Chapter 309: Volunteering One's Services

After having Yu Fu announce the "Qihuang Body Refinement Technique," Hua Changxi asked no further questions about other matters; instead, she returned to the bamboo hut to prepare for processing the corpses of the three Nascent Soul-stage demonic beasts.

After retrieving the three demonic beast corpses from the Sumeru Mustard Seed, Hua Changxi was hesitating over where to begin when she suddenly remembered Qihuang Hall No. 4 and Qihuang Hall No. 5.

Qihuang Hall No. 4 teaches the meridian pathways and structural composition of humans, animals, and plants, covering content such as dissection, acupuncture, anesthesia, and massage.

Qihuang Hall No. 5 teaches content regarding the decomposition, extraction, and fusion of animals, plants, minerals, and the like.

These are precisely the best venues for processing the corpses of these three demonic beasts; furthermore, she could bring some apprentices along to observe how to dissect demonic beast corpses and how to extract demonic beast blood.

"The master of Qihuang Hall No. 4 is Zhang Tianshi, hailing from the Taisu Palace; the master of Qihuang Hall No. 5 is the third young master of the Dong'an Prince's Manor..."

She had never had any conflict with either of these two; if she paid a certain price, they should be willing to let her borrow the Qihuang Halls, right?

Thinking thus, Hua Changxi immediately sent a message talisman to Yu Fu, instructing him to come to the bamboo hut to find her.

Watching the message talisman fly away, Hua Changxi's expression shifted slightly as she recalled the Voice Transmission Technique she had heard about earlier at the Star-Gazing Tower.

If she knew the Voice Transmission Technique, while on Danyuan Peak, she would only need to send a single voice transmission to see anyone she wished; it would be both convenient and swift.

Her exposure to cultivation knowledge was still far too limited; she did not even know techniques like the Voice Transmission Technique, which were not of particularly high grade.

Knowledge is also part of one's strength; her deficiency in knowledge could, at times, truly bring her unexpected troubles and crises.

Although Tong Yao and the other two had cultivation bases inferior to hers, they knew far more than she did and had many more channels for acquiring intelligence; in certain situations, mastering this information gap could directly compensate for their shortcomings in cultivation base.

"Ultimately, the circle of cultivators I have contacted is simply too narrow."

She needed to find a way to broaden her circle.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Yu Fu arrived at the bamboo hut.

Hua Changxi showed surprise on her face: "Why did you arrive so quickly this time?"

Yu Fu replied, "Master, I happened to have matters to report to you." Speaking thus, he took out a stack of pre-order forms for the Body-Tempering Medicinal Bath packs.

Hua Changxi took them and looked them over, also somewhat surprised: "Why are there so many pre-orders?"

"Indeed," Yu Fu agreed, then paused. "Master, the Heaven Division has also placed a pre-order; the person who came was your eldest brother. Hall Master Huo accompanied him over; they are currently in the Personnel Department, being hosted by Steward Xu. What do you think? Should we go see them?"

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "Since this is Eldest Brother's first time visiting Danyuan Peak, we ought to meet." Having said this, she dropped the matter and turned to the issue of borrowing the Qihuang Halls.

"Go to Qihuang Hall No. 4 and Qihuang Hall No. 5 shortly; I wish to borrow these two Qihuang Halls tonight. Ask them if they are willing."

Although Yu Fu felt surprised in his heart, he did not ask for reasons; after agreeing, seeing that Hua Changxi had no further instructions, he departed.

As soon as he left, Hua Changxi sent a message summoning Zhou Shou from the Mission Hall.

"Master, you summoned me."

Hua Changxi handed him the pre-order forms given by Yu Fu: "Select a batch of apprentices who are familiar with spiritual herbs and are meticulous; assign them specifically to prepare the Body-Tempering Medicinal Bath packs."

Pausing briefly, she asked, "How have Ye Lingxuan, Jiang Henian, and the others been performing their duties?"

Zhou Shou thought carefully before replying, "They have been quite diligent; the missions they undertook were all completed satisfactorily."

Hua Changxi said, "That person named Zhang He, being a third-grade Spiritual Plant Master, should be very familiar with spiritual herbs; assign her to prepare the Body-Tempering Medicinal Herb packs and have her oversee quality control."

Zhou Shou acknowledged, "Yes."

Since Hua Changxi already knew that Ye Lingxuan and their group were successors of the Dan Sheng Hall, although she disliked their approach of 'sitting back to reap the benefits,' knowing they would not harm Danyuan Peak and possessed capability, she decided to make good use of them.

"Assign Wang Yangeng to plant spiritual herbs, and assign Xiao Xuan to process spiritual herbs; during this period, allow them to step forward and guide other apprentices."

"As for those alchemists among Ye Lingxuan's group, assign them all to the Alchemy Room to have them refine Yuan Spirit Pills and Grain-Avoidance Pills."

Zhou Shou replied, "Yes."

Hua Changxi added, "The development of the first layer of the Secret Realm is nearing completion; next, we must prepare to develop the second layer of the Secret Realm."

"Even apprentices without any foundation in medical arts or the Dao of Alchemy could participate in the first layer of the Secret Realm, but the second layer is different; apprentices participating in the development of the second layer of the Secret Realm must have a cultivation base above the Qi Sea realm and must have thoroughly mastered the 'Compendium of First-Grade Spiritual Herbs' and the 'Compendium of First-Grade Spiritual Herb Processing.'"

"Thus, go draft an assessment plan; with only two months remaining until the year's end, Danyuan Peak will hold an assessment at year's end. Any apprentice wishing to participate in the development of the second layer of the Secret Realm must take part in this assessment and pass it."

Zhou Shou carefully recorded Hua Changxi's instructions: "Rest assured, Master; I will begin preparations immediately upon my return."

Hua Changxi said, "Good, that is all for today; go attend to your duties."

After Zhou Shou departed, Hua Changxi also left the bamboo hut; she did not directly ride clouds down the mountain to meet Hua Dalang at the Personnel Department, but instead entered the Secret Realm and summoned Hua Sanlang out.

"Third Brother, Eldest Brother has arrived; do you wish to see him?"

Upon hearing that Hua Dalang had come, Hua Sanlang was quite delighted: "Of course I want to see him. Eldest Brother is in the Demon-Suppressing Army and has access to reliable intelligence; I have stayed on Danyuan Peak all this time and know nothing. With Eldest Brother here, he can tell me about affairs outside."

Thus, Hua Changxi took Hua Sanlang down the mountain.

Along the way, the brother and sister spoke little, and the atmosphere was somewhat cold.

"Peak Master!"

Just as the siblings were approaching the Logistics Department, Chu Junhao suddenly appeared and called out to Hua Changxi.

Looking at this seventh imperial prince of the royal family before her, Hua Changxi smiled and asked, "Do you have some matter?"

Chu Junhao adopted a very humble posture: "Peak Master, this disciple seeks an audience this time to strive for an opportunity to learn alchemy."

Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Seeing she gave no reaction, Chu Junhao could only continue speaking: "This disciple learned that in November, a batch of apprentices will accompany the Peak Master to the Qihuang Halls to study alchemy. Since this disciple was not on the list, I presumptuously waited here to beg the Peak Master for an opportunity."

Finding him fairly honest, Hua Changxi asked curiously, "Chu Junhao, you are an imperial prince; truthfully, I cannot understand why you would come to Danyuan Peak to be merely an apprentice?"

"If you wish to learn medical arts or alchemy, there are surely plenty of people willing to teach you; why put yourself through such hardship?"

Chu Junhao had by now understood Hua Changxi's nature quite well; knowing she disliked beating around the bush, he simply abandoned the tug-of-war and games he usually employed when dealing with others and chose to speak his mind directly.

"Yes, I am an imperial prince; if I wished to learn medical arts or alchemy, I indeed would not need to come specifically to Danyuan Peak."

"However, Danyuan Peak is not merely a place to study medical arts and the Dao of Alchemy; joining Danyuan Peak also means acquiring an identity—that of a disciple of the Dan Sheng Hall."

"I am not afraid of the Peak Master laughing at me; while the royal family indeed controls vast resources, there are also many children of the royal house. I can obey arrangements, but such arrangements may not be what I desire. If I wish to walk the path I choose for myself, I must strive for it myself."

"Joining Danyuan Peak is a struggle I have undertaken for myself."

These words were quite moving; after hearing them, Hua Sanlang's view of Chu Junhao, a person of imperial nobility, changed somewhat, and even a hint of sympathy appeared in his eyes.

As for Hua Changxi, she merely smiled faintly: "If you wish to obtain the identity of a Dan Sheng Hall disciple, you could join Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, or Xuanhuang Peak?"

"Especially Qingyao Peak and Xuanhuang Peak; with your status, if you were to join either of these two peaks, you would surely never be merely an apprentice."

Chu Junhao smiled and said, "Yet among the Four Peaks, only the Danyuan Peak has gained the divine tree's approval. Furthermore, the Danyuan Peak is the most pure; one can truly learn many things there."

Admittedly, Chu Junhao's reply was sincere enough, yet this was insufficient to move Hua Changxi: "The list of apprentices studying alchemy in the eleventh month follows selection criteria. Your absence from that list indicates you are unqualified in certain aspects."

"There are increasingly more apprentices on Danyuan Peak. If everyone sought to secure opportunities for themselves, would it not descend into chaos?"

"If you truly wish to study alchemy, then wait. I dare not guarantee other things, but for those genuinely intent on learning alchemy and medicine, opportunities will absolutely be granted."

Having spoken, he prepared to descend the mountain.

Hua Sanlang felt that since Chu Junhao had already set aside the dignified reserve befitting an imperial prince, yet still faced rejection from his own sister, his mood inevitably fluctuated.

Ninth Lady was far too cold toward everyone, not just her family!

Chu Junhao showed no change in expression. Knowing that sentimental appeals could not move Hua Changxi, he switched tactics: "Peak Master, compared to other apprentices, I possess certain unique advantages."

"If the Peak Master is willing to grant me an opportunity, I vow: 'You give me a wooden peach, and I shall return it with a jade gem.'"

These words made Hua Changxi halt her steps and turn to look at Chu Junhao: "Is that so?"

Seeing Hua Changxi's interest, Chu Junhao smiled: "Naturally. The Chu Imperial Dynasty has ruled Great Jin for nearly a thousand years; surely there are still things worthy of presentation. Though I am merely one among many imperial princes, I am still an imperial prince."

Hua Changxi thought of her own shortcoming: being cut off from information...