Chapter 215: The Lone Wolf

Seeing that Xia Zhen had actually been the first to end the confrontation with Hua Changxi, Gu Jinfan's eyelids twitched violently.

Not only her, but the cultivators on the side of the Guardian Families also noticed it. Although most felt it was because Xia Zhen did not want to bicker with Hua Changxi, some still sensed something different.

Dongfang Hao looked at Hua Changxi with a gaze much heavier than before. He finally understood why the intelligence he gathered said this person had poor relationships with those around her—she was too opinionated, and once someone offended her, she would strike back with heavy blows.

To get along with such a person, one needed not only matching strength but also a powerful state of mind. The weak would gain no advantage from her.

Dongfang Hao looked at Meng Qingyao: "She is indeed a formidable opponent."

Upon hearing this, Meng Qingyao's eyes flickered incessantly; she was a bit apprehensive, yet also a bit eager to try.

Looking at Hua Changxi in the middle of the hall, the admiration on Huo Yunxiao's face was plain to see. He gave her a thumbs-up: "Great Hall Master Hua, you really suit my taste. I've decided to make you my friend."

Hua Changxi glanced at him without speaking. Sensing spiritual energy fluctuations from the high sky behind her, she turned her head and saw the Heaven Department Minister, Wei Zhenjie, and a white-robed Daoist with an immortal air, holding a horsetail whisk, flying rapidly toward them on flying swords.

Huo Yunxiao followed her gaze. The next moment, his face lit up with joy, and he shouted to the Hall Master of Hall No. 4, Wen Lanzhou: "Lanzhou, our masters have arrived."

Only then did the crowd look toward the sky and see Minister Wei and Zhang Tianshi arriving together.

Xia Zhen and the cultivators from the Guardian Families felt a bit disappointed seeing the two arrive so quickly. They had originally hoped they would come later so that their side could be the first to pay respects to the Divine Tree.

"Master!"

"Master!"

Wei Zhenjie and Zhang Tianshi landed at the edge of the square, still some distance from the offering table. Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou hurried forward to welcome them.

After reuniting, Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou quickly told Wei Zhenjie and Zhang Tianshi, one after another, what had happened after the Guardian Families arrived at the Medicine Department.

"A female cultivator brought by the Guardians, named Meng Qingyao, lit the pill fire on the Second Street."

"Of the seven hall masters who obtained wooden plaques, only Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, and Shen Qianfan lit the Third-Grade Incense and obtained the Divine Tree Secret Realm."

"Department Head Gu and Gu Jinfan both wanted to light the First-Grade Incense, but unfortunately, both failed."

"Zhu Qinghuan's situation is a bit strange; she obtained a wooden plaque but couldn't even light the Third-Grade Incense. I don't know what happened."

"Hua Changxi lit the First-Grade Incense, but looking at her, she didn't seem very happy. I looked at her expression carefully; she wasn't faking it."

Among the many pieces of news, Wei Zhenjie focused on two points: first, Meng Qingyao lit the Second Street pill fire, and second, Hua Changxi lit the First-Grade Incense.

After filling in the information gaps, the four walked toward Xia Zhen, Gu Xing, and the others.

On the way, Wei Zhenjie chatted and laughed with Zhang Tianshi: "I previously thought the Guardians would wait a few more years before appearing. I didn't expect them to come so soon."

Zhang Tianshi: "It's likely because the sudden appearance of the Fusang Divine Tree some time ago made the Guardians sense something, forcing them to emerge early."

Wei Zhenjie nodded: "Now that the Guardians have appeared, the capital will likely become increasingly lively in the future."

Zhang Tianshi corrected him: "Not the capital, but the Central Province."

The capital is defined according to the Great Jin Dynasty, while the Central Province is the center of the Four Spirit Realms.

Wei Zhenjie smiled, looking at the group of young cultivators brought by Xia Zhen, and sighed: "The Guardians are indeed powerful, finding so many gifted prodigies."

Zhang Tianshi nodded in agreement: "With the addition of these people, it will rapidly push forward the reappearance of the Sacred Grounds."

Wei Zhenjie laughed: "That's hard to say; it might even hinder the reappearance of the Sacred Grounds. Sometimes, having too many prodigies isn't a good thing."

Zhang Tianshi was silent for a moment: "In the ancient era, the five great Sacred Grounds were the most yearned-for cultivation paradises for all cultivators in the Four Spirit Realms. Now that the Sacred Grounds are about to reappear, it is expected that everyone will flock here."

"When everyone gathers firewood, the flames rise high. Even if obstacles are encountered, it is still better than stagnation and rigidity."

"The capital is ultimately the home field of the Imperial Family. Only with the entry of these people can this pool of water be stirred. As for who can remain in the end, it naturally depends on their own abilities."

Wei Zhenjie smiled: "The Tianshi is right."

Hua Changxi stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the Heaven Department Minister and Zhang Tianshi approach. She really wanted to use her Observation Art to probe their depths, but remembering how she was almost caught by Xia Zhen earlier, she abandoned the thought.

Wei Zhenjie and Zhang Tianshi both sensed a burning gaze landing on them. Looking up, they discovered it was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old female cultivator in red.

Ostentatious!

Eye-catching!

This was the unified impression the two had of Hua Changxi.

"Master, that person is Hua Changxi."

Huo Yunxiao noticed their gaze and hurriedly introduced her to them.

Wei Zhenjie smiled: "She certainly has a lot of nerve." Few people dared to stare at him so blatantly.

Zhang Tianshi, however, showed a look of astonishment, looking at his disciple Wen Lanzhou: "She is..."

Wen Lanzhou nodded: "Hua Changxi is the twin sister of Junior Sister Changxin."

Zhang Tianshi usually maintained a detached posture of having seen through everything in the world, but today he rarely let his emotions show. His face was full of shock and confusion: "What is Hua Changxi's aptitude?"

Wen Lanzhou: "Single fire spirit root. The specific aptitude is currently unclear, but judging from the various signs she has shown, her aptitude is definitely not low."

Zhang Tianshi was bewildered: "If so, why did Junior Brother Qingyun only bring back Changxin alone?"

This was a question Wei Zhenjie also wanted to know: "Yes, why is that?"

Huo Yunxiao interjected: "Perhaps it's because Hua Changxi's personality was very unlikable when she was young. Daoist Qingyun found her troublesome and didn't bring her back to the Grand Void Gate."

Zhang Tianshi directly denied this reason: "That's impossible. Junior Brother Qingyun would not bicker with a little girl."

As they spoke, the four had already arrived in front of the crowd.

"Apologies, we arrived late and kept Senior Gu and Senior Xia waiting."

Wei Zhenjie cupped his hands and walked toward Gu Xing and Xia Zhen. Zhang Tianshi had also recovered his detachment and followed closely behind.

Huo Yunxiao and Wen Lanzhou did not follow, standing directly beside Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi looked at the two: "Why did Zhang Tianshi look at me like that just now? Why did it feel like he knew me?"

Huo Yunxiao looked at her and smiled: "You are truly sharp." Just now, when his master and Zhang Tianshi arrived at the Medicine Department, she was the first to discover them, even earlier than Senior Xia of the Guardian Families.

Wen Lanzhou, however, looked at her strangely: "Don't you know?"

Hua Changxi was somewhat baffled: "Know what?"

Wen Lanzhou was speechless: "My master comes from the Grand Void Gate."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes widened in surprise: "So you are from the same sect as our Shiniang."

At this, even Huo Yunxiao was speechless: "My Great Hall Master Hua, don't you know any of these situations?"

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: "I don't really like socializing..."

Huo Yunxiao complained directly: "This is too exaggerated. Are you completely deaf to the world outside your window? You don't have to know everything about the situation in the capital, but at least you should know the general idea."

"How are you even a cultivator?"

"You are a lone wolf, you should be collecting information from all sides even more. Otherwise, how do you obtain cultivation resources?"

Hua Changxi knew she was indeed lacking in this area, but she didn't want to expose her shortcomings in front of outsiders, so she ignored Huo Yunxiao and looked directly at Wen Lanzhou.

"Hall Master Wen, is everything well with our Shiniang at the Grand Void Gate? When will she come home?"

Wen Lanzhou: "Hall Master Hua, rest assured. Junior Sister Changxin is a direct disciple of the Sect Leader. With the care of her senior brothers and sisters, she is naturally worry-free at the Grand Void Gate."

"Currently, Junior Sister Changxin is out training with other brothers and sisters from the sect. It is currently unclear when she will return."

Hua Changxi felt disappointed upon hearing this: "I haven't seen Shiniang for many years. Where are they training?"

Wen Lanzhou: "This... forgive me for not being able to tell Hall Master Hua. Rest assured, with so many brothers and sisters around, Junior Sister Changxin will definitely be fine."

Hearing him say this, Hua Changxi found it difficult to continue asking. Just then, Wei Zhenjie, Zhang Tianshi, Xia Zhen, and Gu Xing had finished their pleasantries, and the two were about to begin paying respects to the Divine Tree. ===== CHAPTER 216 =====