The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 425, Loss? Profit?

The sacred decrees, imbued with supreme authority, resounded like thunder from the heavens, echoing deep within the souls of every realm master, leaving them all dumbfounded.

Previously, Hua Changxi suggested that all the secret realm masters swear an oath of inner demons. Most of the secret realm masters were somewhat dismissive of it, thinking that Hua Changxi would swear his oath and they would swear theirs, and that it would be none of their business.

Who could have imagined that Hua Changxi's oath would become an inviolable sacred law, which they must obey unconditionally!
This absolute and almost forceful decree, like cold and heavy shackles, instantly bound the hands and feet of all the secret realm masters.

Some realm masters clenched their fists, their knuckles turning white; some turned their heads away, their eyes swirling with resentment; and many more felt their throats tighten, their breaths becoming labored.

The joy of obtaining the secret realm in the beginning is now matched by the suffering caused by the Holy Land's laws.

"I don't agree!"

Wu Lingyue, who was in charge of a fourth-grade secret realm, was the first to lose his temper. He stood up and glared at Hua Changxi: "Hua Changxi, by what right do you have to bind all of us secret realm masters with your oath?"

Hua Changxi's oath imposes strict restrictions on the secret realm masters; if they truly obey it, the world they can operate in will be greatly reduced.

Moreover, if one violates the law, not only will their control of the secret realm be revoked, but they will also have to bear the corresponding karma.

Cultivators fear being entangled in karma the most. Hua Changxi is courting death, why should she drag them down with her?
After the sacred tree branch disappeared, Hua Changxi focused all her attention on the merit power she had lost. She didn't even feel particularly happy about the new eighth-grade secret realm and the holy pill containing 500 Holy Protection Tokens.

With nowhere to vent her pent-up anger, the sudden confrontation with Wu Lingyue's furious questioning instantly ignited her rage.

Hua Changxi suddenly looked over, her gaze sharp as lightning, piercing Wu Lingyue: "Did I issue the Holy Land's laws? Am I the one who intends to restrain you?"

"Who's keeping you in check? Go find them!"

Her voice trembled slightly with anger, and the pent-up frustration found an outlet at this moment: "If it weren't for you bunch of scheming, self-serving scoundrels who restrict the development of Danyuan Peak, do you think I would want to deal with this mess?"

Wu Lingyue sneered, "Do you think everyone cares if you interfere? It would be better if you didn't."

Hua Changxi was furious: "When I suggested that the master of the secret realm take charge of the holy land, why didn't you stand up and refuse? Were you mute?"

"You are the kind of person who only wants to reap the benefits without paying the price. As for the Protectorate Family, you have truly changed my understanding of the Protectorate Family."

"I really can't imagine if the people of the guardian families were all like you, could the lineage of the Four Spirit Realms really be passed down?"

These hurtful words enraged Wu Lingyue to the point of fuming, but they also struck Gu Jinfan like a thunderbolt, bringing back painful memories of the massive invasion and usurpation by outside cultivators in his previous life.

The other four guardian families couldn't sit still any longer.

Bai Zhixin frowned and looked at Hua Changxi: "Peak Master Hua, don't go too far. You can't slander the guardian families."

Because of the Xia family, Hua Changxi did have a bad impression of the guardian families. However, after questioning Wei Zhenjie about why the Demon Suppression Army and the Xuanyuan Army did not support the Vermilion Bird Army, she realized that many things were happening behind her back that she did not know about. She did not want to completely deny the guardian families, so she did not respond to the question.

Just then, her anger subsided slightly. She looked around at the assembled secret realm masters and said in a deep voice, "Only thinking of profit and not taking responsibility, is there such a thing as a free lunch in this world?"

"It is only natural that the resources of the secret realm should be used for disciples' cultivation, pill refining, and the construction of the holy land. The holy land has already issued its decree, and there is nothing I can do about it."

As she spoke, Hua Changxi looked at Wu Lingyue again: "You need to understand one thing: it is not my oath that binds you, but the laws of the Holy Land that bind you."

Wu Lingyue laughed angrily: "The Holy Land's decree? I think it's Hua Changxi's decree!"

He pointed at Hua Changxi, his fingertips trembling: "You want us to use 'public-mindedness' to bind ourselves, fine, but why do you have to create karma? Don't you know that cultivators are very averse to this?"

Hua Changxi helplessly spread his hands: "That oath was something I used to bind myself, not to bind you. Now, I can only say that this result is fate."

“The will of Heaven?” Wu Lingyue seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. “If you want to be a saint, we can’t control you, but you shouldn’t drag us into it. We are not that great, and we can’t be without any selfish motives.”

“You can disregard your own family, but we can’t. We have family, close friends, and comrades-in-arms. In this great tide, we must support each other.”

Wu Lingyue became more and more reasonable and angrier as he spoke: "Let me tell you, Hua Changxi, I, Wu Lingyue, will never obey any of those so-called holy land decrees you've created!"

Before Hua Changxi could react, green light reappeared in the council hall.

"Snap!" A branch of the divine tree suddenly appeared, like a green whip, carrying immense and unstoppable power, and lashed fiercely at Wu Lingyue!
Amidst the deathly silence and horrified gazes of the crowd, a piece of the secret realm leaf, shimmering with a faint light, was forcibly ripped from Wu Lingyue's body, then rolled up by the branches of the divine tree and instantly disappeared into the void without a trace.

After a brief silence, the council hall erupted in an uncontrollable uproar.

Shenmu has actually reclaimed the secret realm under Wu Lingyue's control!

Wu Lingyue was stunned, and all the secret realm masters were dumbfounded.

Before everyone could fully recover from the shock of the divine tree returning to the secret realm, a clamor of voices suddenly arose outside the council hall, growing louder and louder, interspersed with muffled rumbling sounds. The ground pulsated slightly but clearly, as if a sleeping beast was awakening.

"What happened?" Hua Changxi's mind stirred slightly, and she quickly walked out of the hall.

The moment she stepped out, she froze.

The sky was becoming clearer and more transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the thick fog that had shrouded some distant areas was being pushed away and dissipated by an invisible force.

The invisible barrier that was originally regarded as the boundary of the sacred land seemed to be gently opened and extended by an invisible giant hand!
The rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be summoned, surging forth from the void.

The once familiar territory of the Dan Sheng Temple is now expanding outwards in a way that defies comprehension!

The mountains and rivers were reshaped by the spiritual energy. The plains were extended, and new peaks that pierced the clouds emerged like dragons from the water, revealing their vague yet majestic outlines amidst the thick fog and layers of barriers that flowed with mysterious energy.

"The Holy Land is growing!"

This was not the first time that everyone had witnessed the Dan Sheng Palace grow larger, but even so, its magnificence was still awe-inspiring.

What astonished everyone even more was the strange phenomenon that suddenly appeared on both sides of the Dan Ding Tan Square!
"Shoot-"

"Crash-"

Two dazzling, enormous waterfalls suddenly cascaded down from the sky on either side of the plaza without warning.

The water is not ordinary water, but contains an extremely pure spiritual energy, presenting a warm and light green luster, like two flowing jade ribbons hanging down from the heavens.

The source of the waterfall seems to connect to a higher, more distant void. As the water surges, countless tiny green specks of light fall like starlight, creating a magnificent and extraordinary sight.

The suspended Lingquan Waterfall plunges straight down to the foot of the surrounding peaks, meandering into a river that flows between the peaks.

Where the water flows, withered trees come back to life, and tender buds break through the frozen soil at a speed visible to the naked eye; common herbs instantly become lush and green, each plant full and plump; and a refreshing and invigorating fragrance permeates the air.

Even more astonishingly, the area that was originally connected between Dandingtan Square and Jiujie Street has been completely transformed—a magnificent staircase carved from white jade, with 9,999 steps, has risen from the ground, separating the square from the street.

Below the steps, a brand-new, expansive square suddenly appears.

At the edge of the square, the remaining water from the hanging spring waterfall is channeled into a circular waterway, with the clear spring flowing around the square and eventually converging into the "Gathering Spirit Pool" at the four corners of the square.

The council hall where Hua Changxi and the others were located was situated on Ninth Street.

At this moment, they could only crane their necks and look up at the towering jade steps shrouded in misty spiritual energy, while the alchemy altar plaza had long since disappeared from view.

The gasps and discussions around them surged like waves, one after another.

Hua Changxi gazed at the suspended waterfall, feeling the boundless vitality surging within the expanding territory, and looked towards the distant mountain peaks that were faintly visible in the clouds...

She opened her mouth, shocked but not too surprised.

After the Star Gazing Tower absorbed her merits, it underwent a major renovation.

The sacred tree drained her power of merit, and then... upgraded the entire holy land!
what is this?
Sacrificing one person for the benefit of millions?
Facing the gazes of the crowd around her, a mixture of awe, fervor, and complex confusion, and glancing once more at the cascading waterfall and the vibrant, spiritually rich scene of the newly formed sacred land, Hua Changxi felt a sudden sense of absurdity—she seemed to have lost out, yet also seemed to have… gained something?
This feeling is... indescribable!

(End of this chapter)