[{"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-557":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},1897331,2531,"Chapter 557: Letting Go of the Obsession with Control","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-557",557,"\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's strangeness was not only clearly seen by Duan Jishan; many of the Company Commanders and Battalion Commanders on the square also noticed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other reason; the flaws were simply too glaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, in military formation drills, even for a three-person squad, the roster is arranged well in advance; there is absolutely no possibility of joining rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this person boldly hid in a corner to spy, as if unaware that this was taboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Zhu Que Army, even the most solitary soldier on ordinary days would never appear alone at the edge of the drill square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other reason; this was a place for military formation drills, and going alone made one an outlier by definition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, when speaking with Hall Master Duan Jishan, this person actually referred to themselves as \"I.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Zhu Que Army, hierarchy and status are clearly defined; when facing a Hall Master, one must refer to oneself only as \"subordinate\" or \"this humble general,\" with no exceptions whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, they did not recognize Company Commander Qin, nor did they recognize Ye Liyue or Yan Guichen—these two were Ten-Thousand-Man Commanders; anyone who had served in the Zhu Que Army for even a short time could not possibly know nothing about them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every single one of these flaws pointed to the same conclusion: this person was extremely unfamiliar with the rules and personnel of the Zhu Que Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By rights, based on these facts alone, Duan Jishan could have seized her for interrogation, yet he did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because beneath these myriad flaws, this person was likewise entangled in too many baffling mysteries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, this person was far too composed; there was not a trace of guilt in their demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An \"outsider\" who had infiltrated the Lingguang Hall, halted publicly by the Hall Master and scrutinized by ten thousand gazes, could remain perfectly at ease without the slightest panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, she was thoroughly familiar with the operation of a hundred-man formation, and the cultivation technique she employed was the authentic \"Zhu Que Divine Art,\" without the slightest deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, and most perplexingly of all—she was far too self-righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether being flung out by the formation or attempting to make Duan Jishan change his arrangements, every move she made exuded a sense of natural entitlement, as if having everyone cooperate with her was only right and proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had spies ever appeared in the Zhu Que Army?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, the various Hall Masters and stewards could not guarantee that there were no agents from other factions within the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the person before them gave a truly contradictory impression—she seemed both familiar with the Zhu Que Army and yet knew very little about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she truly were a spy, she was far too... unprofessional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this contradictory aura surrounding Hua Changxi, Duan Jishan and the generals present tacitly chose silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Hua Changxi know that her appearance, masked and behaving suspiciously, looked extremely strange and out of place on the drill square?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she perceived the scrutiny directed at her by Duan Jishan and the others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course she had perceived it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she chose to ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, she genuinely wished to participate in the military formation drill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, she also wanted to see how Duan Jishan and the others would respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being named by Duan Jishan, Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen needed only a moment of thought to understand his intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hall Master's move was clearly intended to use the two of them to probe this suspicious person of unknown background at close range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acting as sparring partners, even if this person truly harbored some scheme or sudden danger arose, with their strength, they might not be able to strangle every potential threat in the cradle, but they could absolutely prevent any danger from expanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the two smiled and walked toward Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they drew near, Ye Liyue subtly sized up the masked Zhu Que soldier before her, the corners of her mouth curving into a seemingly warm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't think I've ever seen you before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's gaze swept over Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen, a faint glimmer flashing in the depths of her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were at the Spirit Platform realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Jishan had arranged two Spirit Platform realm cultivators as her sparring partners; without needing to think, one knew he intended to probe her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had no time to trade probes with them and stated directly, \"You need not doubt my identity; I am someone sent by the Hall Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the air seemed to stagnate for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen were sharply shaken in their hearts, and even Duan Jishan, who had been observing secretly from a short distance away, could not hide a flash of astonishment in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue quickly suppressed the turmoil within, steadied her mind, and asked gently, \"How should we address you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi thought for a moment: \"Just call me Little Flower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Flower???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen's eyelids twitched involuntarily at the same time; recalling the rumors from outside, they somewhat dared not continue questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the two: \"How should I address you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue took a deep breath and, following her lead, replied, \"...Just call me Little Ye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Guichen, standing nearby, could only follow helplessly: \"Little Yan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded and decisively concluded, \"Good, now that we are acquainted, shall we... begin the drill?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few short sentences, the initiative had been snatched away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of absurdity in the other's eyes, but ultimately they obediently nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two agree, Hua Changxi turned without ceremony and walked first toward the area designated for the three-person formation drill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen subconsciously looked back at Duan Jishan; seeing him say nothing, they quickly hurried to keep pace with Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the three had taken their positions within the formation, Hua Changxi turned around; though her face was hidden behind a mask, her expression was utterly solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although I am someone the Hall Master arranged to come here, you need not have any reservations. Drill exactly as you usually do, cooperate exactly as you usually would; do you understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were spoken with self-righteous confidence and resonant force, nothing like a \"newcomer\" who had just arrived, but rather like an inspector traveling incognito.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen exchanged another glance; the sense of absurdity in their hearts grew even stronger, yet they could find no fault with her words, so they nodded in unison and replied, \"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very good.\" Hua Changxi waved her hand crisply. \"Then let us begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three-person formation was the most basic triangle offensive and defensive array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual energy of the three needed to circulate at a specific frequency, forming a miniature closed loop, borrowing strength from one another and shielding one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Form the formation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue moved to Hua Changxi's left rear, while Yan Guichen took the right rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the two settled into position, Hua Changxi felt two entirely distinct fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from behind her—Ye Liyue's was dense as silk, carrying a lingering resilience; Yan Guichen's was sharp as a blade, clean and efficient without a shred of redundancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi took a deep breath, mobilizing her own spiritual energy in an attempt to bridge these two forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the instant she exerted force, Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen both frowned almost simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's spiritual energy was too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not merely strong in an ordinary sense, but overwhelmingly, pervasively strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In attempting to fuse their energies, she had subconsciously used her own to \"envelop\" them, as if trying to bring the entire three-person formation under her sole control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the muffled sound of clashing spiritual energy, the three-person formation collapsed before it could even take shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue stepped back to steady herself, while Yan Guichen remained motionless, though spiritual qi churned violently around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stood frozen, unable to comprehend where things had gone wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten attempts at the three-person formation, ten failures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen, who were beginning to doubt their very existence; even the Zhu Que soldiers in the other military formations were utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This failure rate had shattered all records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Jishan walked over and looked at Hua Changxi: \"What were you thinking while forming the formation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confusion filled Hua Changxi's eyes: \"I wasn't thinking anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Jishan was momentarily speechless: \"Nothing? You were constantly trying to control Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, a 'boom' echoed in Hua Changxi's mind, as if struck by lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the hundred-person military formation practice in the Flame Mountain, there were too many issues for her to carefully pinpoint every anomaly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with the three-person formation, the problem was exposed far more thoroughly, and combined with Duan Jishan's correction as an observer, she finally grasped the core issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, she had been thinking, habitually 'thinking' to control the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This urge to control the external world had become ingrained in her bones and blood, so natural that she failed to notice it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replayed the moment of being repelled over and over in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't insufficient spiritual energy, nor incorrect footwork; it was that she was still 'thinking'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was thinking about how to integrate, how to synchronize, how to make herself part of the military formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the more she 'thought', the more she sought to control, and the thicker the barrier became between her and the other two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she had always feared, this so-called fear of losing herself, was in essence a fear of losing control!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she afraid of losing control?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, why did she believe she could control everything? Why did she not allow anything to go out of control?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As this doubt arose in her mind, Hua Changxi's heart skipped a beat; she suddenly realized how incredibly narcissistic she had been—to actually wish to manipulate everything!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen watched the motionless Hua Changxi, exchanged a glance, and offered no urging, no impatience, simply... waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced at the two, seeing no judgment, no expectation, not even a hint of 'you should be able to do this', and suddenly understood something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her previous failures stemmed from the fact that she had been constantly 'trying'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to imitate, trying to synchronize, trying to suppress herself, trying to become 'us'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a military formation never required 'effort'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a military formation required was—letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not forcing oneself to forget the 'self', but simply having no need to remember the 'self' at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as a drop of water falling into a river does not think 'I must become the river'; it simply follows the current's direction and naturally becomes part of the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And every one of her previous attempts had been like someone on the shore desperately jumping into the river, forgetting that they were already in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stood up and walked back into the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she made no deliberate effort to sense the spiritual energy of Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen, made no conscious adjustment to her footwork, and did not even think of the words 'form the formation'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply stood there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing like a stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breath was her own breath, her heartbeat her own heartbeat, her spiritual energy flowing quietly through her meridians, neither catering nor resisting, neither deliberately integrating nor deliberately withholding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was simply there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her spiritual energy naturally spilled forth, gently touching the energies on either side; there was no rejection, no collision, just like two streams quietly converging in the crevices between rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no repulsive force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three-person formation was formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi opened her eyes slightly, a faint glimmer passing through her pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the spiritual energy of Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen, but a sense of 'looseness' she had never experienced before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That looseness was not laxity, but rather... no longer being tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She no longer strained with the thought, \"I must integrate,\" no longer tensed with the fear, \"I cannot lose myself,\" and no longer clenched her jaw with the obsession, \"I must succeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply stood there, and the great formation accepted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Liyue and Yan Guichen exchanged a glance, both letting out a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This masked individual had finally grasped the essence of the military formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not achieved by gritting her teeth and forcing her way through, nor by forcibly suppressing herself, but by—letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stood within the three-person formation, feeling spiritual energy flow steadily between the three of them like the tides. She did not smile, nor did she feel joy; she knew that the three-person formation was only the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten-person formations, hundred-person formations, thousand-person formations, ten-thousand-person formations... every layer of the formation required a deeper level of \"letting go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she had only just learned how to unclench that tightly gripped hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the subsequent formations, Hua Changxi continuously practiced how to \"let go\" of her desire for control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From noon to dusk, from dusk to nightfall, and then from nightfall until the sky was filled with stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, Ye Liyue, and Yan Guichen remained in a corner of the drill square, repeatedly practicing the same three-person formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, twice, thrice...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forgetting oneself was not erasing one's self, but in that instant, yielding one's own feelings, one's own judgments, and one's own habits entirely to \"us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yielding to the point where no thought was needed, no understanding required, and no reason had to be known—the body would simply react correctly on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet all of Hua Changxi's combat experience up to this point had been that of \"a single person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was accustomed to controlling the rhythm and making optimal decisions at critical moments; these traits made her a powerful lone warrior, but they were fatal obstacles to integrating into a collective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was not insufficiently strong; she was too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So strong that she wanted to fill every gap, smooth out every fluctuation, and control every uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the military formation precisely required her to abandon this control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the drill square, Duan Jishan had been silently observing the three people training. At this moment, another person joined him—Yun You, the Hall Master of the Logistics Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the field, Duan Jishan spoke in a low voice: \"That person claimed she belongs to the Hall Master; what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without shifting his gaze, Yun You replied: \"The Hall Master has indeed returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Jishan paused: \"That person said her name is Little Flower... could she possibly be...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yun You shook his head: \"I do not know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late that night, after finishing training, Hua Changxi sent a message to Duan Jishan regarding Little Flower's situation, instructing him not to hold back for any reason and to strictly train her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reading the message, the corners of Duan Jishan's mouth twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn't the timing of this message too convenient? So convenient that it lacked any disguise; she was clearly certain he dared not inquire further or expose her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, training continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the three-person military formation of Hua Changxi, Ye Liyue, and Yan Guichen was now operating with seamless precision, with spiritual energy flowing without any obstruction as if they were a single entity, Duan Jishan nodded slightly: \"Since you are now familiar with the three-person military formation, begin practicing the ten-person military formation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished speaking, several Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders who had been standing quietly in line could no longer contain themselves; they all stepped forward voluntarily to offer their services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hall Master, I will do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hall Master, I can do it too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, there was no shortage of those eager to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not that these Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders wanted to use this opportunity to curry favor with this confidant of the Hall Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their enthusiasm stemmed purely from an irrepressible curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly wished to personally experience just how \"rotten wood that cannot be carved\" this masked Little Flower actually was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an expressionless face, Duan Jishan ignored the crowd and directly pointed out the seven strongest Battalion Commanders present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weak strength would not suffice; with Little Flower in the formation, they needed to withstand falls, and without sufficient strength, they would easily get injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, during the subsequent training, the ten-person formation containing Little Flower witnessed all manner of fancy wrestling styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, during the subsequent drills, the ten-soldier formation with Little Hua in it performed all manner of fancy wrestling moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders who had not been selected watched as Yan Guichen and others were thrown out by the formation, their faces filled with relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After practicing the ten-person formation for three full days, Hua Changxi's oppressive desire to control everything finally diminished somewhat, and the formation barely managed to take shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Duan Jishan did not have Hua Changxi begin practicing the hundred-person formation; instead, he had Ye Liyue and the others continue practicing the ten-person formation with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had realized that Little Flower's greatest problem was her difficulty in merging with others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This issue could only be resolved gradually through repeated grinding within the military formations.\u003C\u002Fp>",2932,"2026-06-12T02:51:24.126Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","834c5b0d284e25b7a143e7b6c2eb6f5e5d717442ff37bfab4f39bf23d32dc821","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-558","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-556",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]