Chapter 367: Making Her Stance Clear

At the summit of Danyuan Peak, in a bamboo hut.

Although Ye Lingxuan and the other seven did not understand why Hua Changxi had summoned them to process fifth-grade Mo Yin Bamboo, since the Peak Master had assigned the task, all eight quickly calmed their minds, took out their respective tools for handling spiritual herbs, and began diligently crafting Mo Yin Bamboo slips.

As soon as the eight began working, it was evident they had received systematic training.

Instead of working separately, they collaborated; whenever problems arose, they discussed and exchanged ideas, and before long, they successfully completed the first batch of bamboo slips.

Looking at these eight individuals who possessed the inheritance of the Dan Sheng Hall, Hua Changxi felt she must make good 'use' of them, allowing them to realize their maximum value.

"Xiao Xuan, come here for a moment."

Xiao Xuan looked surprised but quickly set down the Mo Yin Bamboo in his hands and entered the bamboo hut: "Peak Master, you summoned me?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "I heard from Steward Zhou that you are highly skilled in processing spiritual herbs; let me ask you, can you currently process fourth-grade spiritual herbs?"

Xiao Xuan hesitated, unsure whether he should reveal his true level of processing skill.

The Peak Master had no sooner returned than she summoned them to handle Mo Yin Bamboo, and now she was asking if he could process fourth-grade spiritual herbs; did this mean she intended... to make use of them?

The reason Xiao Xuan and the others had been sent to Danyuan Peak was twofold: the elders wished to learn more about the Peak Master, and the spiritual herbs in the forbidden zone could not sufficiently supply them for practical training.

Taking himself as an example, while studying in the forbidden zone, there simply were not enough spiritual herbs available for him to process.

Eager to process more high-grade spiritual herbs to improve his techniques, Xiao Xuan hesitated briefly before stating his true capability: "Replying to the Peak Master, I can process fourth-grade spiritual herbs, but the varieties of fourth-grade herbs I have actually handled are not many."

Hua Changxi fixed her gaze on him for a few seconds, then stood up: "Come with me."

Hua Changxi took Xiao Xuan directly to the fourth layer of the secret realm.

As soon as he reached the fourth layer, Xiao Xuan was locked in place by an invisible force, daring not to move; yet even under such circumstances, his eyes blazed with brilliant light upon seeing the vast array of fourth-grade spiritual herbs.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi tapped a finger against his brow.

Instantly, Xiao Xuan felt the force locking him vanish.

Hua Changxi said: "I have lifted the restrictions of the fourth layer for you; from now on, you may come up here anytime." Speaking thus, she took out a slip of Mo Yin Bamboo, inscribed upon it with her divine consciousness a list of fourth-grade spiritual herbs she required, and handed the slip to Xiao Xuan.

"Can you process these herbs?"

Steadying his mind, Xiao Xuan accepted the bamboo slip, placed it against his brow, and after reading its contents, nodded affirmatively: "I can."

Hua Changxi said: "Good then; process a batch of these herbs as soon as possible; I have use for them."

Xiao Xuan replied: "Thank you for the Peak Master's trust; I will certainly finish processing them as quickly as I can."

Hua Changxi said: "After you have processed the herbs I need, you may process other varieties, but you must not take any spiritual herbs out."

Xiao Xuan hurriedly nodded in agreement: "Rest assured, Peak Master; I know how precious fourth-grade spiritual herbs are."

Even the lowest-grade fourth-grade spiritual herbs require several hundred years to mature.

Nowadays, apart from certain ruins and secret realms, traces of fourth-grade spiritual herbs are almost nowhere to be found in the outside world.

Seeing that Hua Changxi wanted him to begin processing fourth-grade spiritual herbs immediately, Xiao Xuan said: "Peak Master, let me return to my cave dwelling to fetch my herb-processing tools, and then I can start processing the herbs."

Hua Changxi nodded; after Xiao Xuan departed, she cut a batch of bamboo and, manipulating spiritual energy by the riverside, swiftly constructed a simple bamboo hut suitable for drying and storing spiritual herbs.

By the time Xiao Xuan retrieved his processing tools and reentered the fourth layer of the secret realm, the bamboo hut was already complete.

Afterwards, Hua Changxi watched Xiao Xuan process several varieties of fourth-grade spiritual herbs; only after confirming his skill level was quite satisfactory did she leave the secret realm.

By then, night had fallen, and Ye Lingxuan and the others had already crafted several dozen bamboo slips.

Hua Changxi inspected the slips; finding no issues, she turned to Ye Lingxuan and the others: "The Mo Yin Bamboo cannot be fully processed in a short while; return to your cave dwellings to rest for now, and come back tomorrow to continue."

Ye Lingxuan and the others did not refuse; they finished the work in their hands before departing.

After these people left, Hua Changxi returned to the bamboo hut; having long ceased needing sleep, she took out her pill furnace and prepared to refine fourth-grade pills.

[Fourth-Grade Pill Refiner (Mid-Grade Pills): Pills Refined 11 Furnaces 11/100]

Compared to third-grade pills, the difficulty of refining fourth-grade pills had increased nearly tenfold; the success rate was not high, and when refining unfamiliar new varieties, furnace explosions could occur.

Consequently, not only were more spiritual herbs consumed, but Hua Changxi also had to devote additional time to diligent practice.

Thereafter, time slipped away quietly amidst Hua Changxi's pill refining.

As dawn barely broke, Ye Lingxuan and the others arrived early at the bamboo hut; smelling the fragrance of pills drifting above it, they began exchanging voice transmissions once more.

"It is the fragrance of fourth-grade pills."

"The Peak Master is definitely a fourth-grade pill refiner."

"Xiao Xuan must have been summoned to process fourth-grade spiritual herbs; that fellow must be overjoyed."

"The elders were indeed wise to send us to Danyuan Peak. By the way, Senior Sister Ye and Senior Brother Jiang, are you not also close to becoming fourth-grade pill refiners?"

Ye Lingxuan and Jiang Henian both smiled and nodded; ever since they had been selected to refine pills for Danyuan Peak, they had never lacked spiritual herbs for practice; with such abundant supplies, it would be difficult for their pill refining skills not to improve.

Soon, Ye Lingxuan and the others threw themselves back into the task of crafting bamboo slips.

With the sun high in the sky, Apothecary Xu arrived hurriedly, accompanied by Hua Sanlang.

Upon arrival, seeing Ye Lingxuan and the others busy in the courtyard, both paused in surprise.

Just then, Hua Changxi walked out from the bamboo hut.

"Peak Master."

"Ninth Lady."

Hua Changxi looked at the two: "What is the matter?"

Apothecary Xu said nothing, but looked toward Hua Sanlang.

Hua Sanlang said: "The Duke of Liang has arrived, claiming he comes to apologize." He paused, then added: "The Seventh Imperial Prince accompanied him."

Hua Changxi took out a small wooden box and handed it to Hua Sanlang: "Give this pill to the Duke of Liang; tell him that if he is willing to consume it, all grievances between him and me will be settled at once."

At these words, the expressions of Hua Sanlang, Apothecary Xu, and even Ye Lingxuan and the others in the courtyard changed.

Hua Sanlang accepted the small wooden box: "Ninth Lady... what kind of pill is this?"

Hua Changxi said: "The Duke of Liang's residence oppressed the Hua family, trapping the Hua family within the Count's residence, unable to step outside, as if imprisoned."

"This is the Cocoon Pill; after consuming it, there will be no harm whatsoever, only a sensation of being bound by one's own cocoon within the physical body; the effect lasts for three years."

The Duke of Liang used his authority to oppress the Hua family; she would use martial force to coerce him.

Indeed, just as Jing had said, there was no difference in essence between her and the Duke of Liang.

However, she had to do this.

If she did nothing, allowing the Duke of Liang to bully the Hua family for three years, and then simply accepted his apology without holding anything against him, would it not mean that next time, if she made an enemy of an outsider who could not harm her, that person could also act against the Hua family just like the Duke of Liang?

Since the Duke of Liang had trapped the Hua family within the Count's residence for three years, she would make him 'spin a cocoon around himself and draw a line to form a prison' for three years; this was her stance, and her bottom line!