Chapter 1590: 万界乱局

Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin eventually arrived at Qingyang Realm. Qingyang Realm is one of the larger and very prosperous realms among the Myriad Heavens.

Normally, a single spiritual energy transfer bridge should provide direct access to Qingyang Realm. However, Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin first used a spiritual energy transfer bridge to reach Wanbu Realm. From Wanbu Realm, they transferred to Youhe Realm, and then entered Qingyang Realm from Youhe Realm.

"Why so many transfers?" Qin Mu wondered aloud. "Each time a merchant ship passes through a realm, it has to pay a transit tax, and its cargo must be unloaded and inspected. This is time-consuming and arduous. Why can't they just build a direct spiritual energy transfer bridge to Qingyang Realm for easier travel?"

The Dragon Qilin explained, "All of the Myriad Heavens are ruled by the Heavenly Court, and only the Heavenly Court has the authority to construct spiritual energy transfer bridges between realms. Most trade between the Myriad Heavens and Yan Kang must pass through worlds like Wanbu and Youhe. Did Cult Master notice the divine cities near the spiritual energy transfer bridges earlier? There are military camps there, with Heavenly Court armies stationed. Half of the taxes collected here go to the Heavenly Court."

Qin Mu thought for a moment, recalling that the spiritual energy transfer bridges were indeed heavily guarded.

"Goods are exploited layer by layer by the Heavenly Court, which extracts too much profit, leaving merchants with little," Qin Mu stated. "This might be acceptable in the short term, but over time, Heavenly Coins flow back to the Heavenly Court. While Yan Kang's export of goods remains unaffected, other realms become increasingly impoverished. If every world could have a spiritual energy transfer bridge directly connected to Yan Kang, bypassing the Heavenly Court..."

"Then the Heavenly Court would fight Yan Kang to the death," the Dragon Qilin chuckled.

Qin Mu laughed heartily. He knew that if all realms had spiritual energy transfer bridges connected to Yan Kang, the Heavenly Court would indeed fight tooth and nail, but it was something that needed to be done eventually.

As Qin Mu traveled through Qingyang Realm, he observed that it was a world dominated by demigods. The demigod races held a lofty position, while other races were relegated to manual labor.

As he journeyed around, he saw that chaos was already brewing. Higher demigods tightly controlled all resources, living in luxury and excess, while lower demigods and other races endured hardship, their livelihoods in ruins, and widespread resentment.

Moreover, these demigods, resting on the laurels of their ancestors, had grown lazy and unwilling to manage the livelihoods of the lower races, leading to increasing destitution.

Along his journey, he had already seen more than a dozen bands of marauders plundering everywhere. Qingyang Realm's rulers dispatched troops to suppress them, but as soon as one group was wiped out, another would emerge elsewhere.

He arrived at the power center of Qingyang Realm, a colossal divine city, resplendent and glittering. Gods were abundant, and the luxury was extreme, a stark contrast to the chaos Qin Mu had witnessed on his journey.

The gods indulged in lavish banquets and entertainment, with singing and dancing everywhere, and military preparations were lax.

Qin Mu, accompanied by the Dragon Qilin, left Qingyang Realm and journeyed to another medium-sized realm, Fengxiao Realm.

Immediately upon entering Fengxiao Realm, they encountered a war between two armies. Fengxiao Realm's ruler had been defeated by the local rebel forces, with numerous gods and demon armies rebelling against the ruler and rising in revolt one after another.

Unable to resist, the ruler of Fengxiao Realm sought aid from the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court dispatched a large army to suppress the rebellion, resulting in widespread devastation and conflict.

Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin then arrived at Getai Realm.

Getai Realm appeared peaceful, but Qin Mu keenly sensed turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface. There was much resentment among the populace, and a catastrophe was brewing.

Qin Mu traversed one realm after another, observing that with the advent of spiritual energy transfer bridges and the rise of Yan Kang's manufacturing, the status of these myriad realms was subtly changing.

Some realms declined due to the outflow of Heavenly Coins, their people struggling to survive, forced to rely on selling mineral resources. However, wealth remained concentrated in the hands of the powerful gods and demons.

Other realms managed to maintain their former splendor and were not overwhelmed by Yan Kang's manufacturing.

Still others became part of Yan Kang's economy, gradually rising and seeking greater profits.

The declining realms fell into internal strife and self-consumption, while the rising ones sought more power.

The key to all of this was the Heavenly Coin.

"The Heavenly Court can indeed mint an unlimited supply of Heavenly Coins, but the value of these coins is guaranteed by the Heavenly Court's credit," Qin Mu said with a smile. "If they were minted in unlimited quantities, Heavenly Coins would become worthless. Because they cannot be minted infinitely, the total supply of Heavenly Coins is limited. With a limited supply, and Yan Kang and the newly emerging realms rising and siphoning wealth from the surrounding realms, the Heavenly Court's own Heavenly Coins are decreasing through trade. To maintain its rule, the Heavenly Court must preserve a certain total volume of Heavenly Coins. Therefore, it can only extract money from other realms. Since it also needs to use Heavenly Coins to purchase goods from Yan Kang, it must continue to drain other realms to sustain itself."

The Dragon Qilin remarked, "As it keeps draining, the lifeblood of other realms will be sucked dry by the Heavenly Court, leading to chaos. Many realms that can no longer survive are already showing signs of rebellion against the Heavenly Court."

Walking through Yuhu Realm, Qin Mu looked around at the widespread warfare. "The Heavenly Court has established a massive system," he said. "The Myriad Heavens revolve around the Heavenly Court, and whether willingly or unwillingly, they must pledge allegiance to it. The Heavenly Court has formed an unbreakable alliance!"

"In this alliance, led by the Heavenly Court, the Myriad Heavens must obey its commands and provide various resources, including human talent! The most exceptional geniuses from the Myriad Heavens all go to the Heavenly Court to advance themselves and become superior beings! Under these circumstances, the Heavenly Court will only grow stronger! Other realms, with just one or two geniuses, are powerless to overthrow the system or contend with this alliance!"

"It is almost impossible for Yan Kang to rise in this situation; no matter how many geniuses emerge, they cannot compare to the combined Myriad Heavens. Unless this seemingly unbreakable alliance is shattered!"

"Starting with the economy is the simplest path. This isn't a conspiracy; it's an open strategy."

Walking through the ruins, he said, "An open strategy is honorable. The Heavenly Master in charge of the Heavenly Court's finances must be in a terrible predicament right now."

The Dragon Qilin followed him, asking, "What if the Heavenly Court abolished the Heavenly Coin and introduced a new currency?"

"If the Heavenly Court abolishes the Heavenly Coin, it would be self-defeating," Qin Mu said unhurriedly. "The Da Feng Coin could seize the opportunity to rise, swallowing up the realms where Heavenly Coins circulate and becoming the new currency. Therefore, the Heavenly Court can neither allow Heavenly Coins to flood the market nor abolish them."

The Dragon Qilin pondered for a long time, then said, "Then the Heavenly Court could abolish the spiritual energy transfer bridges, cutting off trade with Yan Kang and the emerging realms."

Qin Mu chuckled, "To suppress the chaos in the Myriad Heavens, the Heavenly Court needs to continue purchasing goods from Yan Kang. How could it so easily cut off trade? The moment Lady Yuanmu moved the spiritual energy transfer bridges to the Heavenly Court, the chaos in the Myriad Heavens was already predestined!"

The Dragon Qilin showed admiration. The spiritual energy transfer bridges were an innovation whose concept Qin Mu had proposed and then completed with the Black Tiger God. It was also Qin Mu who sent the spiritual energy transfer bridges to the Heavenly Court, where they were taken charge of by Lady Yuanmu, then the Palace Mistress of Zaofu, and subsequently propagated throughout the Myriad Heavens.

Lady Yuanmu probably never imagined that these spiritual energy transfer bridges would become a weapon to shake the very foundation of the Heavenly Court's rule! At the time, she promoted the spiritual energy transfer bridges merely to solidify the Heavenly Court's dominion over the Myriad Heavens.

"Then the Heavenly Court is left with only resorting to military force to prolong its existence," the Dragon Qilin mused. "The Heavenly Court possesses supreme military power, with troops stationed throughout the Myriad Heavens, and currently commands the most formidable strength in the entire universe! If the Heavenly Court were to use force against Yan Kang..."

"That is what concerns me," Qin Mu said as he entered the spiritual energy transfer bridge, making his way back to Yan Kang. "Yan Kang, Wuyou Township, and the emerging realms, working together, still do not possess the military might of the Heavenly Court, but they do have enough power to deter it. Emperor Kai, Lang Wan, Heavenly Venerate Ling, Heavenly Venerate Yue, Heavenly Venerate Yun, Heavenly Venerate You, plus myself, and also Tian Yin, Qinglong, Xuanwu, Baihu, Gongsun Yan, and Emperors Ming and Chi — our high-level combat strength can already deter the Heavenly Court. However, our mid- and low-level forces are still far inferior to the Heavenly Court's. If the Heavenly Court's high-level figures merely tie us down, Yan Kang could still be easily destroyed. Only if the alliance of the Myriad Heavens collapses is there a chance to resist the Heavenly Court. Yet Youdu is about to fall into the Heavenly Court's hands..."

He furrowed his brows. If Youdu fell into the Heavenly Court's hands, there would truly be no chance of recovery! If Earth Count could grant him another century, he might not be in such a desperate and difficult predicament. Alas...

"Fatty Dragon, go back," Qin Mu said as he stepped out of the spiritual energy transfer bridge. "Go to the Beast Realm. Once there, manage things carefully, and also beware of your godfather, Long Xiao. Long Xiao is unreliable, a turncoat. Should he betray our agreement in the future, you must have the means to deal with any unforeseen circumstances."

"Cult Master, rest assured. I have followed you in cultivation until now and learned many things. I will not bring shame to your name!" The Dragon Qilin transformed into his human form, stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed.

Qin Mu hugged him tightly.

A vortex of profound light appeared in the sky, revealing the vast and boundless landscape of the Beast Realm. The Dragon Qilin's figure gradually ascended, disappearing into the vortex.

As the vortex vanished, Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and walked into Gongsun Yan's Earth Virtue Heavenly Palace.

In the Wen Dao Academy of the Earth Virtue Heavenly Palace, Lang Wan and Heavenly Venerate Yue were already waiting, chatting desultorily. Heavenly Venerate Ling sat to one side, perusing the academy's ancient texts, completely ignoring the others.

Emperor Kai, meanwhile, was flipping through the "Sword Canon," compiled by the Village Chief and other Yan Kang sword experts. The Village Chief stood nearby, quietly awaiting his guidance.

Upon Qin Mu's arrival, Emperor Kai raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from the "Sword Canon" to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu touched his face, asking in surprise, "Do I look better than before?"

"No, just as ugly," Emperor Kai replied, lowering his head and continuing to flip through the "Sword Canon," though the corner of his mouth twitched.

Although his eyes were on the exquisite sword techniques in the "Sword Canon," his mind involuntarily recalled his encounter in the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital.

On that day, he had followed an old woman, traversing sixteen rivers of chaos, to the Mi Luo Palace, which stood above the Great Calamity of the First Universe's destruction, and entered the Chaos Hall.

There, he met the Seventh Young Master—a Seventh Young Master who was ancient and full of wisdom, a Seventh Young Master who left him speechless with shock. The Seventh Young Master, Qin Mu.