Chapter 208: The Divine Tree Bestows Blessings

"Elder Xia, after we complete the sacrifices, will the Divine Tree of the Dan Sage Hall truly manifest?"

Seeing that Xia Zhen had only mentioned the name of the Divine Tree without answering other questions, Prince Shou also spoke up with an anxious expression, while the others from the Medical Bureau watched nervously.

Xia Zhen looked somewhat speechless and replied in an ill temper: "How could the Divine Tree manifest so easily?"

Seeing Prince Shou's worsening expression, Director Gu quickly followed up with a question: "Then for what purpose did Elder Xia have us perform the sacrifices...?"

Xia Zhen glanced at the eighteen directors of the Qihuang Halls, then looked at the young men and women he had brought, reseated himself in the guest of honor's seat, and stated the reason for this appearance: "The Qihuang Halls bear the heavy responsibility of spreading the Medical Dao, and the Dao Protectors have the duty to select suitable talents to take charge of them."

At these words, every cultivator from the Dao Protector families straightened their backs, while the younger generation of men and women fixed burning gazes upon the eighteen directors; a silent contest once again permeated the entire council hall.

Barely able to suppress his anger, Prince Shou sat down with a gloomy face and sneered: "So Elder Xia brought so many people here because you intended to challenge the Medical Bureau to a showdown."

The imperial clan, wary of the Dao Protector families' deep foundations, was willing to tolerate certain matters, but this did not mean the other party could act as they pleased; the Medical Bureau was not yet the Dan Sage Hall, and regardless of anything, the imperial court remained the most legitimate administrator.

Xia Zhen glanced at the gloomy-faced Prince Shou; though he cared little in his heart, he still showed some face outwardly and said with a smile: "Your Highness jokes; I brought these people here to join the Medical Bureau, to become one with it."

These words did not improve Prince Shou's expression: "If they are joining the Medical Bureau, then they ought to obey its arrangements; since all eighteen Qihuang Halls already have directors, I can arrange for the people Elder Xia brought to work on Ninth Street."

"Rest assured, Elder Xia; if they work on Ninth Street, their talents will not be wasted, and I will certainly make important use of them."

Hearing this, Xia Zhen felt quite dissatisfied in his heart; while the imperial clan was indeed the nominal ruler of Great Jin, the great trend of spiritual qi recovery had arrived and heroes were rising everywhere, so if the imperial clan still wished to rule autocratically as before and demand all parties revere it, that was absolutely impossible.

One must know that during the Ancient Era, no kingdom on the Central Continent lasted more than three hundred years, and the collapse of the Chu Imperial Dynasty was only a matter of time.

Nowadays, the various factions were still willing to show the imperial clan some respect simply to prevent order from collapsing completely.

Xia Zhen darkened his face and said in a light tone: "Why does Your Highness always love to joke? If the people I brought were merely to work on Ninth Street, why would I have troubled myself to travel so far?"

Prince Shou felt a faint pressure enveloping his body and was instantly startled, knowing this was Xia Zhen warning him, yet he was unwilling to agree to replace the directors of the Qihuang Halls.

Aside from the nine who had obtained the wooden tokens, the families behind the other nine directors had all reached transactions with the imperial clan; if those people were replaced, those transactions would naturally cease to exist.

Prince Shou knew Xia Zhen would not truly harm him, so he simply used silence to oppose him.

The others present, seeing the tense atmosphere between Prince Shou and Xia Zhen, all wore solemn expressions.

Relying on her position at the very back where no one paid attention, Hua Changxi whispered to Huo Yunxiao: "Who do you think will compromise first?"

Huo Yunxiao shook his head; if any other prince were in charge of the Medical Bureau, facing the Dao Protector families, he would certainly choose to yield, but Prince Shou... this was a master of unpredictable temper and lawless behavior.

Seeing him remain silent, Hua Changxi continued speaking to herself: "I think it will be Prince Shou."

Huo Yunxiao looked over in surprise: "Why?"

Hua Changxi recalled the foul stench she had smelled on Prince Shou before, which was absent this meeting, meaning he must have used something to mask it: "Prince Shou seems the type who enjoys playing dirty tricks; he won't make things too ugly on the surface, just as before when I wasn't particularly respectful to him, yet he ultimately let the matter drop."

Hearing this, Huo Yunxiao couldn't help but laugh: "Do you know why that was?"

Hua Changxi replied: "Of course, it's because I possess something they can utilize."

Huo Yunxiao smiled and shook his head: "That is only one reason; the biggest reason is that, to Prince Shou, you are simply not worth looking at; no matter how fiercely you make trouble, you cannot shake Prince Shou in the slightest; you are merely a monkey in his palm, unable to leap out of his Mount Wuzhi, so he enjoys playing with the monkey."

"But now, Prince Shou faces the Dao Protector families, who possess power and influence equal to the imperial clan, or even deeper foundations; to Prince Shou, the Dao Protector families can truly seize the power from his hands."

"Tell me, can Prince Shou maintain the same attitude toward you as he does toward the Dao Protector families?"

Hua Changxi was highly dissatisfied that Huo Yunxiao had compared her to a monkey: "You are the monkey."

Huo Yunxiao smiled faintly: "Under the great trend, everyone is a monkey." Saying this, his smile vanished as he sized up Hua Changxi.

Disliking his probing gaze, Hua Changxi snapped: "What are you looking at?"

Huo Yunxiao replied: "I am already quite unreliable myself, yet I find you even more so." Then, lowering his voice, he asked: "Are you watching Prince Shou make a fool of himself?"

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment and said nothing, which counted as an admission.

Huo Yunxiao clicked his tongue twice while looking at her: "Prince Shou and the Dao Protector families are fighting for control; it seems unrelated to us, but in reality, it concerns us greatly; if the Dao Protector families arrange for people to take charge of the Qihuang Halls, then someone from our side must withdraw."

Hua Changxi naturally knew this: "I have the wooden token, so I am not afraid."

Seeing her naive appearance, Huo Yunxiao grew curious about how she had managed to enter this room: "The wooden token is not bound to any person; ownership can be transferred."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi paused; previously she had indeed never considered that anyone could snatch the wooden token from her, but now... she dared not probe the white-haired elder's situation, yet she could sense that his strength surpassed hers.

Seeing her stunned, Huo Yunxiao shook his head and said: "If someone must withdraw from the Qihuang Halls, do you think it will be someone with power and influence, or someone without power or status?"

"Tap, tap, tap~"

The sound of knocking grew louder as it approached from afar; everyone followed the sound and soon saw Gu Xing enter the council hall leaning on a cane.

Seeing Gu Xing arrive, Director Gu's expression instantly brightened, and he quickly went forward, extending his hand to support him.

Gu Xing waved his hand to refuse the help and walked straight toward the main seat.

Director Gu quickly introduced him to the Dao Protector faction: "This is Gu Xing, Elder Gu."

Upon hearing this, everyone seated from the Dao Protector faction stood up and bowed in unison: "Greetings, Elder Gu."

Gu Xing nodded with a smile and gestured for them to sit.

When Gu Xing reached the main seat, Xia Zhen also stood up: "The Gu family has guarded the Dan Sage Hall for generations; Xia Zhen of the Central Continent's Dao Protector Xia family offers his respects."

Gu Xing clasped his fists and returned the salute: "Greetings, Daoist Friend Xia."

Director Gu yielded his seat for Gu Xing to sit.

After sitting down, Gu Xing looked at Xia Zhen: "I have long awaited the appearance of the Xia family; today, I have finally met you."

Xia Zhen smiled and said: "We have arrived late."

Gu Xing chuckled: "Not late; just in time." Then, turning to look at the group of young men and women standing on the right, he showed satisfaction: "The Dao Protectors' judgment has always been accurate."

Seeing Gu Xing favor the Dao Protector faction, Prince Shou's expression worsened further, and he cast several meaningful glances at Director Gu.

Director Gu pretended not to see; Gu Xing was not someone he could command.

After praising the people Xia Zhen had brought, Gu Xing's gaze fell upon the Divine Tree Cauldron and the pill fragrance on the table.

Seeing this, Xia Zhen proactively stated the mission of this appearance: "The Qihuang Halls are places for transmitting the Medical Dao and Pill Dao; the directors ought to be held by the capable."

Gu Xing nodded, ignoring Prince Shou who kept casting meaningful glances at him, and turned to look at the nine who held wooden tokens, his gaze sweeping significantly over Hua Changxi: "The wooden tokens are the credentials of the Qihuang Hall directors; whoever obtains a wooden token is a director."

Xia Zhen did not quite agree with this statement; currently, none of the eighteen Qihuang Halls had been activated, indicating that those who obtained the wooden tokens had not yet bound themselves to them; without binding, the tokens could still change owners.

Seeing him remain silent, Gu Xing raised his voice: "Those capable of obtaining the wooden tokens have received the recognition of the Dan Sage Hall."

Hearing this, Xia Zhen's eyes flashed, and he compromised: "Very well; since nine people have obtained wooden tokens, nine Qihuang Halls already have owners; as for the remaining nine Qihuang Halls, they ought to go to the capable."

Hearing this, Gu Xing quickly glanced at Hua Changxi; seeing her swiftly turn her head away and avoid meeting his gaze, he knew the girl would not admit to taking the ten wooden tokens.

Gu Xing himself had no desire for all ten Qihuang Halls to be controlled by a single person, and he also wished to see what measure of ability those brought by Xia Zhen possessed, so he voiced no objection.

Though Gu Xing raised no objection, Prince Shou certainly did; seeing signs that he was about to erupt in anger, Gu Xing spoke first: "Fellow Daoist Xia hails from a Dao-Protecting family, so those you select are naturally worthy. However, the Qihuang Halls already have Hall Masters; surely you do not expect others to leave the moment you arrive."

Having spoken, his gaze fell upon the Divine Wood Cauldron and the incense sticks.

Xia Zhen smiled and said, "Dao Protectors have always convinced people with reason and never practiced favoritism." Pointing to the eighteen incense sticks on the table, he continued, "Those approved by the Divine Wood may light the incense; when the incense burns out, the Divine Wood will bestow a Divine Wood Leaf."

"Those who receive a Divine Wood Leaf may become Hall Master."

Xia Zhen looked toward Prince Shou and said, "Your Highness, in a moment, let the eighteen Hall Masters and the people I brought approach one by one to light the incense. Who becomes Hall Master shall be entirely left to the Divine Wood's selection. You have no objection to this, do you?"

The people of the Medical Bureau did not understand the intricacies within the Divine Wood Cauldron and the incense sticks, so they could not help but look toward Gu Xing.

Seeing this, Gu Xing spoke: "Those who light the incense and receive a Divine Wood Leaf may enter the Divine Wood Secret Realm."