Chapter 283: Training Ground

Hua Changxi made a trip to the Personnel Department and, seeing that there was indeed a steady stream of people signing up, had Master Xu select fifty people from the senior apprentices to expand the department.

Prior to this, the Enforcement Hall, Mission Hall, and Logistics Department had all added personnel, and when they learned that the Personnel Department would also be taking on new people, the senior apprentices signed up very enthusiastically.

At Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi was either in the secret realm or at the Instructor Hall.

After parting with Master Xu, she went straight to the Instructor Hall and saw Hua Sanlang there.

"Third Brother?"

Seeing Hua Changxi, Hua Sanlang showed no sibling joy; on the contrary, his expression was slightly uncomfortable.

Only after arriving at Danyuan Peak did he truly feel the enormous gap between himself and his sister.

Aside from the disparity in status, what Hua Sanlang found hardest to accept was that toward her own full-blooded elder brother, Ninth Lady truly treated him the same as all the other apprentices, without giving him any extra consideration at all.

Because of this, he had been subjected to no small amount of gossip from his clansmen.

Hua Changxi approached Hua Sanlang: "I've been busy all this time and haven't been able to spend time with you. Now that you're at Danyuan Peak, are you getting used to it?"

Hua Sanlang's expression relaxed slightly, and he nodded: "Gathering spirit herbs, processing spirit herbs, and cultivating spirit herbs are all things I was already used to doing. Whether it's the medicinal fields in the secret realm or the spirit fields outside my cave dwelling, I can manage them well."

Hua Changxi smiled: "That's good. Third Brother, you have great talent in medicine and alchemy. Now that you're on Danyuan Peak, you must solidify your foundation. Only with a solid foundation can you go further in medicine and alchemy. I also hope that in the future, Third Brother can become a high-grade alchemist."

Hua Sanlang forced a faint smile. He didn't like Ninth Lady's lecturing tone — after all, he was the elder brother, wasn't he? Still, thinking about the purpose of his visit, he nodded and agreed: "I understand."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Third Brother has been at Danyuan Peak for over five months now, right? This is the first time you've come to find me on your own."

Hua Sanlang thought to himself: He was a stranger at Danyuan Peak; shouldn't his younger sister, as the peak master, have come to see him first?

Seeing him silent, Hua Changxi felt a bit weary. Compared to Sixth Brother, who spoke his mind, this Third Brother was rather prickly: "Third Brother, is there something you want to see me about?"

Seeing that Hua Changxi brought it up first, Hua Sanlang stopped beating around the bush: "I can manage both the medicinal fields in the secret realm and the spirit fields outside the cave dwelling well, and I have plenty of free time during the day. So I wanted to find something else to do."

Hua Changxi looked surprised: "Third Brother, you still have free time? I thought that after tending the fields every day, you wouldn't have enough time left for cultivation."

She herself always felt she didn't have enough cultivation time, and by extension, she assumed other cultivators were short on it too.

Hua Sanlang paused: "Master Fang from the manor said that focusing solely on bitter cultivation isn't the right path; one needs more experience to keep the mind from lagging behind."

Hua Changxi agreed with that and nodded: "That's not wrong. But for a cultivator, strength is the foundation, and enough time must be set aside for cultivation."

Hua Sanlang thought Hua Changxi was about to refuse him and said anxiously: "I've set aside enough time for cultivation. I just want something to do — first, to train myself, and second, to broaden my experience."

"And since the number of apprentices at Danyuan Peak is growing, you must need people to help manage the peak and the secret realm's affairs, right?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and was silent for a moment: "Third Brother, if you're not afraid it will affect your cultivation, then come to the Instructor Hall and be an instructor."

This arrangement was entirely made by Hua Changxi with Hua Sanlang's benefit in mind. Being an instructor would let him meet different people and consolidate his medical and alchemical knowledge through teaching.

Hua Changxi thought this would help Hua Sanlang build a stronger foundation and benefit his future.

Unfortunately, Hua Sanlang didn't appreciate it: "Ninth Lady, do you think I can only be a teacher who just reads from the book in the Instructor Hall?"

Hua Changxi sensed his reluctance and displeasure. She paused: "Then what do you want to do, Third Brother?"

Hua Sanlang paused, then looked straight at Hua Changxi: "I want to work in the Mission Hall."

Hua Changxi did not reply immediately. After a short silence, she spoke: "Third Brother, because of our relationship, on Danyuan Peak, all sorts of people will try to get close to you. You know that, right?"

Hua Sanlang frowned: "I understand what you mean, but just because I'm your brother, does that mean I can't do anything? Can't I have my own pursuits?"

Hua Changxi: "Everyone can have their own pursuits, but only if they rely on themselves."

Hua Sanlang's face darkened: "Ninth Lady, I just came to ask you for a job. If you won't agree, fine, but do you have to needle me like this? And I'm your third brother at that."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "It's precisely because you are my third brother that you can stand before us and say these things now."

Hua Sanlang was choked and said angrily: "So you're saying you won't let me go to the Mission Hall?"

Hua Changxi: "Why must you go to the Mission Hall? The rules of Danyuan Peak apply equally to everyone."

"The Mission Hall handles task assignments. Since you're my third brother, many people will be watching you. If you make a mistake, tell me: should I punish you or not?"

Hua Sanlang said nothing.

Hua Changxi: "...I just saw Fourth Brother and Seventh Lady bring a group of Hua clan members to sign up at the Personnel Department. You want to go to the Mission Hall—could it be to look after them?"

Hua Sanlang looked at Hua Changxi: "Ninth Lady, they are our clansmen. What's wrong with looking out for them a little?"

"Look at how Qingyao Peak and Xuanhuang Peak handle things. Why are you so holier-than-thou, insisting on treating your own people and outsiders equally?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi didn't want to say more: "Third Brother, I have my own pursuits and things I want to accomplish. You are my family. I don't expect you to support me, but don't hold me back either."

"I will not allow anyone to break the rules I have set. If you want something to do, you can come to the Lecture Hall. The Task Hall is not suitable for you."

If Hua Sanlang were assigned to the Task Hall, the chance of him making mistakes would be too high. Even if he didn't, there would be no guarantee that someone with ulterior motives wouldn't lure him into doing so.

"Remember, the rules of Danyuan Peak apply to everyone equally. Also, Danyuan Peak has assessments. If you don't pass, you'll have to leave."

After saying this, Hua Changxi turned and left.

Watching Hua Changxi walk away, Hua Sanlang's chest heaved. He hadn't expected his own biological sister to be so heartless toward him, not even letting him serve as the head of the Task Hall.

On the other side, Hua Changxi, with a furrowed brow, went to the Logistics Department and found Yu Fu.

"Many members of the Hua clan signed up this time. You and Zhou Shou, help me keep an eye on them. If anyone contacts my third brother and the others, stay alert."

Yu Fu quickly nodded: "Don't worry, Master. We'll keep a close watch on everything on Danyuan Peak."

As for how to handle the Hua family and the Hua clan members, he and Zhou Shou and the others had already discussed it long ago. If any of them violated the rules, they would report it truthfully.

"By the way, Master, among today's registrants, there are a few individuals with rather special identities."

Hua Changxi looked over: "Special identities?"

Yu Fu nodded: "The Seventh Prince, Chu Junhao, and the former head of the No. 12 Qihuang Hall, Zhu Qinghuan, have both registered."

Hua Changxi was also surprised: "These two came to register as apprentices?"

Chu Junhao was a member of the imperial family, entangled with too many strings. For him to enter Danyuan Secret Realm as an apprentice—one could only imagine he had ulterior motives.

As for Zhu Qinghuan, she had managed to obtain the Qihuang Token back then, indicating talent in alchemy and medicine. Yet she had the Qihuang Token but was not granted a secret realm by the Divine Tree. That definitely hinted at something unusual.

"Keep a close watch on these two. If they do anything suspicious, report to me immediately."

At Sihai Tavern, in the private room where Hua Changxi and her three friends often gathered, Tong Yao, Yan Zhenzhen, and Jing Le arrived one after another.

Yan Zhenzhen: "I thought Fellow Daoist Hua, without anyone's help, would be slower than us in deploying the mana-displaying artifacts. Unexpectedly, she was even one step faster."

"Fellow Daoist Hua's cultivation is far deeper than we imagined."

Tong Yao sighed: "Fellow Daoist Hua's actions sometimes rely too much on brute force. She thinks that because she's powerful, she can shoulder everything alone."

Yan Zhenzhen looked at him: "What you said makes no sense. Is relying on strength to do things wrong?"

Tong Yao shook his head: "Not everything in this world can be swept clean just by relying on strength."

Jing Le nodded, a look of agreement on his face: "Fellow Daoist Hua, relying on her formidable power, always solves problems with force. If this continues, she will form a habitual way of thinking."

Tong Yao: "Fortunately, the Medical Department's situation is complex—it retains the lingering influence of imperial power while facing the rising revival of the Sacred Land. In such a tangled web, strength alone cannot solve everything."

"Since Fellow Daoist Hua is in the midst of it, she should be able to realize her own limitations."

Yan Zhenzhen: "I've heard that many prominent and powerful families have sent a batch of people to join Danyuan Secret Realm, and even the Seventh Prince is joining in the fun. To balance so many forces, I think Fellow Daoist Hua's head must be aching by now."

Jing Le looked at Tong Yao and Yan Zhenzhen: "Both of you and I have gained much experience following our sects. Fellow Daoist Hua has had fewer experiences. The appearance of Danyuan Peak is likely her training ground."

Yan Zhenzhen nodded: "The Divine Tree bestowing the secret realm was inherently meant for training. Fellow Daoist Hua using Danyuan Peak as a practice field is just a matter of course."