[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-213":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1896987,2531,"Chapter 213: Grade Eight Divine Wood Secret Realm","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-213",213,"\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was not particularly surprised that Gu Jinfan had failed to ignite the pill fragrance; although Gu Jinfan was seemingly a reborn individual who knew the future trajectory of the Pill Saint Hall, she had never actually done anything beneficial for the hall, so it was perfectly normal that she received no blessing from the Divine Wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jinfan also intended to worship the Divine Wood again, but the moment a hint of such an expression appeared on her face, Xia Zhen impatiently waved her away, forcing her to return to her original spot in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came Shen Qianfan from Hall Eleven and Zhu Qinghuan from Hall Twelve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qianfan knew his own capabilities clearly; without a moment's hesitation, he directly chose the third-grade incense, and after worshipping the Divine Wood, successfully obtained a single Divine Wood leaf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When choosing the pill incense, Zhu Qinghuan hesitated slightly but ultimately took the third-grade incense; everyone expected her to obtain a Divine Wood leaf like those before her, yet something strange occurred—she failed to ignite even the third-grade incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is happening?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Qinghuan stood before the offering table, panicked and at a loss, while everyone else watching the scene was equally bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen examined Zhu Qinghuan with curiosity, finding himself puzzled; logically, obtaining a wooden token meant one had gained the Sacred Land's recognition, and anyone recognized by the Sacred Land should receive some blessing from the Divine Wood, meaning this female cultivator should have received at least a lowest-grade secret realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing also furrowed his brows, scrutinizing the bewildered and helpless Zhu Qinghuan; unable to make sense of the situation for the moment, he simply waved his hand and dismissed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Qinghuan retreated to her original position, dejected, her face filled with confusion and incomprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao muttered to Hua Changxi, \"Could it be that Zhu Qinghuan didn't obtain the wooden token herself, but that someone else gave it to her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt this was unlikely; if that were the case, Old Man Gu would surely know, yet his expression clearly showed he was just as confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough, stop thinking about it; it's your turn,\" Huo Yunxiao urged Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced sideways at him and strode confidently toward the offering table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving before the offering table, Hua Changxi's gaze fell directly upon the first-grade and second-grade incense; she had ignited the pill fire of the First Street, unlocked nine Qihuang Halls, and activated Hall One, so she had certainly made contributions to the Pill Saint Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that she was unsure exactly how significant those contributions were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Igniting the second-grade incense should be feasible, but with the superior first-grade incense available, she naturally desired the better option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should she take a gamble?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi quickly glanced at Xia Zhen; the fact that he had brought out three grades of incense meant they were not merely for show—he must believe that among the people he brought, someone could ignite the first-grade incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She guessed that the person capable of igniting the first-grade incense was likely Meng Qingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Qingyao had ignited the pill fire of the Second Street, leading Xia Zhen to believe she could ignite the first-grade incense; thus, Hua Changxi reasoned that although the Second Street ranked above the First, she herself had unlocked the Qihuang Halls, making her contribution roughly equal to Meng Qingyao's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking thus, Hua Changxi reached her hand toward the first-grade incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing yet another person presumptuously pick up the first-grade incense, Xia Zhen was speechless internally; sneering, he shook his head and looked at Gu Xing, indeed finding his face tightened, and opened his mouth to offer comfort: \"Young people always need to stumble before they realize their own limitations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gu Xing paused, looked at Xia Zhen, and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi also looked at Xia Zhen, deeply dissatisfied with the contempt in his tone toward her, but considering so many eyes were upon them, she decided not to quarrel with him; however, after holding back for a moment, her heart felt too aggrieved, so she spoke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior, choosing which incense is my freedom; even if I ultimately receive nothing, I will accept it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As a member of a Dao-protecting family and an elder, if you cannot encourage the younger generation, fine, but why must you actively discourage them instead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason young people are young is precisely because they dare to think, dare to act, dare to strive, and dare to venture forth; of course, this fiery spirit is something the elderly lack, so it is understandable that you do not comprehend it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Xia Zhen was publicly contradicted and rebuked by a junior, leaving him momentarily stunned and unable to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else was equally stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those from the Medical Bureau wore sneers at the corners of their mouths; the Xia family had arrived with great momentum, bringing young descendants from several reclusive major families to compete with them for the Qihuang Halls, and by virtue of their status as Dao protectors, they had directly suppressed the Bureau, forcing even Prince Shou to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this, Prince Shou and others had felt deeply aggrieved in their hearts, so now, seeing Hua Changxi step forward to slap Xia Zhen in the face, they all felt a secret satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou whispered to Chu Junhao, \"I quite like Hua Changxi's temperament, of course, provided she is on our side; if Hua Changxi's fiery temper were directed at me, the scene would be rather unsightly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junhao replied with a smile, \"Hua Changxi has a fierce temper, but it is mostly directed at matters rather than people; she did not intentionally oppose you, Imperial Uncle, before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou detected his nephew speaking up for Hua Changxi and shook his head in strong disagreement: \"She is the type lacking a heart of reverence; such a person... will be difficult to tame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junhao smiled and said, \"Then we simply won't tame her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou glanced sideways at Chu Junhao and said no more; the scene of Hua Changxi rebuking Xia Zhen just now had made him realize that if utilized properly, Hua Changxi could be an excellent blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the cultivators from the Dao-protecting families were furious, resentful of Hua Changxi's disrespect toward Xia Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Hua Changxi is truly lacking in upbringing; which noble family or high-ranking dignitary would ever take a fancy to a young lady like her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let alone noble families and high dignitaries; even in an ordinary household, a temperament like hers would be extremely unlikable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the whispers around her, Meng Qingyao was slightly dazed; looking at Hua Changxi, who was firmly defending her even in the face of Xia Zhen, the admonition of her ancestor suddenly echoed in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The strong do not need to be liked by others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qingyao, remember this: you are now a cultivator; you no longer need to abide by the secular demands placed upon women; you must, like a man, rightfully and brilliantly fight for everything you desire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchuan had been echoing the others in criticizing Hua Changxi, but upon noticing his sister's unusual expression, he immediately asked with concern, \"Qingyao, what is wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Qingyao looked at her brother, then at the Dongfang brothers who were watching her with concern, and murmured, \"I have a premonition that this Hua Changxi may become my greatest rival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchuan paused, then laughed dismissively, \"That is unlikely; a mere attention-seeker is not qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as my sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Hao added, \"Hua Changxi contradicting Senior Xia may appear bold, but it is actually foolish; turning those with no conflict of interest into enemies means her path will not be long; indeed, she is not worth worrying about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Meng Qingyao's thoughts became somewhat chaotic; on one hand, she admired Hua Changxi for daring to defend her before Senior Xia, yet on the other hand, she felt Dongfang Hao was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivators from both factions were whispering about Hua Changxi's actions, while Gu Xing looked at Hua Changxi, who seemed indifferent, feeling utterly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl was far too capricious; displaying joy and anger so openly meant she was unfit to be a ruler; she indeed needed to stumble a few more times before realizing that dealing with people requires concealing one's sharp edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Xia Zhen's side, he had just recovered from the shock of being publicly rebuked and was about to regain his face when Hua Changxi had already stood before the Divine Wood cauldron and begun her prostrations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Divine Wood above, disciple Hua Changxi kowtows in reverence; now that spiritual qi is reviving and the path to immortality is treacherous, my cultivation journey faces countless obstacles, and pill materials are scarce and hard to find; I beg the Divine Wood for compassion, to bestow a high-grade secret realm upon this disciple, aiding me in scaling the peak of pill refinement...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing three kneelings and nine kowtows, Hua Changxi rose and respectfully inserted the first-grade incense she held into the Divine Wood cauldron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the incense entered the cauldron, accompanied by a faint \"hiss,\" instantly, tiny specks of firelight spread across the tip of the incense stick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately following, wisps of green smoke quietly escaped from the edges of the flame, rising curling upward, carrying a rich pill fragrance that rapidly permeated the entire square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, being closest to the incense smoke, entered a mysterious state the moment she smelled the fragrance; she clearly felt her vision quickly lose focus, but soon, a towering giant tree appeared within her sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the giant tree, a straight wisp of smoke continuously rose, passing layer after layer of branches and leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Upward, further upward!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The layers of branches and leaves on the giant tree were too distinct; in an instant, Hua Changxi thought of the grades of secret realms, and her heart suddenly understood: the higher the green smoke rose, the higher the grade of the secret realm obtained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, when the green smoke passed the seventh layer of branches, it struggled to continue, swaying as if about to dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not know the highest grade of the Divine Tree Secret Realm; she could not control how long the pill fragrance would burn. Just as she had resigned herself to obtaining a seventh-grade secret realm, the Shennong Cauldron in her mind trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the pill smoke that had been on the verge of dissipating suddenly surged upward, swiftly passing the eighth layer of branches and leaves and heading straight for the ninth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alas, an unexpected twist occurred again; when the pill smoke reached the ninth layer of branches and leaves, it was still thick and dense, yet it simply could not pass through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Come on, go higher~'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi screamed wildly in her heart, so absorbed that her face turned red from straining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind, the Shennong Cauldron trembled once more, this time shaking the fragrant smoke until it completely dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi opened her eyes with an angry \"whoosh\"; she had clearly felt that if the fragrant smoke exerted just a bit more effort, it could break through the ninth layer of branches and leaves, yet the Shennong Cauldron had shaken it into nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could even feel frustrated, she met a pair of wide-eyed, stunned gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Xia Zhen staring fixedly at the Divine Tree Leaf before her, Hua Changxi did not hesitate to catch it; the moment the leaf touched her hand, it swiftly entered her body and hovered within her dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>",1947,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","40ae9422d2c19c88faf7b91124202cb4b138edff06b0c167a4456b1f911094e5","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-214","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-212",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]