Chapter 438: Chance to Defend the Realm

"Master."

The next day after returning from Lingguang Hall, early in the morning, Yu Fu and the other three came to the bamboo house looking for Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi had just finished refining a furnace of fourth-grade pills, and the air was thick with the scent of medicine. "What is it?"

Yu Fu quickly said, "The Spirit Realm Pavilion just sent a notice, asking the secret realm masters to convene a meeting to discuss the matter that Senior Gu raised last time—'how the sacred lands operated in the ancient times.'"

Hua Changxi was preoccupied with Yang Zhaoye and the other Vermilion Army's injuries, and also thinking about the teaching content for the Tenth to Eighteenth Qihuang Halls. She had neither the mood nor the interest to attend the meeting on building the organizational structure of the Dan Sacred Hall.

Without even thinking, she knew that during this period, all parties would be arguing and contending endlessly.

If it were up to her, they could just directly copy the ancient operational system—why bother with meetings and discussions?

Meetings were nothing more than a way to divide up the benefits.

"Alright, Yu Fu and Jia Lu, the two of you represent Danyuan Peak at the meeting; Zhao Xi and Zhou Shou, you represent Danding Peak."

Hearing this, Yu Fu and the other three were all dumbfounded.

Hua Changxi was far too decisive in delegating authority!

Yu Fu felt somewhat insecure: "Master, will the four of us be able to handle attending the secret realm masters' meeting?"

Hua Changxi: "Go without worry. The other secret realm masters wish I wouldn't attend." She paused, "As long as you put the sacred land first, just don't let Danyuan Peak or Danding Peak suffer any losses."

Since Hua Changxi had said so, Yu Fu and the others could say nothing more and went to the Spirit Realm Pavilion with anxious hearts.

When the four entered the meeting hall, all the secret realm masters looked over. Just as they thought they would face trouble, the crowd calmly looked away.

Throughout the meeting until it started, not a single person mentioned Hua Changxi's absence.

While the secret realm masters were holding their meeting, Hua Changxi once again arrived at Qihuang Street and again walked along the street from the First Qihuang Hall to the Eighteenth Qihuang Hall.

Qihuang Hall was undoubtedly the place where the Dan Sacred Hall gave lectures and taught.

The eighteen Qihuang Halls, each with a clear specialization and progressing layer by layer, formed a complete system for aiding the world.

First Hall: Herb Identification, Pharmacology Analysis

Second Hall: Processing Medicinal Materials

Third Hall: Cultivation and Propagation of Medicinal Materials

Fourth Hall: Construction of All Life Forms, covering dissection, acupuncture, anesthesia, massage, etc.

Fifth Hall: Decomposition, Extraction, and Fusion of All Things

Sixth Hall: Pill Refining

Seventh Hall: Manifestation of Bloodline Totems, Promoting Bloodline Atavism, Acquiring Atavistic Divine Abilities

Eighth Hall: Body Refinement

Ninth Hall: Art of Observation, Auscultation, Inquiry, and Pulse-Taking

The first nine Qihuang Halls dealt with superficial medical arts and alchemical research on living beings; deep-level research on living beings—specifically, the "alien spaces" of the dantian and sea of consciousness—was not covered.

Then would the Tenth Qihuang Hall through the Eighteenth Qihuang Hall teach deep-level research on living beings, regarding the field of "alien spaces"?

Deep research into "alien spaces" unavoidably involves spirit roots.

Without spirit roots, cultivators cannot cultivate "alien spaces."

Therefore, the Tenth Qihuang Hall teaches about spirit roots?

Hua Changxi stood outside the Tenth Qihuang Hall, her gaze heavy, a hint of irritation on her face.

Currently, all the Qihuang Halls had hall masters. Even though she had some guesses about the teaching content of the Tenth to Eighteenth Qihuang Halls, she couldn't just go in and verify them.

Besides, her Buddhist bead bracelet, which she had lost in the Nine Abysses, contained all ten Qihuang tokens she had obtained for opening the Qihuang Halls.

Without the Qihuang tokens, even if she really unlocked the content taught in the Tenth Qihuang Hall, she would only be working for others' benefit.

That, she was unwilling to do.

"Peak Lord Hua!"

A call came from behind. Hua Changxi turned around and saw Gu Jinfan and Tang Yufeng arriving together.

After the two entered, Gu Jinfan looked at Hua Changxi and asked with a smile, "Peak Master Hua, standing here—are you here looking for me?"

The proprietor of No. 10 Qihuang Hall was none other than Gu Jinfan.

Hua Changxi smiled and shook her head. "Just passing by."

Gu Jinfan naturally didn't believe that answer, but she didn't press further, merely smiling.

Tang Yufeng picked up the conversation with a smile, "I heard the Spirit Realm Pavilion is holding a meeting. Why aren't you there, Peak Master Hua?"

Hua Changxi looked at the two of them. "Meetings are too boring. I don't like them."

This reply truly left Tang Yufeng and Gu Jinfan at a loss for words.

Hua Changxi's indifference to power genuinely surprised them.

Tang Yufeng clicked his tongue twice. "Peak Master Hua, you know, sometimes you really are quite infuriating."

"At today's Spirit Realm Pavilion meeting, a lot of people wanted to attend but lacked the qualifications. Meanwhile, you *can* go, but say it's boring."

Gu Jinfan, watching Hua Changxi remain unmoved by Tang Yufeng's words, probed, "To become the master of the secret realm and preside over the Elixir Saint Hall, Peak Master Hua paid a price. Now that you're not attending the meeting, aren't you afraid someone else will snatch away your fruits of labor?"

Hua Changxi looked at her. "No one can take what I want."

Hearing this, Tang Yufeng immediately gave Hua Changxi a thumbs-up. "That's our Peak Master Hua—domineering. But things are unpredictable; maybe not everything will go as you wish."

Hua Changxi shot him a glance. "Then I'll worry about it when it doesn't."

Uh...

Tang Yufeng fell silent.

"I have matters to attend to. I'll be going now."

Hua Changxi started to walk away, but after a moment's thought, she turned back to look at Gu Jinfan. "I'd like to exchange the Qihuang Hall I manage with yours. What do you think?"

Gu Jinfan's eyes flickered. "I don't think much of it."

Seeing her refusal, Hua Changxi didn't press the matter. She turned and left, but after a few steps, Gu Jinfan's voice came from behind.

"I can give you the position of proprietor of No. 10 Qihuang Hall, but I won't take No. 13 Qihuang Hall either."

Hua Changxi stopped and looked back at Gu Jinfan. "I don't want the position of proprietor of the Qihuang Hall. I want the Qihuang Token."

At this, the last trace of doubt in Gu Jinfan's mind vanished. Most of the Qihuang Tokens from the old courtyard had indeed been taken by Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi had attended classes at Qihuang Halls No. 1 through No. 9, so she held at least nine Qihuang Tokens.

Gu Jinfan took out the Qihuang Token she had obtained and tossed it to Hua Changxi quite decisively.

Hua Changxi caught the Qihuang Token, extremely surprised.

Not just her; even Tang Yufeng beside her was stunned.

Hua Changxi looked at Gu Jinfan, utterly puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Gu Jinfan said, "For a Qihuang Hall that hasn't been revived, I could guard it until the end of time and still gain nothing."

"Peak Master Hua, I'm giving you one Qihuang Token. In the future, when No. 10 Qihuang Hall truly opens, just arrange for me to be the deputy proprietor."

Hua Changxi: "You certainly have a lot of faith in me."

Gu Jinfan smiled but said nothing.

Hua Changxi looked at the Qihuang Token in her hand, was silent for a moment, then said, "Have your people move out of No. 10 Qihuang Hall. I'll arrange for disciples from Danyuan Peak to take over shortly."

Gu Jinfan: "Fine."

Watching Hua Changxi stride away triumphantly with the Qihuang Token in hand, Tang Yufeng looked at Gu Jinfan in anguish. "Are you crazy? The Qihuang Token is the token of the Qihuang Hall's proprietor. Even if you want to build goodwill with Hua Changxi, you don't have to pay such a high price."

Gu Jinfan looked at Tang Yufeng with a wry smile. "From the series of events at the Elixir Saint Hall, haven't you figured it out yet? Hua Changxi is just not someone who likes handling day-to-day affairs."

"In old terms, she's the one who conquers a kingdom. But after the kingdom is conquered, someone has to guard it."

"I'm just using the Qihuang Token in my hand to exchange for a chance to guard that kingdom."

Tang Yufeng, though inwardly agreeing with her words, still said, "I still think you gave the Qihuang Token too early."

Gu Jinfan gave him a disdainful look. "You people have played too many tricks and conspiracies. You've already lost sight of what truly needs attention."

He paused.

"Right after returning from Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi came to inspect the Qihuang Hall. Today she even skipped the Lingjing Pavilion meeting and came to inspect again. What do you think the reason is?"

Tang Yufeng opened his mouth but said nothing.

Gu Jinfan looked toward Danyuan Peak: "The content taught in Qihuang Halls No. 1 to No. 9 was all unlocked by Hua Changxi. Now that she's inspecting Qihuang Halls No. 10 to No. 18 so frequently, it must be because she's made some progress."