Chapter 233: The Pusher of the Era (Part Two)

"You've followed me all this way; what exactly do you want?"

Hua Changxi watched Huo Yunxiao, who had followed her into Qihuang Hall No. 13, with an expressionless face.

Huo Yunxiao smiled and said, "We are friends, and friends should help each other. I'm here to solve your troubles."

Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow. "Troubles? I don't even know I have any troubles, yet you seem to know me better than I know myself."

Huo Yunxiao gave Hua Changxi a look that said, 'No need to pretend to be strong.' "Do you really have no troubles? If you truly don't, then I suppose I should leave?" With that, he made as if to depart.

Hua Changxi watched his performance with a faint smile, saying nothing.

Seeing her reaction, Huo Yunxiao felt somewhat awkward; he chuckled sheepishly and sat back down. "How do you plan to manage the Divine Wood Secret Realm?"

Hua Changxi's smile vanished. "That is none of your concern."

Huo Yunxiao said, "Don't push me away so coldly. I told you, I'm here to help."

"Managing the Divine Wood Secret Realm requires people, doesn't it? Do you have anyone at your disposal?"

Hua Changxi looked at him but remained silent.

Seeing she did not speak, Huo Yunxiao grew even more composed. "The truth is, I came ahead of others this time. Since you've obtained a high-grade secret realm, you will certainly need many hands to help manage it."

"Other secret realm owners have their clans assisting them. Even Shen Qianfan, who has the weakest background, has court officials eager to help."

"As you saw today, the other secret realm owners have nearly finished recruiting their personnel; only you have made no move."

"If you are willing, besides me, there are many others who wish to cooperate with you. We can all provide you with manpower."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. "Who exactly wants to cooperate with me?"

Thinking he had persuaded Hua Changxi, Huo Yunxiao's spirits lifted. "When seeking cooperation, one must naturally choose those whose backgrounds are well known."

"Of the original eighteen hall masters, excluding those who already obtained secret realms, the remaining hall masters are all willing to cooperate with you. You may choose freely among them."

"Rest assured, the people we provide will be at least at the Qi Refining stage. We can guarantee that, like the other secret realm owners, you will quickly get your realm running smoothly."

Hua Changxi smiled; only someone with a broken mind would use cultivators recruited by others.

Back when she cooperated with Elder You and the other three to develop the Fire Spirit Mine, the personnel managing the mine all belonged to Elder You's group, which was precisely why she ended up being sidelined.

"Huo Yunxiao, I'm quite curious: why are you so certain I cannot recruit anyone?"

Huo Yunxiao also smiled. "Hall Master Hua, let me speak from the heart. Although the matter of the spiritual qi resurgence is now widely known, very few people have actually embarked on the path of cultivation."

"It is not for any other reason, but because there are no cultivation techniques available."

"Except for the few with profound luck who accidentally obtained inheritances, everyone else who wishes to acquire cultivation techniques can only do so by joining some faction."

"According to statistics from the Heaven Department, at least sixty percent of today's cultivators are controlled by various factions."

"This situation is even more pronounced in the capital."

"Especially now, when all the other secret realm owners are also recruiting, whether in terms of foundation or background, you are at the very bottom. Tell me, can you recruit any cultivators? And even if you can, how many could you possibly recruit?"

What Huo Yunxiao did not say was that the imperial family and the nobility, in order to place their own people into Hua Changxi's high-grade secret realm, would unanimously join forces to block her from recruiting rogue cultivators.

Hua Changxi nodded. "I admit, everything you've said is true. But why does it sound so infuriating to me? It's as if you believe you have me completely cornered."

Huo Yunxiao fell silent for a moment. "When facing irresistible forces, one must compromise."

Hua Changxi smiled. "But I simply refuse to believe in such nonsense!" Saying this, she made a gesture inviting him to leave. "Please depart. Your so-called cooperation has never been within my considerations."

Huo Yunxiao looked stunned, then spoke with earnest persistence. "Hua Changxi, do not act impulsively. Even if you have the Hua clan behind you, how many people can the Hua clan actually provide for you?"

"Furthermore, do you realize that how you manage and operate the Divine Wood Secret Realm will determine your future status within the Pill Saint Hall?"

"Many hands make light work; the struggle for power has never been won through fighting alone."

Hua Changxi said, "Who said anything about struggling for power? I only intend to manage the secret realm; other matters concern me not. If I cannot recruit people quickly, I will recruit slowly. I am in no hurry. Now, please say no more and leave."

Hearing her words, Huo Yunxiao truly did not know what else to say. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "You have already entered the game. There are matters you cannot opt out of simply by wishing not to participate."

Seeing that Hua Changxi was determined not to listen to him, Huo Yunxiao could do nothing but leave helplessly.

As soon as he departed, Hua Changxi entered the Divine Wood Secret Realm.

Gazing at the vast, boundless medicinal fields within the realm, she thought about the matter of recruiting personnel.

Recruiting people was indeed a troublesome affair.

However, having gained experience from the recruitment of the Zhu Que Army at Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi already had an idea forming in her mind regarding how to recruit.

It was difficult for her to go out and recruit cultivators, but it would be very easy to make cultivators voluntarily seek entry into the Pill Saint Hall.

Hua Changxi flashed out of the secret realm, took out a communication talisman, and contacted Tong Yao once again.

On Tong Yao's end, he had not yet parted ways with Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen. Seeing that Hua Changxi needed him again, he sent her their location.

After receiving the reply, Hua Changxi quickly arrived at the restaurant where Tong Yao and the other two were located.

Tong Yao asked, "Fellow Daoist Hua, you sought me out so urgently; have you encountered some trouble?"

Hua Changxi replied, "I have indeed encountered some trouble." She then explained the situation regarding recruitment to the three of them.

Upon hearing this, a hint of worry appeared on the faces of Tong Yao and his companions.

There was no other reason; amidst the encirclement by the imperial family and the nobility, it was also very difficult for them to find suitable disciples.

Hua Changxi looked at Tong Yao. "I wish to create a batch of spiritual artifacts capable of continuous broadcasting..."

In other words, displays like those from her previous life. By recording the recruitment notice on these displays and looping them continuously, a steady stream of cultivators would see them.

"These spiritual artifacts must have strong defenses. I plan to install one on the city walls of every major city across the Nine Provinces."

"Then, I will inscribe my recruitment criteria onto the artifacts. In this way, anyone passing by the city walls will know that I am recruiting."

"Once enough people know, naturally some will be willing to pledge allegiance."

"I simply do not believe that the various nobles can block the entire world's populace."

As Hua Changxi explained, the eyes of Tong Yao, Jing Liao, and Yan Zhenzhen grew brighter and brighter, and the three of them continuously refined Hua Changxi's idea, adding suggestions back and forth.

"Installing them on city walls is not ideal; what if someone destroys the walls? It would be better if the spiritual artifacts could stand independently upon the earth."

"The Earth Vein of the Artifact Saint Palace stores a batch of meteorites. Even a Dao Integration stage cultivator would find it difficult to destroy such stones. I can use these meteorites to forge the spiritual artifacts."

"I can inscribe formations onto the artifacts that convert incoming attacks."

"For the recruitment regulations on the spiritual artifact, I can inscribe them with runes; this will ensure the writing never fades."

Watching Tong Yao and the other two, who were even more enthusiastic than herself, Hua Changxi felt somewhat surprised.

"Fellow Daoist Hua..."

Tong Yao gazed intently at Hua Changxi: "Your idea is excellent. I will forge the spiritual artifact for you free of charge, however, I have one request."

Hua Changxi roughly guessed what it was: "Speak."

Tong Yao said: "Besides your secret realm's recruitment guarantee on the spiritual artifact, I wish to also inscribe the standards for the Artifact Saint Palace to recruit disciples."

Yan Zhenzhen added: "The Array Saint Sect's standards must be inscribed as well."

Jing Le said: "And the Talisman Saint Pavilion's too."

Hua Changxi smiled and said: "Very well, I agree." Then, looking at Tong Yao, she asked, "The quantity of spiritual artifacts is rather large; I wish to install one in every city where people gather. Can you refine that many?"

Tong Yao thought for a moment: "One hundred is no problem."

Hua Changxi clapped her hands together: "One hundred is quite a number indeed. Since there are four of us, we can each take twenty-five. East, South, West, and North—each person handles one direction to install the spiritual artifacts."

"To have the spiritual artifacts forged as soon as possible, let us hurry back and write the recruitment notices."

"Remember, you must clearly state the recruitment standards as well as the benefits and treatment, to avoid future disputes."