Chapter 419: Even a Mayfly Can Shake a Tree

Ever since Hua Changxi entered the deliberation hall, the overwhelming aura she radiated compelled everyone to rally their spirit and focus.

With the fluctuation of emotions, even without a single word spoken, everyone felt an intense sense of involvement.

But now that her demeanor had shifted, turning her into an outsider merely observing from the sidelines, a profound sense of loss welled up in many present.

Even Meng Qingyao, who had just cornered Hua Changxi with her words, felt no joy of victory; instead, she felt stark humiliation—Hua Changxi simply did not deign to debate her!

This silence was a soundless contempt, a complete and utter disregard for her!

The deliberation hall fell silent, returning to the usual... dead stillness of a meeting.

"A pool of stagnant water..."

Among the Qihuang Pavilion attendees, Huo Yunxiao keenly perceived the two entirely different atmospheres in the hall before and after Hua Changxi's shift in presence.

Only in this moment did he truly understand what his master, Wei Zhenjie, had said before.

The Dan Sheng Hall was like a pool of stagnant water where silt accumulated ever more, gradually turning into a swamp; to bring this water back to life, a stone capable of churning the silt and raising waves had to be thrown in.

And Hua Changxi was precisely such a stone.

Huo Yunxiao looked at Hua Changxi, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Hua Changxi's initial posture had clearly been domineering, poised to confront everyone; what had changed her attitude?

Huo Yunxiao's gaze swept over the crowd in the deliberation hall, and realization dawned—was it the silence of the masses?

"Pavilion Master Meng, I believe you are misinterpreting Peak Master Hua's meaning."

A clear female voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the deliberation hall; everyone turned to look—it was Mu Qingying.

Mu Qingying stared directly at Meng Qingyao on the main seat: "Peak Master Hua clearly stated that the arrangement of attendees and the distribution of tasks to the various peaks and secret realms were unjust. How did it become, in your mouth, merely the Dan Yuan Peak's dissatisfaction with the Sacred Land's arrangements?"

Seeing his junior sister speak so bluntly, Yuan Tianchou could only helplessly chime in: "Indeed, Pavilion Master Meng, we all feel you are avoiding the heavy and focusing on the light."

Those aligned with Meng Qingyao and Xia Zhen had not expected Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou to step forward in support of Hua Changxi; before they could formulate a reply, another voice spoke up.

Gu Jinfan: "Speaking of the attendees, I too have long harbored a doubt."

"In Qihuang Pavilion, aside from the Pavilion Holders who possess the Qihuang Token and thus qualify, on what grounds do the others present sit here?"

"The same applies to the Spirit Realm Pavilion; aside from the Realm Masters who have obtained a secret realm, on what grounds do the others attend the meeting?"

"As for the attendees of the Nine Streets Hall, that is an even greater mystery; we have no idea whatsoever on what basis you are entitled to sit here."

"The selection criteria for these attendees are truly baffling; I request Pavilion Master Meng, Pavilion Master Shen, and Hall Master Tong to enlighten us."

Yan Qianying of the Dong'an Prince's Manor also spoke up: "And regarding the tasks the Sacred Land assigns to each secret realm, on what basis are they distributed?"

As these individuals spoke, the atmosphere in the deliberation hall shifted once more; Huo Yunxiao clearly felt that the scene had come alive again.

Huo Yunxiao looked toward Hua Changxi and found her visibly surprised; the lazy, casual look in her eyes gradually turned into one of keen interest.

"And then there is the seating arrangement."

Feeling that the atmosphere had been ignited, Huo Yunxiao felt he would be letting down those who had spoken before if he remained silent: "Seating should be arranged according to the magnitude of one's contribution to the Sacred Land to be considered fair and reasonable."

"Pavilion Master Meng, Pavilion Master Shen, and Hall Master Tong oversee the three departments, so their seats at the main position are unproblematic, but..."

"What I do not understand is why Elder Xia, Alchemist Wen, and Princess Ling Yuan are seated ahead of the Realm Masters who govern the secret realms and the Pavilion Holders who possess the Qihuang Token?"

"Have you made some major contribution to the Sacred Land?"

Huo Yunxiao's challenge to the 'legitimacy' of Xia Zhen, Wen Shouren, and Princess Ling Yuan pleased Hua Changxi the most, directly bringing a smile back to her face.

Hua Changxi smiled, while Xia Zhen, Wen Shouren, Princess Ling Yuan, and the others all darkened their expressions.

Nowadays, many of the 'rules' in the Dan Sheng Hall continued the precedents from the former Medical Bureau; these matters were supposed to be tacitly understood, yet no one expected them to be openly dragged into the light today.

This act of open provocation made Xia Zhen and Princess Ling Yuan extremely displeased; Wen Shouren remained calm in expression, but since he did not wish to reveal his identity as a Sacred Land Elder just yet, he could only respond with silence.

Xia Zhen looked coldly at Mu Qingying and the others who had jumped out: "What, have you all completely forgotten the major and minor deeds we have performed over the years for the operation and development of the Dan Sheng Hall?"

"Now that someone has incited you, are these merits completely invisible to you?"

Hua Changxi had intended to merely watch the drama as a bystander, but upon hearing Xia Zhen's pointed words, her face instantly turned cold: "Incited? Are you referring to me?"

Xia Zhen did not respond.

Everyone originally thought Xia Zhen deemed it beneath him to answer Hua Changxi's challenge, yet when they looked at him, they were horrified to find his eyes wide open, blue veins bulging on his forehead, beads of sweat rolling down, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white and the veins on the back of his hands knotted; the man seemed trapped in immense agony.

This scene shocked everyone seated, their hearts leaping into their throats.

Just as Meng Qingyao was about to speak, she was secretly grabbed and forcibly stopped by Tong Zhou and Shen Qianfan.

Because it remained uncertain whether Hua Changxi was truly the Hall Master of the Ling Guang Hall, all factions found it difficult to gauge the proper 'degree' of interaction with her.

If she was not, that would be fine.

But if she was, it was best not to provoke her at this moment.

Hua Changxi paid no heed to the reactions of the crowd, merely looking coldly at Xia Zhen: "How exactly did I incite them?"

"Was it not that you went too far and provoked public outrage?"

"What, in your heart, Xia Zhen, am I merely a scapegoat?"

Xia Zhen...

Hearing Hua Changxi address Xia Zhen directly by his name, showing him no face whatsoever, a hint of strangeness flashed in everyone's eyes.

"Qingyao, apologize on behalf of Xia Zhen."

Upon receiving Xia Ji's voice transmission, Meng Qingyao's expression changed; after a moment, she still stood up, facing Hua Changxi: "Peak Master Hua, Elder Xia misspoke just now; I apologize on his behalf, hoping you will be magnanimous."

At these words, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

Hua Changxi looked at Meng Qingyao; she had sensed that spiritual energy transmission earlier and could guess it came from the middle-aged cultivator she had seen before, the one who had condensed a Yuan Shen.

"I know the Xia family has deep foundations, but that does not mean you can act arbitrarily."

"Xia Zhen thinks I am easy to bully, daring to slander me openly like this, but... even a mayfly can shake a tree!"

"This human world belongs to all people, not to a specific group."

Only when Xia Zhen's pupils dilated from asphyxiation did Hua Changxi release her lock on him.

"Hoo~"

"Hah~"

"Hah~"

Xia Zhen gasped for air in great heaves; the lofty and dignified image he usually maintained collapsed utterly in this instant, leaving him with no dignity whatsoever.

This scene silenced everyone present.

Princess Ling Yuan swallowed hard, feeling once again grateful that she had not provoked Hua Changxi; the 'rules' they followed held absolutely no sway over her.

Meng Qingyao, wishing to avoid further trouble, signaled Xia Zi and Meng Yuchuan to take Xia Zhen away.

Xia Zi and Meng Yuchuan rose resentfully, glaring furiously at Hua Changxi.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi sneered coldly, "Do you not want your eyes anymore?"

That single sentence instantly made Xia Zi and Meng Yuchuan withdraw their gazes.

The reason for such obedience was that both felt a sharp pain in their eyes, as though their eyeballs would burst immediately if they did not look away.

Watching Xia Zhen being led away, the expressions on everyone's faces shifted uncertainly.