hall Master Hua teaches, she will use spirit herbs to help you identify things—those closer will naturally see more clearly."

Hearing the mobilization from Medicine Officer Xu and the other eight, surprisingly, quite a few people began to stir restlessly.

Passerby A: "Can we really sit anywhere?"

He Sirong: "As long as the seat is empty, whoever came first can sit."

Passerby B: "What if we sit in the first row and then some bigwig comes and makes us give up our seats? Then we might not even get seats in the middle rows."

Medicine Officer Xu: "That's not your concern. Just sit down."

Although many were tempted, in the end very few actually dared to step forward and sit in the front.

Gu Xing from the old courtyard heard the commotion in the square, walked out, and looked at the arrangement with a momentary daze.

Compared to the previous lecture scenes of the other hall masters, this one finally had a bit of a teaching dais feel to it.

After hearing the words that Medicine Officer Xu and the other eight kept calling out, a smile flickered in Gu Xing's eyes.

That girl Hua Changxi—though she acts a bit recklessly—has a kind of lonesome courage, as if saying, "Though there be thousands, I will go!"

"Come on, let's go sit down too and listen to what that girl has to say."

Previously, when other hall masters gave lectures, Gu Xing was too lazy to deal with the various factions and mostly showed up right on time. But for Hua Changxi's lecture, he was looking forward to it and couldn't wait to go to the square with Grandmother Sun and a few capable assistants.

Naturally, Gu Xing wanted to sit close to hear Hua Changxi. He walked to the very center of the first row of cushions and sat down.

Grandmother Sun and the others sat next to Gu Xing, filling the right side of the first row in order.

On the right side of the first row, two bold cultivators had already sat down, coincidentally ending up next to Grandmother Sun and her group.

Just as the two cultivators were hesitating about whether to give up their seats, Gu Xing spoke.

"You came first, so those seats are yours. Sit steady and stay put."

After saying that, Gu Xing had his trusted aides sit to his left.

Other cultivators were watching this scene closely. Seeing that the two cultivators who had taken the first row were not "asked to give up their seats," those who had been tempted started moving forward to sit.

Although the number was still not large, the first few rows of cushions were no longer empty.

By the time the other Qi Huang Hall masters and representatives of various factions arrived, they found that the good seats were already scarce.

Because of Gu Xing's "encouragement" and "approachability," the first row was already completely filled.

Medicine Officer Xu and the other eight looked at Prince Shou and the others standing outside the square, who had not yet taken seats. Though their hearts were uneasy, they steeled themselves and shouted loudly:

"Those who arrive first can choose their seats first."

"Everyone take your seats in order. Do not seize others' seats."

Not only were Xu Yaoshi and his seven companions uneasy, but also the menial workers, apprentices, and disciples sitting in the first few rows were restless.

When Director Gu and his disciples arrived, they saw Prince Shou and his group looking displeased. After he glanced at the "chaotic and disorderly" seating arrangement in the square, he was first stunned, then said urgently, "What are you still dawdling for?

Hurry up and sit down. Soon you won't even have a spot in the second row."

Then, Prince Shou and the others watched as Director Gu actually rushed over to "scramble for a good seat" with everyone else, and they were all shocked.

Chu Junhao took a deep breath. "Uncle, let's sit down quickly too."

Prince Shou glared at Chu Junhao. With his dignity as a prince, he could not publicly snatch someone else's seat, so he could only walk toward the second row of cushions with a grim face.

Seeing Prince Shou compromise, the other academy heads could no longer stand idle either, and they all took their seats one after another.

Gu Jinfan watched this scene, her eyes flickering continuously.

Hua Changxi... always seemed able to do things beyond her expectations.

On the other side, after Director Gu sat down in the second row, watching Prince Shou and the others forced to sit among the crowd, his expression was also rather emotional.

In order to stir up this stagnant and unfathomable pool of dead water in the capital, the director had tried several "test the waters by casting a stone" moves, but not a single ripple appeared.

Although some undercurrents had arisen after the Guardian Families showed themselves, this dead pool remained as "calm and still" as before, and its internal order from top to bottom had not been shaken at all.

The director had actually held high hopes for the Guardian Families.

Unfortunately, the appearance of the Guardian Families did not stir the dead water. Instead, they joined in as another powerful force, making the dead pool even deeper and more stagnant.

Not to mention the director—even he was filled with disappointment.

Who would have thought that Hua Changxi would fall from the sky!

Hua Changxi was like a meteor falling from heaven, shaking the dead water with her own strength.

Watching Prince Shou and the others scattered among the crowd, Director Gu's eyes gleamed.

The lofty royal family was sitting behind others!

This meant that something had loosened!

It was a pity the director wasn't here today. If he knew that his long-cherished "new atmosphere" had been achieved by such a small matter as seating arrangements, he would probably be mortified.

Director Gu suddenly felt a sense of anticipation, expecting Hua Changxi to walk far and long on her path ahead. Also, her head must be hard enough—she must keep walking like this and never give up halfway!

When the other people who had come to attend the lecture saw that Prince Shou and his group really did not make the earlier sitters give up their seats, they no longer hesitated and scrambled to sit in the front seats.

By the time the Guardian Families, led by the Xia family, and the Meng family and the Dongfang family, with Meng Qingyao as the core, arrived at the square, only the cushions in the last few rows were available.

"Hua Changxi didn't arrange seats for us?"

Xia Ziyang and the others were dumbfounded.

No matter where the Guardian Families went, they were always honored guests. They never expected that when they came to support Hua Changxi, she wouldn't even arrange seats for them.

"Does Hua Changxi really not want to enter the Spirit Mirror Pavilion anymore? She's being too disrespectful to us!"

Dongfang Hao glanced around the square. When he saw that the seats of Prince Shou and the other nobles were all scattered, and many seats were quite off to the side and far to the back, his expression shook.

"It's not that she's disrespecting us. She's treating us the same as everyone else."

At that moment, Dongfang Hao suddenly felt a trace of admiration for Hua Changxi.

Admiration for her boldness and courage!

Whether the Medical Department or the Guardian Families, the rules they followed were passed down through generations. Although solid and reliable, they lacked vitality.

The spiritual energy revival was undoubtedly the beginning of a new era.

In a new era, the old rules were clearly no longer applicable.

At such a time, someone needed to stand up and break the old rules.

Hua Changxi... seemed to be such a person!