Chapter 618: Qi Fortune Like a Dragon

Before the system could answer.

The Blood Sea Battlefield on the other side was already about to draw to a close.

Boom——!!!

The giant axe and the blood-colored light pillar collided with a thunderous crash!

An indescribably terrifying sound wave swept across the eight wildernesses; the void within a radius of hundreds of millions of li instantly turned into Chaos.

The Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus supporting Minghe let out a mournful cry; its petals shattered inch by inch, its light dimmed to the absolute limit, and it was directly knocked back into Minghe's body.

Ah!!!

Minghe let out a final, miserable, piercing scream.

His Quasi-Sage peak flesh body, beneath this sky-opening axe, shattered like fragile porcelain.

The Yutu and Aobi Swords wailed as they fell into the Blood Sea.

Along with his soul and true spirit, they were minced clean under that pure destructive power!

Lord of the Blood Sea, Holy Lord of the Asura Sect, Minghe Laozu.

Perished!

Di Jiang panted heavily, dense blood cracks bursting across his ancient bronze skin. Forcibly condensing the Pangu phantom, all Twelve Ancestral Witches had overdrawn their Primordial Origin.

Minghe was dead.

Dead without leaving even a wisp of true spirit.

"Older Brother, we killed this old bastard!" Zhu Rong wiped the black blood from the corner of his mouth, the fierce light in his eyes undiminished, turning his head to stare at the Nine Heavens above.

There, starlight was dazzling.

Ten million Yao Clan Army troops arrayed in the void, sabers and spears gleaming like snow, battle armor radiating brilliance.

Di Jun sat upon the Nine Dragons Sandalwood Palanquin, his Golden Red Imperial Robe billowing in the wind. He looked down at the exhausted Twelve Ancestral Witches, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Bai Ze, holding a scroll of pale gold silk, stepped out of the formation.

"The Heavenly Emperor has a decree."

The voice, mixed with magic power, shook open the void for ten thousand zhang.

At the edge of the Blood Sea, countless Scattered Cultivators of the Wasteland secretly watching held their breath.

Di Jiang raised his head, face like still water.

Bai Ze unfurled the silk and proclaimed in a clear voice: "The Witch Clan, compassionate toward all living beings, responded to the Heavenly Court's Demon-Suppressing Alliance's call, beheaded the Blood Sea evil demon Minghe, and rectified the righteous path of heaven and earth. This is a great achievement."

Zhu Rong gritted his teeth, his fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.

Who responded?

Who rectified the righteous path?

That was the karma the Witch Clan created themselves; they came to wipe their own asses!

Bai Ze didn't look at the Ancestral Witches' expressions at all, continuing to recite:

"The Heavenly Emperor is benevolent and virtuous, clear in reward and punishment. He specially bestows upon Witch Clan leader Di Jiang one hundred thousand jin of Star Essence Gold from the Nine Heavens; to the participating Great Witches Chiyou, Kuafu, Hou Yi, and others, each is bestowed fifty thousand jin of Star Subsidy Gold and one hundred Taiyi Golden Elixirs. By decree."

As the words fell, the void fell dead silent.

Several Yao Gods carrying heavy treasure chests descended onto the dried seabed and "bang" threw the boxes at Chiyou's feet.

The lids sprang open; blinding starlight spilled out mixed with the fragrance of elixirs.

Chiyou stared dead at the box at his feet; the ferocious beast totem on his chest twisted violently. His eyes blood-red, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the mountain-splitting giant axe bulged.

A bestowal.

This is a superior's charity to an inferior.

The Heavenly Court is using this method to tell the entire Wasteland: the Witch Clan are the Heavenly Court's thugs.

"Di Jun!" A roar that didn't sound human erupted from Chiyou's throat; he raised his giant axe, about to smash the treasure chest to pieces.

"Stop."

A large hand pressed down on Chiyou's axe haft.

Di Jiang.

The Space Ancestral Witch's gaze was cold enough to shed ice shards. He looked at Chiyou and slowly shook his head.

Cannot smash.

Accept the bestowal, and the Witch Clan becomes vassals who obey summons but not edicts.

Smash the bestowal, and the Witch Clan becomes rebels who defy the decree and collude with evil demons.

The Demon-Suppressing Alliance's decree was accepted by the Witch Clan themselves; they have already drilled into this trap.

Turning hostile now would make the price they paid to kill Minghe earlier all become a joke.

Di Jiang turned his head, looking toward Di Jun above the Nine Heavens.

"The Witch Clan thanks the Heavenly Emperor for the bestowal."

Six words, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Thanks the Heavenly Emperor for the bestowal!" The other Ancestral Witches' eyes blazed with fire, yet they could only follow and lower their heads.

Di Jun nodded slightly, tone flat: "Withdraw."

The nine dragons pulled the carriage, turning and disappearing into the sea of clouds.

Ten million Yao Bing retreated in perfect order, leaving only a chaotic Blood Sea and the Witch Clan stifled to the point of nearly exploding.

Scattered Cultivator great powers across the Wasteland withdrew their Divine Sense, their hearts severely shaken.

The Witch Clan lowered their heads.

The Heavenly Court's prestige reached its peak since the opening of heaven and earth at this moment.

Thirty-Three Heavens, Donghuang Palace.

Gu Yuan adjusted his snow-white fox fur robe, leaned back on the soft couch, watched the scenes in the Heavenly Mirror, and coughed lightly twice.

"This counts as settling the legitimacy."

"Killing and crushing the heart. What war doesn't shed blood? But making them bleed and still have to kneel and thank you for the favor — that is the prestige the Heavenly Court ought to have."

The hall doors were pushed open.

Di Jun strode in, his face bearing irrepressible delight.

"Younger Brother, you didn't see Di Jiang's face — blacker than a pot bottom! Satisfying! Truly satisfying!"

Di Jun walked to the front of the soft couch, casually pulled over a chair and sat down, with none of a Heavenly Emperor's airs.

Gu Yuan's eyelids lifted slightly, and he passed over a cup of hot tea.

"Elder Brother, this is only the first step."

"Legitimacy is settled; next, we must establish rules."

Di Jun accepted the tea, his expression turning solemn: "Speak."

Gu Yuan dipped a finger in tea water and wrote two characters on the jade table.

Heavenly Edict.

Heavenly Currency.

"Why could the Wu Clan contend with the Heavenly Court? Because they controlled the resources of the Great Earth." Gu Yuan's voice was gentle and measured. "We must bring all resource transactions of the Great Wasteland into the Heavenly Court's system."

"Starting today, promulgate the first volume of the Heavenly Edict. The myriad clans of the Great Wasteland — any transaction involving spirit treasures, spirit herbs, or mineral veins must use the 'Heavenly Currency' minted by the Heavenly Court."

"Those who barter privately shall be deemed to have disturbed the Heavenly Secrets and shall suffer thunder punishment."

Di Jun frowned: "Heavenly Currency? What will you mint it with?"

"Star Essence Gold, blended with Heavenly Court Qi."

Gu Yuan's finger tapped lightly on the tabletop. "Star Essence Gold exists above the Nine Heavens; only the Heavenly Court can mine it. Qi is ours alone. Whoever holds Heavenly Currency shares in the Heavenly Court's Qi."

"This is a Yang Scheme." Gu Yuan smiled, prompting a few more coughs. "Scattered Cultivator great powers must trade for cultivation. As long as they use Heavenly Currency, they are acknowledging the Heavenly Court's rule. The more Heavenly Currency they hold, the deeper their binding to the Heavenly Court."

Di Jun sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

This isn't establishing rules — this is bleeding the entire Great Wasteland dry!

"Good!" Di Jun sprang to his feet. "We will see to it at once!"

Three days later.

The Lingxiao Baodian issued a Decree; the first volume of the Heavenly Edict was promulgated.

The Ten Thousand Heavenly River Water Army descended to the mortal realm and established "Heavenly Treasury Pavilions" at the Great Wasteland's famous mountains and great rivers, promoting Heavenly Currency.

A single Heavenly Currency coin contained a thread of pure star power and Heavenly Dao Qi — not only usable for trade, but even directly absorbable to assist cultivation.

Scattered Cultivators initially resisted, but soon discovered that trading with Heavenly Currency was far safer than barter, and the Currency's own value far exceeded ordinary spirit stones.

In just a few months, Heavenly Currency swept the Great Wasteland.

The Heavenly Court of the Yao Clan's Qi Qi Golden Dragon, after inhaling and exhaling massive amounts of transaction Qi, saw the edges of its originally brilliant golden scales gain a touch of noble purple.

Purple-Gold Mandate.

The Heavenly Court's foundation was thoroughly stabilized.