Chapter 297: Attracting Talent

Competing with Dan Yuan Peak for talent, the various Secret Realm Masters still felt somewhat guilty, especially when Hua Changxi first appeared at the entrance of the Medical Bureau, watching them recruit disciples with an expressionless face; many Secret Realm Masters looked as awkward as thieves caught red-handed.

Fortunately, Hua Changxi only came once and never appeared again afterward.

After several days of recruitment, once the various Secret Realm Masters had each gathered some excellent talent, that slight guilt in their hearts vanished completely.

During this period, Dan Yuan Peak remained utterly quiet; just as all the Secret Realm Masters thought Hua Changxi would swallow this silent defeat, someone from Dan Yuan Peak approached the Spirit Realm Pavilion.

Because of this, Pavilion Master Meng Qingyao convened another meeting of the Secret Realm Masters.

In the Spirit Realm Pavilion's council hall, the Secret Realm Masters arrived one after another; each person entering would glance at the individual sitting in the first seat to the right of the main position.

"A mere apprentice, who gave you the authority to sit there?"

Xia Ziyang was the first to attack; a seat was not merely a place to sit, but represented the identity, status, and prestige of the person occupying it.

Usually during meetings, the Sixteenth Elder sat in the first seat on the left, and out of respect, the seat on the right had always been left empty.

The person from Dan Yuan Peak sat directly opposite where Xia Zhen usually sat; although Xia Zhen was absent today, the cultivators from the Guardian Families were all extremely displeased.

Wan Feng remained calm and smiled, saying, "Though I am merely an apprentice, I represent Dan Yuan Peak and the Dan Yuan Secret Realm."

Xia Ziyang frowned: "Even if you represent Dan Yuan Peak, you are not qualified to sit there."

Wan Feng laughed: "Speaking of contributions to the Dan Sage Hall, can anyone here compare to my Peak Master?" Having said this, he ignored Xia Ziyang and turned to smile at Meng Qingyao.

"Pavilion Master, does the Spirit Realm Pavilion value contribution most, or rather proximity and distance?"

At these words, many eyelids twitched; they thought, as expected of someone under Hua Changxi, speaking with the same boldness and showing the same lack of mercy.

Meng Qingyao looked at Wan Feng, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.

The capable subordinates in Hua Changxi's hands had long been thoroughly investigated by all factions; this Wan Feng had never before caught anyone's attention.

There was no other reason; this person was merely a medicine boy assigned by the Medical Bureau to the No. 13 Qihuang Hall, the kind with no connections and no background.

Yet his performance today was surprisingly unexpected.

A nobody; where did he get such confidence and assurance in front of these Secret Realm Masters?

Was it given by Hua Changxi?

"The Spirit Realm Pavilion naturally prioritizes contributions to the Sacred Land; Hua Changxi is fully deserving of being the head of all Secret Realm Masters."

These words seemed to affirm Hua Changxi, but upon hearing the undisguised snorts and sneers from the other Secret Realm Masters, Wan Feng smiled and spoke again: "The Pavilion Master overpraises me."

"Only eighteen Sacred Land Secret Realms have opened so far; it is far too early to discuss who is the head of the Secret Realm Masters."

"I know the Pavilion Master values my Peak Master, but please do not place her on the fire to roast."

"Look, many people are unconvinced."

Meng Qingyao: "..."

The other Secret Realm Masters: "..."

Seeing Wan Feng, who disregarded others' feelings just like Hua Changxi, Mu Qingying felt like laughing; fearing she could not control her facial expressions, she quickly lowered her head.

Ignoring everyone's reactions, Wan Feng smiled, stood up, and produced the 'expenses' Hua Changxi had incurred purchasing spirit-displaying artifacts, along with the resource ledger submitted to the imperial court due to 'cultivators entering the capital.'

Wan Feng first handed a copy to Meng Qingyao, then distributed them one by one to all the Secret Realm Masters.

"I forgot to congratulate all you Secret Realm Masters; you must have recruited quite a few excellent disciples these past few days."

"The matter of cultivators from various regions entering the capital was promoted jointly by my Peak Master and other Sacred Lands; what you hold in your hands are the 'expenses' she advanced."

"Since you have all benefited, you ought to jointly bear all the costs."

Looking at the ledgers in their hands, all the Secret Realm Masters understood Wan Feng's purpose; he had come to demand resources from them.

Xia Ziyang, having just been slighted, sneered: "What if we are unwilling?"

Wan Feng's smile did not change; he merely looked at the silent crowd, his eyes growing somewhat cold: "The Divine Wood bestowed these Secret Realms; what do you all think that means?"

"I know some of you believe that because you manage a Secret Realm, it belongs to you."

"But here, I must be annoying and shatter everyone's illusions."

"The Divine Wood bestowed the Secret Realms as an opportunity for you to distribute the resources within them for the construction and development of the Sacred Land."

Wan Feng looked around at the Secret Realm Masters: "Except for Dan Yuan Peak, all other Secret Realm Masters face the possibility of being replaced."

Hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

Meng Qingyao's gaze shot toward Wan Feng like a flash: "You, a mere apprentice, actually know quite a lot."

Wan Feng smiled: "What I know, all you Secret Realm Masters surely already know; I am merely reminding everyone."

Saying this, he looked at Xia Ziyang.

"Building the Sacred Land depends entirely on one's will; how you choose to act... is up to you."

The five Guardian Families received Secret Realms from the Divine Wood only because of their merit in guarding; once these people exhaust their merit, everything not gained through true strength will be taken back.

Meng Qingyao knew Dan Yuan Peak was in the right this time and agreed readily: "Go back and tell Peak Master Hua that all expenses incurred for recruiting disciples will be shared jointly by all Secret Realm Masters."

Wan Feng smiled: "The Pavilion Master is indeed deep in understanding righteousness; by the way, Pavilion Master, do not forget to arrange for all Secret Realm Masters to patrol the Dongcheng region."

Once Meng Qingyao agreed to the patrol matter, Wan Feng, having achieved a complete victory, smiled and returned to report his mission.

As soon as he left, Meng Qingyao determined the resources each Secret Realm Master must provide based on the grade of the Secret Realm they possessed; only after doing this did she dismiss the meeting.

When she emerged from the council hall, she saw Xia Zhen standing in the courtyard.

"Sixteenth Elder."

Xia Zhen looked at her: "Agreeing to share the expenses with Hua Changxi was the right thing to do."

Meng Qingyao herself felt somewhat uneasy: "It is only a small amount of resources; giving it is fine, but this feeling of being pushed around by Hua Changxi is unpleasant."

"That Wan Feng who appeared today was also unexpected."

Xia Zhen sighed, his face filled with worry: "This is exactly what I fear; I worry that in the future, more and more people like Wan Feng will appear beside Hua Changxi."

Meng Qingyao was stunned, somewhat confused.

Xia Zhen sighed softly: "People all worship the strong, and Hua Changxi is undoubtedly a strong person, moreover one willing to give everyone an opportunity; such a person is extremely attractive to excellent talent who wish to follow."

Meng Qingyao opened her mouth as if to say something, but finally fell silent.

On Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi listened to Wan Feng's report; upon learning he had persuaded the people of Lingjing Pavilion to share the expenses, a look of confusion surged in her eyes.

The people of Lingjing Pavilion had privately intercepted registering cultivators; this conduct was not only shameless but also showed not the slightest regard for her.

Wan Feng was merely an ordinary clerk in the Personnel Department; could he have gone to Lingjing Pavilion just once and so easily persuaded those shameless individuals?

Such capability... was considerable indeed!

A glint of spiritual light flashed in Hua Changxi's eyes as she once again examined Wan Feng using the Observation, Listening, Questioning, and Pulse-Taking Technique.

He possessed Fire and Wood spiritual roots, and their purity was remarkably high.

Upon seeing the Golden Core hovering above Wan Feng's dantian, Hua Changxi's gaze flickered; if she remembered correctly, this person had still been a Qi Refining cultivator when he first arrived at Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen.

In roughly a year's time, he had advanced two major realms; his talent and comprehension were truly not low.

"You performed this mission very well; from today onward, you are promoted to Personnel Manager, jointly responsible with Apothecary Xu for all affairs of the Personnel Department."

Wan Feng's face lit up with joy: "I will certainly not disappoint the Peak Master's expectations."