[{"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-97":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},151783,261,"Chapter 97: Preach the Dao","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie, as the Heavenly Department Minister overseeing the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, the Medicine Department, and the Martial Academy, was quite sensitive to subtle changes. When he arrived at the square, the first thing he noticed was the gate of the Old Compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The compound gate, which had always been only slightly ajar, was now fully open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who opened the compound gate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie looked at Gu Qiming beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming was startled. Toward the Heavenly Department Minister who had promoted him single-handedly, he felt both admiration and awe, and along with awe, a longing for the other’s approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never paid attention to how the Old Compound’s gate had been opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having entered and exited the Old Compound many times, he naturally knew that before this, the gate couldn’t be budged at all. How it had been fully opened—there was definitely a huge problem here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made such a grave oversight, Gu Qiming instinctively wanted to cover it up, so he lied: \"Senior Gu opened it himself. He also said not to bother warning those who might have designs on the Old Compound.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie kept his eyes on the Old Compound and didn’t notice the shift in Gu Qiming’s expression. After hearing his words, he stepped into the Old Compound with a solemn look: \"Senior, I hope all is well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing lay with his eyes closed on a lounge chair. Hearing the voice, he opened his eyes to look at the newcomer: \"So it’s young Wei.\" After saying this, he closed his eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie was already used to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before being promoted to Heavenly Department Minister, he had been the Director of the Medicine Department. Back then, when he visited the Old Compound, Senior Gu had been very warm toward him. But ever since he went to the Heavenly Department, every time he came afterward, Senior Gu wouldn’t even look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel that Senior Gu was disappointed in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what exactly Senior Gu was disappointed about, he hadn’t known before now. However, after seeing the Old Compound’s gate fully open and the two lit lanterns on First Street, he seemed to understand a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie solemnly bowed to Gu Xing: \"It is I, a junior, who has failed to live up to Senior’s expectations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing opened his eyes and quietly gazed at him for a moment: \"It’s not a failure. I was too attached before. Everyone has their own path. As long as you don’t fail yourself, that’s enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie’s expression moved with emotion: \"Thank you for your guidance, Senior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing looked at him: \"The spirit beasts are getting more rampant, aren’t they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie’s eyes flickered as he smiled: \"Senior, though you never leave the compound, you know the affairs of the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing neither confirmed nor denied this, only offered a piece of advice: \"You have alchemists under you. Arrange for them to go to First Street. The spirit beasts and spirit plants will only grow stronger. Stock up on more pills to reduce casualties.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie had come to the Old Compound precisely to ask about the lighting of the lanterns on First Street, but seeing Gu Xing close his eyes again with an expression that said he didn’t want to talk much, he could only feel helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard someone disturbed you yesterday, Senior. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing waved his hand: \"No need for you to interfere. As for this compound, let things take their natural course from now on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie probed: \"Didn’t Senior once say you would live in this compound for your whole life? Why are you now willing to yield it to others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing opened his eyes again, looking at the compound entrance: \"The Alchemy Saint Hall opens its doors to welcome its master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this answer, Wei Zhenjie’s expression jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing looked at him—after all, he was a junior who had once held great promise. He advised: \"Don’t bother probing. I truly have nothing to tell you. If I could have intervened in anything, would I have ended up like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Wei, after you left the Medicine Department, your opportunities no longer lie here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This realm of ours is reviving. Blessed lands, hidden ruins, secret realms, and heavenly treasures will only become more abundant. Go seek your fortune outside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie knew that Senior Gu had already said enough to him today. Seeing him close his eyes again, he really didn’t have the face to speak further: \"Senior, I’ve disturbed you again. Take care of yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned to leave the Old Compound. As he walked, he glanced at the wooden plaques hanging on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered that the first time he entered the Old Compound, there were eighteen wooden plaques hanging on the wall. Now only nine remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he stepped over the threshold, Wei Zhenjie suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at Gu Xing, and said in surprise: \"Senior... the aura of decline on you seems a bit lighter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing’s eyelids twitched, but he gave no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie silently watched him for a while, then left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he came out, Gu Qiming immediately followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie looked at him: \"How many medicine yards are there on First Street?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming: \"Aside from the Medicine Department building, there are eighty medicine yards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie thought for a moment and said: \"Clear out twenty of them. I’ll send people over this afternoon.\" He paused, then looked at Gu Qiming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the Kunlun Mountain ruins, some ancient texts were found that mention the Alchemy Saint Hall. Combined with the kindling of the alchemy flame on First Street, you need to be mentally prepared—soon, all factions will set their sights on the Medicine Department.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, the various factions won't just casually make a move or insert collateral branches; they'll deploy their direct-line forces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming's expression was grave. \"Minister, then how should I arrange things?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie looked at him. \"The powerful families of the capital — how can you, a third-rank official, arrange anyone? Let them compete among themselves; it's the perfect opportunity to gauge each side's strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming nodded, indicating he understood what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie strode forward. \"One more thing: get to the bottom of this quickly. Senior Gu gave out nine wooden tokens in total — find those nine people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming said, \"My two disciples and I each have one — that's three. You, Minister, also have one. Celestial Master Zhang from the Celestial Masters' Residence has one. Gu Jinfan likely has one as well. That leaves only three tokens whose owners are still unknown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie's eyes narrowed slightly. \"Gu Jinfan... the young lady of the Xinguo Duke's mansion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming nodded. \"Yes, she is the Seventh Miss of the Xinguo Duke's mansion. Does the Minister know her as well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie said, \"Keep a close watch on her. In the Kunlun Mountain ruins, many of the good things the Gu family obtained were found by Gu Jinfan. I want to know whether this young lady is merely lucky, or whether she harbors other secrets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qiming had long felt that Gu Jinfan was unusual, so he quickly agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them quickly crossed the square as they spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the onlookers, Hua Changxi watched the two of them, her eyes flickering. The heads of both the Heavenly Department and the Medical Office had no spiritual energy fluctuations at all — neither of them was a cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was obviously impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were probably like her, either practicing a concealment technique or possessing some extraordinary treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wondered how high their cultivation levels really were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrival of the Heavenly Department director had set the entire Medical Office abuzz. After watching the commotion, Hua Changxi headed to the No. 9 Qi-Huang Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the wooden token, Hua Changxi carefully inspected every corner of the courtyard once more. Unfortunately, she still found nothing unusual, and the token showed no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not expecting to uncover the secret of the Qi-Huang Hall in one try, Hua Changxi put away the token and was about to start refining pills when Yu Gui rushed in, drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister Changxi, you really are here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at his flustered expression and asked, \"Did something happen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui approached her and lowered his voice to ask urgently, \"Sister Changxi, can you treat cultivators?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. \"You know a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui shook his head. \"Not me — it's my godfather.\" Seeing that Hua Changxi neither denied it nor said anything, he continued, \"You mentioned before that you wanted to teach at the Qi-Huang Hall. If you help my godfather save someone, the other two Qi-Huang Halls in his hands will be yours to use.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Hua Changxi finally reacted. \"Have your godfather bring the person here. I'll see if I can treat him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yu Gui immediately dashed out of the courtyard. Soon, he returned carrying a middle-aged eunuch who looked pained, along with Steward Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside the room, Yu Gui set the eunuch down. As soon as he stood on the ground, the eunuch clutched his abdomen with both hands, his features twisted in agony, yet he did not utter a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Yu anxiously looked at Hua Changxi. \"Hua Changxi, quickly examine Steward Xuan. If you cure him, you will be handsomely rewarded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi gestured for Yu Gui to help the eunuch into a chair. Observing the eunuch's pained expression, she took his pulse, questioned him further, and learned he had taken an unknown pill. She took out a detoxification pill and gave it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Steward Xuan realized it was a detoxification pill, he looked disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Yu quickly said, \"Steward Xuan has already taken a detoxification pill — it didn't work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Observation-Palpation-Auscultation-Inquiry Technique (Beginner): Diagnosis 3\u002F10]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked calmly at the words appearing in her vision. \"The detoxification pill he took only removes toxins from the physical body, so naturally it was useless. My detox pill is different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Steward Xuan glanced at Steward Yu. When Steward Yu nodded to him, he adopted the attitude of trying anything as a last resort and took the pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after taking the pill, Steward Xuan began to sweat. Having been silent before, his throat now emitted agonized roars. His whole body went limp and he slid to the floor, curling up like a boiled shrimp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui and Steward Yu's expressions changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Don't worry. Detoxification is just this kind of process.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Xuan lay on the ground for a full quarter of an hour — his sweat soaking the floor — before his contorted face slowly relaxed. A few minutes later, he regained his strength and sat up on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yu Gui and Steward Yu quickly went over to help him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down in the chair, Steward Xuan regulated his breathing for a while, then looked at Hua Changxi and said gratefully, \"Thank you, miss, for saving my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled. \"You are Steward Yu's friend. Since Steward Yu asked, I naturally had to do my utmost to help you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu cast a grateful glance at Hua Changxi, touched that she had spoken so highly of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Xuan smiled at Eunuch Yu without saying a word, but a flicker of joy crossed Eunuch Yu’s brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Hua, I had taken antidote pills before, yet they were completely useless. Why is it that your antidote pill can neutralize the poison on me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him: “If I’m not mistaken, the antidote pill you took before was meant to detoxify the physical body. But the poison you’ve been afflicted with doesn’t harm your physical body—it corrodes your dantian and qi sea instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately, you came quickly. The poison hadn’t yet leaked out of the dantian or spread into your spiritual meridians. Otherwise, your spiritual meridians would likely have been corroded. Spiritual meridians are very fragile. Once corroded, even if you receive treatment later, your cultivation aptitude will suffer a great deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Xuan listened, a look of lingering fear on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui asked curiously: “Can a poison actually exist that doesn’t harm the body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: “Since Eunuch is a cultivator, this poison doesn’t target his body—it aims directly at his dantian, qi sea, and spiritual meridians. If he hadn’t received timely treatment, his path of cultivation would have been cut short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui was tongue-tied: “How terrifying the methods of cultivators are! Sister Changxi, how did you discern that Eunuch Xuan’s dantian and qi sea were poisoned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and began explaining to Yu Gui how she had diagnosed Eunuch Xuan through observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation. Suddenly, she noticed that the stone wall in the room, which had been bare just moments before, now showed faint lines emerging, and at the same time, a green light flashed briefly at her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui exclaimed in surprise: “Sister Changxi, you’re glowing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not respond to Yu Gui but simply smiled at the three people present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Xuan, being a cultivator, knew that each cultivator had their own fortune. His gaze flickered as he glanced at Hua Changxi. He stood up and said: “I am the Thousand Households Execution Officer of the Eastern Depot. If Lady Hua ever needs my help in the future, I will certainly do what I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had not expected Eunuch Xuan to be from the Eastern Depot. She glanced at Eunuch Yu, then rose and said: “Then I thank you in advance for your care, Eunuch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Xuan did not stay long and left together with Eunuch Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Hua Changxi and Yu Gui remained in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui knew he had said something inappropriate earlier and looked a bit sheepish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: “Brother Yu, I noticed earlier that you seemed quite interested in cultivators being poisoned. Shall I tell you more about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui’s face brightened: “Wouldn’t that delay your time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: “I’m free anyway. Come, I’ll explain it to you in detail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the next hour, as Hua Changxi interacted with Yu Gui, she discovered that when she explained the nature of poisons, the wooden token did not react at all. But when she explained the methods of diagnosis — observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation — not only did the wooden token light up again, but she also saw a complete set of images emerge on the stone wall on the north side of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yu, I suddenly remembered there’s something I need to do. I’ll tell you about the rest next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, all right. Then I’ll take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Yu Gui had left, Hua Changxi immediately took out the wooden token. Seeing that it had not changed, she quickly walked over to the stone wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the images on the stone wall were no longer visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi refused to give up. She reached out her hand toward the wall to investigate. To her surprise, as soon as her hand touched the stone wall, the images appeared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image was very simple — it was entirely composed of human figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion at the very center, and to his left, right, and directly in front of him sat densely packed people, also cross-legged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all there was to the image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stared at it intently: “This looks like someone giving a lecture, doesn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could the Qihuang Hall be a place for lectures?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lectures...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the image, where everyone sat cross-legged: “These people are cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mortals hold lectures; cultivators...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preach the Dao?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Qihuang Hall a place for preaching the Dao?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt she had stumbled upon a secret of the Qihuang Hall, but she was still uncertain and needed to verify it further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To test her idea, Hua Changxi went directly to the Sixth Bureau and called over a dozen people, including Zhou Qiuyu and Wang Yunchu, to the Qihuang Hall. Then she began to teach them the diagnostic procedure of observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, several more patterns appeared on the stone wall, and the wooden token she had placed in a corner of the ceiling lit up several times.\u003C\u002Fp>",2755,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","0a0fdc746a9033ed913c9f534951de03ac6127a879c7b4f5fdf9e11fb45fadee","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-98","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-96",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]