[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-420":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},152106,261,"Chapter 420: Breakthrough","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-420",420,"\u003Cp>Whether it was the former Medical Affairs Bureau or the current Alchemy Saint Hall, the true helmsmen had never changed—always the same few old powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strongest faction was naturally the noble houses led by the imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in Qihuang Pavilion or Nine Streets Hall, the imperial family and noble houses had placed many of their people, allowing them to largely influence the operations of these two departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came the Guardian Families, with the Xia family at their head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit Realm Pavilion was almost entirely run by this branch, its development direction dictated by the will of the Guardian Families; the other realm masters, even if they controlled their own realms, had little say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last was the lineage of the Alchemy Saint Hall's inheritors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lineage should have been the most orthodox and legitimate guides of the sacred land, but for some unknown reason, they were unwilling to reveal their identities as sacred land inheritors, instead secretly placing their people in various departments, peaks, and realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They established the Nine Streets Hall, but even its management rights and voice had to be split half-and-half with the imperial family and nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the current Alchemy Saint Hall had territory, resources, and many disciples, its operational model had never changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three old powers firmly held the steering wheel of the sacred land's progress and development, granting no opportunity for new forces to participate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when opportunities were given, they were only in execution-level matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the three old powers, while holding the wheel, had wholeheartedly planned for the sacred land's growth and expansion, that would have been acceptable. But the problem was that they each had their own agendas, and the sacred land's interests had to take a backseat to their private benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realm masters and Qihuang Hall masters were not unaware of these issues. The reason they never kicked up a fuss was, first, that their own networks of relationships were more or less entangled with the three old powers; second, although they were excluded from \"participating in decisions regarding the sacred land's development direction,\" they were indispensable in execution and could still share some benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was there no one who wanted to break this old operational model?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many had the will but not the power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why the Alchemy Saint Hall had always been like stagnant water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the realm masters, Qihuang Hall masters, and some ambitious people saw hope of \"breaking the old operational model.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen, a key figure second only to the Pavilion Master of the Spirit Realm Pavilion, had been helped away from the council hall in a sorry state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it turned out that the three major powers were not unshakable after all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xia Zhen left, though the council hall remained quiet, everyone could sense something silently changing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone's gaze drifted faintly toward Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jinfan looked at Hua Changxi, a blazing spark kindling in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was a variable; her very existence seemed to herald some kind of change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And change represented opportunities, vitality, and infinite possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This played a crucial role both in the sacred land's development and in stimulating the potential of its disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, she truly recognized the indispensability of people like Hua Changxi—what they brought was not only conflict, but also the courage to break a deadlock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if even a deeply entrenched force like Xia Zhen could be shaken, who could still claim that the old order was unchallengeable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao's expression was also excited. Hua Changxi's attendance at this meeting had stirred no small ripples in the stagnant water of the Alchemy Saint Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this was just the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tearing down the old house is hard; building a new mansion is also hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The collision and game between old and new forces would be a long and arduous march.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, Yan Qianying, and others also felt flames of eagerness rising within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had long been dissatisfied with many things in the sacred land, but too many considerations had always held them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Wen Shouren, his mood was much lower than the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Hua Changxi, who remained calm and unhurried, his expression complex and unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had actually taken direct action against Xia Zhen—he had not expected that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Xia Zhen came from the Xia family, and the Xia family was a Guardian Family of the Four Spirit Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since arriving at the Alchemy Saint Hall, even if Xia Zhen had selfish motives, he had indeed done some practical things for the hall and had merit toward the sacred land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Hua Changxi had struck at him so mercilessly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only at this moment that Wen Shouren truly understood Gu Xing's worries and unease about Hua Changxi, and why he had not chosen to assist her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was too hateful toward evil, and too black-and-white. Such a person, if she didn't change, would never be able to become the Lord of the Holy Land.\u003C\u002Fp>",845,"2026-05-29T04:11:04.856Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","fc1cc75164f0d7f6102691482f6022e09064047a70679e1148474d283af420e2","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-421","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-419",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]