Chapter 1581: Chaos Across the Myriad Realms
Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin traveled circuitously to the Green Yang Realm. The Green Yang Realm was one of the larger worlds among the myriad realms, extremely prosperous.
Logically, a single Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge should have been enough to reach the Green Yang Realm directly. However, Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin first used one bridge to reach the Ten Thousand Port Realm, then transferred from there to the Nether River Realm, and finally entered the Green Yang Realm from the Nether River Realm.
"Why go through so many transfers?"
Qin Mu was puzzled. "Every time a merchant ship passes through a realm, they have to pay a transit tax, and all the cargo has to be unloaded and inspected. It's a waste of time and effort. Why not just build a Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge directly connecting to the Green Yang Realm for convenient travel?"
The Dragon Qilin replied, "All the myriad realms are under the rule of the Heavenly Court. Only the Heavenly Court has the authority to build Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges for each realm. Most of the myriad realms that trade with Yan Kang must pass through worlds like Ten Thousand Port and Nether River. Did you see the divine cities near the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges, Chief? There are military camps stationed there, with Heavenly Court armies garrisoned. Half of the taxes collected there go to the Heavenly Court."
Qin Mu thought about it. There were indeed heavily guarded troops beside those Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges.
"The Heavenly Court layers taxes on goods at every level, extracting too much profit from here, leaving little for the merchants."
Qin Mu said, "This might work in the short term, but over time, Heavenly Currency flows back to the Heavenly Court. Yan Kang's exports remain unaffected, but other realms grow poorer and poorer. If every world could have a Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge connecting to Yan Kang, bypassing the Heavenly Court..."
"Then the Heavenly Court would fight Yan Kang to the death," the Dragon Qilin said with a smile.
Qin Mu laughed heartily. If every realm had a Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge connecting to Yan Kang, the Heavenly Court would indeed fight to the death. But this was something that would have to be done in the future.
Qin Mu walked through the Green Yang Realm. This was a world dominated by demigods, with demigod races sitting high and mighty, while other races could only do menial labor.
As he traveled, he saw that chaos had already begun. High-ranking demigods firmly controlled all the resources of this world, indulging in excess and luxury, while low-ranking demigods suffered the same hardships as other races. Livelihoods were ruined, and complaints filled the air.
These demigods, proud of their ancestors' glory, had become lazy and unwilling to engage in the livelihoods of lower races, so their plight only worsened.
Along his journey, he had already seen more than a dozen bands of roving bandits looting everywhere. The rulers of the Green Yang Realm sent troops to suppress them, but as soon as one group was wiped out, another sprang up elsewhere.
He arrived at the power center of the Green Yang Realm—a massive divine city, resplendent and magnificent, filled with gods standing tall, utterly extravagant. It was a stark contrast to the chaos he had seen on the road.
The gods indulged in feasting and entertainment, with songs and dances everywhere, and military preparedness was lax.
Qin Mu left the Green Yang Realm with the Dragon Qilin and traveled to another medium-sized realm, the Twilight Night Realm.
As soon as they entered the Twilight Night Realm, they encountered two armies at war. The ruler of the Twilight Night Realm had already been defeated by the local rebel forces. Many divine and demon armies had rebelled against the ruler, rising up one after another.
Unable to resist, the ruler of the Twilight Night Realm went to the Heavenly Court for help. The Heavenly Court sent a large army to suppress the rebellion in the Twilight Night Realm, filling the land with smoke and slaughter.
Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin then went to the Song Stage Realm.
The Song Stage Realm appeared peaceful, but he keenly sensed turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm. The people were full of resentment, and a disaster was brewing.
Qin Mu traveled from one realm to another, observing that with the emergence of Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges and the rise of Yan Kang's manufacturing, the status of these myriad realms was subtly changing.
Some realms had declined due to the outflow of Heavenly Currency, with the people barely surviving by selling mineral deposits, but wealth was concentrated in the hands of powerful gods and demons.
Some realms still maintained their former glory, not yet crushed by Yan Kang's manufacturing.
Other realms had become part of Yan Kang's economy and were gradually rising, seeking greater benefits.
The declining ones fell into internal strife and exhaustion, while the rising ones demanded more power.
And the key to all of this was Heavenly Currency.
"The Heavenly Court can indeed mint Heavenly Currency without limit, but the value of Heavenly Currency lies in its backing by the Heavenly Court's credit. If it were minted without limit, it would become worthless."
Qin Mu smiled. "Because it cannot be minted infinitely, the total amount of Heavenly Currency is limited. With a limited total, as Yan Kang and the rising realms grow, they siphon wealth from the surrounding realms, and the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Currency also decreases in trade. To maintain its rule, the Heavenly Court must keep a certain total amount of Heavenly Currency. Therefore, it can only suck money from other realms. And it must use Heavenly Currency to buy goods from Yan Kang, so it continues to drain other realms to sustain itself."
The Dragon Qilin said, "As it keeps sucking, the blood of other realms will be drained dry by the Heavenly Court, leading to chaos. Many realms that can no longer survive are already showing signs of rebelling against the Heavenly Court."
Qin Mu walked through the Jade Pot Realm, looking around at the war-torn landscape. "The Heavenly Court has built a massive system. The myriad realms surround and support the Heavenly Court. Whether willingly or unwillingly, all realms must pledge allegiance to the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court has formed an unbreakable alliance!"
"This alliance, with the Heavenly Court at its head, requires all realms to obey its commands and provide various resources, including manpower! The most outstanding talents from all realms go to the Heavenly Court to seek their own advancement and become the elite! In this situation, the Heavenly Court grows stronger and stronger! Other realms, relying on just one or two geniuses, have no chance to overturn this alliance!"
"For Yan Kang to rise under these circumstances is almost impossible. Even if countless geniuses emerge, they cannot compare to the myriad realms combined. The only way is to break this seemingly unbreakable alliance!"
"The simplest approach is to strike from the economic side. This is not a conspiracy but an open strategy."
He walked through the ruins. "An open strategy is straightforward. The Heavenly Court's finance minister must be tearing his hair out by now."
The Dragon Qilin followed him. "What if the Heavenly Court abolishes Heavenly Currency and introduces a new one?"
"If the Heavenly Court abolishes Heavenly Currency, it would be crippling itself."
Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "The Da Feng Coin could then rise, swallowing the realms that use Heavenly Currency and replacing it as the new standard. Therefore, the Heavenly Court can neither let Heavenly Currency run rampant nor abolish it."
The Dragon Qilin thought for a long time. "Then the Heavenly Court could dismantle the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges, cutting off trade with Yan Kang and the rising realms."
Qin Mu smiled. "The Heavenly Court needs to continue buying goods from Yan Kang to suppress the chaos across the myriad realms. How easy do you think it is to cut off trade? The moment Lady Yuan Mu moved the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge to the Heavenly Court, the chaos across the myriad realms was already sealed!"
The Dragon Qilin showed admiration. The Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge was a concept proposed by Qin Mu, completed with the Black Tiger God. It was also Qin Mu who sent the bridge to the Heavenly Court, where it was taken over by Lady Yuan Mu, then the Lord of the Zao Fu Palace, and promoted across the myriad realms.
Lady Yuan Mu probably never imagined that this Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge would become a weapon to shake the foundation of the Heavenly Court's rule!
When she promoted the bridge, she only intended to stabilize the Heavenly Court's control over the myriad realms.
"Then the Heavenly Court has no choice but to use military force to prolong its own life."
The Dragon Qilin thought for a moment. "The Heavenly Court possesses supreme military power. It has troops stationed across the myriad realms and still controls the most powerful force in the universe! If the Heavenly Court attacks Yan Kang..."
"That is what I fear."
Qin Mu stepped onto the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, heading back to Yan Kang. "Although the alliance of Yan Kang, the Land of No Worries, and the rising realms is still weaker militarily than the Heavenly Court, it already has the power to deter them. The Opening Emperor, Lang Huan, Ling Tianzun, Moon Tianzun, Cloud Tianzun, Nether Tianzun, plus me, and Tian Yin, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Gongsun Yan, and the Bright Emperor and Red Emperor—at the high-end combat level, we can already deter the Heavenly Court. But at the mid and low levels, we are far inferior. If the Heavenly Court's high-end forces tie us down, Yan Kang can still be easily destroyed. Only if the alliance of the myriad realms collapses can there be a chance to resist the Heavenly Court. But the Netherworld is about to fall into the Heavenly Court's hands..."
He frowned again. If the Netherworld fell into the Heavenly Court's hands, there would truly be no chance of turning things around!
If the Earth Lord could give him another hundred years, perhaps he wouldn't be so pressed and troubled.
Unfortunately...
"Fatty Dragon, go back. Return to the Beast Realm."
Qin Mu stepped out of the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge. "When you reach the Beast Realm, manage it carefully. Also, be wary of your foster father, Dragon Xiao. Dragon Xiao is unreliable—a fence-sitter. If he betrays our agreement in the future, you must have the means to deal with unexpected situations."
"Rest assured, Chief. I have learned much from my cultivation under you. I will not disgrace your name!" The Dragon Qilin stood upright in human form, clasped his fists, and bowed.
Qin Mu hugged him firmly.
A swirling vortex of light appeared in the sky, revealing the vast and boundless landscape of the Beast Realm. The Dragon Qilin's figure slowly rose and vanished into the vortex.
The vortex disappeared. Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and entered Gongsun Yan's Earth Virtue Heavenly Palace.
In the Dao Academy of the Earth Virtue Heavenly Palace, Lang Huan and Moon Tianzun were already waiting, chatting idly. Ling Tianzun sat to the side, flipping through the academy's texts, paying no attention to anyone else.
The Opening Emperor was browsing through the *Sword Canon* compiled by the Village Chief and other Yan Kang sword masters. The Village Chief stood nearby, quietly awaiting his guidance.
When Qin Mu arrived, the Opening Emperor raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze from the *Sword Canon* to Qin Mu.
Qin Mu touched his face, puzzled. "Have I become better-looking than before?"
"No, still ugly."
The Opening Emperor lowered his head and continued flipping through the *Sword Canon*, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
Though his eyes were on the exquisite sword techniques in the *Sword Canon*, he couldn't help recalling his experience in the Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court.
That day, he had followed an old woman through sixteen Chaos Long Rivers, arriving at the Mi Luo Palace standing above the destruction tribulation of the First Universe, and entered the Chaos Hall.
There, he had met the Seventh Young Master—a weathered and profoundly wise Seventh Young Master who had left him speechless with shock.
The Seventh Young Master Qin Mu.