Chapter 411: Everyone Is Thinking

"Master, is it truly appropriate for the Spirit Realm Pavilion to remain uninvolved?"

Inside the Medicine Bureau, on Ninth Street, within the second floor of the Spirit Realm Pavilion, Meng Qingyao stood beside a middle-aged cultivator clad in wide-sleeved green robes with a calm countenance, frowning as she watched the uproar unfolding in the Alchemy Cauldron Altar Square.

In the square, two subordinates of Princess Ling Yuan were viciously shoving Wan Feng of the Pill Origin Peak; Wan Feng's face was pale, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Behind them, Princess Ling Yuan, surrounded by a cluster of cultivators, advanced aggressively toward the Pill Origin Peak.

This scene had drawn a massive crowd of onlookers.

The spectators were scattered in small groups around the perimeter of the square, whispering among themselves while frequently casting glances between the Pill Origin Peak and Princess Ling Yuan's faction.

The middle-aged cultivator in green robes was Xia Ji, the Great Elder of the Xia family, a guardian clan.

Xia Ji was Meng Qingyao's master; detecting the reluctance in her tone, he smiled gently and said, "Qingyao, those who accomplish great deeds cannot be swayed by emotions. You must view this entire matter from the perspective of the greater situation."

Upon hearing this, Meng Qingyao's brows did not relax, and her expression carried a hint of disagreement.

Seeing her reaction, Xia Zhen, standing nearby, interjected, "The Great Elder is right. Qingyao, you must remember that focusing only on trivial matters will obscure your view of the overall situation, impair your judgment, and lead you to make disadvantageous decisions."

"The current situation is that everyone wishes to verify Hua Changxi's identity."

"Do you think Princess Ling Yuan dares to cause such a disturbance because she is a royal princess? Or because she is the wife of Shen Qianfan, the Pavilion Master of the Qihuang Pavilion?"

"Is it because she is a Princess of the imperial house? Or is it because she is the wife of Shen Qianfan, the Pavilion Master of the Qihuang Pavilion?"

"It is because everyone is willing to watch her make this scene; they all want to see her force Hua Changxi out into the open."

As he spoke, Xia Zhen cast his gaze toward the eastern side of the square, where several managers of the Ninth Street Hall were hidden within the crowd.

"Otherwise, why would the Ninth Street Hall, which usually jumps up and down everywhere looking for trouble with the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion, be so quiet this time?"

"Even Gu Xing of the Square Old Courtyard has not uttered a single word, has he?"

"Determining the true identity of the Hall Master of the Lingguang Hall is a concern not only for the entire Medicine Bureau but also for other external powers; this is already the direction of public sentiment."

"What is the direction of public sentiment?"

"It is the great trend."

"And humans cannot act against the trend."

Seeing Meng Qingyao's hesitant expression and her desire to speak yet holding back, Xia Ji knew Xia Zhen's words had not fully convinced her, so he asked with a smile, "Qingyao, what do you wish to say?"

Meng Qingyao raised her eyes to look at Xia Ji and Xia Zhen. "I understand the Sixteenth Elder's words, but I am the Pavilion Master of the Spirit Realm Pavilion."

"The Pill Origin Peak is also part of the Spirit Realm Pavilion's jurisdiction. As Pavilion Master, if I allow Princess Ling Yuan to bully the Pill Origin Peak while sitting idly by without intervening, would that not show a complete lack of responsibility?"

Hearing this, both Xia Ji and Xia Zhen looked somewhat surprised.

Xia Ji smiled with satisfaction and said, "It seems that during these years in the Medicine Bureau, Qingyao has grown significantly; she even knows to take initiative in bearing responsibility."

"Your desire to take responsibility is commendable."

"However, one must not be too rigid in all things. You cannot, just to prove yourself worthy of the position of Spirit Realm Pavilion Master, oppose the outside world and do things that are clearly detrimental to yourself."

Xia Zhen knew that although the Spirit Realm Pavilion was established through the Xia family's efforts, due to Gu Xing's interference, the position of Pavilion Master was initially rotated among all the Secret Realm Masters when the pavilion was first founded.

Over the past decade, except for Hua Changxi, every other Secret Realm Master had served as Pavilion Master in turn.

After the conclusion of the first Alchemy Competition, through the Xia family's scheming, Qingyao, relying on her solid alchemy skills, became the sole Pavilion Master.

This girl was strong-willed; she was likely eager to prove herself a worthy Pavilion Master, which made her somewhat too rigid in handling matters.

"The heights are lonely and cold." Xia Ji raised his eyes to gaze at the flowing clouds in the sky. "Qingyao, do not push yourself too hard. Often, going with the flow is the best strategy."

Seeing Meng Qingyao fall into thoughtful silence, Xia Ji turned his gaze back to the square.

Observing this, Xia Zhen remarked, "Royal pressure is increasing; it seems the royal family is determined to force Hua Changxi out."

Xia Ji's eyes flashed as he looked at Xia Zhen. "Do you believe Hua Changxi is the Hall Master of the Lingguang Hall?"

This question left Xia Zhen stumped.

He both hoped it was true and was reluctant to accept it.

If Hua Changxi truly was the Hall Master of the Lingguang Hall, then once the Pill Saint Hall reappeared, the people from the Sacred Lands would certainly not allow her to hold such a high position; in that case, Qingyao and the Xia family would have one less powerful opponent.

Yet, the thought that a young girl with no family background, no cultivation, and no vision could surpass the elite geniuses of the guardian clans and noble families to become the Hall Master of the Lingguang Hall, commanding the hundred thousand Zhu Que Army, made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Yet, a little girl with no family background, no cultivation, and no vision had somehow surpassed the elite geniuses of the Dao-protecting families and the noble aristocratic clans to become the Hall Master of the Lingguang Hall, commander of the hundred thousand-strong Zhu Que Army, and this sat very poorly with him.

Just as Xia Zhen was organizing his thoughts, a deafening bull's roar echoed across the square.

Everyone looked up in shock to see a Kui Ox illusion, massive as a mountain range, soar up from the Pill Origin Peak; its dark green-black scales shimmered with lightning. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a bolt of lightning split from the firmament, striking precisely those subordinates of Princess Ling Yuan who were attempting to forcibly breach the Pill Origin Peak.

Everyone looked up in shock to see a mountain-sized phantom of a Kui Ox soaring up from Danyuan Peak; its dark green scales shimmered with lightning, and accompanied by a deafening roar, a bolt of lightning split from the firmament, striking with precision those subordinates of Princess Lingyuan who were attempting to force their way up Danyuan Peak.

Screams of agony rose one after another.

Any cultivator below the Infant Transformation Realm struck by the lightning convulsed and collapsed to the ground, curling up while clutching their heads, bleeding from all seven orifices; clearly, even their consciousness seas had been injured by the Kui Ox's thunderous sound.

Standing at the eastern edge of the Alchemy Cauldron Altar Square, Princess Ling Yuan stared wide-eyed at the carnage at the foot of the Pill Origin Peak, her brows knotted in frustration. She was hesitating whether to deploy the Spirit Platform Realm cultivators beside her when she suddenly felt the space next to her fluctuate.

In the next instant, a vortex appeared above the head of Wan Feng, whom she was holding hostage.

Immediately afterward, a hand reached out from it, seemingly intending to drag Wan Feng away directly.

"Seize him for this Princess!"

Princess Ling Yuan shouted loudly. Instantly, the ten or so Infant Transformation cultivators behind her attacked simultaneously, leaving only the two Spirit Platform Realm cultivators holding back.

Princess Lingyuan shouted, and instantly, the ten or so Nascent Soul cultivators behind her attacked simultaneously, leaving only two Spirit Platform realm cultivators who had not yet acted.

Under the bombardment of spells, the spatial vortex trembled violently; before it could even touch Wan Feng, it collapsed with a crash. At the same time, Zhao Xi tumbled out of the rift, rolling clumsily several times to evade the attack.

The spatial vortex trembled violently under the bombardment of spells; before it could even reach Wan Feng, the vortex collapsed with a thunderous crash, while Zhao Xi tumbled out of the fissure, rolling clumsily several times to barely evade the attack.

The moment Zhao Xi fell from the void, an earth-shaking beastly roar erupted from the direction of the Pill Origin Peak.

A tiger resembling a 'mobile fortress' and a Kui Ox massive as a mountain range charged out from the Pill Origin Peak, landing in the square. Without uttering a word, they engaged Princess Ling Yuan's subordinates in fierce battle.

Everyone recognized the three figures: Zhao Xi, the Hall Master of the Merit Hall of the Pill Origin Peak; Zhou Shou, the Hall Master of the Mission Hall; and Yu Fu, also a Hall Master of the Mission Hall.

Regarding Hua Changxi's appointment of four former eunuchs to manage the affairs of the Pill Origin Peak, various factions found it somewhat incomprehensible.

Seeing the three fighting as if their lives depended on it, Princess Ling Yuan was filled with both anger and fury: "Daring to ambush this Princess, do you wish to die?"

Princess Ling Yuan, seeing the three fighting as if they had no regard for their lives, was both furious and enraged: "You dare ambush this Princess? Do you wish to die?"

Yu Fu roared loudly, "Forcefully breaking into Danyuan Peak, you are the ones who truly do not wish to live!" Behind him, the phantom of a Kui Ox flickered in and out of view, its rolling thunderous sound making the eardrums of the onlookers ache.

Hearing his words, the crowd of onlookers could not help but gasp.

Behind Princess Ling Yuan stood the Imperial Family and the Qihuang Pavilion; how did Yu Fu dare to speak such bold words?

In the crowd, Wei Zhenjie, who had just rushed over upon receiving news, raised an eyebrow and said mockingly, "The people of Danyuan Peak have quite a lot of confidence."

Yun You, whom he had temporarily summoned to the Medicine Bureau to seek elixirs and physicians, flashed her eyes, revealing obvious anticipation in their depths.

She too was eager to know whether the Hall Master was truly Hua Changxi.

"The Head of the Heaven Department has arrived."

Although Wei Zhenjie kept a low profile, the moment he appeared, all parties took notice.

On the square, the great battle continued.

Zhao Xi's Splitting Void and Burrowing Earth divine ability caused the Nascent Soul cultivators under Princess Ling Yuan to be frequently ambushed; although none of the injuries were fatal, accumulating enough wounds would still kill a person.

As for Zhou Shou, he employed no techniques whatsoever, relying entirely on his formidable fortress-like body to charge straight through; anyone he collided with sent blood and foam flying in all directions.

Yu Fu was also extraordinary, summoning bolts of lightning from time to time that struck the cultivators, forcing them to leap up and down in panic.

Seeing that the three of them—Yu Fu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi—had suppressed more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators, Princess Ling Yuan's face turned completely dark; she turned to glance at the two Spirit Platform cultivators behind her, signaling them to act.

Upon receiving the order, the two Spirit Platform cultivators were just about to strike when they sensed themselves locked onto by an invisible force.

Neither dared make any rash move; they clearly perceived that the moment they moved, their souls would instantly scatter and vanish.

Seeing the Spirit Platform cultivators remain motionless, Princess Ling Yuan was about to scold them, but then saw the two suddenly freeze in place, beads of sweat seeping from their foreheads, their eyes filled with terror as if seeing a ghost.

Witnessing their condition, Princess Ling Yuan swallowed hard; though she sensed no danger, her hair stood on end.

"Whoosh."

After Yu Fu and Zhou Shou held back the crowd of Nascent Soul cultivators, Zhao Xi shot toward Princess Ling Yuan like lightning.

As he charged, a vivid, lifelike rat manifested behind him.

Just as he neared Princess Ling Yuan, the rat raised its claws, which glowed with a cold, sharp light, poised as if to tear Princess Ling Yuan in half.

"You dare!" Seeing the descending rat claws, Princess Ling Yuan turned pale with shock.

Just before the claws could strike, a sudden gust of wind swept in, blowing Zhao Xi, Yu Fu, and Zhou Shou to the ground; the cultivators brought by Princess Ling Yuan were also blown down, unable to rise.

The fierce wind arose abruptly, then ceased just as suddenly.

Zhao Xi, Yu Fu, and Zhou Shou reacted with swift agility; almost the instant the wind vanished, they flipped back to their feet, their movements fluid as if practiced thousands of times.

The three paid no heed to the other cultivators lying on the ground, nor did they spare a glance at the still-shaken Princess Ling Yuan; instead, they scanned their surroundings with vigilant expressions, their gazes sharp as hawks, sweeping every corner where a threat might lurk.

Soon, the gaze of all three fixed upon the same direction—to the south side of the square, where a red figure stood, seemingly isolated from the surrounding clamor.

The three first froze in surprise, then simultaneously bowed in salute.

Seeing this, everyone's gaze followed the direction of Yu Fu and the other two's bow...