Chapter 419: Even Mayflies Can Shake Trees

Since Hua Changxi entered the council chamber, the formidable aura she exuded, impossible to ignore, compelled everyone to involuntarily focus their spirit, energy, and mind.

With the fluctuation of emotions, even without saying anything, everyone felt a strong sense of participation.

But now, her aura changed, turning her into an onlooker standing aloof, and many present felt a sudden sense of loss.

Even Meng Qingyao, who had just used words to corner Hua Changxi, felt no joy of victory, but instead experienced a stark humiliation—Hua Changxi simply disdained to debate with her!

This silence was a voiceless contempt, a complete disregard for her!

The council chamber fell silent, reverting to the... stillness it had during previous meetings.

"A pool of stagnant water..."

Among the attendees from Qihuang Pavilion, Huo Yunxiao keenly felt the two utterly different atmospheres in the meeting hall before and after Hua Changxi's shift in demeanor.

At this moment, he truly understood the words his master Wei Zhenjie had spoken earlier.

The Dan Saint Hall was like a pool where silt kept piling up, gradually turning into a swamp; to revive this water, a stone capable of striking the silt and stirring up waves had to be thrown in.

And Hua Changxi was precisely such a stone.

Huo Yunxiao looked at Hua Changxi, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Hua Changxi's initial stance was clearly very assertive, as if she was ready to confront everyone—what had changed her attitude?

Huo Yunxiao's gaze swept over the people in the council chamber, and a glimmer of understanding dawned—was it the silence of the crowd?

"Pavilion Master Meng, I think you are misinterpreting Peak Master Hua's meaning."

A clear female voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the council chamber. Everyone turned to look—it was Mu Qingying.

Mu Qingying looked straight at Meng Qingyao in the main seat: "Peak Master Hua clearly said that the arrangement of attendees and the assignment of tasks to each peak and each secret realm are all unfair. How did it end up in your mouth as Danyuan Peak's dissatisfaction with the Holy Land's arrangements?"

Yuan Tianchou, seeing that his junior sister was speaking so bluntly, could only chime in helplessly: "Yes, Pavilion Master Meng, we feel that you are avoiding the important and dwelling on the trivial?"

Both Meng Qingyao and Xia Zhen's faction hadn't expected Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou to stand up and support Hua Changxi. Before they could think of a response, another voice spoke up.

Gu Jinfan: "Speaking of attendees, I have also always had a doubt."

"In Qihuang Pavilion, aside from the pavilion masters who hold the Qihuang Token, what right does everyone else present have to sit here?"

"The same goes for Lingjing Pavilion—except for the secret realm masters who have obtained a secret realm, what right do others have to attend the meeting?"

"As for the attendees from Nine Streets Hall, that's even more of a mystery. I have no idea what qualification you rely on to sit here."

"The selection criteria for attendees is truly baffling. I humbly request Pavilion Master Meng, Pavilion Master Shen, and Hall Master Tong to enlighten us?"

Yan Qianying from Dong'an Prince Manor also spoke up: "And regarding the assignments the Holy Land gives to each secret realm—what exactly is the basis for their distribution?"

As these people spoke, the atmosphere in the council chamber shifted once again. Huo Yunxiao clearly felt that the atmosphere had come alive again.

Huo Yunxiao looked at Hua Changxi and noticed that she was visibly surprised. The originally lazy and casual look in her eyes gradually turned into one of growing interest.

"And then there's the seating arrangement."

Huo Yunxiao felt the atmosphere was already ignited; saying nothing would be a disservice to those who had stepped forward earlier: "Seating should be arranged according to each person's contribution to the Holy Land for it to be fair and reasonable.

"Pavilion Master Meng, Pavilion Master Shen, and Hall Master Tong govern the three departments, so there's no problem with them sitting in the main seats, but..."

"What I don't understand is, why are Elder Xia, Alchemist Wen, and Princess Lingyuan seated ahead of the secret realm masters who govern the secret realms and the pavilion masters who hold the Qihuang Token?"

"Have you made any significant contributions to the Holy Land?"

Huo Yunxiao's questioning of the 'legitimacy' of Xia Zhen, Wen Shouren, and Princess Lingyuan struck a chord with Hua Changxi, directly bringing a smile back to her face.

Hua Changxi smiled, but Xia Zhen, Wen Shouren, Princess Lingyuan, and others darkened their faces.

Nowadays, many of the Dan Saint Hall's 'rules' continued the former conventions of the Medical Directorate. These matters were supposed to be tacitly understood. No one had expected them to be openly brought to the light today.

This open provocation greatly displeased Xia Zhen and Princess Lingyuan. Wen Shouren's expression remained calm, but since he was not yet ready to reveal his status as a Holy Land elder, he could only remain silent.

Xia Zhen shot a cold glance at Mu Qingying and the others who had jumped out: "What, have you all completely forgotten all the major and minor things we have done for the operation and development of the Dan Saint Hall over the years?"

"Now, just because someone stirs you up, you completely turn a blind eye to these contributions?"

Hua Changxi had initially wanted to watch the show from the sidelines, but upon hearing Xia Zhen's pointed words, her face instantly turned cold: "Stirred up? Are you referring to me?"

Xia Zhen did not respond.

Everyone originally thought Xia Zhen was too disdainful to answer Hua Changxi's question, but when they looked at him, they were horrified to find his eyes wide open, blue veins bulging on his forehead, sweat pouring down like beans, his hands gripping the armrests of the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, the veins on the back of his hands knotted, and the whole man seemed to have fallen into extreme pain.

This scene startled everyone present, and their hearts leapt into their throats.

Meng Qingyao was about to speak, but was secretly pulled back by Tong Zhou and Shen Qianfan and forcibly stopped.

Because they couldn't confirm whether Hua Changxi was really the master of Lingguang Hall, all parties were having trouble gauging the "measure" of their interactions with her.

If she wasn't, it was fine.

But if she was, it was best not to provoke her at this moment.

Hua Changxi ignored everyone's reactions, only coldly looking at Xia Zhen: "How exactly did I incite them?"

"Wasn't it because you all went too far and aroused public anger?"

"What, in your heart, Xia Zhen, am I just a scapegoat?"

Xia Zhen.......

Hearing Hua Changxi address Xia Zhen by his full name without giving him any face, a flicker of surprise passed through everyone's eyes.

"Qingyao, apologize on behalf of Xia Zhen."

Upon hearing Xia Ji's voice transmission, Meng Qingyao's expression changed. After a moment, she still stood up and faced Hua Changxi: "Peak Lord Hua, Elder Xia just misspoke. I apologize to you on his behalf. I hope you can forgive him."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room erupted in uproar.

Hua Changxi looked at Meng Qingyao; she had sensed the spiritual power transmission just now and could guess it was from the middle-aged cultivator who had condensed a Nascent Soul, the one she had seen earlier.

"I know that the Xia family has deep foundations, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

"Xia Zhen thought I was an easy target and dared to openly slander me, but... even a mayfly can shake a tree!"

"This mortal world belongs to everyone, not just a certain group of people."

It wasn't until Xia Zhen's pupils dilated from suffocation that Hua Changxi released her hold on him.

"Huff~"

"Huff~"

"Huff~"

Xia Zhen gasped heavily. The lofty and dignified image he usually maintained collapsed in an instant, leaving no dignity whatsoever.

This scene silenced everyone present.

Princess Lingyuan swallowed her saliva, again feeling fortunate that she hadn't provoked Hua Changxi. The "rules" they followed had absolutely no binding power over her.

Not wanting any more trouble, Meng Qingyao signaled Xia Ziyang and Meng Yuchuan to take Xia Zhen away.

Xia Ziyang and Meng Yuchuan rose indignantly, glaring angrily at Hua Changxi.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi sneered, "Don't want your eyes anymore?"

One sentence instantly made Xia Ziyang and Meng Yuchuan retract their gaze.

The reason they were so docile was because both of them felt a sharp pain in their eyes, as if their eyeballs would burst instantly if they didn't look away.

Looking at Xia Zhen being supported away, the expressions on everyone's faces flickered with uncertainty.