Chapter 1645: Isolated and Detached from the World

"Dreams cannot feed you, nor can they sustain life! Dreams are merely a burden, causing you to lose your current standing, making you suffer defeat in the face of reality, and leading countless humans to die for illusory aspirations!"

Meng Yungui walked faster and faster, chasing after Emperor Haotian and the others. He thought to himself, "Dreams are too expensive; they demand a struggle for life. Yet dreams are also worthless; anyone can claim to have a dream, but not everyone will live to realize it!"

He caught up with Emperor Haotian, who was deep in thought. Suddenly, Emperor Haotian asked, "Teacher Meng, you oversee the Heavenly Court's economy. How much longer do you think the Heavenly Coin can last?"

Meng Yungui pondered for a moment. "If we extract resources from other heavens, it can last for ten more years. If the Heavenly Court issues more Heavenly Coins to purchase mineral resources from the various heavens, it could last for twenty years."

Emperor Haotian hummed, his interest piqued. "Twenty years? Teacher Shang, do you believe the Heavenly Court can last twenty years by issuing more Heavenly Coins?"

Shang Pingyin stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, I believe issuing more Heavenly Coins is like drinking poison to quench thirst; it will cause the Heavenly Coin to collapse faster. Currently, a portion of the Heavenly Coins from the myriad heavens is concentrated in the Heavenly Court and Yankang. The rest are held by influential noble families across the myriad heavens, while the common people have very little money. Issuing more Heavenly Coins to acquire mines and resources will only put more currency into the hands of these powerful families, making the rich richer and driving up prices. The poor will become poorer, leading to rebellion. Doing so will only accelerate the Heavenly Coin's collapse."

Emperor Haotian glanced at Meng Yungui. "Teacher Shang makes a valid point."

Meng Yungui calmly stated, "Teacher Shang acts purely on intuition, without detailed calculations. I have mathematical proofs to support my claim."

His vital qi transformed into mathematical runes, displaying trade data from across the myriad heavens. Countless complex equations and formulas were laid out, with myriad calculations and transformations, all incredibly precise and astonishing.

"As the one in charge of the Heavenly Court's minting, I have a complete understanding of the goods and resources throughout the myriad heavens. I have meticulously calculated these figures down to approximate decimal places!"

Meng Yungui continued unhurriedly, "Issuing more Heavenly Coins will only drive up prices and cause public suffering when it reaches a certain point. However, if managed properly, all of this can be avoided. Furthermore, the Heavenly Court controls the minting power. We can use the newly issued Heavenly Coins to purchase Yankang's manufacturing facilities, suppressing Yankang and acquiring everything without shedding a drop of blood."

He turned to Shang Pingyin, a challenging look in his eyes. "Teacher Shang, your mathematical methods are merely traditional. In terms of mastery, you are not superior to me, are you?"

Shang Pingyin scrutinized Meng Yungui's vital qi calculations and equations, checking each one. Then he addressed Emperor Haotian, "Teacher Meng's calculations are flawless; it was my overthinking. However, I am not convinced when Teacher Meng claims his mathematical mastery surpasses mine."

Emperor Haotian chuckled. "Both of you are the most computationally skilled Heavenly Masters under my command. There's no need to constantly argue over who is first! However, these twenty years make me somewhat uneasy. I feel we should apply a discount."

Meng Yungui bowed. "Your Majesty is wise."

Shang Pingyin said, "Issuing more Heavenly Coins is one aspect, and annexing Yankang is another. Once Yankang is absorbed and the myriad heavens are unified, the Heavenly Coin will no longer face the risk of collapse."

Meng Yungui shook his head. "Teacher Shang, your statement is incorrect."

Despite his generally good temper, Shang Pingyin was irritated by being contradicted twice. He calmly said, "What guidance does Teacher Meng have for me?"

Meng Yungui replied, "Just now, Teacher Shang said that issuing more Heavenly Coins would only fall into the hands of powerful families. Even if Your Majesty acquires Yankang and the Heavenly Coin circulates freely, it will still only end up with these powerful families. The common people of the myriad heavens will still rebel as they see fit, regardless of whether Yankang is acquired or not."

Shang Pingyin raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Teacher Meng, how do you propose we avoid this situation?"

Meng Yungui said, "I believe Your Majesty's greatest enemy in governing the world is not Yankang, nor is it Celestial Venerable Mu, Celestial Venerable Ling, or others. It is the powerful families who have accumulated immense wealth. Throughout the myriad heavens, countless powerful families hold sway over power and wealth. Over millions of years, the wealth of the myriad heavens has become concentrated in their hands, leading to the current situation. The Heavenly Coins in their possession are increasing, while the Heavenly Coins circulating among the myriad heavens are diminishing. This accumulation, day by day, has led to widespread public resentment and the unrest in the myriad heavens. Yankang's rise merely accelerated this turmoil by a few years."

Shang Pingyin snorted. "Teacher Meng has said so much, but only stated the cause, not the solution. I am eager to hear Teacher Meng's proposed solution."

Meng Yungui hesitated, then stopped. "I fear being punished for my words."

Emperor Haotian burst into laughter. "I am not a foolish ruler. Speak freely."

Meng Yungui bowed. "The powerful families possess too much wealth. No matter how many Heavenly Coins are issued, they will ultimately fall into their hands. The only solution is to abolish these powerful families. And the best way to abolish them is to ensure everyone's talents are utilized…"

"Presumptuous!"

Shang Pingyin coldly interjected, "Teacher Meng, you are too presumptuous! Abolishing powerful families? What's next, a reform? Your Majesty, Meng Yungui is certainly a spy for Yankang. I beg Your Majesty to immediately order this scoundrel to be taken to the God-Slaying Platform!"

Other civil and military officials chimed in, "Teacher Meng is human, plotting mischief, spreading heresies, and harboring evil intentions. Your Majesty, please mete out punishment for this man!"

Emperor Haotian waved his hand, smiling. "Alright, alright, stop attacking Teacher Meng. Teacher Meng, your words are too direct, quite unlike your usual self. In my Heavenly Court, from the civil and military officials down to the merchants and commoners, all are the powerful families you speak of. Even you are from such a family. With a single sentence, you have offended everyone in the Heavenly Court!"

He smiled faintly. "I, too, hail from a powerful family. You are seeking to revolutionize the Heavenly Court. Your words are inappropriate, but I will not punish you for them. I will only dock your salary for half a year."

Meng Yungui's gaze dimmed. He bowed and said, "Your humble servant accepts the punishment."

Emperor Haotian decreed, "For these next few days, we will follow Teacher Shang's advice: annex Yankang while simultaneously issuing more Heavenly Coins. Teacher Meng, you need not trouble yourself with this matter; it will be handled by Teacher Shang."

Meng Yungui said somberly, "Your servant obeys the decree."

All the civil and military officials simultaneously praised, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Emperor Haotian returned to his imperial quarters and asked, "Has Celestial Venerable Mu returned? I'm still waiting for him to surrender and sign the agreement."

A guard replied, "Celestial Venerable Mu has not yet arrived. Yankang's envoys also departed a few days ago."

Emperor Haotian said, "They are no longer important. The key is Celestial Venerable Mu."

Two days later, Emperor Haotian asked again, "Has Celestial Venerable Mu returned? I'm still waiting for him to come back and sign."

The guard answered, "Your Majesty, Celestial Venerable Mu is not in the Heavenly Court."

Emperor Haotian frowned.

Another five or six days passed, and Emperor Haotian inquired, "Has Celestial Venerable Mu still not returned? If he doesn't come soon, I will order Celestial Venerable Xu to destroy half of Yankang's population!"

The guard replied, "Celestial Venerable Mu has arrived at the Ancestral Court and sent someone to report that he will reach the Heavenly Court in ten days."

Emperor Haotian angrily exclaimed, "What a delay!"

Ten days later, Qin Mu arrived at the Heavenly Court. He procrastinated, taking advantage of the hospitality for more than ten days before finally signing the agreement and leaving with a somber expression.

Emperor Haotian was overjoyed and ordered a grand farewell for Celestial Venerable Mu.

As Qin Mu departed the Heavenly Court, a fierce glint flashed in Emperor Haotian's eyes. He summoned his chief minister and said, "As long as that bandit Mu lives, I cannot rest easy. Go and invite the Grand Emperor. Deal with him while he is on his way!"

He raised his hand and chopped down decisively, saying malevolently, "Tell the Grand Emperor that if he cannot kill him, then he is to sink him into the Chaos River of the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City and annihilate him!"

The chief minister asked, "Your Majesty, why do you wish to kill Celestial Venerable Mu? He has already surrendered…"

"I don't trust him!"

Emperor Haotian sneered, "Even if his Dao heart is completely shattered and he lives in seclusion, I cannot feel at peace. Only a dead Celestial Venerable Mu is the best Celestial Venerable Mu! The Grand Emperor may not be able to kill him, but sinking him into chaos is certainly possible. If the Chaos River cannot grind him away, then at worst…"

He smiled, speaking leisurely, "At worst, Celestial Venerable Mu will return to the past and be Young Master Mu. As long as he is not in this universe, I will be at peace."

The chief minister shivered and departed in haste.

On the other side, Shang Pingyin ordered the Zao Fu Heavenly Palace to issue more Heavenly Coins to purchase mineral resources from the various heavens. However, the prices of the minerals were unexpectedly high, forcing him to issue even more Heavenly Coins.

This action, however, caused the Heavenly Coin to experience a freefall. Its value rapidly depreciated, dropping by half in just two months.

Shang Pingyin was at a loss, his mind reeling. He meticulously reviewed Meng Yungui's mathematical equations, finding no errors.

He wanted to seek Meng Yungui's advice but couldn't bring himself to do so, so he dispatched people to investigate.

Another month passed, and the Heavenly Court's mathematical experts returned from the various heavens, reporting, "Yankang acted before us, buying minerals with Heavenly Coins, driving up prices in many heavens! The Heavenly Coins in those heavens became overabundant, and with the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Coins pouring in, the currency depreciated."

"Impossible, impossible… Yankang would have to spend all its accumulated Heavenly Coins to flood the market, drive up mineral prices, and cause depreciation…"

Shang Pingyin's mind reeled. His legs went weak, and he slumped into his seat. Suddenly, he stood up and spoke rapidly, "How long ago did Yankang start buying minerals?"

"Five years ago."

The Heavenly Court's mathematical experts replied, "Ever since the Battle of Youdu, Yankang began using Heavenly Coins to purchase mineral veins in the various heavens."

Shang Pingyin frowned, pacing back and forth, muttering, "Five years ago, five years ago… Dammit! That was also when Celestial Venerable Mu's Dao heart was shattered and he was planning to surrender! This is a trick! His goal was merely to buy time, waiting for the Heavenly Court to issue more Heavenly Coins! Quick! Go see His Majesty!"

He rushed towards the imperial quarters. Just then, on his way, he saw various generals, who had been sent to Yankang to receive its wealth, rushing towards the High Heavens Hall, their faces bruised.

Shang Pingyin hurriedly stopped one of them. The general tearfully complained, "Yankang completely disregarded the agreement signed by Celestial Venerable Mu! They beat us and drove us back! That person named Celestial Venerable Ling said that anything she didn't sign was waste paper! We've been wronged. We must report this to His Majesty and exterminate Yankang's nine clans!"

Shang Pingyin was flustered. Suddenly, the light from a spatial transfer bridge in the Heavenly Court dimmed, and its funnel-shaped energy flow gradually disappeared!

"The spatial transfer bridge is broken!"

Shang Pingyin's heart was in chaos, and he cried out, "Quick! Quick! Repair that spatial transfer bridge… Wait! Guard all spatial transfer bridges! Prevent Yankang from breaking…"

Before he could finish, the energy flow of another spatial transfer bridge in the Heavenly Court disappeared, followed by a second, then a third. Within a single breath, thousands of spatial transfer bridges went dark!

Soon, all of the Heavenly Court's spatial transfer bridges completely extinguished.

The Heavenly Court floated silently above the Ancestral Court, far from the myriad heavens, like an isolated island adrift from the world, completely cut off from all contact with the myriad heavens.