[{"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-261":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},1897035,2531,"Chapter 261: Danyuan Peak","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>No. 4 Qihuang Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning that the Celestial Division had dispatched a team of retired Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers to join the Danyuan Secret Realm, Celestial Master Zhang traveled from the Celestial Master's Prefecture to the Medical Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wei Zhenjie finished his discussions with Prince Shou, Xia Zhen, and the others, Celestial Master Zhang summoned Wei Zhenjie to No. 4 Qihuang Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the two were engaged in a game of Go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After placing a stone, Celestial Master Zhang looked at Wei Zhenjie with a smile and asked, \"Why did you decide to help Hua Changxi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie sighed with a laugh, \"People cannot truly understand another's essence merely by watching from the sidelines or listening to what others say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To truly know someone, one must make personal contact.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang smiled, \"It seems you have many reflections on this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie shook his head with a smile, \"My recent interactions with Hua Changxi have truly shocked me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Despite Hua Changxi's arrogant demeanor and conduct, deep down she is an honest and straightforward child.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She has not even begun to grasp the intricacies of human relationships; at best, she is a novice just stepping out into the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I now somewhat understand why, despite being the Hua family's most outstanding child, she has not gained the support of her clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She does not know how to leverage her own advantages and resources to dominate or manipulate others, and I suspect she has never even considered doing so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I were in her position, holding the Danyuan Secret Realm, I could easily subdue the entire Hua family by dispensing just a fraction of its resources.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The most critical issue is that she treats everyone else exactly as she treats her own family. Possessing a mountain of gold yet refusing to use it, and lacking understanding of her own value, she has fallen into the passive situation of being jointly suppressed by Prince Shou and the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Celestial Master Zhang straightened his expression, \"Based on your words, Hua Changxi must be a person of great purity and kindness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie looked surprised, \"You seem to admire such obvious flaws in Hua Changxi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang replied, \"Is it not admirable that she does not treat people as tools? Is it not admirable that, holding vast resources, she does not use them to satisfy personal desires or pursue the vanity of standing above others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie chuckled, \"If Hua Changxi had reached your level of cultivation, she would indeed be admirable, but she is fundamentally different from you. She has not yet touched the threshold of 'entering the world,' yet you describe her with the honor of 'transcending the world.' You are overestimating her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it is not merely overestimation; it is killing her with praise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang smiled, \"This poor Daoist observes the original heart of a person. As for 'entering the world' or 'transcending the world,' these are merely experiences and choices one makes while living in the mortal realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie countered, \"It is too early to say that. Hua Changxi is still young; what if, through her experiences in the world, she forgets or changes her original heart?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang did not continue to argue with Wei Zhenjie; he simply smiled and remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie continued, \"People still need a sect and guidance; otherwise, relying solely on self-exploration will lead them down too many detours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hua Changxi comes from a humble background with limited vision and no mentorship; even possessing the Danyuan Secret Realm, that mountain of gold, she does not know how to utilize it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She holds an excellent hand of cards yet plays them terribly, putting herself in danger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Wei Zhenjie spoke, the more emotional he became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at him, Celestial Master Zhang said, \"Everyone has their own path to walk; do not use your own life experiences to judge another's life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What you perceive as a dangerous situation might very well be a fortunate opportunity for Hua Changxi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wei Zhenjie was about to retort, Wen Lanzhou and Huo Yunxiao entered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging greetings, the two quickly relayed the message sent by Prince Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Wei Zhenjie immediately snorted coldly, \"The Imperial Family can now only resort to tactics that cannot be brought into the light.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Master Zhang sighed but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Yunxiao looked at Wei Zhenjie and asked, \"Master, Prince Fu and the others clearly intend to continue suppressing Hua Changxi's recruitment of apprentices. Will you still intervene in this matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie glanced sideways at his disciple, \"This is the Medical Bureau, not the Celestial Division. Your master's hands are not long enough to manage everything; do you want to tire me to death?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Helping Hua Changxi stop Prince Shou and the others from targeting the Hua family was already crossing the line. If I interfere further, it will be the Celestial Division that becomes the target.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How to break through the blockade set by Prince Shou and the others depends entirely on Hua Changxi herself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Lanzhou glanced at Celestial Master Zhang and said with a smile, \"Prince Shou and the others continuing to obstruct Hua Changxi's recruitment of apprentices is actually a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are quite a number of soldiers retiring from the Demon-Suppressing Army these years; you could place them all into the Danyuan Secret Realm. This would also provide them with a means of survival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Huo Yunxiao's eyes immediately lit up, \"That's right.\" He then turned to look at Wei Zhenjie, \"Master, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zhenjie chuckled, \"If Hua Changxi is willing to accept them, I certainly have no objection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Prince Fu had already spread words leading people to misunderstand that the Celestial Division intended to seize the Danyuan Secret Realm, he might as well reluctantly accept that reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all the retired Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers could truly enter the Danyuan Secret Realm, that would be excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, doing so would be somewhat like bullying that honest child, Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, he did feel a little guilty about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the development of the Four Spirit Realms, he had no choice but to bully the young with his seniority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the laughter nearly overflowing from the eyes of the Minister of the Celestial Division, Wen Lanzhou quietly curled his lips in a sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Prince Shou and those others had schemed endlessly, only for Minister Wei to reap the greatest benefit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, unable to keep over a thousand retired Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers gathered outside No. 13 Qihuang Hall indefinitely, Hua Changxi, after the first hundred soldiers had filled out their resumes and listened to Apothecary Xu explain the various precautions, led them along with Eunuch Yu and the other three to the Oath Stele of the Danyuan Secret Realm in the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group arrived at the square in great momentum, immediately drawing attention from all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, Prince Shou gritted his teeth, \"Wei Zhenjie has truly gotten a bargain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, Xia Zhen also wore an expression of sighing; he had originally believed that with the added status of a Guardian Daoist, the Xia family would quickly gain control of the situation within the Medical Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the complex circumstances within the Medical Bureau far exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been at the Medical Bureau for so long, their side had hardly gained any advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the Celestial Division had openly stepped in to interfere in the affairs of the Medical Bureau, the situation in the future would likely become increasingly chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, everyone has selfish desires; revitalizing the realm still has a long and arduous road ahead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the Oath Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Yu and the other three, as well as the other retired Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers, and said, \"For cultivators, the Heart-Demon Oath cannot be sworn lightly; you still have the chance to regret your decision now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, no one indicated a desire to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi said nothing more; with a wave of her hand, a wooden table appeared before the Oath Stele, followed by over a hundred identity tokens materializing upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, queue up to swear the Heart-Demon Oath; once you gain the Oath Stele's approval, you will receive an identity token for entering and exiting the secret realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, the crowd watching from afar fell into a brief uproar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had always believed that merely swearing the Heart-Demon Oath would grant them entry into the Danyuan Secret Realm, never expecting that they also required the Oath Stele's approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This instantly filled many harboring ulterior motives with nervousness and unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Eunuch Yu and the others were also tense, Hua Changxi soothed them: \"There is no need to be nervous; as long as you sincerely wish to join the Danyuan Secret Realm, you will gain the Oath Stele's approval.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the crowd, Huo Yunxiao wore an expression of 'just as I thought': \"I said so; Hua Changxi's conditions for recruiting would not be that simple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sincerity—this condition seemed low, yet in reality, it was terrifyingly high!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As stewards of the secret realm, Eunuch Yu and his four companions bore the responsibility and stepped forward first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu was the first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi flicked an identity token, causing it to hover before Eunuch Yu: \"Drop a drop of essence blood upon it, and then you may swear the Heart-Demon Oath.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu took a deep breath, forced out a drop of essence blood, and let it fall onto the identity token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the essence blood merged with the token, both the Oath Stele and the identity token burst forth with a faint golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the golden light enveloped Eunuch Yu entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With my three souls and six spirits as the guide, and my innate essence blood as the bond, I kneel before the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, questioning the myriad spirits of all heavens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From this day forth, I voluntarily enter the Danyuan Secret Realm under the Dan Sheng Hall as an apprentice, taking 'refining the spiritual medicines of heaven and earth, cultivating the supreme pill heart, aiding cultivators in breaking through realms and surviving tribulations, and saving all living beings from suffering and plague' as my life's pursuit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Eunuch Yu continued to speak his oath, the golden light began to churn, appearing as if it had come alive, washing over his body again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let heaven and earth bear witness, let the sun and moon be our alliance; once this oath is sworn, it shall not be destroyed through ten thousand tribulations! Should I violate this oath, may my soul fly and my spirit scatter, forever falling into the Relentless Hell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his words ended, the golden light dissipated, and the identity token landed steadily in Eunuch Yu's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oath Stele had confirmed Eunuch Yu's sincerity, and a smile appeared on Hua Changxi's face; just as she prepared to ask Eunuch Jia to continue, the space above the Oath Stele suddenly began to distort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, a section of verdant, dew-laden tree branch burst forth from the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, everyone in the entire Medical Bureau, everyone in the entire Imperial Capital, witnessed a magnificent spectacle resembling a mirage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A towering giant tree, shading the sun and piercing the firmament, continuously flashed into view in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the giant tree, Wei Zhenjie and Celestial Master Zhang rushed directly onto the square, their faces filled with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Immortal Divine Tree!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was equally dumbfounded; amidst her astonishment, the tree branch above the Oath Stele moved nimbly, circling the stele as if conducting an inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing this scene, everyone held their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After 'inspecting' for a while, the tree branch hovered before Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the branch moved; green light emerged at its tip, carving the character 'Yuan' out of thin air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the character 'Yuan' took form, it began to descend slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi's expression shifted slightly; she quickly extended her right hand, watching as the character 'Yuan' slowly sank into her palm and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Divine Tree, for validating the Danyuan Secret Realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the character 'Yuan' merged into her right hand, Hua Changxi immediately understood its function; now, with but a thought, the character 'Yuan' would instantly appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, the tree branch trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the branch swept toward the east, and everyone standing before the Oath Stele felt a sudden vertigo as their bodies rapidly shifted eastward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, those elsewhere in the Medical Bureau looked on utterly dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before their very eyes, the hundred-plus people before the Oath Stele 'whooshed' eastward, as if dragged into another space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When everyone regained their senses, the Medical Bureau had expanded once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the eastern side of the square, a rough and desolate giant peak materialized; upon the stone cliff at its summit, three prominent characters were carved—Danyuan Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>",2176,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","bea2ad8741d3daa1a9f3d0972a6e84ebc3837001c47b88d534b4e9aacf31fcb5","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-262","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-260",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]