Chapter 280: Strange Phenomena in Nanxiang County

After parting ways with Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen, Hua Changxi returned directly to Danyuan Peak.

The lack of practical experience could not be resolved overnight; before obtaining the display spiritual artifacts, she could only focus on the present.

With her cultivation stalled, Hua Changxi paused her meditative training, dedicating her evenings to body refinement and improving her pill-forging rank.

In terms of body refinement, she had already reached the fourth chapter, the "Tendon Refining" section, of the *Nine Revolutions of Mysterious Art*.

Fortunately, all the spiritual herbs required to brew the medicinal baths for the Tendon Refining section could be found in the fourth layer of the Danyuan Secret Realm.

After enduring the excruciating pain of the medicinal bath immersion, a fierce, rampaging power suddenly surged within her body; to absorb and refine this force, Hua Changxi had to swiftly teleport back to the Lingguang Hall, summon the Floating Light Sword, and begin sword practice.

Ever since subduing the Great Sun Divine Flame in Tang Gu, her connection with the Floating Light Sword had grown even tighter, making her cultivation of the Floating Light Sword Technique much smoother.

Body refinement required not only soaking in medicinal baths but also constant tempering of the physical form.

Only under extremely harsh external pressure could the body's potential be best stimulated and released.

Hua Changxi discovered that practicing with the Floating Light Sword was perfectly suited for tempering her body.

Each time she cultivated the Floating Light Sword Technique, it would mobilize the Great Sun Divine Flame within the sword; the might of this Divine Flame was naturally an unbearable burden for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

As the sword technique circulated, the power of the Great Sun Divine Flame traversed her entire body, producing an excellent effect for body refinement.

Thus, in the process of practicing her sword, Hua Changxi's physical body gradually grew stronger.

Throughout the entire month of July, Hua Changxi taught the cultivation of first-grade spiritual herbs daily at Qihuang Hall No. 3; after entering August, this course concluded.

"Hall Master Hua, when will you be holding classes at Hall No. 4?"

"Also, what subject will you teach at Hall No. 4? We would like to prepare in advance."

Everyone who attended lectures at Qihuang Hall No. 3 during July gained significant benefits, especially ordinary cultivators who had not received any inheritances.

Many stated that after attending the lectures, if they were provided with spiritual fields and herb gardens, they would be capable of planting spiritual crops and herbs themselves.

Just like on Danyuan Peak now, the once barren wastelands had all been reclaimed by apprentices who attended the *Complete Guide to Planting First-Grade Spiritual Herbs* and were now planted with spiritual crops and herbs.

For the apprentices of Danyuan Peak, not only could they freely choose their cave dwellings, but they could also reclaim five mu of spiritual land, keeping all the produce for themselves; this made everyone in the entire Medical Bureau, including those from Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak, extremely envious.

But despite their envy, most people still dared not defy orders from the imperial family or powerful patrons behind them to join Danyuan Peak.

Primarily, this was due to the ingrained habit of fearing the powerful.

Even though spiritual qi had now revived, turning these people into cultivators with formidable combat power, their minds remained trapped in the past, still adhering to the old codes of conduct.

"I will notify everyone in advance regarding when the next classes will be held."

Hua Changxi gave only a vague answer; her teaching was primarily driven by the needs of developing the Danyuan Secret Realm and Danyuan Peak.

Currently, the southeast region of the first layer of the Danyuan Secret Realm had completed the process of harvesting, processing, and replanting spiritual herbs; only after the other three regions were developed would she consider the next steps.

After stopping the classes, Hua Changxi spent her days focusing on pill forging in the third layer of the secret realm, and her evenings on body refinement and sword practice.

Meanwhile, Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak were also vigorously reclaiming spiritual fields and herb gardens in full swing.

Watching the four once-barren peaks gradually turn verdant, Xia Zhen sighed with emotion; Hua Changxi had chosen the perfect timing to transmit the *Complete Guide to Planting First-Grade Spiritual Herbs*.

No, perhaps she had not deliberately chosen the timing, but was simply acting in accordance with the great trend.

Yet, this situation was precisely what worried him most; Hua Changxi was inadvertently driving the development of the Sacred Land, so how could Qingyao ever surpass her?

Time slipped away, and soon it was the twelfth day of the eighth month.

Tong Yao sent messages to Hua Changxi, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen, informing the three that one hundred display spiritual artifacts had been fully forged.

At noon that day, the four met at their usual restaurant, each receiving twenty-five display spiritual artifacts.

After confirming that the recruitment announcement on the display spiritual artifacts was correct, Hua Changxi smiled at the other three: "I hope that after deploying this batch of display spiritual artifacts, we will be able to recruit more outstanding disciples."

To this, Tong Yao and the other two also felt full of anticipation.

Hua Changxi said, "As agreed before, for the four directions of east, south, west, and north, we will each choose one for deployment."

Immediately, the four each selected a direction: Hua Changxi headed south for deployment, Tong Yao went west, Jing Le went north, and Yan Zhenzhen went east.

Tong Yao looked at Hua Changxi and said, "With the four Sacred Lands openly recruiting apprentices across various regions, once the news spreads, it will surely cause a huge uproar."

Yan Zhenzhen added, "The Sacred Lands recruiting apprentices is, in essence, competing with various factions for talent; local powers certainly will not wish to see this, and even here in Jingcheng, there will be a reaction."

"Therefore, when we deploy the display spiritual artifacts, we might encounter ambushes."

Tong Yao continued, "The duration for deploying the display spiritual artifacts should not be too long; our plan is to complete the deployment of all artifacts within three days."

Jing Le also looked over and said, "Regarding the deployment of the display spiritual artifacts, the three of us have sought assistance from elders of the Sacred Lands; what about you, Benefactor Hua?"

Hua Changxi quickly assured them, "Rest assured, I will have no problems on my end either."

Her Somersault Cloud technique had long been practiced to perfection; although it might not achieve a hundred and eight thousand li in a single somersault, it was not far off.

Seeing her speak with such confidence, Tong Yao and the other two glanced at her but said nothing further.

As they parted, Hua Changxi reminded them again, "Remember, the display spiritual artifacts must be deployed outside city gates with heavy foot traffic; otherwise, the function of the artifacts cannot be highlighted."

Tong Yao and the other two nodded, saying, "Rest assured, we know."

That very evening, the four set out separately.

Hua Changxi traveled south, observing city after city teeming with people without stopping, and spent the entire night flying straight to the southernmost edge bordering the sea.

Along the way, she gained a general understanding of the population distribution in the southern cities.

Without delay, Hua Changxi immediately turned back and began deploying the display spiritual artifacts outside the city gates of those large population centers she had focused on.

The display spiritual artifacts were crafted from black meteoric stone, and the rotating recruitment announcements within them had been inscribed by Jing Le using a Two-Forms Talisman Brush.

The black background with golden characters was extremely eye-catching.

Special arrays were carved onto the display spiritual artifacts, allowing them to take root upon landing and burst forth with dazzling light.

Although the light lasted only one or two quarter-hours, it was sufficient to attract the attention of surrounding cultivators.

Seeing large numbers of cultivators rushing toward the display spiritual artifacts, Hua Changxi did not linger, flying off to the next city.

Thus, one after another, it took two nights and one day for her to deploy all twenty-five display spiritual artifacts.

During this period, some cultivators attempted to track her, but her speed was so great that she quickly left them far behind.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the eighth month, Hua Changxi deployed the final display spiritual artifact outside the county seat of Nanxiang County, not far from the Lingguang Hall.

Since the Lingguang Hall appeared in the world, Nanxiang County and its surroundings have undergone earth-shaking changes; not only has the land area expanded, but the surrounding terrain is also quietly transforming.

There is vegetation growing several meters a day as if injected with hormones, appearing in vast patches; there are stone mountains splitting open, spewing lava like waterfalls; there are valleys where fiery qi steams upward, as if flames were burning within...

These strange phenomena occurring in Nanxiang County have been covered up by the imperial court and have not spread widely.

Had Hua Changxi not deployed the spirit-revealing artifact southward this time, she would never have known that such rapid and tremendous changes were taking place here.

Riding her spirit cloud, Hua Changxi moved slowly above Nanxiang County, observing its various anomalies with a serious and focused gaze.

At this moment, in her eyes, Nanxiang County was seething with fire spiritual qi, as if... undergoing some kind of transformation.

When she descended from the sky and set foot upon the land of Nanxiang County, she immediately felt a powerful force surging up from deep beneath the earth.

This force struck straight at her chest, not only accelerating her heartbeat but also setting her entire blood boiling.

As if... celebrating wildly for this land of Nanxiang County?!

This strange sensation arrived suddenly and inexplicably; although Hua Changxi sensed no danger, she still condensed her spirit cloud and flew high into the sky.

After her emotions settled, she lingered in the air to patrol and observe for a while longer before flying toward the Lingguang Hall.

Upon arriving at the Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi issued the first mission to the Zhu Que Army.

"Investigate the anomalies of Nanxiang County!"