Chapter 160: Seeking Profit in Small Matters, Fleeing in Great Disasters

"Still not quite right."

Chen Ci frowned slightly, struggling to suppress the unease in his heart. He squeezed the three Raw Money coins in his hand and subconsciously began to stroll slowly through the Sea Market.

Although he was only a Side Door Cultivator and merely from the He Mountain Outer Transmission, he could still be considered to have moved beyond the status of a Loose Practitioner. Moreover, while his cultivation was a bit low, his breadth of vision and knowledge were not low at all; he could certainly be counted as part of the middle class of the cultivation world.

And what had he, Master Chen, just done?

Used his own True Qi to nourish these three Raw Money coins.

Silently recited the four characters "Four Seas Ruyi" in his heart.

There were no other extra actions.

With just these two small things, he did not believe he would inexplicably fall into a trap. Even if these Four Seas Treasure Money were the handiwork of some Primordial Spirit True Monarch, Chen Ci did not believe that anyone could harm Master Chen with something that didn't even count as a proper technique, ritual, or sacrificial incantation.

This was no longer just unscientific; it was enough to make the coffin lid of metaphysics unable to stay shut.

The problem with this treasure money might not be as big as he thought.

Secondly, the Liangjiang Sea Market was not some backwater like Changping County. This place had high-level Dao Foundation experts from Longhu Mountain stationed here, and even Golden Core True Persons would linger here, not to mention that with the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet at Liuyun Palace approaching, perhaps even Primordial Spirit True Monarchs would come.

Chen Ci exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the chaotic thoughts in his heart gradually calmed down.

Finally, although he did not know how the "Money Can Connect to God Method" had appeared on his own Gold Finger panel, Chen Ci discovered that there seemed to be no "Honorable Name" attached to this method.

Chen Ci stroked the pattern on the back with his thumb, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

"New money, fire nature, Four Seas Ruyi."

Chen Ci stared at the delicate metal coin in his hand. This so-called "Raw Money" had no essential difference from normal Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money; it had neither spiritual fluctuations nor any Prohibition, just a specially made piece of treasure money.

"Some kind of... array?"

Chen Ci hesitated slightly and examined the three coins in his hand again.

After a long while, Chen Ci flipped the coins over. The front of the coin had the four small characters "Four Seas Ruyi," while the back had layers of scale-like patterns. They looked disordered, but it seemed as if some kind of marvelous charm was hidden within them.

Nothing gained.

He had originally thought this was a type of anti-counterfeiting mark. After all, as long as it was something with the nature of "currency," it could not avoid the problem of "fake money." There were countless great cultivators in this world; just because he, Chen, could not forge it did not mean others could not. If there were no means, no matter how large the assets of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce were, they would not be able to withstand the losses.

"If it is some kind of array, then when using True Qi to nourish the Raw Money, silently reciting 'Four Seas Ruyi' would explain some things."

If it were truly a method to harm people, he did not believe the experts here would ignore it. A stable and prosperous Sea Market wharf was what served the long-term interests of Longhu Mountain.

One must know that whether it was the "Shengsi Qihuang Shenjun" that Chen Ci had once encountered, or the equally mysterious "Worship Rakshasa Method," both seemed to have very clear points of reference—that is, the believers knew very well which big shot they were worshipping. But this "Money Can Connect to God Method" seemed to have no relevant content, only saying "Those who believe in this treasure money, Four Seas Ruyi." Or perhaps, is this treasure money itself the corresponding point of reference?

One possibility: the "Money Can Connect to God Method" on this Raw Money was too secretive, and no one in the entire Sea Market had discovered it except for him, Chen. But this possibility was too small. The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was backed by Liuyun Palace, and Liuyun Palace was a demon-cultivator force. Force Path cultivators playing with such delicate work could not possibly hide it from Qi Path cultivators; otherwise, it would not make sense logically.

Another possibility: this method had no harm, at least not on the surface. The process of this "Raw Money" being nourished by cultivators into treasure money was more like "charging a battery" and then reclaiming it. After all, the final destination of the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money would ultimately be the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

First, to build a financial system with this "treasure money."

Second, to collect some kind of change with this "treasure money."

Chen Ci vaguely felt that his guess was likely not far from the truth.

"Phew, it should be fine, it should be fine. Don't scare yourself. Use the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money if you must, but it's better not to touch such small profits as nourishing Raw Money."

Chen Ci thought for a moment and patted his chest in lingering fear, but he still put the three Raw Money coins back into his bosom. They were worth three Spirit Pearls; taking the time to sell them to someone else at a low price to recoup some losses would be good. Having figured this out, Master Chen straightened his clothes and prepared to head toward Pingkang Ward.

But after walking only a few steps, Chen Ci could not help but mutter in his heart again: "Is this really fine?"

This Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money might be fine, but the Liang Kingdom was, after all, the Liang Kingdom of Longhu Mountain.

Don't look at how the He Mountain Sect seemed to have some influence; once he understood it deeply, Chen Ci felt that this was purely the result of the high-level officials of Longhu Mountain giving face to True Person Jiao Fei. Truth be told, the He Mountain Sect cultivators were just connected people working dirty jobs in the Liang Kingdom, unwelcome everywhere.

The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was making treasure money and "Money Can Connect to God Methods" in the Liangjiang Sea Market; could the Longhu Mountain cultivators really tolerate it?

Thinking of this point, Chen Ci stopped his steps, his expression inexplicably suspicious.

The "Money Can Connect to God Method"—let's call it the Method of Connecting to God—and one force involving "finance" and "connecting to god" within the territory of another force... unless one side completely retreats, there will inevitably be a conflict. This is basically a nailed-down fact.

Longhu Mountain, Liuyun Palace.

Chen Ci could not quite say what the specific strength of Liuyun Palace was, but Longhu Mountain was a true great sect of the Profound Gate, with more than two Primordial Spirit True Monarchs. Although they had been relatively low-key in recent years, they were definitely not a small force or small character that could be provoked at will. When two such behemoths collided, they might not necessarily have problems, but for bottom-tier cultivators, it was definitely not good news.

"Damn it, it seems I really can't stay in this Liangjiang Sea Market."

Chen Ci's expression was hesitant. He inexplicably felt that the relationship between the two sects was a powder keg, the kind that could explode at any time. But the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet was in three days; if he didn't eat this meal, hadn't he come to the Sea Market for nothing?

"Still thinking about eating, eating, eating! If the eldest and the second eldest are going to fight, the one who dies first will definitely be the third. Among the forces in the Liang Kingdom, the He Mountain Sect is the third."

Chen Ci grinned. No, he had to run fast. If he were pressed into service, it would be over. Although the possibility was not high, who would dare to gamble on such a thing? If they really fought, his cheap fellow disciples from Red Dragon Temple would, nine times out of ten, be used as cannon fodder for Longhu Mountain.

"Leave, tonight... leave tomorrow. Right, I still have to help Lin Laohu train an Apprentice; this excuse is not bad."

"And that who... that person surnamed Yan today. As a fellow disciple and brother, isn't it just a spot to go to Longgong to mooch a meal? Give it to him. As the He Mountain Light, being brotherly and respectful is a must; just add some money."

Chen Ci's heart beat inexplicably. If he told anyone now that Longhu Mountain and Liuyun Palace might fight, others would probably laugh at him for alarmism. But after discovering the impropriety of the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money, the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was quite possible.

Small matters can be used for profit, but for such a heaven-sent disaster, it is better to run as far as possible.

Chen Ci wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his footsteps involuntarily quickening. Even if he had to run... to add bricks and tiles to the He Mountain cause and train a new Apprentice, some things had to be handled properly before setting off. The necessary greetings had to be made.

Just like now, Master Chen turned his steps, but he did not go to the Bazhen Tower in Pingkang Ward to wait for the banquet.

Yongxing Chamber of Commerce.

Pausing slightly at the entrance, Chen Ci sighed softly and walked in slowly.

As his nominal employer, Chen Ci indicated that he had always had professional ethics.

(End of chapter)