[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-424":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1897198,2531,"Chapter 424: Sacred Land Decree","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-424",424,"\u003Cp>A branch of the Divine Wood materialized out of thin air, emerald light flowing around it as it hovered in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Hua Changxi was completely baffled, unsure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jinfan glanced at the suddenly silent Gu Xing, then looked at Hua Changxi, who was staring wide-eyed at the Divine Wood branch; after a moment's hesitation, she spoke up: \"Peak Master Hua, you just mentioned... restricting the power of the Realm Masters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's momentarily frozen brain instantly rebooted; gazing at the Divine Wood branch while pointing a finger at herself, she ventured tentatively: \"Does the Divine Wood want me to take a Heart-Demon Oath first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Wood branch made a nodding motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi fell silent, glancing at the Realm Masters whose expressions had turned tense, then fixing a sharp gaze on Gu Xing: \"Are you digging a pit for me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting her gaze, Gu Xing replied with an unruffled tone: \"The proposal that the Realm Masters should govern the Sacred Land—wasn't that suggestion yours?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And taking a Heart-Demon Oath to restrict the power of the Realm Masters—that was also your own idea, wasn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where exactly have I dug a pit for you, old man?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's brows knotted together; she could not refute Gu Xing, yet at this very moment, she felt certain that his appearance was aimed squarely at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having the Realm Masters take a Heart-Demon Oath might benefit the development of the Sacred Land, but it would also place an iron hoop upon every Realm Master; as the proposer, she would become the common enemy of all the other Realm Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By proposing that the Realm Masters govern the Sacred Land, she had already played the villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, they actually expected her to continue playing the villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she did not fear being cast as the villain, she was unwilling; there was no need to pluck hairs from her head alone with such relentless force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi glare fiercely at him, Gu Xing stated frankly: \"You may also choose not to take the oath, provided you admit that you are a person without responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi immediately flew into a rage, leaping to her feet with a 'whoosh': \"How dare you say I lack responsibility?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Hua Changxi covered the distance in three long strides, stopping before Gu Xing and looking down at him: \"You claim I lack responsibility; then tell me, what responsibility have you shouldered?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing raised his head to look up at Hua Changxi: \"This old man shares life and death with the Sacred Land.\" He paused briefly before adding, \"When one acts, one ought to proceed from one's own heart, rather than observing how others behave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you determine your own conduct based solely on the actions of others, are you truly acting for yourself, or are you acting for others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Hua Changxi had no mood to listen to such ambiguous platitudes: \"Spare me these vague and empty words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing looked at her and said: \"Reflect on your original intention for attending today's meeting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Original intention?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt a blockage of frustration rising in her chest; her original intention had been to resolve the issue of the Danyuan Peak being restricted in its development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To solve this problem, the old operational model of joint administration by the three departments had to be overturned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new proposal was for the Realm Masters to manage affairs; if the Realm Masters were to manage affairs, their power must be restricted; if their power must be restricted, they must take a Heart-Demon Oath...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi realized she had been backed into a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Shouren was also looking at Gu Xing; now he too began to understand Gu Xing's intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having all the Realm Masters take a Heart-Demon Oath...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would solve the problem of resource abuse right at its source!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be admitted that this proposal was truly excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Shouren glanced at Hua Changxi; although he felt she was displaying her sharpness somewhat excessively, he also perceived that among so many Realm Masters, only she harbored no selfish motives, otherwise such a proposal would never have arisen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps we should adopt my proposal instead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi shot a glance at Wen Shouren, suspecting that his interjection at this moment was meant to provoke her, but she paid it little heed; her attention remained fixed on the Divine Wood branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a Heart-Demon Oath was required, why had the Divine Wood branch appeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi returned to her seat, gazing at the Divine Wood branch as she hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could not abandon the Danyuan Peak, yet she lacked the energy to exhaust herself in power struggles against the three major faction groups; having the Realm Masters manage affairs was the best path for the development of the Danyuan Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have not yet finalized the wording of the oath; let the other Realm Masters take theirs first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Wood branch remained motionless, but the emerald mist swirling around it began to fade, giving the impression that once the mist dispersed, the branch itself would vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Realm Masters also remained still, and no one spoke up to stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes darkened slightly; after a long silence, she finally gritted her teeth and said: \"Very well, I will go first.\" With that, she raised her left hand in the gesture of swearing an oath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I, Hua Changxi, hereby take the Divine Wood as my witness and establish this oath—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Having now undertaken the heavy responsibility of governing the Realm, I shall treat the Realm as a public instrument, maintain upright conduct, and act with integrity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I shall not use the power of the Realm to commit evil, nor exploit my authority for personal gain; nothing produced by the Realm shall be privately hoarded for sale or used to secretly form factions; nurturing the worthy and promoting the capable shall be my duty, and I shall never show favoritism based on kinship or closeness, nor distort justice for the sake of personal interest or harm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"High-grade Realms shall raise the banner of example; low-grade Realms shall establish the foundation of a pillar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I violate this oath, I willingly accept the Divine Wood reclaiming my authority over the Realm, and I shall bear full responsibility for all undertakings I have assumed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oath rang out with metallic clarity, each word landing with weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the final syllable fell, the tip of the Divine Wood branch suddenly erupted with a beam of cyan light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately afterward, a golden disc-shaped pattern distinctly emerged within the cyan light, radiating brilliant splendor that instantly illuminated the entire council hall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present was startled, all eyes focusing on that strange golden pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While most people felt only curiosity, the Realm Masters sensed a binding force emanating from the golden pattern that pierced straight to the depths of their souls; in an instant, their hearts leapt into their throats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Wen Shouren, a tremendous shock surged within his heart; he looked at Gu Xing in astonishment, and seeing his expression remain calm, he quickly glanced at Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was actually the Sacred Land Decree!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that the Divine Wood intended to record Hua Changxi's oath... into the Sacred Land Decree?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once this decree was formed, no one within the Sacred Land could violate it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi gazed at the golden disc pattern, her heart equally unsettled; was it really necessary to create such a massive spectacle just for a simple Heart-Demon Oath?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did not know the exact nature of the golden disc pattern, but she could guess its function; it was likely similar to a branded seal, demonstrating the oath-taker's absolute determination never to renege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her doubts, Hua Changxi ultimately extended her hand and placed it over the golden disc pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another miraculous phenomenon occurred!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment her palm touched the golden pattern, a surging, vast emerald light erupted with a thunderous roar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, an overwhelming, irresistible suction force emanated from the divine tree branch, frantically seizing a certain power within her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sensation... familiar yet terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like lightning flashing through her mind, Hua Changxi recalled her experience at the Stargazing Tower—it was the power of merit! The divine tree was forcibly stealing her merit power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bandit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's fury ignited instantly; although her proposal carried the selfish motive of developing the Danyuan Peak, its general direction was still for the betterment of the Dansheng Hall, yet the divine tree was actually draining her merit power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi struggled desperately to pull her hand back, but it seemed glued to the golden pattern, immovable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua Changxi baring her teeth at the divine tree in uncontrollable rage, the entire crowd erupted in clamor, finding the scene bizarre and incomprehensible, utterly baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Gu Xing, who saw through everything, slowly lowered his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Shouren cast a deep glance at Gu Xing, a flash of understanding passing through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had said as much; how could the laws of the Sacred Land be a joke?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the leader of the Sacred Land to promulgate its laws, they must seek the consent of everyone within the Sacred Land; for Hua Changxi's oath to be carved into the ironclad laws of the Sacred Land, she naturally had to pay the corresponding price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoosh~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having absorbed the corresponding merit power, the divine tree branch retracted its radiance and vanished in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bandit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi jumped up and down in fury; she tried to grab the divine tree branch but failed, instead clutching an eighth-grade secret realm leaf and a sacred pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the various secret realm masters felt either malicious glee or deep confusion, a solemn and resonant voice suddenly rang out in their minds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the laws of the Sacred Land, all secret realm masters shall obey: Now bearing the heavy responsibility of governing the secret realms, you must treat the secret realms as public instruments, conduct yourselves with integrity, and act with uprightness...\" (The content was exactly identical to the oath Hua Changxi had sworn!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice echoed, every word imprinting itself like a decree!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, all the secret realm masters froze on the spot as if struck by lightning—from now on, their every word and deed would have to... follow Hua Changxi's oath?!\u003C\u002Fp>",1737,"2026-06-12T02:51:24.126Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","8621116e6465950b8686d9d69327395afa01fd2573cd61167c046daf5898db15","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-425","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-423",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]