Chapter 280: Anomaly in Nanxiang County

After parting ways with Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen, Hua Changxi went straight back to Danyuan Peak.

The lack of experience couldn't be resolved overnight; before obtaining the display spiritual tools, she could only focus on the present for now.

With her cultivation stalling, Hua Changxi temporarily halted practice and used the nighttime hours to temper her body and improve her alchemy grade.

In body tempering, she had already advanced to the fourth chapter of the Nine Transformations Mystic Art—the Sinew Tempering chapter.

Conveniently, all the spiritual herbs needed for the sinew-tempering medicinal bath could be found on the fourth level of the Danyuan Secret Realm.

After the agonizing medicinal bath, a violent and rampaging surge of power suddenly erupted inside her body. To absorb and refine this power, Hua Changxi had to teleport back to Lingguang Hall at top speed, sacrifice the Floating Light Sword, and begin practicing swordsmanship.

Ever since she subdued the Great Sun Divine Flame in Tanggu, her connection with the Floating Light Sword had grown tighter, and practicing the Floating Light Sword Technique had become much smoother.

Body tempering required not only soaking in the medicinal bath but also continuously honing the body.

Only under extreme external pressure could the body's potential be best stimulated and released.

Hua Changxi discovered that practicing the Floating Light Sword was very suitable for honing the body.

Each time she practiced the Floating Light Sword Technique, it mobilized the Great Sun Divine Flame within the sword. The might of that divine flame was naturally too great for a Nascent Soul realm cultivator to bear.

As the sword technique circulated, the power of the Great Sun Divine Flame coursed through her entire body, providing an excellent tempering effect.

Thus, in the process of practicing her sword technique, Hua Changxi's physical body was gradually strengthening.

In July, for an entire month, Hua Changxi taught first-grade spiritual herb cultivation every day at the No. 3 Qi Huang Hall. After August began, this class ended.

"Hall Master Hua, when will you be teaching at the No. 4 Hall?"

"Also, what class will you teach in the No. 4 Hall? We’d like to prepare in advance."

In July, everyone who came to listen to the lectures at the No. 3 Qi Huang Hall gained a lot, especially ordinary cultivators who hadn't received any inheritance.

Many expressed that after finishing the class, if they were provided with spirit fields and herb fields, they could start planting spiritual plants and spiritual herbs on their own.

Just like Danyuan Peak now—the once barren empty land had been reclaimed by the apprentices who listened to the "Complete Guide to First-Grade Spiritual Herb Cultivation," and they had planted it with spiritual plants and herbs.

The apprentices at Danyuan Peak could not only freely choose their caves but also reclaim five acres of spirit fields, with all output belonging to them. This made people from the entire Medical Department, including Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak, extremely envious.

But envy is one thing; for most people in the Medical Department, defying the imperial court or the powerful figures behind them to choose to join Danyuan Peak was still something they dared not do.

The main reason was the inertia of fearing the powerful.

Even though spiritual energy had now revived and these people had become cultivators with formidable combat power, their thinking remained trapped in the past, still adhering to the old ways of doing things.

"I'll inform everyone in advance when the next class will be."

Hua Changxi only gave a vague answer. Her teaching was primarily driven by the needs of developing the Danyuan Secret Realm and Danyuan Peak.

Currently, the process of harvesting → processing → planting spiritual herbs had been completed in the southeastern area of the first layer of the Danyuan Secret Realm. She wouldn't consider the next steps until the other three areas were developed.

After the classes ended, during the day, Hua Changxi focused on alchemy in the third layer of the secret realm; at night, she tempered her body and practiced her sword.

At the same time, Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak were now also vigorously reclaiming spirit fields and herb fields.

Watching the four barren peaks gradually turn green, Xia Zhen sighed with emotion. Hua Changxi had chosen the perfect timing to impart the "Complete Guide to First-Grade Spiritual Herb Cultivation."

No—perhaps she hadn't deliberately chosen the timing but was merely acting in accordance with the general trend.

Yet this situation was what worried him the most. Hua Changxi had inadvertently promoted the development of the Holy Land. How could Qing Yao ever catch up to her?

Time slipped by, and soon it was the twelfth day of the eighth month.

Tong Yao sent a message to Hua Changxi, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen, informing them that all one hundred display spiritual tools had been refined.

At noon that day, the four met at their usual restaurant, each receiving twenty-five display spiritual tools.

After confirming that the recruitment notice on the display spiritual tools was correct, Hua Changxi smiled at Tong Yao and the other two: "I hope that after distributing these display spiritual tools, we can recruit even more outstanding disciples."

Tong Yao and the others were also filled with anticipation.

Hua Changxi: "As agreed before, we each choose one of the four directions—east, south, west, north—for distribution."

Then, each of the four chose a direction: Hua Changxi distributed southward, Tong Yao westward, Jing Liao northward, and Yan Zhenzhen eastward.

Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi: "Once news spreads that the four Holy Lands are openly recruiting apprentices everywhere, it will definitely cause a huge uproar."

Yan Zhenzhen followed up: "The Holy Lands recruiting apprentices essentially means snatching talent from all sides. Local powers will certainly be unwilling to see this happen, and even the capital won't remain indifferent."

"So, when we deploy the display spirit artifacts, we might encounter snipers."

Tong Yao continued, "The time for us to deploy the display spirit artifacts shouldn't be too long. Our plan is to finish deploying all of them within three days."

Jing Le also looked over. "For the deployment of the display spirit artifacts, the three of us have sought help from the Holy Land elders. Benefactor Hua, your side..."

Hua Changxi quickly said, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems on my side either."

She had long mastered the Somersault Cloud to an extraordinary level. Although she couldn't cover a hundred and eight thousand li in one somersault, it wasn't far off.

Tong Yao and the other two saw that she spoke with such confidence, so they couldn't help but glance at her and then said nothing more.

When it was time to part, Hua Changxi reminded them again: "Remember, the display spirit artifacts must be deployed outside city gates with heavy foot traffic; otherwise, the artifacts' function won't be highlighted."

Tong Yao and the other two nodded: "Don't worry, we understand."

That evening, the four of them set off separately.

Hua Changxi headed all the way south, observing the crowded cities one after another without stopping. Using one night, she flew straight to the southernmost point bordering the sea.

Along the way, she had gained a rough understanding of the population distribution in the southern cities.

Without delay, Hua Changxi immediately turned back and began deploying display spirit artifacts outside the city gates of the large population centers she had focused on.

The display spirit artifacts were made of black star meteorite. The recruitment notices scrolling inside the artifacts were written by Jing Le using a Two Instruments Talisman Brush.

With black background and gold characters, they were very conspicuous.

Special formations were engraved on the display spirit artifacts, which took root upon landing and burst with dazzling light.

Although the light lasted only a quarter to half an hour, it was enough to attract the attention of nearby cultivators.

Seeing a large number of cultivators rushing toward the display spirit artifact, Hua Changxi did not linger and flew on to the next city.

In this manner, one after another, after two nights and one day, she had deployed all twenty-five display spirit artifacts.

During this time, some cultivators pursued her, but she was too fast and soon left them behind.

Early on the morning of August 14th, Hua Changxi deployed the last display spirit artifact outside the county town of Nanxiang County, not far from Lingguang Hall.

Since Lingguang Hall appeared, Nanxiang County and its surroundings had undergone earth-shaking changes. Not only did the area become larger, but the surrounding landscape was also quietly transforming.

Some plants grew several meters a day as if injected with hormones, appearing in patches. Some stone mountains split open, spilling out magma like waterfalls. Some valleys steamed with fiery vapors, as if flames were burning inside...

These strange phenomena in Nanxiang County were all covered up by the imperial court and did not spread widely.

If it weren't for Hua Changxi's trip south to deploy the display spirit artifacts, she would never have known that such rapidly changing transformations were occurring here.

Hua Changxi rode a spirit cloud, moving slowly over Nanxiang County, seriously and carefully observing all kinds of strange changes.

At this moment, in her eyes, Nanxiang County was steaming with fire spiritual energy, as if... some kind of transformation was taking place.

When she descended from the air and set foot on Nanxiang County's territory, she immediately felt a powerful force surging from deep underground.

This force struck straight into her chest, not only causing her heart to race but also making her blood boil throughout her body.

As if it were... celebrating for this land of Nanxiang County?!

This strange feeling came suddenly and inexplicably. Although Hua Changxi didn't sense any danger, she still gathered her spirit cloud and flew up into the high sky.

After calming down and hovering in the air to survey for a while, Hua Changxi then flew to Lingguang Hall.

Upon arriving at Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi issued the first mission to the Vermilion Bird Army.

"Investigate the strange phenomena of Nanxiang County!"