Chapter 365: Nine Streets Hall

Hua Changxi left the Dingyuan Bo residence in less than an hour and then went straight back to the Medical Department.

Three years had passed, and aside from having more people, the Medical Department had no other changes.

Hua Changxi's return stirred up discussions throughout the Medical Department.

"Was Peak Lord Hua really recovering from injuries these three years?"

"If the Duke of Liang had truly severely injured Peak Lord Hua, would she dare to provoke the Duke of Liang's residence as soon as she recovered?"

Unlike ordinary cultivators, whose focus was on the grudge between Hua Changxi and the Duke of Liang, Xia Zhen, Prince Shou, and others were more concerned about the fact that over twenty members of the Hua family had all been taken into the Xuanfu Mansion.

The members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion all wore contemplative expressions, wondering: what had Hua Changxi done to make the Xuanwu Five Generals relent and accept the entire Hua family?

For Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi was the backbone; her return left the entire peak overjoyed.

"Master."

Yu Fu and the other three had been waiting early at the entrance of the Medical Department. As soon as they saw Hua Changxi, they hurried over with delight.

Hua Changxi saw them, walked into the Medical Department, and asked with a smile, "How has everything been at Danyuan Peak while I was away?"

Zhou Shou, who was directly responsible for releasing missions and managing all affairs on Danyuan Peak, immediately replied, "Master, rest assured, everything at Danyuan Peak is fine. The second layer of the secret realm has been fully developed."

"The assessment missions you previously instructed are conducted at the end of every year. Each year, we have selected a batch of outstanding disciples. These people have been assigned to the Planting Department, Processing Department, Alchemy Department, and the Lecture Hall of the Mission Hall."

Yu Fu added, "Nowadays, the monthly allowances for all apprentices on Danyuan Peak are distributed in the form of pills refined by the Alchemy Department."

Knowing that Danyuan Peak was running smoothly, Hua Changxi felt relieved and said to Zhou Shou and the others, "After we return to the peak, compile a summary of the situation in each department of Danyuan Peak over these three years and bring it to me in the bamboo hut."

The four immediately agreed.

At that moment, Hua Changxi and the four others arrived in front of what used to be the Medical Department building, but the plaque reading "Medical Department" had now been replaced with "Nine Streets Hall."

Seeing this, Hua Changxi stopped and asked, "Did something special happen in the Medical Department?"

Yu Fu looked at the Nine Streets Hall office, knowing what Hua Changxi was asking about, and quickly replied, "After the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion, the Medical Department now has another addition: Nine Streets Hall."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. "Nine Streets Hall?"

The Spirit Realm Pavilion was backed by the Xia family, a protector clan; the Qihuang Pavilion was backed by the royal family and nobility. Who was behind this newly emerged Nine Streets Hall?

"Who is in charge of Nine Streets Hall?"

Yu Fu said, "It is Tong Zhou, the former chief alchemist of Second Street, Master Tong Zhou."

Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes. "Master Tong Zhou? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere."

Yu Fu reminded her, "Master, do you remember Gu Jinfan of the Xingguo Duke's residence? Master Tong is her teacher."

Upon hearing Gu Jinfan’s name, Hua Changxi’s expression turned serious. She looked at Yu Fu and asked, "Do you mean that the people behind Nine Streets Hall are the nobility?"

Yu Fu shook his head. "That’s unclear. To be honest, the Medical Department is quite chaotic right now. The members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion are mixed together, and the connections of Nine Streets Hall’s people are also very complicated."

"However, on the surface, the main members of Nine Streets Hall are primarily those former outstanding alchemists and their disciples."

Continuing forward, they reached the Pilgrim’s Path.

Seeing the green flames burning at the intersection of the Pilgrim’s Path with First Street and Second Street, Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered, and she then resolutely turned into the adjacent alley.

Although they did not know why Hua Changxi avoided the Pilgrim’s Path, Yu Fu and the others followed without hesitation.

"Master."

Just as they reached the alley entrance, Yu Fu called out to Hua Changxi.

Yu Fu said, "Master, look quickly—that is Master Tong Zhou, the current head of Nine Streets Hall."

Hua Changxi looked over and saw several cultivators emerging from Nine Streets Hall.

The next moment, her eyebrows shot up.

One of the cultivators accompanying Tong Zhou was actually a Lingtai realm cultivator!

"Who is that blue-robed cultivator next to Master Tong?"

Yu Fu looked over and said, "That is Wen Shouren, Alchemist Wen. He is a fourth-grade alchemist and handles many of Nine Streets Hall’s affairs on behalf of Master Tong. You could say he is Master Tong’s deputy."

Hua Changxi’s lips curled into a smile. Deputy?

Physician Tong was merely a Nascent Infant Initial Stage cultivator, but Wen Shouren was a Spiritual Platform Realm cultivator who had already opened his Sea of Consciousness.

Outsiders might have mistaken who was the chief and who was the deputy!

Just then, Tong Zhou and Wen Shouren also glanced over at them.

Hua Changxi had no intention of greeting the two; she nodded at them, then turned and strode into the alley.

Watching Hua Changxi walk off with Yu Fu and the other three, Tong Zhou let out a snide laugh: "This Peak Master Hua, just as the rumors say... she has no one in her eyes."

Wen Shouren glanced at him: "Would you ask the Five Generals of Xuan Yuan to spare you a second glance?"

Tong Zhou was stunned—did Elder Wen mean that Hua Changxi's status was now on par with the Five Generals of Xuan Yuan?

Wen Shouren paid no further attention to Tong Zhou; he looked at the alley where Hua Changxi had disappeared, then turned his gaze to the nearby Pilgrimage Path.

Going back to Danyuan Peak, the Pilgrimage Path was the shortest route; taking other alleys would inevitably mean making a detour, choosing the long way over the short one—was this... unwillingness to walk the Pilgrimage Path?

While crossing Nine Streets, Hua Changxi suddenly asked Yu Fu and the other three: "Is there anyone on Danyuan Peak who has been overly familiar with the Nine Streets Hall?"

Yu Fu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi all shook their heads, but Jia Lu suddenly said: "When I was on patrol, I saw Wan Feng from the Personnel Department chatting with Wen Shouren."

"However, that time the Nine Streets Hall wanted to purchase a batch of spiritual medicines from Danyuan Peak, and it was Wan Feng who received Wen Shouren."

After hearing this, Hua Changxi let out a laugh; she had roughly guessed who was behind the Nine Streets Hall.

The Heir of the Elixir Saint Hall!

That Wen Shouren was probably someone with a status similar to that of Chief Elder Chi Ming of the Artifact Saint Palace.

Before, she had thought the Heir of the Elixir Saint Hall would continue to ignore the current state of the Medical Affairs Department, but now it seemed they could no longer sit still and had started to get directly involved.

As for the Elixir Saint Hall, Hua Changxi had never considered contending for power or profit. She had neither the intention, the energy, nor the time. She simply wanted to use this platform to refine her own medical and alchemical skills and, along the way, spread the knowledge of medicine and alchemy.

Therefore, she was not particularly concerned about the "entry" of the Elixir Saint Hall's Heir.

In a word, as long as it didn't affect her, they could do whatever they wanted.

Soon, Hua Changxi and the four—Yu Fu, Zhou Shou, Zhao Xi, and Jia Lu—returned to Danyuan Peak.

When Danyuan Peak first appeared, it had been barren; but now, it was completely transformed, with the entire mountain already lush and green.

Looking at the vibrant Danyuan Peak, the corners of Hua Changxi's mouth involuntarily lifted, and a joyful smile flowed in her eyes.

"Jiu Niang!"

As soon as Hua Changxi set foot on Danyuan Peak, Hua Sanlang hurried over with several members of the Hua clan.

As soon as they met, Hua Sanlang could not wait to ask: "Jiu Niang, I heard from others that our entire family has been arranged by you to join the Xuan Yuan Manor. Is this true?"

Hua Changxi hadn't expected the news to spread so fast, but then she smiled in understanding.

It must have been Grand Elder Hua and his son who spread it.

Once the news that the Hua family had joined Xuan Yuan Manor came out, the matter between the Duke of Liang and her would have to come to an end somehow. Tomorrow, the Duke of Liang would have no choice but to come to Danyuan Peak.

Hua Changxi looked at Hua Sanlang: "It's true, Third Brother. You can think carefully about whether to continue staying on Danyuan Peak or to join the Xuan Yuan Manor with the rest of the family."

Hua Sanlang was stunned—it was actually true! Jiu Niang really had the ability to get their entire family into Xuan Yuan Manor!

Seeing that he had fallen into deep thought, Hua Changxi walked around him and continued up the peak.

Yu Fu and the other three quickly followed: "Master, since the Duke of Liang is visiting tomorrow, is there any preparation we need to make?"

Hua Changxi: "No."

Along the way, Yu Fu and the others each reported to Hua Changxi on the matters under their charge, accompanying her all the way to the bamboo dwelling before stopping.

"Master, please rest. We will go back now to compile a summary of all affairs on Danyuan Peak over the past three years and bring it to you in a couple of days."

Jia Lu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi prepared to turn back, but only Yu Fu seemed hesitant to speak.

Hua Changxi looked at him: "What is it? Something else?"

Yu Fu hesitated for a moment but still said: "It's like this, Master. During the three years you were away, Sanlang withdrew a batch of elixirs from the Logistics Department every three months, saying he was using them to help his family members."

"I just wanted to ask, how should we handle this expenditure going forward?"

Hua Changxi normally wouldn't care about a few resources, but after thinking for a moment, she still said: "Deduct it from my third brother's monthly allowance."

After hearing this, Yu Fu immediately smiled and said, "Yes, I know what to do."