Chapter 232: The Pusher of the Era (Part One)

After leaving Feng'an Ward, Hua Changxi first went to see Tong Yao, giving him three copies of the finalized wholesale list for spirit pills; she instructed him to pass two of them to Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen, then proceeded directly back to the Medical Bureau.

After reviewing the spirit pill price list, Tong Yao's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately sent messages to Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen.

Soon, the three gathered at the agreed-upon restaurant.

Upon seeing the spirit pill prices, both Yan Zhenzhen and Jing Liao were somewhat surprised.

For no other reason than Hua Changxi's selling prices were far below the market rate.

Yan Zhenzhen asked, "Fellow Daoist Hua offers us such low prices; won't she suffer a loss?"

Tong Yao smiled and replied, "Suffering a loss is unlikely, though it is true she won't make much profit."

Jing Liao nodded and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Hua shows such sincerity, we cannot take advantage of her."

Hearing this, Yan Zhenzhen put away her own price list for formation disks and formation chess pieces, saying, "I must go back and revise this list."

Jing Liao indicated that he also needed to adjust his price list for spirit talismans.

Seeing both voluntarily propose revising their price lists, Tong Yao immediately felt relieved.

The price lists they had drafted were based on market rates, yet those market rates were artificially inflated!

Nowadays, most cultivation resources circulating in the market come from the hands of the nobility, with selling prices far exceeding production costs.

When prices are high, fewer cultivators can afford the corresponding spirit stones to purchase them; over time, this is highly detrimental to expanding the markets for pills, talismans, artifacts, and formations.

This contradicts the responsibility borne by the Four Sacred Lands to promote the Dao of Pills, the Dao of Artifacts, the Dao of Talismans, and the Dao of Formations.

In the past, when he collaborated and traded with others, although he would occasionally lower prices, he never reduced them far below the market rate.

First, his partners would not lower prices as Fellow Daoist Hua had done.

Second, the goods his partners sought were not in such vast quantities as those requested by Fellow Daoist Hua, making it impossible to achieve small profits but quick turnover; considering the development of the Artifact Sacred Palace and the need to support its disciples, reality simply did not allow him to set prices too low.

Now, cooperating with Fellow Daoist Hua, since the purchase price for pills was not high, the selling price for his spiritual artifacts did not need to be excessively high either.

The same logic applied to the trading of spirit talismans and formation disks held by Jing Liao and Fellow Daoist Yan.

Although they might not earn much profit, as long as costs were covered, he was willing.

For no other reason than the Four Sacred Lands, serving as benchmarks for the hundred arts of cultivation, also bore the responsibility of maintaining market order.

Now that the resurgence of spiritual energy had fully entered the public eye, the market for trading cultivation resources was extremely chaotic; someone needed to step forward to establish market standards and regulate market behavior, which would benefit the positive development of the Four Spirit Realms.

This was the reason Tong Yao, upon receiving Hua Changxi's spirit pill price list, had immediately summoned Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen.

Constrained by realistic pressures, the Five Sacred Lands were still in a dormant phase, but as heirs of the Sacred Lands, they could not remain entirely inactive.

In Tong Yao's view, Hua Changxi seeking their cooperation presented an excellent opportunity.

The four of them respectively represented the Four Sacred Lands; with the Four Sacred Lands joining forces, one day they would surely standardize the market for trading cultivation resources and truly contribute to the development and prosperity of the Four Spirit Realms.

After confirming the need to revise their price lists, Tong Yao and the other two turned to other topics.

Yan Zhenzhen remarked, "I heard the Pill Saint Hall is opening three public secret realms, allowing any cultivator wishing to study medical arts and the Dao of Pills to enter and exit."

Tong Yao responded, "How could I not have heard? Nowadays, every cultivator in the capital knows about this; these past few days, the area outside the Medical Bureau has been filled with cultivators inquiring about news of the secret realms."

Yan Zhenzhen continued, "I also heard that opening the public secret realms was proposed by Meng Qingyao of the Meng family, with strong support from Fellow Daoist Hua; because of this, many cultivators without connections or background are genuinely grateful to them."

"I am not surprised by Fellow Daoist Hua's actions; after all, the Hua family's status is not high, so Fellow Daoist Hua surely understands the difficulties ordinary cultivators face in acquiring resources."

"But that Meng Qingyao could also think of ordinary cultivators and speak on their behalf surprises me somewhat."

Tong Yao nodded in agreement, saying, "Not all children of the nobility care only for themselves."

Jing Liao looked at the two of them and stated, "The news you have heard has been misleading."

"Oh?"

Tong Yao and Yan Zhenzhen both turned to look at him simultaneously.

Since Dixin Temple maintained close ties with Xiangguo Temple, and someone from Xiangguo Temple had been present during the struggle for the Divine Wood Secret Realm on New Year's Eve at the Medical Bureau, Jing Liao knew the true circumstances of that day.

"The public secret realms were proposed by Fellow Daoist Hua; although finalizing the matter involved maneuvering from various parties, without someone proposing it, this certainly would not have happened."

"The current rumors attributing the credit for the public secret realms solely to Meng Qingyao exist for two reasons: first, some people do not want Fellow Daoist Hua to rise to prominence, and second, the Xia and Meng families are promoting this narrative."

"The Xia family, leading other Dao-Protecting Families, along with the Meng family and other reclusive cultivation clans making a high-profile appearance, aims to secure a place for themselves in the upcoming era of great contention."

"To take root and establish a foothold among the intertwined forces of various factions, the fastest method is to promote one individual and allow them to gain reputation."

"Meng Qingyao is precisely the figure promoted by the Dao-Protecting Families, led by the Xia family!"

After learning the truth, Yan Zhenzhen frowned deeply, sneering coldly, "I never expected the Dao-Protecting Families would also step on others to rise to power and engage in such sinister schemes!"

Jing Liao fell silent for a moment before saying, "Dao Protectors are human beings too!"

Tong Yao sighed, remarking, "I hope Fellow Daoist Hua will not be affected by this."

"So, there are actually this many cultivators in the capital!"

On her way back to the Medical Bureau, Hua Changxi saw many cultivators on the streets.

In the past, when she wished to befriend cultivators, she could not find a single one; now, she discovered they were everywhere.

The closer she got to the Medical Bureau, the more cultivators there seemed to be, as if in an instant, all the cultivators of the capital had emerged.

Upon arriving at the Medical Bureau, Hua Changxi did not enter immediately but stood at the intersection, watching countless cultivators coming and going.

Most of these cultivators wore unified attire, making it easy to identify which faction they belonged to at a glance.

Among the cultivators entering and exiting the Medical Bureau, the most numerous were from the five great Dao-Protecting Families: Xia, Bai, Wu, Zhu, and Long.

Following them were members of the Meng family, people from the four non-imperial princely houses of East, South, West, and North, and disciples of the Taisu Palace.

Other cultivators wearing attire without factional insignia were mostly lingering near the Medical Bureau, observing cautiously.

Watching this scene, Hua Changxi's brows immediately furrowed.

Clearly, the masters of the secret realms who had obtained the Divine Wood Secret Realm were managing it by mobilizing members of their own families.

"Hey, which handsome young man is our Great Master Hua staring at so entrancedly?"

Huo Yunxiao appeared in Hua Changxi's line of sight with a playful grin.

Hua Changxi slanted a glance at him and retorted, "None of your business," before walking straight into the Medical Bureau.

Huo Yunxiao was not annoyed; he smiled and followed: "Such a fiery temper. Could it be that you are envying the other Secret Realm Masters?"

Hua Changxi stopped in her tracks: "I envy the other Secret Realm Masters? What is so good about them that is worth my envy?"

Huo Yunxiao clicked his tongue twice: "Grand Master Hua, your arrogance is truly unmatched."

"Most other Secret Realm Masters come from great clans with deep foundations. Not to mention anything else, the cultivators they can mobilize could get the Divine Wood Secret Realm running smoothly within a month or two."

"And you? You are all alone. Have you figured out how to manage the Secret Realm?"

Seeing that this was what he was talking about, Hua Changxi sneered and turned to leave.

This reaction surprised Huo Yunxiao; he hurried after her again: "What are you laughing at?"

Hua Changxi ignored him until they reached the square. Seeing many people moving in and out on Ninth Street, she finally stopped.

"What are they doing?"

Seeing this, Huo Yunxiao smiled and said: "Obviously, they are moving house." Knowing that Hua Changxi was out of the loop, he explained further.

"The Xia family brought so many people; they must have somewhere to be housed."

"Also, those few Grand Masters who were forced to give up their Qihuang Halls need to be found new places."

"Prince Shou and the Director discussed it and decided to clear out Ninth Street."

"The medicine halls on the left side of the Pilgrimage Road will be used to house the people brought by the Xia family; as for the medicine halls on the right side, since the Qihuang Hall Grand Masters are gone, each has been allotted a courtyard."

Listening to Huo Yunxiao's words and watching the comings and goings on Ninth Street, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered with light.

It seemed that everyone now knew that Ninth Street held the highest status among the nine streets.

Otherwise, why not clear out First Street or Second Street instead?

After all, First Street and Second Street had alchemical fires ignited, which were more beneficial for cultivating alchemists.

"Where have the people who were originally on Ninth Street been assigned?"

Huo Yunxiao was stunned by the question, then smiled: "Those with connections have their own destinations. As for those without... the people trained by the Medicine Bureau possess real skills; they need not worry about having no rice to eat."

Hua Changxi said: "Before it was the Miscellaneous Duties Hall, now it is Ninth Street. Where will it be next time?"

Huo Yunxiao looked at Hua Changxi, a trace of gloom passing through his eyes, but he quickly raised a smile again: "This is not something for small figures like us to worry about."

Hua Changxi said no more and walked toward Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen. Seeing that Huo Yunxiao kept following her, she thought for a moment and asked: "Which Grand Masters were replaced?"

Huo Yunxiao replied: "Any Grand Master without a wooden token, and who had not obtained the Divine Wood Secret Realm, was replaced."

"By the way, Zhu Qinghuan voluntarily gave up Qihuang Hall Number Twelve."

Hua Changxi looked surprised: "Are you sure it was Zhu Qinghuan who voluntarily gave it up?"

Huo Yunxiao smiled but said nothing.

Zhu Qinghuan's Qihuang Hall Number Twelve was now taken over by the Wu family as the new Grand Master. Whether there had been any private dealings behind this, he did not know.

"Actually, Zhu Qinghuan voluntarily giving up the position of Grand Master is a good thing for her."

"Since she gave it up voluntarily, the authorities, to save face, arranged a courtyard for her on Ninth Street."

As they spoke, the two arrived at Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen, just in time to see a group of Wu family members carrying various items and moving into the adjacent Qihuang Hall Number Fourteen.

Looking at the bright family robes worn by the Wu family members, Hua Changxi frowned and said: "Huo Yunxiao, tell me, do those Wu family members truly count as people of the Alchemy Saint Hall?"

Huo Yunxiao paused: "What do you think?"

Hua Changxi did not answer; she stepped forward and entered Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen.

Huo Yunxiao was just about to follow when a cold snort drifted into his ears.

"Protectors? They are nothing but a bunch of thieves guarding the very treasure they steal!"