Chapter 294: Opportunity at Nanxiang County

After leaving the Northern Pacification Office, Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen hurried back to their sect to report the discussion results and departed one after another, while Hua Changxi followed Tong Yao to the Artifact Saint Palace.

The reason for going to the Artifact Saint Palace was twofold: first, she wanted to see Hua Liulang; second, she intended to purchase a batch of spirit artifacts.

Hua Changxi, seeing that Tong Yao was about to take her out of the city, asked in surprise, "Why do we need to leave the city?"

At this, a flash of irritation and disgust crossed Tong Yao's face: "The areas around the refining workshops are all under the tight surveillance of the imperial family and noble clans; even the slightest anomaly would draw their attention."

"To avoid unnecessary complications, these days, disciples of the Artifact Saint Palace can only enter and exit through the teleportation passage outside the city gate."

Hua Changxi admired the Artifact Saint Palace for having so many contingency plans, but still said, "That's not a long-term solution. Once cultivators from other regions enter the capital, as long as you still want to recruit disciples, they'll eventually discover your traces."

Tong Yao also understood this and showed a helpless expression: "Before launching the display spirit artifacts, the elders of the Holy Land never stopped arguing about this. To prevent the Holy Land from being infiltrated by forces like the imperial family, they even considered continuing the old method of secretly taking apprentices."

He then smiled at Hua Changxi and said, "Do you know what the main reason was that finally made the elders decide on open recruitment?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Was it related to the Alchemy Saint Hall?"

Tong Yao nodded: "That's right. When the first and second streets of the Alchemy Saint Hall ignited their alchemy fires, although the elders were surprised, they remained relatively calm."

"Later, the appearance of the Guardian Family Xia led the Alchemy Saint Hall to open the Eighteen Divine Wood Secret Realm, and the elders still managed to keep their composure."

"But when the Alchemy Cauldron Platform emerged, it wasn't just the Artifact Saint Palace—even the elders of the Talisman Saint Pavilion and the Formation Saint Sect could no longer sit still."

"Not to mention the subsequent appearance of Alchemy Origin Peak, Divine Harvest Peak, Green Jade Peak, and Mysterious Yellow Peak, as well as the emergence of the Guardian Saints—that thoroughly panicked the elders."

"The revival of the five holy lands was certainly bound to have an order of precedence, but the gap couldn't be too large."

"Seeing the Alchemy Saint Hall's revival progressing so rapidly while the other holy lands showed no movement at all, how could the elders not be anxious?"

"It was precisely for this reason that the elders made up their minds to widely recruit apprentices, develop and strengthen the holy land, and at the same time hope that the infusion of fresh blood could promote and drive the revival of the holy land."

"As for the various forces wanting to take the opportunity to plant their people into the Artifact Saint Palace, there was no way around that."

"Fortunately, the management structure of the Artifact Saint Palace had already been established long ago, and the key positions in each department already had people. Even if the imperial family and nobles try to infiltrate, the overall development direction of the Artifact Saint Palace won't deviate too much."

Hua Changxi wasn't particularly interested in the development plans of the other holy lands, but she nodded to show she was listening. After Tong Yao finished speaking, she offered her blessing.

"All five holy lands will recreate their ancient glory."

Tong Yao smiled in agreement: "They certainly will. Once the five holy lands are fully revived, they will be able to command the Central Continent, effectively suppress the chaos in various regions, and restore a peaceful and prosperous life for the people."

Although Hua Changxi felt that achieving this would be difficult and would take no short amount of time, she didn't want to dampen the mood: "Mm, they certainly will."

Tong Yao smiled at her: "Let's work hard together."

Hua Changxi: "...Alright."

The two talked as they walked, and soon they reached the southern city gate. After that, they headed south for another quarter of an hour before stopping in front of a desolate dry well.

Just as Tong Yao was about to tell Hua Changxi to jump into the well, he saw her frowning as she looked toward Nanxiang County: "You sense it too?"

Hua Changxi gazed at the fiery clouds above Nanxiang County and nodded: "Such dense fire spiritual energy."

In fact, it wasn't just fire spiritual energy; to her perception, that area seemed as if flames were blazing and seething.

Tong Yao paused: "Since last year, the concentration of fire spiritual energy around Nanxiang County has been rising, and since the turn of the year, the rate of increase has accelerated."

Hua Changxi: "What do you think is going to happen in Nanxiang County?"

Knowing that Hua Changxi lacked sources of information, Tong Yao said, "In ancient times, Nanxiang County was called Nanxiang City, the headquarters established in the Central Continent by the Vermilion Bird Monarch."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression shifted: "So that means the Mausoleum Light Hall and Nanxiang City are one and the same?"

Tong Yao: "More or less."

Hua Changxi stared intently at Nanxiang County: "With such an abnormal phenomenon appearing in Nanxiang County, is some ruin or secret realm about to emerge?"

Tong Yao shook his head: "It's not an ordinary ruin or secret realm—Nanxiang City itself is about to manifest." He turned to Hua Changxi, "Daoist Hua, this is a once-in-a-thousand-year great opportunity; you must not miss it."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Why do you say that?"

Tong Yao: "The Vermilion Bird Monarch's headquarters—just imagine how high its level might be. It might not be as grand as the five holy lands, but it definitely far surpasses ordinary ruins or secret realms."

"According to ancient records, the Four Symbols Cities of the Central Continent are all guarded by blessed lands and cave heavens. In other words, the manifestation of Nanxiang City will be accompanied by the appearance of blessed lands and cave heavens."

"Nanxiang City belongs to fire. For cultivators with a fire spirit root, this is naturally an enormous, great opportunity."

"That fire tiger we encountered outside the Northern Pacification Office was heading for the opportunity in Nanxiang County."

"Just wait and see, this Nanxiang County will soon become lively. Not only the human race, but even the demon race will come to vie for the blessed caves and divine lands."

"At that moment, a cultivator happened to fly by on a sword up in the sky. Tong Yao saw this, smiled, and shook his head."

"The imperial family has sealed off all entry and exit points of Nanxiang County, attempting to monopolize the opportunities there—a complete pipe dream. Not to mention others, the Mausoleum Light Hall is the first to refuse to accept this."

"As he spoke, Tong Yao revealed a curious expression: 'The Mausoleum Light Hall has been quiet all along. I wonder just what kind of person that Mausoleum Light Hall Master really is?'"

"Hua Changxi's eyes flickered, and she quickly changed the subject: 'Let's drop Nanxiang County. Let's go down quickly.'"

"Tong Yao nodded, and together with Hua Changxi, they jumped into the dry well one after the other, then teleported to the underground palace of the Artifact Saint Palace."

"After arriving underground, Hua Changxi first went to see Hua Liulang. Learning that everything was going well for him in the Artifact Saint Palace, and that he was balancing both cultivation and artifact refinement, she felt relieved. Then she followed Tong Yao to select spiritual artifacts."

"Tong Yao directly took Hua Changxi to the fourth-grade spiritual artifact repository."

"Looking at the wide variety and vast quantity of all kinds of fourth-grade spiritual artifacts in the repository, Hua Changxi sighed with emotion: 'Indeed, many hands make light work.'"

"At Danyuan Peak, she was the only one refining pills. Thanks to the Shennong Cauldron, the quantity was not small, but her time and energy were limited, so the variety of pills she produced was somewhat scarce—completely incomparable to the Artifact Saint Palace."

"Tong Yao fully understood Hua Changxi's current state of mind: 'The Alchemy Saint Hall is now somewhat fragmented, each acting on their own, leading to dispersed manpower. But there is still a way to change this situation.'"

"Hua Changxi looked at him: 'What way?'"

"Tong Yao looked at her: 'Use absolute power to crush all sides, so that they dare not disobey your commands.'"

"Hua Changxi's eyes widened: 'Not to mention I don't have that kind of power; even if I did, I wouldn't do it.'"

"Now it was Tong Yao's turn to be surprised: 'Why?'"

"Hua Changxi: 'Because I don't want to be the head of the Alchemy Saint Hall. Before, I might have had some such thoughts, but after taking charge of Danyuan Peak, I found managing people and affairs to be so troublesome—it wastes too much time and energy.'"

"'Not to mention that the Medical Department is full of all sorts of shady characters. If I get tangled up with them in that mess, will I even be able to cultivate?'"

"'As for me, I just want to be a lecturer spreading medical arts and alchemy knowledge.'"

"Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi with confusion: 'I originally thought you were a person of high ambition, but I didn't expect...'"

"He paused for a moment."

"'If reviving the Alchemy Saint Hall is your responsibility, won't you even contend for it?'"

"Hua Changxi quickly clarified: 'Don't put such a heavy burden on me. Reviving the sacred land is the responsibility of all sacred land disciples, not mine alone. Of course, I will also do what I can for the sacred land.'"

"Not wanting to continue discussing this issue with Tong Yao, Hua Changxi began selecting spiritual artifacts."

"'I am a healer. Are there any magical artifacts that use spiritual needles as weapons? Preferably ones that can both save people and be used against enemies.'"

"Tong Yao glanced at Hua Changxi, suppressed his desire to continue persuading her, and took a five-colored jade ring from a shelf and handed it to her."

"'This is the Five Spirit Divine Ring. Just input spiritual energy into the ring, and it will condense Five Spirit Divine Needles of corresponding attributes. The spiritual needles can pierce the body of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator.'"

"Hua Changxi heard this and her face lit up with joy: 'This spiritual artifact is good. I'll take it.'"

"Afterwards, Hua Changxi also selected a fire spirit sword. Although she still couldn't pull out the Radiant Light Sword, her swordsmanship had been constantly improving, and using a sword to fight enemies was no problem at all."

"Apart from the two fourth-grade spiritual artifacts, Hua Changxi also chose fifty second-grade spiritual gourds, each with an internal space of one cubic meter, convenient for her to store pills."

"'Here you go.'"

"Hua Changxi, at market price, handed Tong Yao a batch of third-grade supreme-quality pills."

"Tong Yao took the pills, looked at Hua Changxi, and smiled: 'Fellow Daoist Hua, in the way of pill refining, I'm afraid no one can match you.'"

"Hua Changxi was very modest: 'There are always greater people beyond, and heavens beyond heavens. Fellow Daoist Tong, you flatter me too much.'"

"Tong Yao smiled, didn't say more, and turned to see Hua Changxi out."

"As they passed through some areas of the underground palace, Hua Changxi sensed spatial fluctuations: 'Fellow Daoist Tong, the spatial boundary walls of the Artifact Saint Palace seem a bit unstable.'"

"After hearing this, Tong Yao rarely showed an angry expression on his face: 'It's all caused by the imperial family and noble clans. I don't know what spiritual artifact they activated, but several times it has shaken the underground palace as if an earthquake occurred.'"

"Hua Changxi warned: 'Spatial instability is no trivial matter. You must be extremely careful about the appearance of spatial rifts.'"

"Tong Yao nodded solemnly: 'We will be careful.'"