Chapter 1636: A Lonely Island Beyond the World
"Dreams can't fill your stomach, and they can't save your life! Dreams are nothing but a burden, making you lose your current position, making you bleed against reality, and making more of the human race lose their lives for an illusory dream!"
Meng Yungui walked faster and faster, chasing after the Heavenly Emperor Hao and the others, silently saying to himself: "Dreams are too expensive; you have to risk your life for them. Yet dreams are also worthless—anyone can claim to have a dream, but not everyone has the life to enjoy it!"
He caught up with the Heavenly Emperor Hao, who was deep in thought, pondering something unknown. Suddenly, the emperor said, "Meng Heavenly Teacher, you oversee the Heavenly Court's economy. How much longer do you think the Heavenly Currency can last?"
Meng Yungui thought for a moment and replied, "If we continue to bleed the other heavens dry, we can last another ten years. If the Heavenly Court issues more Heavenly Currency to purchase mineral deposits from the various heavens, we can last another twenty years."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao let out an "Oh," showing interest, and said, "Twenty years? Shang Heavenly Teacher, do you think the Heavenly Court can last twenty years by issuing more Heavenly Currency?"
Shang Pingyin stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your servant believes that issuing more Heavenly Currency is like drinking poison to quench thirst—it will only cause the Heavenly Currency to collapse faster. Currently, the Heavenly Currency circulating throughout the myriad heavens is partly concentrated in the Heavenly Court and Yancheng, while the rest is held by powerful clans and wealthy families. The common people of the myriad heavens have very little money. Issuing more currency to buy mines and mineral deposits from the myriad heavens will only funnel the newly issued currency into the hands of the powerful and wealthy, making the rich richer and driving up prices. The poor will become poorer and rebel. Doing so will only accelerate the collapse of the Heavenly Currency."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao glanced at Meng Yungui and said, "Shang Heavenly Teacher's reasoning is sound."
Meng Yungui said calmly, "Shang Heavenly Teacher is acting purely on intuition, without detailed calculations. Your servant has mathematical proof."
His primordial energy transformed into mathematical runes, displaying the trade data of the myriad heavens. Countless complex formulas and equations were laid out, with numerous calculations and transformations, precise and stunning.
"Your servant oversees the minting of the Heavenly Court and has an intimate understanding of the commerce of the myriad heavens. These commercial figures have been refined by your servant down to the fuzzy digits!"
Meng Yungui said unhurriedly, "Issuing more Heavenly Currency will only drive up prices and cause hardship when it reaches a certain point. But if controlled properly, all of this can be avoided. On the other hand, the Heavenly Court holds the power to mint currency. We can use the newly issued currency to purchase Yancheng's supervisory factories, suppress Yancheng, and buy out everything in Yancheng without shedding a drop of blood."
He turned to look at Shang Pingyin, a challenging expression on his face, and said, "Shang Heavenly Teacher, your mathematics is just traditional mathematics. In terms of skill, you are not superior to me, are you?"
Shang Pingyin examined his primordial energy mathematical formulas and equations, checking them one by one, and said to the Heavenly Emperor Hao, "Meng Heavenly Teacher's calculations contain no errors. Your servant was overthinking. However, I am not convinced by Meng Heavenly Teacher's claim that his mathematical skill surpasses mine."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao laughed heartily and said, "Both of you are the Heavenly Teachers with the strongest computational abilities under my command. There's no need to keep arguing over who is number one! However, this twenty-year figure makes me a bit uneasy. I feel it should be discounted further."
Meng Yungui bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Shang Pingyin said, "Issuing more currency is one aspect; annexing Yancheng is another. Once Yancheng is swallowed up, the myriad heavens will be unified, and there will be no more worry about the Heavenly Currency collapsing."
Meng Yungui shook his head and said, "Shang Heavenly Teacher is mistaken."
Shang Pingyin, despite his good temper, couldn't help but feel annoyed at being contradicted twice. He said calmly, "What advice does Meng Heavenly Teacher have?"
Meng Yungui said, "Just now, Shang Heavenly Teacher said that issuing more currency would only fall into the hands of the powerful and wealthy. Even if Your Majesty obtains Yancheng and allows the Heavenly Currency to circulate freely, the currency will still end up in the hands of the powerful and wealthy. The common people of the myriad heavens will still rebel, regardless of whether Yancheng is obtained or not."
Shang Pingyin raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face, and said, "What does Meng Heavenly Teacher think should be done to avoid this situation?"
Meng Yungui said, "Your servant believes that Your Majesty's greatest enemy in governing the world is not Yancheng, nor Mu Tianzun or Ling Tianzun, but the powerful and wealthy who have amassed countless riches. Throughout the myriad heavens, countless powerful clans and wealthy families hold power and wealth. After a million years, the wealth of the myriad heavens has been concentrated in their hands, leading to the current situation. The more Heavenly Currency they hold, the less circulates among the myriad heavens. Over time, popular resentment fills the streets, leading to chaos in the myriad heavens. The rise of Yancheng has merely brought this turmoil forward by a few years."
Shang Pingyin snorted, "Meng Heavenly Teacher has said a lot, but only pointed out the cause, not the solution. I would very much like to hear Meng Heavenly Teacher's solution."
Meng Yungui hesitated, not continuing, and said, "Your servant fears being punished for his words."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao laughed heartily, "I am not a tyrant. Speak freely."
Meng Yungui bowed and said, "The powerful and wealthy hold too much wealth. No matter how much currency is issued, it will eventually fall into their hands. The only solution is to abolish the powerful clans and wealthy families. And the best way to abolish them is to put everyone to their best use..."
"Presumptuous!"
Shang Pingyin said coldly, "Meng Heavenly Teacher, you are too presumptuous! Abolish the powerful clans and wealthy families—is the next step to reform the laws? Your Majesty, Meng Yungui is definitely a spy from Yancheng. Please issue an order immediately to send this wretch to the God Execution Platform!"
Other civil and military officials chimed in, "Meng Heavenly Teacher is of the human race, plotting treachery, spreading rumors, and harboring evil intentions. Your Majesty, please punish this man!"
The Heavenly Emperor Hao waved his hand and laughed, "Alright, alright, stop attacking Meng Heavenly Teacher. Meng Heavenly Teacher, your words are too direct. This doesn't match the you of the past. My Heavenly Court, from the civil and military officials above to the merchants and commoners below, are all the powerful and wealthy you speak of. Even you are one of them. With one sentence, you've offended everyone in the Heavenly Court!"
He smiled ambiguously and said, "I, too, come from a powerful clan. You are trying to overthrow the Heavenly Court. These words are inappropriate. I will not punish you, but I will dock half a year's salary."
Meng Yungui's gaze dimmed. He bowed and said, "Your servant accepts the punishment."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao issued a decree, saying, "For now, follow Shang Heavenly Teacher's advice. Annex Yancheng while issuing more currency. Meng Heavenly Teacher, you need not trouble yourself with this matter. Leave it to Shang Heavenly Teacher."
Meng Yungui said dejectedly, "Your servant obeys the decree."
The civil and military officials all praised in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The Heavenly Emperor Hao returned to the inner palace and asked, "Has Mu Tianzun returned? I am still waiting for him to surrender and sign the contract."
A close guard replied, "Mu Tianzun has not yet arrived. The envoy from Yancheng also left a few days ago."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao said, "They are no longer important. The key is Mu Tianzun."
Two days later, the Heavenly Emperor Hao asked again, "Has Mu Tianzun returned? I am still waiting for him to return and sign the contract."
The close guard replied, "Your Majesty, Mu Tianzun is not in the Heavenly Court."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao frowned.
Another five or six days passed, and the Heavenly Emperor Hao asked, "Has Mu Tianzun still not returned? If he doesn't come soon, I will order Xu Tianzun to wipe out half of Yancheng's population!"
The close guard replied, "Mu Tianzun has arrived at the Ancestral Court and sent word that he will reach the Heavenly Court in ten days."
The Heavenly Emperor Hao said angrily, "So slow!"
Ten days later, Qin Mu arrived at the Heavenly Court. He dawdled, eating and drinking for over ten days before finally signing the contract and leaving dejectedly.
The Heavenly Emperor Hao was overjoyed and ordered a grand send-off for Mu Tianzun.
After Qin Mu left the Heavenly Court, a fierce light flashed in the Heavenly Emperor Hao's eyes. He summoned his chief minister and said, "As long as that thief Mu lives, I cannot be at ease. Go to the Supreme Emperor and have him kill Mu on the road!"
He made a chopping motion with his hand and said viciously, "Tell the Supreme Emperor that if he cannot kill him, then sink him into the Chaos River of the Jade Capital in the Ancestral Court and annihilate him!"
The chief minister said, "Your Majesty, why kill Mu Tianzun? He has already surrendered..."
"I don't trust him!"
The Heavenly Emperor Hao sneered, "Even if his Dao heart is completely destroyed and he retreats into seclusion, I still cannot rest easy. Only a dead Mu Tianzun is a good Mu Tianzun! The Supreme Emperor may not be able to kill him, but he can sink him into chaos. If the Chaos River cannot destroy him, then..."
He revealed a smile and said leisurely, "Then Mu Tianzun will return to the past and be his Young Master Mu. As long as he is not in this universe, I will be at ease."
The chief minister shuddered and hurried away.
On the other side, Shang Pingyin ordered the Zao Fu Heavenly Palace to issue more Heavenly Currency to purchase mineral deposits from the various heavens. However, the price of the mineral deposits was unexpectedly high. He had no choice but to continue issuing even more currency.
But this move caused the Heavenly Currency to show signs of a collapse. Its value plummeted rapidly, losing half its value in just two months.
Shang Pingyin couldn't understand what was happening. He was frantic, carefully recalling Meng Yungui's mathematical formulas and equations. There was not a single error.
He wanted to seek advice from Meng Yungui but couldn't swallow his pride. He had to send people to investigate.
Another month passed, and the Heavenly Court's mathematical experts returned from the various heavens, saying, "Yancheng acted before us. They used Heavenly Currency to buy mines, driving up the price of mineral deposits in many heavens! The Heavenly Currency in those heavens became abundant, and with the influx of the Heavenly Court's currency, the value of the Heavenly Currency depreciated."
"Impossible, impossible... Yancheng would have had to spend all the Heavenly Currency they had accumulated to cause an overflow, drive up mineral prices, and devalue the currency..."
Shang Pingyin's mind went blank. His legs gave way, and he collapsed into his seat. Suddenly, he stood up and said rapidly, "When did Yancheng start buying mines?"
"Five years ago."
The Heavenly Court's mathematical experts replied, "After the Battle of the Netherworld, Yancheng began using Heavenly Currency to purchase mineral veins in the various heavens."
Shang Pingyin frowned, pacing back and forth, muttering, "Five years ago, five years ago... Damn! That was also when Mu Tianzun's Dao heart was corrupted and he planned to surrender! This is a trick! His goal was only to buy time, waiting for the Heavenly Court to issue more currency! Hurry! I need to see His Majesty!"
He rushed toward the inner palace. On the way, he saw many generals who had been sent to Yancheng to take over its wealth, their faces bruised and swollen, rushing toward the Lingxiao Hall.
Shang Pingyin quickly stopped one of them. The divine general cried out, "Yancheng doesn't recognize the contract Mu Tianzun signed! They beat us up and drove us back! That woman called Ling Tianzun said that if she didn't sign it, it was all worthless paper! We've been taken advantage of! We're going to report this to His Majesty and have Yancheng's nine clans exterminated!"
Shang Pingyin was flustered. Suddenly, he saw the light of a Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge in the Heavenly Court dim. The funnel-shaped light flow of the bridge gradually disappeared!
"The Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge is broken!"
Shang Pingyin's heart was in turmoil. He cried out, "Quick! Quick! Repair that bridge... Wait! Guard all the Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridges! Beware of Yancheng breaking..."
Before he could finish, another Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge in the Heavenly Court lost its light flow. Then a second, a third, and within a single breath, hundreds of bridges went dark!
Soon, all the Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridges in the Heavenly Court were completely extinguished.
The Heavenly Court floated silently above the Ancestral Court, far away from the myriad heavens, like a lonely island isolated from the world, completely cut off from all contact with the myriad heavens.