Chapter 246: Era's Catalyst (15)

In Hua Changxi's view, coming to the square to give a lecture this time was no different from when she used to teach at the Qihuang Hall. She never expected that surprises would keep coming.

First, she activated the formation, causing the Danding Altar to suddenly appear, and now she had also obtained a sacred pill.

The square and the high air were full of people. Hua Changxi could not immediately examine the sacred pill and the Sacred Guard Token inside it, nor did she stay long on the high altar. She turned and walked downward.

As Hua Changxi descended, everyone's gazes moved with her.

Earlier, everyone's attention had been focused on Hua Changxi. Now, as she walked down, Yu Gui and the others on the Danding Altar gradually came into view.

The four—Yu Gui, Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and Guo Cheng—were in charge of recording Hua Changxi's lecture content, so they were relatively close to her.

Therefore, when the Danding Altar rose from the ground, the four were positioned below Hua Changxi on the seventh level of the Danding Altar.

As for Xu Yaoshi and the other eight medicine attendants, because they were a bit farther from Hua Changxi, they were located on the fifth level of the Danding Altar.

At this moment, Yu Gui and his group, standing on the high altar, were so excited and thrilled that words could hardly describe it.

Especially when they saw that the various dignitaries in the square could only look up at them, their excitement was written all over their faces.

Once, the dignitaries were above and they were below; but now, they were above and the dignitaries were below...

So positions could be swapped!

Yu Gui, Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and Guo Cheng all came from poor backgrounds. Their feelings at this moment were the most intense, and there were even tears glistening in their eyes.

Xu Yaoshi and the other eight had slightly higher status and some background, but they were not core members of any family; most of them were just following orders.

At this moment, feeling the gazes of thousands focused on them, their hearts were also surging with emotion.

So this was "when one person achieves the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven"?

Just because they were Hua Changxi's medicine attendants, they could share in her glory?

At this moment, Hua Shuran and others' thoughts changed somewhat.

No one felt it was a grievance to be Hua Changxi's medicine attendant anymore. They had finally seen clearly that their hall master truly did not make a sound unless she was going to amaze everyone.

When Hua Changxi descended to the seventh level, Yu Gui and the four immediately followed closely. When she got to the fifth level, Xu Yaoshi and the eight respectfully followed behind Yu Gui's group, accompanying Hua Changxi down from the high altar.

After stepping down from the high altar, Hua Changxi and Yu Gui's group all had a distinct feeling.

That was, the view from above the high altar was indeed vastly different from the view below it.

In the square, the crowd had not yet dispersed.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi waved her hand, and the thousands of spiritual herbs used in this lecture scattered across the sky above the square like a meteor shower. In no time, they fell into the hands of the listeners.

"Thank you, Hall Master Hua!"

In the square, voices of thanks rose and fell continuously.

Hearing these words of thanks, Xia Zhen and Meng Yuchuan beside him all had unpleasant expressions.

Meng Yuchuan said with a look of disdain, "This Hua Changxi is too good at buying people's loyalty."

Jiang Nianyi smiled and said, "They're just some first-grade spiritual herbs. This small favor isn't enough to win over people's hearts."

Xia Zhen listened to their exchange and furrowed his brows.

Previously, he thought that Hua Changxi's lowly status was an obvious shortcoming, but now he found that he had been too hasty in his judgment.

Comparing with Hua Changxi, he suddenly realized that people like Qingyao, because of their high birth, found it difficult to blend in with those below and easily overlooked their needs.

The previous public secret realm and now the casual giving away of spiritual herbs were all because Hua Changxi saw the urgent need for resources among the lower-level cultivators.

And these were things that Qingyao and others did not know.

After the spiritual herbs were given, Hua Changxi said, "Today's lecture is over. Everyone, you may disperse!"

Having witnessed the appearance of the Danding Altar and personally experienced the enlargement of the square, everyone did not want to leave immediately; they all wanted to stay in the square a while longer to feel it.

Seeing that no one moved, Hua Changxi remembered that both Yan Zhenzhen and Tong Yao had sent word that a batch of teleportation arrays, Oath Stele, and recruitment display spiritual artifacts had been made. So she used spiritual power to send a voice transmission to advertise for herself.

"Everyone, in a few days the Danyuan Secret Realm under my charge will begin recruiting. The recruitment notice will be posted soon. Welcome everyone to sign up enthusiastically and join the secret realm!"

As soon as these words were spoken, lively discussions immediately arose in the spacious square.

The capital's dignitaries, who had their eyes on Hua Changxi's secret realm and wanted a share of the spoils, relaxed their expressions somewhat: Hua Changxi was finally going to develop her secret realm!

"Danyuan Secret Realm..."

Gu Xing savored the name of the secret realm, a hint of a smile flickering in his eyes.

This girl is quite ambitious, actually using the character 'Yuan' as the name of her secret realm.

Xia Zhen, however, wore a dark expression: "Danyuan Secret Realm?"

Using 'Yuan' as the secret realm name—does Hua Changxi think her realm is the foremost among all secret realms?

Meng Qingyao's expression also shifted slightly upon hearing the name Hua Changxi had chosen.

She hadn't expected Hua Changxi to reveal her ambition so openly, without any subtlety whatsoever.

Beside her, Dongfang Hao let out a sigh: "This Hua Changxi is certainly straightforward enough."

Dongfang Xu, however, wasn't focused on Hua Changxi. Instead, he looked at Meng Qingyao curiously and asked, "Sister Qingyao, why didn't you ever think of giving the secret realm a name?"

Meng Qingyao was taken aback by the question, a trace of awkwardness crossing her face as she remained silent.

Seeing that Dongfang Xu wanted to press further, Dongfang Hao immediately stopped him with a stern look.

Why?

Naturally, it was because the other secret realm masters weren't focused on the secret realm itself, but on the spiritual herbs within it, thinking only of using those herbs to scheme for power and profit, while neglecting the realm itself.

At the same time, the other secret realm masters also reflected on this issue, their expressions turning somewhat unnatural.

Most secret realm masters had never even thought of naming their secret realms, believing that the realm bestowed by the Divine Tree should simply be called the Divine Tree Secret Realm. To distinguish them, they merely appended the serial number of the Qihuang Hall where the master presided.

For example, Meng Qingyao was the master of Qihuang Hall No. 7, so her secret realm was called Divine Tree Secret Realm No. 7.

Yuan Tianchou looked at Mu Qingying: "Junior sister, after we go back, shall we think of a name for the secret realm too?"

Mu Qingying nodded: "Yes, we should give the secret realm a name."

While the various secret realm masters were quietly pondering what to name their own realms, someone bold used spiritual power to transmit a voice and loudly asked Hua Changxi.

"Hall Master Hua, may I ask—can everyone join your Danyuan Secret Realm?"

Hua Changxi: "Those who meet the conditions can all join."

The bold one: "May I ask what the conditions are?"

It was getting late. Hua Changxi had no time to answer every question one by one, so she simply said, "Everyone, please look at the recruitment notice for the specific conditions and requirements."

With that, she led Yu Gui and the others back to Qihuang Hall No. 13.

On the way back, feeling the changes in the square, Pharmacist Xu and the others couldn't help but discuss among themselves.

Hua Wanyue: "The square has changed so much! From now on, crossing the square on foot would probably take several quarters of an hour."

Hua Shuran: "You said it yourself—'on foot.' But we are cultivators. Flying on a sword or using other traveling treasures, we can cross the square in no time."

He Sirong quickly turned to Hua Changxi upon hearing this: "Hall Master, the Cauldron Altar seems to be a place for offering sacrifices to heaven. Surely we can't just fly freely over the square, right?"

Hua Changxi was taken aback by the question. After a moment of silence, she said, "The Medical Administration has the Director and Prince Shou overseeing it, and now there is also the Spirit Realm Pavilion added to the mix. With so many people in charge, they will certainly regulate everyone's behavior."

He Sirong wasn't too optimistic about this. Sometimes, having too many people in charge was itself the trouble—the very root of chaos.