Chapter 455: No Hua Dynasty

After dinner, the candlelight glowed warm and yellow; the hall filled with cheerful laughter and drifting tea fragrance, radiating a rare warmth of reunion.

Hua Changxi held a cup of spirit tea, smiling as she listened to her family's idle chatter, yet her mind had long been calculating her departure.

At this moment, everyone sat together, all conversation revolving around her, their words brimming with the affectionate address "Ninth Sister," their eyes bright and burning as if she were indispensable to the Hua family.

Second Uncle Hua spoke with feigned enthusiasm laced with deliberate emotion: "Now that Ninth Sister has achieved success, our whole family saves face! Need I say more? Just a few days ago, when I went to the Xuanyuan Prefecture market to buy spirit materials, the shopkeeper immediately changed his demeanor upon hearing I was your second uncle. In this world, people ultimately treat others based on their status."

"Ninth Sister, rest assured, we remember every contribution you've made to the family in our hearts. This isn't just talk; we truly remember."

At this, Old Master Hua added, "We know you are busy with important affairs at the Pill Saint Hall, holding high rank and heavy responsibility, managing countless tasks daily. Although the family wishes to share your burdens, we do not know how to help... Our cultivation is ultimately too low; we fear we would only cause you trouble."

Second Aunt Hua glanced at her several children and interjected with a smile, "Ninth Sister, remember this: whenever you need the family, you must speak up! Our entire family stands behind you."

As she spoke, she sighed lightly, sounding both self-reproaching and suggestive, "Of course, the family's strength is limited. We wish to improve, yet we lack cultivation resources... spirit stones, pills, cultivation techniques—everything is tight. We may not be able to help you much, but..."

Second Aunt Hua raised her eyes, her gaze earnest: "As long as you have need, we will hesitate not even a second; we would go through fire and water for you!"

These words caused the atmosphere in the main hall to stagnate subtly for an instant.

Eldest Brother Hua, sitting in the corner, frowned almost imperceptibly but did not speak.

Old Master Hua closed his eyes to rest, slowly turning the prayer beads in his hand as if he had heard nothing.

Only Old Mistress Hua lowered her head to sip her tea, casting a complex glance at her second daughter-in-law before ultimately saying nothing.

Sixth Brother Hua, who had been gnawing on a spirit fruit, suddenly slowed his movements upon hearing this.

He stole a glance at Hua Changxi; seeing her expression unchanged, a faint smile still hanging on her lips, yet that smile did not reach her eyes—it was like a thin layer of ice, gentle yet isolating.

And Hua Changxi continued to sit quietly, her fingertips gently rubbing the rim of her tea cup.

Behind this family fervor of being 'proud of her' hid too many unspoken expectations and demands.

Just as Hua Changxi hesitated over how to broach the subject of leaving, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

"Ninth Sister, when are you leaving?"

Everyone froze, turning together to look at Sixth Brother Hua, who had spoken.

Hua Changxi felt a weight lift from her heart; raising her eyes to her sixth brother, a genuine smile finally surfaced on her lips: "I'll leave in a little while."

Upon hearing this, Lady Yao could not sit still and urged anxiously, "Why such a rush? You have finally returned home; surely you must stay for a few days!"

Hua Changxi's tone was gentle yet immovable: "Indeed, there are still many matters awaiting my attention."

Having spoken, she wasted no more time; Hua Changxi stood up directly, swept her gaze across the room full of relatives, and finally settled it on the two elders at the head, bowing solemnly: "Grandfather, Grandmother, take care of yourselves; I will return to see you next time."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Hua merely nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Old Mistress Hua, however, revealed reluctance on her face as she looked at the granddaughter who was the family's greatest achievement yet least close to them: "Do come home often in the future..."

Hua Changxi hummed an acknowledgment, then turned to face Hua Minghe and Lady Yao, whose faces were full of reluctance yet remained silent; after a moment of silence, she looked at Third Brother Hua: "Third Brother, come out with me for a moment."

Called upon, Third Brother Hua showed obvious surprise but quickly followed Hua Changxi out of the hall.

Once in the courtyard, Hua Changxi looked at Third Brother Hua: "Third Brother, as a Peak Master, I also receive a monthly stipend. In the future, go to the Logistics Department every month to collect it from Yu Fu, then bring it back to give to Father and Mother."

Third Brother Hua stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing; finally unable to hold back, he spoke in a low voice thick with long-suppressed dissatisfaction: "I thought you truly didn't care about Father and Mother at all."

He paused, his gaze burning as he pressed her: "Father is now in the Xuanyuan Army, facing the Demon Clan directly in battle. If his strength does not improve, once he goes out on a mission..."

He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling slightly, "Eldest Brother's injuries are the best example; he might even..."

Hua Changxi watched him quietly, her expression very calm: "How do you think I should care for them?"

Since things had come to this, Third Brother Hua decided to risk it all: "Ninth Sister, sometimes I really cannot understand what you are thinking! Is family not more reliable than outsiders? Are you so afraid of the family benefiting from your light?"

"What harm would it do you if our family grew stronger?"

His tone was hurried, as if trying to pour out words pent up for a long time: "I won't speak of other places; just take the Pill Saint Hall—whether it is the Secret Realm Master or the Director of the Qihuang Hall, which one does not heavily rely on their own clan and old friends? Who does not reserve the most critical positions for their own family?"

Third Brother Hua's voice carried heartache: "But you? To put it nicely, you are unconventional; to put it bluntly... you disregard your kin's very lives!"

"I cannot comprehend it! Why are you so guarded against your own family?"

Hua Changxi's face remained unruffled; she merely asked lightly, "Are you finished?"

Third Brother Hua froze, his pent-up indignation deflated by this casual question; he could only sullenly hum an "Mm," his expression somewhat dejected.

Only then did Hua Changxi straighten her expression: "Third Brother, the others in the family are not disciples of Danyuan Peak, nor have they ever stayed there; I understand their grievances and expectations. But you—"

Her tone sank slightly, "As a member of Danyuan Peak, you witnessed its development firsthand, yet you still harbor the same thoughts and grievances as when you first joined Danyuan Peak. To be honest, I am quite disappointed."

"Heh~"

Seeing Hua Changxi turn around and accuse him instead, Third Brother Hua laughed in anger, shaking his head speechlessly.

Hua Changxi looked straight at him, speaking clearly and forcefully word by word: "I will tell you right now why I do not use family members—because I do not want, nor am I willing, to build a 'Hua Dynasty' within the Pill Saint Hall."

At these words, Third Brother Hua was stunned, freezing in place; he opened his mouth as if to refute, but for a moment did not know what to say.

Meanwhile, under the corridor outside the hall, Zhu Qinghuan, who had worried that Third Brother Hua's impulsiveness would cause strife between the siblings, had quietly walked over and happened to hear this statement.

Her steps halted, her pupils contracting slightly; she was clearly shaken by Hua Changxi's words.

Not far away, Eldest Brother Hua, who had similarly worried about conflict between his younger siblings, also stopped walking, his face now full of complex emotions.

At the same time, far away inside the Chengqian Hall of Xuanyuan Prefecture, five figures stood surrounding a spirit mirror flowing with spiritual light, in which the scene of Hua Changxi confronting Third Brother Hua was 'playing.'

Qin Feng clicked his tongue, rarely dropping his playful demeanor: "I originally thought Hua Changxi was someone who acted without scruples, doing entirely as she pleased... I never expected her to possess such vision."

Lu Zhenting's expression also held some emotion: "Before, I never understood why Wei Zhenjie would treat Hua Changxi differently; now I somewhat understand."

The other three generals remained silent, their expressions solemn.

As heavy generals each commanding a region, they all knew deeply what clarity and boldness lay behind the seven words "do not build a Hua Dynasty."

But just then, in the mirror, Hua Changxi suddenly turned her head, her gaze like a cold blade slicing through the air, stabbing directly toward the direction of the spirit mirror—as if piercing through a thousand layers of buildings to lock onto them!

"Not good, she has discovered us!"

Lu Zhenting's heart grew cold; instinctively waving his hand to form a seal, the spirit mirror hummed and extinguished.

Qin Feng widened his eyes: "Why did you turn off the spirit mirror?"

Lu Zhenting's face stiffened slightly; he cleared his throat lightly: "My hand slipped."

The other four cast suspicious glances at him; seeing his embarrassed expression, they ultimately did not expose him.

Qin Feng stroked his chin, muttering to himself, "Strange... Hua Changxi hasn't even opened her Spirit Platform yet; how can her spiritual sense be so keen? She actually detected us spying?"

Lu Zhenting pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "When a Body Refiner reaches a high enough stage, their divine soul merges with their physical body, and their spiritual awareness can connect with heaven and earth."

"How high a stage?" Qin Feng pressed.

Lu Zhenting replied, "...Wait until we cultivate to that step, and we'll probably know."

In the Hua family courtyard, the sensation of being watched vanished; only then did Hua Changxi withdraw her gaze. Seeing Hua Sanlang still sitting motionless in a daze, her tone softened slightly, yet remained firm.

"Everything I am doing now may seem laughable to you, but I simply wish to create a situation where, even if I am no longer the Peak Master, you—with no connections or background—will still have the opportunity on Danyuan Peak to compete fairly and prove your worth through your own strength."

"Have I made myself clear?"

"Therefore, Third Brother," she said, looking straight at him, "on Danyuan Peak, if you wish to rise above others, you can rely only on yourself."

"I know that, as my Third Brother, you receive more attention than most, and thus bear considerable pressure; but this is the price that 'connected favorites' must pay."

"If you could have realized this sooner, perhaps you would live more freely; if you cannot realize it, then there is nothing I can do."

Hua Sanlang stared blankly at his sister before him; thinking of the Hua family of old, he suddenly felt a lump rise in his throat. A thousand words surged in his heart, yet in the end, he had nothing to say, leaving only a sigh so faint it was barely audible.