Chapter 296: Intercept

After entering September, cultivators from outside the capital who wished to apply for the five sacred lands began to arrive in the capital one after another.

For the first half month, Hua Changxi was still very worried that cultivators entering the capital would threaten the normal lives of ordinary people, and every noon and evening he would patrol the east side of the capital city.

Fortunately, most of the cultivators were here to apply for the sacred lands, and they generally complied well with the capital's regulations prohibiting cultivators from flying and fighting.

Hua Changxi also contacted Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen several times to ask about the situation in other districts, and was told that nothing had happened.

Seeing that the cultivators entering the capital did not cause unrest as the royal family had feared, Hua Changxi gradually relaxed his vigilance, reducing his patrols from twice a day to once a day, and then to once every three days.

"Line up one by one."

"If you wish to enter Danyuan Peak, testing your spiritual root is the first step. As long as you have a wood spiritual root, you have the opportunity to enter Danyuan Peak."

At the foot of Danyuan Peak, Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue led several miscellaneous laborers from the Personnel Department and were responsible for testing the spiritual roots of those who came to register.

Because there were too many people, both were extremely busy with no time to rest.

Starting from mid-September, several hundred people came to Danyuan Peak to register every day. Although they were busy every day, both were in extremely high spirits.

"Step two: after testing your spiritual root, someone will lead you into the hall and explain to you the various rules and precautions to follow when entering Danyuan Peak and the secret realm."

"Remember, this is a two-way choice."

"If any of you feel that you cannot abide by the rules and regulations of Danyuan Peak and the Danyuan Secret Realm, then do not waste your time; please go elsewhere to seek your own opportunities."

"Step three: those who have a wood spiritual root and can abide by all the rules and regulations will be taken to the peak of Danyuan Peak to undergo a Heart Demon Oath test."

"As long as you pass the recognition of the Oath Tablet, you can become a member of Danyuan Peak. If you do not receive the approval of the Oath Tablet, then please return to where you came from."

"Of course, joining Danyuan Peak does not mean that everyone can stay forever. Danyuan Peak will hold irregular assessments, so after joining Danyuan Peak, please do not slack off."

On the mountainside of Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi stood on a spirit cloud, a smile on his lips as he watched the bustling registration scene at the foot of the mountain.

Thinking that the number of apprentices who had joined Danyuan Peak was already close to ten thousand, and among them there were many with outstanding alchemy talent, Hua Changxi's mood improved even more.

However, the other factions within the Medical Affairs Department were somewhat envious of the fiery recruitment success at Danyuan Peak.

Because of this, on September 25th, the Lingjing Pavilion specially convened a meeting of all secret realm masters.

In the meeting hall, when most of the secret realm masters had arrived, Long Chenyi was the first to speak: "I have to say, Hua Changxi's method of placing recruitment announcements in various places in collaboration with other sacred lands is really good. Danyuan Peak must have recruited at least several thousand apprentices this month."

Bai Zhixin nodded in agreement: "Yes, it not only solved Danyuan Peak's recruitment problem, but also promoted cross-regional integration and exchange among cultivators from various places."

Seeing that the Guardian Dao family had started the conversation, Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying also smiled and joined the discussion.

Yuan Tianchou: "Indeed, now many tea houses and taverns in the capital have become places for cultivators to exchange ideas. Cultivators gather together to share their experiences and cultivation insights. My fellow disciples and I have listened a few times, and we all felt we gained a lot."

Mu Qingying also added: "After seeing cultivators from all over, I truly understand what it means that there are always heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people."

Cultivators from all regions entering the capital attracted attention from all sides, and then everyone began to talk about their own experiences and insights.

Xia Ziyang saw that everyone was chatting enthusiastically and showed no sign of getting to the point, so he couldn't help but look at Meng Qingyao.

Meng Qingyao then looked at Xia Zhen and saw him with his head down, seemingly lost in thought. After hesitating for a moment, she still spoke up to interrupt everyone: "Alright, everyone, let's pause for a moment."

When everyone fell silent, Meng Qingyao continued: "Today I called you all together mainly to discuss the matter of recruiting apprentices for the secret realms."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present fluctuated slightly.

Everyone understood Meng Qingyao's intention: she simply wanted to ride on the wave of Danyuan Peak's recruitment and also recruit a batch of talented individuals.

Watching hundreds and thousands of cultivators join Danyuan Peak every day, especially with many of them possessing excellent talents, it would be a lie to say they weren't envious.

No matter the time, talent is a high-quality resource, and naturally the more the better.

Xia Ziyang spoke: "As far as I know, among the apprentices who have joined Danyuan Peak, many have dual spiritual roots or triple spiritual roots, and there are also not a few with a single wood spiritual root."

"With so many outstanding cultivators, it's unlikely that Hua Changxi alone can train them all."

"Every day so many cultivators come to the Medical Affairs Department to register. I think we can help share some of the burden with Hua Changxi."

These words essentially expressed the thoughts of many secret realm masters. Everyone remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Although Mu Qingying also wanted to recruit some talent for her own secret realm, she still spoke up in opposition: "Isn't it inappropriate for us to do this?"

"We didn't contribute any effort to placing recruitment announcements in various places. If we also recruit apprentices, it would be poaching from Danyuan Peak."

Xia Ziyang laughed: "Fellow Daoist Mu, your words are not quite reasonable. Which secret realm a cultivator chooses to join is their own freedom. How can it be said that we are poaching people?"

Mu Qingying frowned: "But all the外地 cultivators who come to the Medical Affairs Office are here for Danyuan Peak."

Xia Ziyang looked disapproving: "That's because Danyuan Peak is their only option if they want to join the Holy Land."

"We are the Secret Realm Lords of Divine Wood Secret Realm and also represent the Holy Land. By recruiting apprentices, we give外地 cultivators more choices. What's wrong with that?"

At these words, the Secret Realm Lords from the Guardian families expressed their agreement one after another.

Yuan Tianchou knew that if he let it go on, Mu Qingying would offend people, so he quickly signaled her with his eyes.

Mu Qingying saw him but ignored it: "If we want to poach people from Danyuan Peak, we at least need Hua Changxi's consent."

Seeing Mu Qingying relentlessly pressing, Xia Ziyang's eyes flashed with irritation: "Daoist Mu is wrong again. Hua Changxi is a member of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. She should unconditionally obey any decision passed by the majority in the Spiritual Realm Pavilion meeting."

Mu Qingying was angered into a laugh by these words. She ignored Xia Ziyang and turned to Meng Qingyao: "Pavilion Master, do you think so too?"

Seeing everyone looking at her, Meng Qingyao knew she had to take a stance: "As long as it is something that can promote the Holy Land's development and growth, we Secret Realm Lords should actively pursue it."

She paused as she spoke and looked at Mu Qingying.

"It is true that Hua Changxi spread the news about the Alchemy Saint Hall recruiting apprentices. But merely for that reason, forbidding other Secret Realm Lords from recruiting外地 cultivators would make Hua Changxi far too overbearing."

Mu Qingying couldn't help a sarcastic smile: "It seems the Spiritual Realm Pavilion has never once notified Hua Changxi about its meetings, has it?"

Xia Ziyang immediately retorted: "It's because Hua Changxi has no regard for the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. If she truly considered herself a member, she should have come to pay her respects to the Pavilion Master on her own."

Mu Qingying looked at him, her face full of mockery: "Whatever you say goes, then."

Seeing this, Xia Ziyang also grew angry: "Since Daoist Mu is so eager to defend Hua Changxi, then just don't recruit any外地 cultivators."

"And why should I?"

Yuan Tianchou rebutted before Mu Qingying could: "If other Secret Realm Lords can recruit, then Qingying naturally can too. Daoist Xia, the Spiritual Realm Pavilion is not your one-man show; everyone has the freedom to voice their own opinions."

Just as the two seemed about to argue, Meng Qingyao spoke up: "What is the purpose of recruiting apprentices? It is for the Holy Land's development and growth, not for any one person." As she said this, she looked at Mu Qingying.

"Secret Realm Lord Mu, you must remember that you bear the responsibility of strengthening the Holy Land."

"Recruiting apprentices is a common task for all Secret Realm Lords of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion. Each secret realm must recruit at least five thousand apprentices."

"This meeting is adjourned. Everyone may leave now."

No matter how dissatisfied Mu Qingying was, she could say nothing more at this point.

Xia Zhen, who had been sitting silently below Meng Qingyao, showed satisfaction in his eyes as he saw Meng Qingyao suppress Mu Qingying and the others.

Starting from the twenty-seventh of September, all Secret Realm Lords set up recruitment points for apprentices at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Office.

The number of外地 cultivators entering the capital each day was still limited. Once divided among the five Holy Lands, the applicants arriving at the Medical Affairs Office were not that many. Now, with other secret realms poaching a large batch, the number signing up at Danyuan Peak dropped off a cliff.

"Shameless, absolutely shameless!"

With the drop in applicants, the Personnel Department felt it most acutely. Xu Yaoshi was so angry she wanted to go tear down all those registration points at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Office.

The department heads of Danyuan Peak also took this matter very seriously. They all gathered at the Personnel Department to discuss countermeasures.

That evening, when Hua Changxi emerged from her secret realm and was about to inspect the Eastern District, she was waylaid by all the department heads in the Personnel Department.

After hearing the department heads' report on the other secret realms poaching recruits, Hua Changxi was somewhat annoyed but not overly angry.

She knew these things were unavoidable. Moreover, other Secret Realm Lords starting to recruit apprentices was also good for the Holy Land's development.

She just hadn't expected it to come so quickly, and that the Spiritual Realm Pavilion clique wouldn't even bother to inform her.

Hua Changxi looked at the pale-faced Personnel Department staff and the department heads, then asked with a smile: "What do you think we should do about this?"

Xu Yaoshi quickly replied: "We can't let the other secret realms steal the cultivators who sign up."

Hua Changxi shook her head: "I'm afraid that's a bit difficult. I can't oppose all the Secret Realm Lords by myself, and I also can't stop外地 cultivators from choosing to join other secret realms, right?"

Yu Fu and the others all felt this was a tricky situation.

Wan Feng hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward: "Peak Master, I think we should make the other secret realms compensate you."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi became interested: "How would they compensate me?"

Wan Feng: "Not to mention the manpower and financial resources you spent publishing recruitment notices everywhere, even for cultivators entering the capital, you paid a large amount of resources to the imperial court, and you still have to inspect the Eastern District."

"If the other Secret Realm Lords want to recruit apprentices, fine, but they should share in your expenses."

Hua Changxi smiled, turned his wrist, and handed Wan Feng the list of resources provided to the royal family. He looked at him with a smile and said, "I'll leave this matter to you."

Wan Feng was stunned for a moment, then quickly took the list: "Rest assured, Peak Master, I will do my best to complete the task."