Chapter 117: Ghost Market

Hua Changxi had always felt that time was the most precious thing. Every time she taught at the Qihuang Pavilion, she was extremely punctual—starting on time and ending on time.

The menial servants who often came to listen to her lectures were already very familiar with this schedule of hers.

Once Hua Changxi announced the end of the class and they stood up to see her off, they would go about their own business; those who needed to continue refining pills stayed in the No. 6 Qihuang Pavilion, while those with other matters left.

However, Mu Qingying and the others, who were attending Hua Changxi's lecture for the first time, were somewhat unaccustomed to seeing Hua Changxi walk away so decisively.

In the Apprentice Hall, the Disciple Hall, and even in the Jiujie, physicians and pharmacists would not leave immediately after finishing a lecture; instead, they would give everyone an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was about to exit the courtyard, Mu Qingying hurried after her: "Hua Changxi."

Hua Changxi stopped and looked back at her: "Is something the matter?"

Mu Qingying: "Thank you for the correction just now. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have realized my problem. It's clear that your pill refining technique is extremely proficient. I have many things I don't understand; may I ask you for guidance?"

Hua Changxi refused directly: "I have other things to attend to. If you have questions, you can bring them up in class next time you come to listen. I only provide answers during class."

Seeing her refuse so bluntly, Mu Qingying was stunned for a moment. Ever since she became the disciple of the Director of the Medical Administration, she hadn't been rejected so straightforwardly in a long time.

Mu Qingying felt a bit awkward: "You're busy, then; I won't disturb you."

Hua Changxi nodded and turned to leave.

Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue, who had originally wanted to build a rapport with Hua Changxi, saw Mu Qingying get rebuffed and, not wanting to lose face, tactfully did not step forward.

After Hua Changxi left, Mu Qingying greeted Young Master Chu, Miss Duan, the He sisters, and Hua Shuran, then also left quickly.

Once she was gone, the others left one after another. Soon, only a few menial servants who were still refining pills remained in the No. 6 Qihuang Pavilion.

Hua Wanyue had wanted to leave with Young Master Chu and Miss Duan, but she was held back by Hua Shuran.

Seeing Hua Wanyue looking at her in confusion, Hua Shuran had to explain with patience: "Didn't you see? Miss Duan doesn't want us following them."

Upon hearing this, Hua Wanyue looked at Young Master Chu's retreating back, her face showing regret: "What a pity..."

Hua Shuran chuckled: "What's so pitiful about it? Everyone is in the Medical Administration; there will be times when we meet again sooner or later."

Hearing this, Hua Wanyue hurriedly looked at Hua Shuran: "Fifth Miss, why do you think the Seventh Prince came to listen to Hua Jiuniang's lecture?"

Hua Shuran shook her head: "Who knows."

Although the Count's Prefecture had extensive social connections, it couldn't reach the imperial family, let alone a prince from the palace.

Speaking of Hua Changxi, Hua Wanyue was full of complaints: "Grandfather was right; this Hua Jiuniang is truly arrogant to the point of ignoring everyone."

Hua Shuran also felt that Hua Changxi was a bit too wild. The young ladies she usually interacted with, no matter what they thought inside, were always 'humble and polite' on the surface.

However, she wanted to know even more why Hua Changxi was so wild—where did she get the confidence?

And who taught her that pill refining technique, which was even more outstanding than that of the ordinary pharmacists in the Jiujie?

Duan Yuyan, walking in front, looked back at Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue. Seeing they hadn't followed, she smiled with satisfaction: "They know their place. Just because they walked the same path as us, they dared to dream of clinging on. Truly annoying."

Seeing that the Seventh Prince, Chu Junhao, did not respond to her, Duan Yuyan was a bit unhappy and tugged on his sleeve: "Cousin, weren't you listening to me?"

Chu Junhao glanced at her: "I was thinking about something."

Duan Yuyan: "What are you thinking about?"

In Chu Junhao's mind, the image of Hua Changxi focused on lecturing flashed by, followed by the image of her rejecting people without mercy. He murmured with a smile: "It really is completely different."

Duan Yuyan didn't understand: "What's different?"

Chu Junhao shook his head with a smile and asked: "How do you think Hua Changxi's lecture was?"

Duan Yuyan paused. Although she felt Hua Changxi's attitude was not respectful enough, she couldn't bring herself to lie and say the lecture was bad; it was much easier to understand than the pill refining lessons they were usually taught.

"It was alright."

Chu Junhao smiled: "Since you think it was alright, let's come listen to her lectures more often in the future."

Duan Yuyan wasn't opposed to coming to listen, but she still said: "But Hua Changxi teaches the refining of mortal pills, and what we need to learn now is the refining of spirit pills."

Chu Junhao tapped Duan Yuyan's head with his fan: "You, you just don't like to use your brain. Whether it's mortal pills or spirit pills, the steps and techniques for refining are actually not much different."

"We haven't had much contact with pill refining before, so our foundation is poor. We can just take this opportunity to make up for the lessons."

Duan Yuyan felt that what Chu Junhao said made sense: "Alright, then we will come to listen to Hua Changxi's lectures more often in the future."

Walking at the very back were Zhu Qinghuan and Shen Qianfan.

Shen Qianfan sighed with emotion: "As expected, those who can obtain a wooden plaque are no ordinary people."

Hearing this, Zhu Qinghuan looked at him and smiled: "Is Brother Shen boasting about himself?"

Shen Qianfan felt not the slightest bit embarrassed; instead, he was very serious: "I am stating a fact. In terms of medical skills, I dare say I am not bad. Why, do you have no confidence in yourself?"

Zhu Qinghuan was choked up, so she turned to talk about Hua Changxi: "I really didn't expect Hua Changxi's pill refining technique to be already so proficient."

Shen Qianfan nodded in agreement: "Heroes are born from the youth since ancient times. Listening to her lecture, I have gained a lot."

Zhu Qinghuan glanced at him, speechless, and continued: "Looking at Hua Changxi's pill refining technique, she doesn't look like a novice; she looks like an old hand who has been refining pills for a long time. She doesn't seem to have reached the age of fifteen yet; how did she cultivate such skills?"

Shen Qianfan looked at her: "If you really want to know, go ask Hua Changxi to her face. However, I advise you best not to ask, because no one likes to have their privacy pried into. I am returning to the Disciple Hall; farewell."

Watching Shen Qianfan walk away, Zhu Qinghuan sighed and whispered: "Indeed, to be able to obtain a wooden plaque, not a single one is a fool."

The matter of the teleportation array could not be solved for the time being, so Hua Changxi had to shelve it. Unable to absorb spirit energy on a large scale to cultivate, she shifted her focus to body refining.

Every night, she would temper her skin once. Each time she finished tempering, the elasticity and toughness of her skin would increase by a fraction.

After tempering her skin three times, ordinary swords and blades could no longer break her skin, and she was no longer afraid of fire or the like.

After tempering her skin six times, her skin initially gained the ability to defend against spirit energy.

After tempering her skin nine times, the skin-refining chapter of the "Nine Turns Profound Art" was practiced to perfection. Hua Changxi's skin was like congealed fat, crystal clear, and even shimmered with luster under the sunlight. At this moment, even a full-strength strike from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator could not break her skin's defense.

On the fourth day of the sixth lunar month, Hua Changxi began the second chapter of the "Nine Turns Profound Art"—the flesh-refining chapter.

When tempering the skin, she had to endure the pain of the skin repeatedly tearing and healing. When tempering the flesh, she not only had to endure the pain of the skin tearing but also the pain of flesh dissolving and regenerating.

The level of unbearable pain increased several times over.

Soaking in the medicinal bath, Hua Changxi gritted her teeth and persisted. When she emerged from the tub the next day, the corners of her mouth were bitten bloody.

She could temper her skin consecutively, but she absolutely could not do so for her flesh.

It was too painful.

However, the effect was also obvious. Hua Changxi could clearly feel her body becoming stronger. If her body had previously been made of mud, now it was transforming into stone.

Hua Changxi soaked in a medicinal bath to soothe and nourish her body before going to the Qihuang Pavilion to teach.

Seeing Mu Qingying, the He sisters, Hua Shuran, Hua Wanyue, Chu Junhao, Duan Yuyan, Zhu Qinghuan, and Shen Qianfan come to listen to her lecture again, she only gave them a faint glance.

During this period, these people often came to listen to her lectures. Because of their arrival, they also attracted some other people—some from the Apprentice Hall, some from the Disciple Hall, and even some registered disciples from the Jiujie pharmacies came.

With more people listening, it not only gave Hua Changxi, who was lecturing, a greater sense of accomplishment, but also made the sword pattern on the wooden plaque increasingly 'three-dimensional'.

Such a good thing, Hua Changxi naturally did not turn anyone away.

After finishing the lecture that day, Yu Gui came to find her: "Sister Changxi, Eunuch Lin from the Eastern Depot is here; he wants to see you."

Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised: "Where is Eunuch Lin now?"

Yu Gui: "At my godfather's place."

Hua Changxi: "Let's go over then."

Eunuch Lin did not come alone; he also brought a young eunuch, the godson who had almost died.

"Manager Hua is here."

As soon as Hua Changxi arrived, Eunuch Yu, being very perceptive, took Yu Gui and withdrew, leaving the room to Hua Changxi and Eunuch Lin and his son.

"Eunuch Lin, you came to find me—is there something the matter?"

Eunuch Lin smiled and took ten sets of spirit needles out of his storage bag: "These are the spirit needles Physician Hua requested. Take a look; do they meet your requirements?"

Hua Changxi received the spirit needles with pleasant surprise: "Refined so quickly." As she spoke, she quickly checked the spirit needles; there were no problems.

"Eunuch Lin, for ten sets of spirit needles, how much compensation should I pay?"

Eunuch Lin laughed: "I inquired around; tomorrow is Physician Hua's fifteenth birthday. Let these ten sets of spirit needles be my birthday gift to Physician Hua."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered: "Eunuch, one should not accept rewards without merit. This gift is too valuable; I dare not accept it."

Eunuch Lin hurriedly said: "How could there be no merit? Physician Hua, you have a great life-saving grace toward me." As he spoke, he looked at the young eunuch beside him.

"Lin Sheng, why don't you hurry up and kowtow to thank your savior."

Upon hearing this, Lin Sheng 'thumped' and knelt before Hua Changxi: "Thank you, Physician Hua, for your life-saving grace."

Hua Changxi was too late to stop him and hurriedly asked him to get up: "Eunuch, you are too kind."

Eunuch Lin shook his head: "Physician Hua, you don't know, although this child is my adopted godson, he and I do have blood relations. I treat him as my own biological son."

"You saved him, which is equivalent to saving me. Just ten sets of spirit needles—I still feel it is not enough to express my sincerity."

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Lin and Lin Sheng, who were full of gratitude toward her, and knew in her heart that they must have other motives.

At a loss in finding a talisman master, she had long realized that her circle of connections was too narrow. Desiring to expand her connections, she went along with their words.

"Since you are so generous, Eunuch, then I will shamelessly accept these ten sets of spirit needles. In the future, if you have any matters, Eunuch, just say the word. If I can help, I certainly will."

Seeing her accept the spirit needles, Eunuch Lin felt relieved, and then he revealed a hesitant expression.

Hua Changxi had long guessed that Eunuch Lin had ulterior motives, so she was not surprised at all to see him like this: "Eunuch, if you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly."

Eunuch Lin looked as if he were going all out: "Physician Hua, I want my good-for-nothing son to follow you."

Hearing this request, Hua Changxi was truly a bit surprised: "Follow me? I am just a menial servant."

Eunuch Lin: "Physician Hua is being modest. I heard from Eunuch Yu that now the entire Menial Hall trusts you deeply. For him to follow you is his good fortune."

Worried that she would refuse, Eunuch Lin continued: "Physician Hua, my son is just a seventh-rank martial artist, but the work the Eastern Depot does is too dangerous. I am afraid that if he stays in the Eastern Depot, he will lose his life sooner or later."

"If it weren't for meeting Physician Hua last time, he and many martial artists from the Eastern Depot would have died."

"I know Physician Hua might not think much of my son, but he is still somewhat useful. He is obedient and can run errands and pass messages for you."

Hua Changxi did not want to have too much involvement with the Eastern Depot and was just about to refuse when Eunuch Lin stood up and handed over a wooden box.

"I heard from Eunuch Xuan that Physician Hua is looking for a talisman master."

"A talisman master—I don't know any, but I do know where one can be found."

Hua Changxi: "Oh, where can one be found?"

Eunuch Lin: "The Ghost Market."

Hua Changxi frowned: "Ghost Market? What Ghost Market? Where is there a Ghost Market? Why have I never heard of it?"

Eunuch Lin pushed the wooden box in his hand forward: "The Ghost Market is within the capital, but it is extremely mysterious. Entering requires someone to lead you; otherwise, it is almost impossible to enter on your own, unless you have heaven-defying luck and happen to stumble upon the entrance."

"What is inside this wooden box is the token to enter and exit the Ghost Market. Those holding the token can sense where the entrance to the Ghost Market is."

"The Ghost Market was built by cultivators, and those who enter and exit are all cultivators. In the Ghost Market, you can not only buy all kinds of items that cultivators use, but you can also find weapon refiners, talisman masters, pill masters, and array masters."

After hearing Eunuch Lin's introduction to the Ghost Market, Hua Changxi stared at the wooden box, unable to look away. Since she started cultivating, she had never truly entered the circle of cultivators.

If the Ghost Market were truly as Eunuch Lin described, it would definitely be an excellent place to understand the society of cultivators.

Hua Changxi hesitated for a moment and looked at Lin Sheng: "To follow me, you must take an inner demon oath, never to betray, otherwise your soul will be destroyed."

Lin Sheng looked at Eunuch Lin: "As long as it does not harm my godfather, for everything else, I am willing to obey Physician Hua."

Hearing him answer this way, Eunuch Lin felt relieved, but fearing that Hua Changxi would refuse, he immediately scolded him: "What nonsense are you talking about? Once you follow Physician Hua, she is your only master. No matter what she asks you to do, you must do it."

Lin Sheng lowered his head, stubbornly refusing to yield.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi actually thought more highly of him: "Fine, I will accept him."

Dropping blood and taking the inner demon oath—after doing these things, Hua Changxi took the wooden box and opened it, revealing a black token with a skull drawn on it.

Hua Changxi flipped the token over to look at it, put it away, and then looked at Eunuch Lin with curiosity: "With your status, Eunuch, it shouldn't be difficult to find a place for Lin Sheng. Why come to me?"

Eunuch Lin smiled: "Physician Hua's willingness to lecture the menial servants is truly a great act of kindness. Lin Sheng is a eunuch, and wherever a eunuch goes, he is just a servant. Following Physician Hua, he might live a little better."

Hua Changxi did not expect it to be such a simple reason. If he was not lying, then he truly had a heart of a father's love. ===== CHAPTER 118 =====