Chapter 366: Development and Trade-offs

After returning to Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi, accompanied by Yu Fu and the other three, walked from the foot of the peak all the way to its summit, inspecting the changes that had occurred across the mountain over the past three years.

Once Yu Fu and the others had taken their leave, she entered the Danyuan Secret Realm to inspect both its first and second layers.

The medicinal fields in both the first and second layers of the secret realm had been fully reclaimed and planted with corresponding spiritual flora, presenting a scene brimming with vitality.

Confirming that Yu Fu and his companions had managed Danyuan Peak and the Danyuan Secret Realm exceptionally well in her absence, Hua Changxi felt quite satisfied; her first act upon exiting the realm was to instruct Zhou Shou to post a mission at the Mission Hall for developing the third layer of the secret realm.

Participants were required to either have reached the Core Formation stage or be spiritual planters or alchemists of at least third rank who had passed the Danyuan Peak assessment.

With the release of this mission, the disciples on Danyuan Peak no longer had any mind to focus on various gossip from the outside world; they reined in their thoughts and actively devoted themselves to studying medical arts, the Dao of alchemy, and advancing their cultivation.

The peak master's return, coupled with the mission to develop the third layer of the secret realm, sent a clear signal once again: to remain on Danyuan Peak and not fall behind, one must strive to improve one's cultivation, alchemical skills, and medical expertise.

After issuing the mission to develop the third layer of the secret realm, Hua Changxi sent another message to Yu Fu, instructing him to make a trip to the Palace of the Artifact Saint to procure a thousand 'Yinian Tong' devices.

Since a cultivation version of the mobile phone had emerged, it was only natural to equip everyone with one.

Upon receiving the message, Yu Fu immediately came to the bamboo hut: "Master, the 'Yinian Tong' refined by the Palace of the Artifact Saint costs eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight low-grade spiritual stones each."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi remarked, "That is indeed a bit expensive."

Yu Fu thought: It wasn't just a bit expensive; it was extremely expensive.

The disciples of Danyuan Peak, despite having medicinal fields and spiritual fields and working diligently for an entire year, could only save up a few thousand spiritual stones; purchasing a single 'Yinian Tong' would wipe out a year's entire income.

As for cultivators in other places, their opportunities to obtain spiritual stones were even fewer, making it even harder to save them up.

Only cultivators who either possessed formidable personal strength or hailed from powerful noble families could afford to use 'Yinian Tong'; ordinary cultivators simply could not afford them and had to rely on standard communication talismans instead.

Hua Changxi stated, "I have an agreement with the Palace of the Artifact Saint to exchange goods as needed, and furthermore, purchasing in large quantities will secure a certain discount."

As she spoke, she took out a batch of previously refined third-rank supreme-grade pills and handed them to Yu Fu.

"Keep some of these pills in the warehouse for reserve use, and take the rest to exchange for 'Yinian Tong' devices."

"Once the 'Yinian Tong' devices are procured, distribute one to each department head, and set aside one hundred to reward those disciples who performed exceptionally well in all aspects during the three years I was absent."

"Place the remainder in the Logistics Department, allowing Danyuan Peak disciples to exchange contribution points for them; set the price at... one thousand points. Consider this a welfare benefit from Danyuan Peak to its disciples."

Hearing these words, Yu Fu found it inappropriate to say anything else, so he smiled and said, "Then I shall lead the disciples in thanking the Peak Master."

Hua Changxi replied, "You have managed Danyuan Peak very well; this is your reward." She paused briefly before adding, "When you go to the Palace of the Artifact Saint, take Dugu Lie with you. Henceforth, whenever you venture out, bring him along; he is a Nascent Soul cultivator and can protect you."

Seeing Yu Fu stunned, Hua Changxi recalled that Dugu Lie outwardly displayed only a Core Formation cultivation base, so she reminded him, "Just keep this matter to yourself."

Yu Fu nodded and, choosing his words carefully, asked, "Master, since Dugu Lie has concealed his cultivation base, what about Ye Lingxuan and the others who are close to him...?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "I am fully aware of their situations. Just act as if you know nothing and treat them like ordinary disciples."

Yu Fu did not press further and solemnly accepted the instruction.

Hua Changxi added, "When you go to fetch Dugu Lie, also summon Ye Lingxuan, Jiang Henian, and the other six to come up here."

After nodding in acceptance, Yu Fu departed with the pills.

To conceal their identities, Ye Lingxuan and the others rarely gathered together in their daily lives.

When Dugu Lie received his assignment to accompany Yu Fu on an outward journey, and when Ye Lingxuan and the others learned that Hua Changxi wished to see them, they were all momentarily surprised.

Due to the tight schedule, there was no opportunity for them to even notify one another.

"The Peak Master wants to see us immediately upon her return; do you think she has discovered our true identities?"

"That shouldn't be the case; we haven't revealed any flaws."

"Moreover, the Peak Master is quite solitary and cut off from information; she might not even know of our existence."

Ye Lingxuan, Jiang Henian, and the other six arrived at the bamboo hut on the summit with slight apprehension; upon arrival, they saw a large pile of black bamboo stacked outside the hut.

"You're here!"

Hua Changxi examined the eight inheritors of the Dan Sheng Hall before her; after three years apart, all eight had significantly improved their cultivation bases, and their foundations were extremely solid.

"Greetings, Peak Master."

Both Ye Lingxuan and Jiang Henian lowered their heads; the Peak Master's gaze was too penetrating, making them feel as though they had been seen through from the inside out.

Ye Lingxuan spoke first: "We do not know the reason for the Peak Master's summons; is there a mission you wish to assign?"

Hua Changxi smiled and said, "I heard several stewards mention that you all are very capable; coincidentally, I have some Moyin Bamboo that needs processing, and I thought of you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingxuan and the others all looked down at the pile of ink-black bamboo on the ground.

Jiang Henian hesitated slightly before speaking: "We are honored by the Peak Master's regard, but this Moyin Bamboo is a fifth-rank soul plant; our cultivation bases are insufficient, and we fear we may... be unable to handle it properly."

Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "To recognize fifth-rank Moyin Bamboo shows you have broad knowledge." She stopped there, then shifted the topic: "Rest assured, I would not assign you tasks beyond your capabilities."

As she spoke, she handed Jiang Henian a prepared slice of Moyin Bamboo about a foot long.

"The method for processing Moyin Bamboo is inscribed on this; I need you to craft these pieces of Moyin Bamboo into bamboo slips."

Jiang Henian took the bamboo slice, hesitated for a moment, then placed it against his forehead; soon, the method for processing Moyin Bamboo, copied via spiritual sense, entered his mind.

Next, Jiang Henian passed the bamboo slice to Ye Lingxuan; after she read it, she passed it to the others.

Soon, all eight knew how to process the Moyin Bamboo.

The processing method itself was not difficult, but the procedure was complex, requiring immense patience and consuming considerable spiritual energy and mental focus.

Looking at the eight, Hua Changxi said, "Process them right here in the courtyard." With that, she entered the bamboo hut.

As soon as she left, Ye Lingxuan and the other seven began exchanging glances.

How did Jiang Henian recognize the Moyin Bamboo?

For no other reason than that the forbidden grounds of the Dan Sheng Hall stored many bamboo slips made from Moyin Bamboo; the knowledge of the Dao of alchemy and medical arts that these inheritors of the sacred lands possessed had all been learned from those slips.

'The Peak Master is making bamboo slips, likely for the purpose of copying, correct?'

'Most probably.'

'Copying onto bamboo slips can only be done using spiritual sense; has the Peak Master already reached the Spirit Platform stage?'

'The Peak Master's cultivation base has always been a mystery; even the several elders have failed to discern it.'

'Previously, the Complete Compendium of First-Rank Spiritual Plants and the Complete Compendium of Second-Rank Spiritual Plants were all hand-copied; now that we have Moyin Bamboo slips, future instruction in medical arts and the Dao of alchemy can all be conducted via these slips.'

Since the Peak Master's cultivation base remained unknown, Ye Lingxuan and the others dared not communicate verbally in the courtyard and could only use the technique of voice transmission to converse.

Although Hua Changxi was inside the room, she had been monitoring the courtyard's movements all along and immediately detected the spiritual energy fluctuations caused by the voice transmission.

However, she paid it no heed, merely observing Ye Lingxuan, Jiang Henian, and the others.

The unrest in Nanxiang County had prompted her to dispatch the Zhu Que Army to maintain order, which would inevitably infringe upon certain people's interests; she worried that such conflicts of interest might spark even more strife.

If this resulted in greater harm to ordinary people, then her good intentions would have backfired.

Uneasy about the situation in Nanxiang County and wishing to keep watch over that area, she needed to quickly settle affairs here at Danyuan Peak.

Ye Lingxuan and the others were successors of the Dansheng Hall; regardless of any hidden motives, they at least sided with the Dansheng Hall, so if their character was sound, she would not hesitate to entrust them with important responsibilities.

Just as Hua Changxi was worrying about Nanxiang County, pondering how to perfect the various systems of Danyuan Peak and arrange personnel for each department, the various offices of the Medical Bureau were still discussing other matters.

The Old Courtyard of the Square.

Wen Shouren looked at Gu Xing and asked, "Tell me, how will Hua Changxi treat the Duke of Liang tomorrow?"

Gu Xing sighed, "That girl hates evil as if it were a mortal enemy; most likely, she will repay tooth for tooth and eye for eye."

Wen Shouren glanced over. "From your tone, it seems you think she shouldn't?"

Gu Xing shook his head. "Relying solely on force to solve problems will never achieve great things. Moreover, once one forms the habit of clearing the way with violence, it becomes very difficult to change later."

Wen Shouren thought for a moment. "In these chaotic times, a domineering approach might yield better results."

The Spirit Realm Pavilion.

Xia Zhen instructed the Xia family cultivators, "You must find out exactly why the Five Generals of Xuanyuan accepted members of the Hua family."

The Qihuang Pavilion.

Prince Shou said to Chu Junhao, "Upon hearing that the Hua family had joined the Xuanyuan Prefecture, the Duke of Liang panicked. Tomorrow, you will accompany him to Danyuan Peak to see Hua Changxi."

Chu Junhao replied, "...Please offer your guidance, Your Highness. What outcome does the Duke of Liang seek from meeting Hua Changxi?"

Prince Shou glanced at Chu Junhao. "You are merely an escort; what to do is the Duke of Liang's own affair."

Hearing this, Chu Junhao immediately understood: tomorrow's visit by the Duke of Liang to Danyuan Peak was intended as a public apology delivered in person.