[{"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-220":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},1896994,2531,"Chapter 220: The First Resource Distribution of the Alchemy Saint Hall","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-220",220,"\u003Cp>After Gu Xing took the seven-veined divine wood leaves, Hua Changxi and Meng Qingyao each picked up a stick of three-lamp incense; perhaps both harbored a hidden desire to compete, for they almost simultaneously inserted their incense sticks into the divine wood cauldron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen wanted to stop them but was too late; seeing both sticks of incense ignite at once, he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, his heart gave a sudden jolt; in his mind, he had already begun to feel that Meng Qingyao, carefully cultivated by the Xia family, might not be able to match Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third-grade incense burned out quickly, and two three-veined divine wood leaves hovered in midair; Meng Qingyao merely turned to look at Xia Zhen, while Hua Changxi directly beckoned to Gu Xing, \"Elder Gu, come quickly and take the divine wood leaves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi's matter-of-fact demeanor, Gu Xing did not feign modesty; stepping forward before Xia Zhen, he naturally accepted both divine wood leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing this, Xia Zhen's eyes widened in shock; in his expectations, he and Gu Xing should have each controlled one of the two low-grade secret realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that all three secret realms were held in Gu Xing's hands, even if Xia Zhen could participate in their management in the future, he would only play a supporting role from the sidelines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing looked at Xia Zhen and said, \"Fellow Daoist Xia, once I have decided how to manage the three public secret realms, I will consult with you regarding the specific details of administration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Xia Zhen felt truly frustrated; as a Guardian Daoist, he ought to have been the primary decision-maker within the Medical Bureau, yet now he was forced to subordinate himself to Gu Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although filled with resentment, Xia Zhen ultimately kept his emotions in check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that although he was a Guardian Daoist, Gu Xing, serving as the Gatekeeper of the Alchemy Saint Hall, had a more legitimate claim than he did regarding the management of the public secret realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well; for the sake of the Alchemy Saint Hall reappearing in the world soon, I shall certainly assist Fellow Daoist Gu diligently in managing the three public secret realms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Gu Xing was the highest authority over the three public secret realms, Wei Zhenjie and Celestial Master Zhang exchanged smiles, and even Prince Shou, seeing that the Guardian families had gained no advantage, looked considerably more cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the others present, those from the Medical Bureau were naturally delighted to see Xia Zhen humiliated, since the Guardian family faction had immediately contested the position of Hall Master upon their arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the cultivators on the side of the Guardian families felt aggrieved and indignant on Xia Zhen's behalf; in their view, the Guardian Daoists had made great contributions to the Four Spirit Realms and deserved the support of everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Hao, however, held little objection; Hua Changxi was actually not wrong, for having Gu Xing manage the three public secret realms was indeed the most fair and impartial arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While everyone else focused their attention on the three public secret realms, Dongfang Hao's primary concern was Hua Changxi herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of taking initiative, Qingyao truly fell far short of Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Qingyao was a junior meticulously cultivated by the Xia family, and the Meng family was also an old-established cultivation clan; having never lacked cultivation resources since childhood, she certainly could not compete with Hua Changxi, who came from a humble, insignificant household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchuan also held a strong grievance against Hua Changxi and said coldly, \"Qingyao is too bound by propriety, whereas that Hua Changxi, upon seeing something good, acts like a vicious dog spotting food, completely unaware of decency or yielding; when Qingyao faces her, she is bound to suffer losses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Dongfang Hao immediately furrowed his brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Xu also strongly disagreed: \"Brother Meng, your words are too harsh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the temperaments of the Dongfang brothers, Meng Yuchuan softened his tone: \"I was too extreme; I am simply too worried about Qingyao. Cultivators of such low birth as Hua Changxi are very difficult to get along with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Xu replied, \"Whether a person is easy to get along with has nothing to do with their background, does it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchuan smiled and said, \"Brother Xu, you are still too lacking in experience; people of low birth are extremely concerned with gain and loss, calculating over every little thing. Why are Hua Changxi's relations with her family so poor, if not because they are constantly calculating against one another?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Xu felt that since Meng Yuchuan was not a member of the Hua family and did not understand the internal situation of the Hua household, he should not pass judgment so casually, yet finding no reason to refute him, he simply grew too lazy to continue the argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that neither Dongfang Xu nor Dongfang Hao responded, Meng Yuchuan said nothing further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all eighteen sticks of alchemy incense now lit, the confrontations and competitions triggered by the sudden appearance of the Guardian Daoists at the Medical Bureau came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the repercussions caused by these events were only just beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighteen secret realms bestowed by the divine wood could be said to represent the first distribution of resources within the Alchemy Saint Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who obtained the secret realms, by virtue of controlling their resources, had effectively ascended to the positions of the first batch of powerful figures in the sacred land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they could hold onto these positions and manage the secret realms well, once the Alchemy Saint Hall reappeared in the future, these individuals would become the elders of the sacred land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those present, aside from a few individuals, the vast majority came from noble and powerful backgrounds and were no strangers to the workings of power; those who had obtained secret realms were thinking about finding followers, while those who had not were scouting for secret realm masters, intending to carve up the resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the first to be targeted were Hua Changxi and Meng Qingyao, who had obtained high-grade secret realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would not be easy to share in the spoils with Meng Qingyao, who had the backing of the Xia and Meng families, but Hua Changxi was different; lacking patrons or connections, of low birth, and knowing little, she was the perfect target for 'carving up.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xia Zhen and Wei Zhenjie were contemplating how to win Hua Changxi over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen spoke first, smiling as he looked at those who had obtained secret realms: \"Everyone, for the sake of the sacred land reappearing soon, I will remain at the Medical Bureau in the days to come; regarding how to manage the divine wood secret realms, I believe it is necessary for all you secret realm masters to discuss this together; what do you all think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, gathering all the secret realm masters together would not only make it convenient for him to grasp their thoughts and intentions but also allow him, through discussion, to legitimately intervene in the developmental direction of the Alchemy Saint Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those who had obtained secret realms, the Medical Bureau side included Hua Changxi, Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, Shen Qianfan, Celestial Master Zhang, and members from the four non-royal princely houses; the Guardian family side included members from the five Guardian families and Meng Qingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from Hua Changxi and Shen Qianfan, all these individuals had their own social circles and understood the importance and necessity of building connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they were all now members of the sacred land, they would certainly work together in the future once the Alchemy Saint Hall appeared; seeing each other frequently, it was quite necessary to establish friendships and understanding in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Mu Qingying and the others did not voice any opposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Xia Zhen thought everyone would agree, Hua Changxi, who disliked being constrained, spoke up: \"Elder Xia, since the divine wood bestowed the secret realm upon me, how I manage it is my own affair, and there is absolutely no need for discussion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Zhen truly felt that Hua Changxi was somewhat like a rat dropping in the soup; did this girl not know what obedience meant? Taking a deep breath, he said, \"Young Friend Hua, you are mistaken; the development of the secret realm is not solely your concern, as it pertains to the reappearance of the Alchemy Saint Hall...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi detested such people who spoke of benevolence and duty with their mouths but were filled entirely with selfish desires in their hearts, so she interrupted directly: \"Elder Xia, you are a Guardian Daoist, not the Master of the Sacred Land; the reappearance of the Alchemy Saint Hall cannot be determined merely by a gathering of a few secret realm masters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken, she glanced at the sky, noting that it was already late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today is New Year's Eve; are you not going home to reunite with your families? It is getting late, I must go home, so I will not chat further with everyone; goodbye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua Changxi stride away confidently, everyone was dumbfounded; they had never seen anyone so 'unconventional.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou, looking at Xia Zhen who was so angry his hair seemed ready to stand on end, almost wanted to laugh aloud to the heavens, and said to Chu Junhao beside him, \"This Hua Changxi truly gives no face to anyone at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corner of Chu Junhao's mouth twitched; he had not expected Hua Changxi to be so 'whimsical,' and he smiled awkwardly, saying, \"Perhaps this is just how people of true character behave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Celestial Master Zhang was also somewhat unsettled: \"Although Hua Changxi and Changxin look exactly alike, their temperaments are truly...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou picked up the conversation: \"Truly two completely opposite kinds of people; Junior Sister Changxi was always the most considerate and thorough person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang, thinking of the Hua family's situation, remarked, \"Hua Changxi's nature might be due to no one having taught her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou nodded in agreement: \"If Hua Changxi continues to act so without restraint, she is bound to suffer a great loss; today she has thoroughly offended Elder Xia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao interjected: \"Hua Changxi acting in such a manner is indeed somewhat reckless of consequences, however, I find myself somewhat envious; there are few people left who can live as freely as she does.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Freely?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jie Xian of the Xiangguo Temple heard this, smiled, and shook his head: \"If Hall Master Hua cannot even achieve the most basic self-restraint, how can she be said to be free?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1796,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","50637f7bd97aba7a0d544ad56343d6d4091524b79427b7e62620e12c97cf75ad","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-221","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-219",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]