Chapter 249: The Pusher of the Era (Eighteen)

Since the Hu family, a Dao-protecting clan, made its appearance at the Medical Bureau, the gaze of various factions in the capital has never left the institution.

First, the emergence of the Shenmu Secret Realm stirred all parties into action, each eager to claim a share of the spoils;

Then, the eighteen hall masters of the Qihuang Hall took turns lecturing, prompting all factions to invest in those they favored, with numerous alliances forged in secret;

Finally, the manifestation of the Alchemy Cauldron Altar directly transformed the Medical Bureau, evolving it from a mere government office into something now revealing the aura of a sacred land.

These events unfolded in rapid succession within barely a month; the speed and magnitude of the Medical Bureau's changes left countless people overwhelmed.

Prior to this, as a department under imperial jurisdiction, the royal house held absolute control over everything from the appointment of Qihuang Hall masters to the placement of alchemists and physicians along First Street through Ninth Street.

Yet now, beneath the Alchemy Cauldron Altar, Prince Fu and a host of other royal descendants, gazing up at the towering and majestic structure, felt for the first time with stark clarity that control was slipping from their grasp.

The previous evening, after failing to pry details about "Green Marsh" from Hua Changxi, the various factions departed; only Prince Shou remained, for he, dissatisfied that those of noble blood had been forced to stand in the square looking up at the low-born Hua Changxi, conceived the notion of ascending the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

Regrettably, his feet could not even reach the steps; an invisible force firmly blocked Prince Shou from climbing onto the altar.

Had Prince Shou withdrawn then, all would have been well, but he, accustomed to getting whatever wind or rain he desired, refused to believe in such power and circulated his spiritual energy, attempting to force his way up the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

Then, disaster struck.

Prince Shou was instantly crushed by a mighty force, forced to his knees before the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

This suppression lasted the entire night.

Whenever Prince Shou struggled, the force pressing upon him intensified, compelling him to kneel obediently without daring to move.

Upon learning of this incident, the Emperor's expression turned exceedingly grim.

For a Prince of the Blood to be publicly crushed and forced to kneel in the Medical Bureau square was a complete loss of face for the royal house.

Immediately, the Emperor dispatched Prince Fu and several Nascent Soul cultivators to see if they could rescue Prince Shou.

Alas, despite exhausting every method, Prince Fu and the others could not get Prince Shou to stand.

In the end, Prince Fu and the gathered royal descendants could only watch helplessly as Prince Shou knelt beneath the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

It was at that moment they clearly realized that this world no longer obeyed the dictates of the royal family!

Outside the square, countless eyes fixed upon the scene of Prince Shou being forced to kneel before the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

Out of respect for the royal house, the various factions tacitly chose to observe from afar, avoiding any close approach to the altar.

Although Prince Shou's public demonstration proved that the royal clan no longer held supreme authority, the mood among the various factions was far from cheerful.

For no other reason than that they had all been beneficiaries who rose alongside the Chu royal clan.

Now that the great ship of the Chu royal family had become unstable, they too could hardly remain secure.

On Ninth Street, within the Spirit Realm Pavilion.

Xia Zhen stood before a second-floor window, his expression grave as he watched everything unfolding before the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.

The sudden manifestation of the Alchemy Cauldron Altar had not only caused the Chu royal clan to fall from the clouds but also disrupted the Xia family's arrangements.

Before Xia Zhen came to the Medical Bureau, the Xia family had already made various preparations.

Meng Qingyao, possessing a Fire-Wood spiritual body, was a born alchemist and the most suitable candidate to take charge of the sacred land.

According to the Xia family's plan, Meng Qingyao would first ignite the alchemical fire on Second Street to initially display her alchemical prowess;

Then, through the secret realm bestowed by the Divine Tree, her reputation would be enhanced.

Afterwards, she would be arranged to take charge of the Qihuang Hall, where through teaching and lecturing, she would win over a group of outstanding followers.

Finally, the Spirit Realm Pavilion would be established with Meng Qingyao as its first master; step by step, propelled by the support of the Xia and Meng families, Meng Qingyao would undoubtedly become the universally acclaimed master of the sacred land.

Xia Zhen had never expected that a figure like Hua Changxi would emerge from the Medical Bureau.

Her existence left him at a loss for words.

From their very first meeting, Hua Changxi had opposed him at every turn, yet her actions had undeniably propelled the development of the sacred land.

"This person truly makes one feel both love and hate!"