Chapter 246: The Pusher of the Era (Fifteen)

In Hua Changxi's view, giving this lecture in the square was no different from her previous lessons at the Qihuang Hall; she had never expected such a series of unexpected events.

First, the formation was activated, causing the Alchemy Cauldron Altar to suddenly manifest, and now she had obtained a Saint Pill.

With the square and the high sky filled with people, Hua Changxi found it inconvenient to immediately inspect the Saint Pill and the Guardian Saint Token within it, nor did she linger on the high platform, turning instead to walk down.

As Hua Changxi descended, the gazes of the crowd followed her movement.

Previously, everyone's attention had been fixed on Hua Changxi, but now, as she walked down, Yu Gui and the others on the Alchemy Cauldron Altar also gradually came into view.

Yu Gui, Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and Guo Cheng, being responsible for recording the content of Hua Changxi's lecture, stood closest to her.

Therefore, when the Alchemy Cauldron Altar rose from the ground, these four were positioned directly beneath Hua Changxi, standing on the seventh layer of the altar.

As for Apothecary Xu and the other eight medicine apprentices, being slightly farther from Hua Changxi, they were located on the fifth layer of the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

At this moment, the excitement and exhilaration felt by Yu Gui and his group standing atop the high platform were simply indescribable.

Especially upon seeing the various dignitaries in the square forced to look up at them, their excited emotions were even more evident.

Once, the dignitaries were above and they were below; but now, they were above, and the dignitaries below...

So positions could indeed be reversed!

Yu Gui, Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and Guo Cheng all came from impoverished backgrounds, so their feelings were the most intense, with tears even glistening in their eyes.

Apothecary Xu and the other eight held slightly higher status and had some background, yet none were core members of their families, mostly acting on orders.

At this moment, feeling the gaze of the multitude focused upon them, their hearts were also surging with emotion.

Was this not the case of 'when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven'?

Simply because they were Hua Changxi's medicine apprentices, they could share in her glory?

At this moment, the thoughts of Hua Shuran and the others began to shift.

No one anymore felt it was a grievance to serve as Hua Changxi's medicine apprentice; they finally understood that their Hall Master truly did not cry out until she startled the world with a single cry.

When Hua Changxi reached the seventh layer, Yu Gui and the four immediately followed close behind; upon reaching the fifth layer, Apothecary Xu and the eight respectfully trailed behind Yu Gui's group, accompanying Hua Changxi as they all descended from the high platform.

Once off the high platform, both Hua Changxi and Yu Gui's group had a distinct realization.

That was, the scenery above the high platform was indeed vastly different from the scenery below it.

In the square, the crowd had not yet dispersed.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi waved her hand, and the thousands of spiritual herbs used for this lecture scattered across the sky above the square like a meteor shower, landing in the hands of the audience moments later.

"Thank you, Hall Master Hua!"

In the square, sounds of gratitude rose one after another.

Hearing these thanks, Xia Zhen, along with Meng Yuchuan and others beside him, wore somewhat unpleasant expressions.

Meng Yuchuan said with disdain, "This Hua Changxi is far too skilled at buying people's hearts."

Jiang Nianyi smiled and remarked, "They are merely first-grade spiritual herbs; such small favors are hardly enough to win people's hearts."

Hearing their conversation, Xia Zhen frowned.

Previously, he had considered Hua Changxi's lowly status an obvious weakness, but now he realized he had been too rash in his judgment.

With Hua Changxi as a comparison, he suddenly realized that because people like Qingyao were born into such high status, they found it difficult to mingle with those below and easily overlooked their needs.

The previous public secret realm and this casual distribution of spiritual herbs were both because Hua Changxi saw the urgent need for resources among the cultivators below.

Yet these were things Qingyao and the others did not know.

After distributing the spiritual herbs, Hua Changxi announced, "Today's lecture is concluded; everyone may disperse!"

Having witnessed the manifestation of the Alchemy Cauldron Altar and personally experienced the expansion of the square, no one wished to leave immediately; all wanted to stay a while longer to soak in the atmosphere.

Seeing that no one moved, and recalling that Yan Zhenzhen and Tong Yao had sent messages stating that a batch of teleportation arrays, oath steles, and recruitment display spiritual artifacts were ready, Hua Changxi used her spiritual energy to broadcast a self-promotion.

"Everyone, in a few days, the Danyuan Secret Realm under my supervision will begin recruiting; the recruitment notice will be posted soon. We welcome you all to enthusiastically sign up and join the secret realm!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the empty square immediately erupted into heated discussion.

The dignitaries in the capital who had set their sights on Hua Changxi's secret realm, hoping to carve out a share for themselves, relaxed their expressions somewhat: Hua Changxi was finally going to develop her secret realm!

"Danyuan Secret Realm..."

Gu Xing chewed on the name of the secret realm, a smile flashing in his eyes.

This girl was quite ambitious indeed, actually using the character 'Yuan' as the name for her secret realm.

Xia Zhen, however, wore a gloomy expression: "Danyuan Secret Realm?"

By naming her secret realm with 'Yuan', did Hua Changxi believe her realm was the foremost among all secret realms?

Upon hearing the name Hua Changxi had chosen for her secret realm, Meng Qingyao's expression also fluctuated.

She had not expected Hua Changxi to reveal her ambitions so openly, without any subtlety whatsoever.

Beside her, Dongfang Hao also sighed with emotion, "This Hua Changxi is certainly direct enough."

Dongfang Xu's focus was not on Hua Changxi; instead, looking at Meng Qingyao, he asked curiously, "Sister Qingyao, why didn't you ever think of giving your secret realm a name?"

Caught off guard by the question, Meng Qingyao showed a trace of embarrassment on her face and did not respond.

Seeing that Dongfang Xu intended to ask further, Dongfang Hao immediately stopped him with a glance.

Why?

Naturally, it was because the attention of the other secret realm masters was not on the realms themselves, but on the spiritual herbs within them; they were all thinking of using the herbs inside to seek power and profit for themselves, thus neglecting the secret realms themselves.

At the same time, the other secret realm masters also pondered this issue, their expressions becoming somewhat unnatural.

Most secret realm masters had never considered naming their realms, believing that realms bestowed by the Divine Tree should simply be called Divine Tree Realms; to distinguish them, they merely added the sequence number of the Qihuang Hall where the master resided.

For instance, since Meng Qingyao was the Hall Master of the Seventh Qihuang Hall, the realm in her possession was simply the Seventh Divine Tree Realm.

Yuan Tianchou looked at Mu Qingying and asked, "Junior Sister, after we return, shall we also think of a name for our secret realm?"

Mu Qingying nodded: "Indeed, we should give the secret realm a name."

Just as the various secret realm masters were silently contemplating what names to give their realms, some bold individuals used spiritual energy transmission to loudly question Hua Changxi.

"Hall Master Hua, may I ask if everyone is eligible to join your Danyuan Secret Realm?"

Hua Changxi: "Anyone who meets the requirements may join."

The bold one asked: "May I ask what those requirements are?"

Since the day was growing late and Hua Changxi had no time to answer questions one by one, she simply stated, "Everyone should consult the recruitment notice for the specific requirements."

Having spoken, she led Yu Gui and the others back to Thirteen Hao Qihuang Hall.

On the way back, sensing the changes in the plaza, Physician Xu and the others could not help but discuss the matter.

Hua Wanyue remarked, "The plaza has become far too large; if we cross it on foot from now on, I fear it will take several ke."

Hua Shuran replied, "You mentioned traveling on foot, but we are cultivators; flying on swords or using other transportation treasures, we can cross the plaza very quickly."

Hearing this, He Sirong quickly looked at Hua Changxi and asked, "Hall Master, given that the Alchemy Altar appears to be a site for heaven sacrifices, surely arbitrary flight over the plaza is prohibited?"

Stunned by the question, Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Medical Bureau is overseen by the Director and Prince Shou, and now with the addition of the Spirit Realm Pavilion, with so many officials in charge, they will certainly regulate everyone's conduct."

He Sirong was not very optimistic about this; sometimes, having too many officials in charge is precisely where troubles arise and the root of chaos lies.