Chapter 87: Follow the Great Trend, You Can Take Off

"What do you think of Hua Jiuniang?"

After bidding farewell to the Hua family and Manager Kong, after the carriage started, Hua Tai talked to his eldest son Hua Mingzhe about Hua Changxi.

Hua Mingzhe: "Indeed, as Grandmother said, she is somewhat unruly. Her attitude toward Manager Kong was something I didn't expect."

"A young lady who is not afraid of the power of the Hou Fu actually has a bit of backbone."

"By the way, Father, Hua Jiuniang and Hua Tenth Sister are twins. It doesn't make sense that the younger sister is a cultivation genius, but the older sister is a mortal, right?"

"I heard from Uncle Hua Bin that she hasn't measured her spiritual veins yet. Should we send her to the Count's Mansion to measure it?"

Hua Tai shook his head: "This is not urgent. That girl's personality is very arrogant. If we are too eager, she might think we have malicious intentions. Let's wait until she asks for it herself."

Hua Mingzhe nodded, then sighed: "Uncle Hua Bin's lineage, I originally thought there wouldn't be any great achievements, but I didn't expect there to be six cultivators."

Hua Tai was also envious of this: "People born with spiritual veins shouldn't be so many. It should be that Hua Tenth Sister gave them pills."

Hua Mingzhe heard this, and a desire burst out in his eyes: "Father..."

As soon as Hua Tai saw his eldest son's appearance, he knew what he wanted to say, and sighed: "Pills that shape spiritual veins are too scarce, and even the Count can't get them."

"Although Hua Tenth Sister is a disciple of the Tai Su Palace Sect Leader, I guess she can't get many. Hua Bin's lineage has so many people, it won't be our turn."

Hua Mingzhe was very disappointed: "Do we really have no chance to become cultivators?"

Hua Tai looked at his eldest son: "You follow the Heir well. Pills are all refined from spiritual medicines and spirit fruits. If the Count's Mansion can occupy more mountains, there might be a chance in the future."

"By the way, Wanyue's side must also let your wife keep an eye on it. Martial artists cannot do without pills, and cultivators cannot do without pills. Our family must have our own alchemist."

"Also, the news from the Medical Department must be kept in mind by Wanyue. Although Hua Jiuniang is only a servant,

"The appearance of cultivators is both an opportunity and a challenge. The imperial court will be reshuffled because of this, and so will the clans. Whether our family can continue to hold the position of clan elders is hard to say in the future."

Hua Mingzhe's face showed a grave expression. He had actually already sensed this point. In the past, their family was the most capable helper of the Count's Prefecture, but now the Count and the Heir valued the few cultivators in the clan more.

On the other side, Steward Kong's carriage left Xiuzheng Ward and boarded another luxurious carriage on the side of the street.

Inside the carriage, Third Master He held the "Five Elements Art" and was reading it carefully and earnestly.

"Third Master."

"Did you see all those people in the Hua family who have spiritual veins?"

"I saw them, only Hua Dalang and Hua Shiniang were not there."

"A strange treasure has appeared in the Northwest, and since Hua Dalang is now a member of the Demon Suppression Division, he must have followed them to the Northwest. As for Hua Shiniang... the Taisu Palace will not stand idly by when a strange treasure appears. What arrangements does the Count's Prefecture have for the other four?"

"Besides Hua Shiyilang who will remain at the Martial Academy to study, Hua Silang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shi'erniang will all go to the Count's Prefecture to cultivate. The Count's Prefecture has spent a large sum of money to invite a Qi Sea Realm cultivator to guide the Hua clan members in their cultivation."

After hearing this, Third Master He felt a bit envious: "The Hua clan's fortune is truly good; they produced a Hua Shiniang, and there are so many descendants in the clan who tested for spiritual roots."

Steward Kong hesitated for a moment, but still spoke about Hua Changxi: "Hua Shiniang's twin sister, Hua Jiuniang—this old servant observes that she is also not an ordinary person."

Upon hearing this, Third Master He couldn't help but become interested: "Is there anything special about her?"

Steward Kong: "... This old servant cannot say specifically. It is just a feeling. She really has a kind of 'newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger' spirit, but it is not the kind that is just bluffing. She seems to have a lot of confidence."

Third Master He: "Could it be... that she is also a cultivator?"

Steward Kong shook his head; he really did not know how to judge whether a person was a cultivator.

Third Master He thought for a while: "Who did our family arrange to enter the Medicine Division?"

Steward Kong hurriedly said: "The second young lady of the first branch and the fourth young lady of the second branch have both entered the Medicine Division."

Third Master He frowned: "Wasn't it said before that Sanlang was to be arranged to go to the Medicine Division?"

Steward Kong replied: "The Marquis said that the young men in the family must first raise their cultivation levels. No matter what changes happen in the future, powerful martial strength is the foundation of the Marquis's Prefecture."

Third Master He agreed with this very much. After thinking for a moment, he said: "Later, go to the Treasure Pavilion and pick out a few pieces of jewelry. After returning to the mansion, I want to go see Concubine Hua."

Steward Kong immediately agreed. He understood that the Third Master wanted to probe for news about Hua Jiuniang from Concubine Hua.

Third Master He added: "Better pick out a few more. You personally deliver them to the second young lady and the fourth young lady. Since you feel Hua Jiuniang is unusual, you must let them keep an eye on her in the Medicine Division."

Steward Kong agreed with Third Master He's instruction. He didn't know if it was his illusion, but today when he saw Hua Jiuniang again, when her gaze swept toward him, he actually felt a fear that made him dare not meet her eyes.

The Hua family.

After sending off Steward Kong and Hua Tai and his son, the Hua family gathered in the main hall. Old Madam Hua, along with Yao Shi, Second Aunt Hua, and Fourth Aunt Hua, happily looked through the New Year gifts sent by the Marquis's Prefecture, the Great Clan Elder's house, and the Count's Prefecture.

Old Master Hua said to his three sons and several grandsons: "Tomorrow, tidy yourselves up. I will take you to the clan to pay New Year's greetings. Listening to the meaning of your Grandfather Hua Tai, we might also have to go to the Count's Prefecture."

"Silang, Eleven, tomorrow when you see the others in the clan who tested for spiritual veins, you must get along well with them."

Hua Silang smiled: "Grandfather, don't worry, we will."

Seeing his descendants doing well, Old Master Hua was very happy: "The Wu Yi Marquis's Prefecture is such a large family, yet they don't have as many people who tested for spiritual veins as our Hua clan. It shows that our Hua clan's fortune is stronger than theirs."

Seeing that the Hua Count's Prefecture and the Wu Yi Marquis's Prefecture had already placed the matter of testing for spiritual veins in the clan directly on the table, Hua Changxi immediately understood that in the circles of the powerful and noble, the matter of cultivation was likely already completely public.

Old Master Hua thought about how Hua Tai had personally brought his eldest son to deliver New Year gifts this year, and he couldn't help but feel proud. Suddenly thinking of something, he looked at Hua Minghe.

"Eldest, Dalang entering the Demon Suppression Division was arranged by the Count. If you can see the Count tomorrow, you must thank him properly."

Hearing that Hua Dalang had entered the Demon Suppression Division, Hua Changxi asked in surprise: "Big Brother went to the Demon Suppression Division?" Saying this, she looked at Hua Minghe, "Father, was going to the Demon Suppression Division Big Brother's own idea?"

Hua Minghe shook his head: "Your Big Brother hasn't returned yet, so the family doesn't know exactly what happened."

Hua Silang took over the conversation and asked with a smile: "Why, does Jiuniang also know about the mysterious Demon Suppression Division?"

Hua Changxi: "I heard people mention it at the Medicine Division. The errands the Demon Suppression Division does are very dangerous. Why would Big Brother think of joining the Demon Suppression Division?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Shi's face turned anxious: "Is Dalang...?"

Hua Changxi did not want to scare Yao Shi, so she remained silent.

Hua Minghe was in the Six Fan School and had also heard of the Demon Suppression Division. Knowing what kind of errands they did, he was also incomparably worried in his heart.

Old Madam Hua listened from the side and said indifferently: "Jiuniang is just a menial servant; can the news she hears be taken seriously? Besides, could the Count harm Dalang? Eldest, you all stop worrying blindly."

After finishing, she happily distributed gifts to everyone.

Those who tested for spiritual veins had specific gifts, while the others received ordinary New Year gifts.

"Jiuniang works in the Menial Hall, and she can't use the things sent by the Marquis's Prefecture and the Count's Prefecture, so I won't give them to her for now." Ultimately considering her eldest son's feelings, Old Madam Hua added a supplementary remark, "When she is no longer a menial servant, I will give them to her."

Hua Changxi had long held no expectations for Old Madam Hua. Possessing Mount Wuzhi, to put it bluntly, she had long since looked down on these things. Too lazy to continue staying in the main hall, she stood up and returned to her room.

"Eldest, Eldest Daughter-in-law, look at your good daughter, what a big temper. So rebellious, don't think about benefiting from the family in the future."

Hua Sanlang followed Hua Changxi out of the main hall. Hearing Old Madam Hua's words, he quickly caught up to Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, Grandmother just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart..."

Hua Changxi sneered: "Third Brother, don't say that. Grandmother might have a sharp tongue and a soft heart toward you, but toward me, it is a sharp tongue and a sharp heart."

"You don't need to come to comfort me. I don't really care how Grandfather and Grandmother treat me."

Seeing that Hua Changxi did not want to talk about this, Hua Sanlang did not continue. He followed her into the room, and after closing the door, he returned the "Burning Flame Art" and "Introduction to the Four Arts" to her.

"I have finished copying both of these books."

Hua Changxi took them: "Third Brother, why haven't you guided Qi into your body yet?"

Hua Sanlang: "There are many things to do as the New Year approaches, and there are many people in the family."

Hua Changxi: "You can't go on like this; you must seize the time to cultivate." After thinking for a moment, she took out the "Breath-Restraining Technique" and gave it to him.

"After learning this technique, as long as you don't encounter a cultivator who is a major realm higher than you, others won't be able to discover that you are a cultivator."

"This is a must-have skill for playing the pig to eat the tiger."

Hua Sanlang asked curiously: "Did you learn it too?"

Hua Changxi nodded. She didn't know why others couldn't perceive the spiritual Qi on her body, but for the sake of safety, she had also learned the Breath-Restraining Technique.

She could also feel more at ease with the techniques she had mastered herself.

After thinking about it, Hua Changxi took out four bottles of First-Grade Supreme Origin Spirit Pills: "After guiding Qi into your body, taking this pill can quickly improve your realm. You and Father and the others take one bottle each."

Hua Changxi thought that there were four other cultivators in the family, Hua Silang and the others, and she was also worried that other cultivators would come to the Hua family and discover that her father, mother, and two brothers were cultivators. She went to their rooms and set up isolation arrays to ensure that there would be no spiritual Qi fluctuations when they cultivated.

During the Spring Festival of the 23rd year of Yongxing, the Hua family was busier than in previous years. Hua Changxi was the most idle one. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, taking advantage of her family visiting relatives and friends, she made a trip back to Mount Wuzhi.

This time, she practiced the Somersault Cloud well on the way, and her cloud-riding speed improved quite a bit.

As soon as she approached Mount Wuzhi, Hua Changxi noticed the long queue lined up on the outskirts of the First Peak, as well as the two stone houses with flourishing incense.

"Fairy (Master), you are back."

Seeing Hua Changxi return, Shan Ling and Xiao Song immediately flew over and hugged one of her legs each.

Half a month later, Hua Changxi discovered that Shan Ling and Xiao Song were much taller than before: "Have you grown taller?"

Shan Ling smiled and nodded repeatedly: "Fairy, Xiao Song and I have both become stronger. Have you become stronger too?"

Hua Changxi: "Why do you ask that?"

Shan Ling's smile paused, and he pointed to the Fire Lotus Hall, surprised: "People offer incense at the Fire Lotus Hall every day. Didn't Fairy receive the incense Qi?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's heart jumped: "You became stronger because you received incense Qi?"

Shan Ling nodded: "Yes, Xiao Song benefited because he gives out pine needles to people every day. It makes no sense that you wouldn't receive any?"

Hua Changxi seemed to have guessed why her cultivation speed had suddenly become faster, but she still didn't quite understand: "I didn't do anything, so how could I receive the incense Qi offered by others?"

Shan Ling: "Fairy, you opened up Mount Wuzhi and complied with the great trend of spiritual Qi recovery. The incense offered by others is a reward given to you by the Heavenly Dao."

Hua Changxi listened, feeling it was profound: "You mean, as long as I do things that comply with the spiritual Qi recovery, I can get rewards from the Heavenly Dao?"

Shan Ling's bun-like face wrinkled. This question was out of his depth. He could only sense things within Mount Wuzhi; once outside, he was blind. But he didn't want Hua Changxi to look down on him, so he braced himself and nodded: "Yes."

Hua Changxi had no doubts about this. She remembered a saying: if you catch the wind, even a pig can fly. It meant that complying with the great trend could bring unexpected help.

Then, she recalled the scene when she first discovered her cultivation speed had abnormally increased. She had gone to the First Bureau to help and taught the apprentices in the Apprentice Hall how to process medicinal herbs.

Did this count as complying with the trend of spiritual Qi recovery?

Hua Changxi was not sure and decided to try it again when she returned to the Menial Hall for duty after the Spring Festival.

Then, Hua Changxi began to look at the people who were constantly entering Mount Wuzhi.

There were a small number of cultivators, but more were martial artists.

Shan Ling vividly told Hua Changxi what he and Xiao Song had done during this time: "Fairy, An Ze and An Ran, whom you saved before, are very capable. They are the ones guarding your Fire Lotus Hall and my Shan Ling Temple. You should take them in."

Hua Changxi looked past the crowd, and her gaze fell accurately on An Ze and An Ran. She saw them leading some people to maintain the order of the queue and explaining the rules for entering and leaving Mount Wuzhi.

These two siblings should have spiritual roots. It just so happened that she also had cultivation techniques in her hands, so taking them in was not impossible.

Thinking that the siblings were villagers from nearby, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered.

If teaching apprentices to process medicinal herbs could really increase cultivation, then could teaching villagers to plant spirit grain also do so?

Her "Shennong Planting Technique" had reached perfection when she was at the Three-Fork Medicine Valley, but she had never found an opportunity to put it into practice.

"You go and call those two siblings over."

Upon hearing this, Shan Ling and Xiao Song jumped over, and soon, they pulled the siblings An Ze and An Ran over.

"Fire Lotus Fairy..."

Hua Changxi smiled after hearing their address and did not correct them: "I want to hire you to do things, help me guard the two stone houses, and plant spirit grain."

An Ze and An Ran said in unison: "Fairy, we are willing."

Seeing them like this, Hua Changxi smiled: "I have two ways to hire you. One is that you work for me, and I give you a monthly salary."

"The other is that I provide cultivation techniques to help you embark on the path of cultivation, but if you choose this, you must swear a heart-demon oath, indicating that you will never betray me."

Seeing that An Ze wanted to answer immediately, Hua Changxi stopped him: "Don't be in a hurry to answer. This concerns your whole life, so think about it carefully."

An Ze and An Ran looked at each other, and then, both bowed to Hua Changxi.

"Fairy, we are willing to work for you and also want to embark on the path of cultivation. We choose the second one; there is no need to consider."

Hua Changxi looked at the two, took out five supreme spirit stones of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, and let them hold each one in their hands to perceive which one felt the most comfortable.

She didn't have a spiritual testing stone, so she could only use this method to test their spiritual roots.

People with spiritual roots have a perception of spirit stones of corresponding attributes.

"Fairy, we feel most comfortable holding this red stone."

Hua Changxi looked surprised: "Are you both...?"

An Ze and An Ran both nodded affirmatively: "Yes, holding the red stone makes our whole body feel warm, it is extremely comfortable."

Seeing this, Hua Changxi took out the "Burning Flame Art": "You are literate, right?"

An Ze and An Ran nodded again: "There is a clan school in the village, we have attended school for a few years."

Hua Changxi took out the heart-demon curse animal skin scroll and let them follow what was on it. Only after they swore the heart-demon oath did she give them the "Burning Flame Art."

"Go back and copy this technique. Next time I come, you must return the original to me."

"Also, next time I come, I will teach you how to plant spirit grain. You must seize the time to guide Qi into your body; planting spirit grain requires performing some spells."