Chapter 247: Era's Catalyst (16)

Crossing the square, Hua Changxi led Yu Huai and the others back to the thirteenth Qihuang Hall.

Once inside, Hua Changxi instructed Yu Huai, Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and Guo Cheng to quickly compile the day's lecture content.

Then, Hua Changxi turned to Xu Yaoshi and the other seven, and said to Xu: "In a few days, the Danyuan Secret Realm will begin recruiting apprentices."

"Uncle Xu, you will take full charge of recruiting apprentices, along with Hua Shuran and the others."

Seeing that Hua Changxi was assigning them tasks again, Xu Yaoshi and the seven others beamed with joy.

What people fear most is having no place to use their skills.

As long as they were useful to the hall master, the hall master would always need them, and they could remain by the hall master's side.

After experiencing today's grand scene of the Cauldron Altar's reappearance, Xu Yaoshi and the other seven all felt an involuntary sense of crisis.

After today, anyone who wasn't stupid could see Hua Changxi's value, and it went without saying that a great many people would want to draw closer and join the thirteenth Qihuang Hall.

They couldn't let themselves be pushed out!

"Hall Master, rest assured, we will handle the apprentice recruitment flawlessly."

Xu Yaoshi and the other seven all expressed their full dedication.

Hua Changxi then added: "I have only one requirement: treat all cultivators who come to apply equally. As long as they meet the requirements, admit them."

"If I find that you, based on your own likes or dislikes, or for any other reason whatsoever, deliberately refuse to recruit someone, or open the door wide for certain people, then you can just leave the thirteenth Qihuang Hall."

He paused.

Hua Changxi's gaze swept across the eight medicine apprentices: "I know that every one of you has your heart in the Cao camp while your body is in the Han camp." (Note: idiom meaning outwardly loyal but inwardly serving other interests)

Hearing this, Hua Shuran and the others immediately wanted to explain, to show their determination to follow Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi didn't believe in light words and didn't give them a chance to speak.

"Now I need people, and I can't be bothered with this for now."

"But remember this: I may not require your loyalty, but you must carry out the tasks I assign to the letter."

"If you can't even do that, then staying by my side would truly be useless."

"I have no place for useless people here."

Hearing this, including Xu Yaoshi, the eight medicine apprentices all wore serious and solemn expressions.

He Sirong quickly stepped forward: "Thank you, Hall Master, for giving us a chance to prove ourselves. Our group all have families to consider, but from now on, we will definitely put the hall master first."

"If the hall master doesn't believe us, just watch our actions from now on."

Hua Shuran, seeing that the He family's daughter had taken the lead, quickly spoke up too: "Please let our future actions speak for us, Hall Master."

"If any of us truly betray the hall master, we will accept whatever punishment you deem fit without complaint."

The others also voiced their assurances one after another.

Hua Changxi listened to the eight of them but said nothing. Shifting his gaze, he saw a group of people approaching from outside the main gate.

The leaders were Gu Xing and Xia Zhen.

The Prince of Shou, Director Gu, and the other Qihuang Hall masters had also come, and even Tang Yufeng and those who had lost their hall master positions were following behind.

Looking at these people, Hua Changxi was startled at first, but soon understood their intentions.

To find out what green light the Cauldron had bestowed upon Hua Changxi, Xia Zhen set aside his identity as a guardian and took the lead in expressing goodwill.

"Congratulations, young friend Hua. Today's lecture was very successful."

Hua Changxi replied with a smile: "Thank you for the encouragement, Senior Xia. I will continue to work hard in the future."

Hearing this, a trace of awkwardness flickered across Xia Zhen's face. After composing himself, he cut straight to the point: "The Cauldron Altar's reappearance owes much to you, young friend Hua. May I ask what the Cauldron bestowed upon you?"

As soon as this question was asked, everyone perked up their ears.

Hua Changxi glanced at Gu Xing, and seeing that he too looked at him eagerly, raised an eyebrow slightly.

Gu Xing's reaction seemed to indicate that he also didn't know the green light that flew out of the Cauldron would transform into a holy pill.

The instant the holy pill condensed into form within his sea of consciousness, Hua Changxi understood everything about the holy pill and the thousand Guardian Orders contained within it.

The Sacred Pill, though called a pill, is actually a divine artifact that can only be controlled with soul power.

The Guardian Saint Order hidden within can command the Guardian Saint Guard.

However, not just anyone can serve as a Guardian Saint Guard.

In ancient times, to reward the Demon Suppression Guards who protected the stability of the Demon Prison at the Nine Nethers' nine passes, the Guardian Saint Guards of the sacred land were generally selected from among the Demon Suppression Guards.

The Demon Suppression Guards are stationed long-term in the Nine Nethers, and the environment of the Nine Nethers is not conducive to prolonged stays for flesh-and-blood bodies; over time, the physical body will suffer erosion, causing damage to one's foundation.

Even the demon race, with their incredibly tough bodies, find it extremely agonizing in the Nine Nethers.

What's more, some Demon Suppression Guards of insufficient strength or severely wounded may very likely lose their physical bodies, leaving only their primordial spirits in the world.

The Guardian Saint Order, refined from the leaves of the Immortal Divine Tree, possesses abundant life force that can both repair damaged physical bodies and protect and strengthen the primordial spirit.

For the Demon Suppression Guards who remain long in the Nine Nethers, the Guardian Saint Order is a rare protective treasure.

After learning this information, Hua Changxi understood that the Guardian Saint Guards could only be selected from among the Demon Suppression Guards.

To select Guardian Saint Guards, one must descend into the Nine Nethers and deal with the nine passes guarding the Demon Prison.

She was still unfamiliar with the Nine Nethers, and she didn't know much about the nine passes guarding the Demon Prison.

The matter of the Guardian Saint Guards could not be resolved in a short time.

Therefore, Hua Changxi did not want to reveal the matter of the Sacred Pill and cause complications, so she smiled at Xia Zhen and said, "It's just some images of the daily operations of the Alchemy Saint Hall."

Although these words were ambiguous, she was not lying.

The reason the Alchemy Cauldron granted her a thousand Guardian Saint Orders was that in ancient times, it was a thousand Guardian Saint Guards who protected the order of the Alchemy Cauldron Platform and the square.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhen clearly didn't believe her: "Friend Hua, this means you don't trust us."

Hua Changxi smiled faintly: "Senior Xia, have you considered that perhaps you draw too sharp a distinction between inside and outside?"

"You think I'm an outsider, not one of your own, so no matter what I say, you will have doubts in your heart."

These words made Xia Zhen pause in surprise.

Gu Xing glanced at Hua Changxi and didn't press further, only saying: "No matter what the Alchemy Cauldron has granted you, it represents the Alchemy Cauldron's recognition of you. As long as you don't betray that recognition, that's enough."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Senior Gu, I think that since I made the Alchemy Cauldron Platform reappear, whatever I have obtained is what I deserve."

As she spoke, she looked at Gu Xing.

"What do you mean by 'betray'? How did that come about?"

This old man is very sly. The Alchemy Cauldron emitted a 'Green Marsh', trying to bind her to the Alchemy Saint Hall for life.

Her position regarding the Alchemy Saint Hall had long been planned: she was to be a teacher spreading the Dao of alchemy and medical arts.

Anyone who tries to make her shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the Alchemy Saint Hall is ill-intentioned.

Seeing that Hua Changxi wasn't taking the bait, Gu Xing was somewhat helpless.

This girl, though a bit competitive and strong-willed, truly has little ambition.