Chapter 277: Gold Coins Fall, Treasures Drop, A Clear Conscience

The Golden Toad braced against the plasma, while the Dharma Realm Yin Demon within the Treasure Basin tempted him: "Why doesn't your Master Xu come to save you? This lightning is neither Heavenly Lightning nor Earthly Lightning; it is the Doumu Thunder of the Lishan Fenglei Sect, belonging to the Star-Dou Divine Lightning. You only need to operate my technique to easily resist it. I ask for nothing else, only that you open a gap for me to absorb the Desire Thoughts of all living beings. From now on, the wishes belong to you, and the Desire Thoughts belong to me. You are Righteous, I am Evil; Righteous and Evil as one—doesn't that align with the principles of Yin and Yang?"

"Go to hell!"

The plasma landed on his body, melting a portion of the golden bumps on his back. Some gemstones could not withstand such powerful energy, emitting a dazzling light before exploding.

The wealth Qi of the Nine Treasuries evolved into nine golden "Ten Thousand People Umbrellas"…

The local commoners were actually grateful to the Golden Toad, even if his original methods were not exactly righteous. It was just like Hu A'gui back then; she worked in the low-class prostitution trade, yet all the men and prostitutes in the city were grateful to her.

Now that she was dead, the status of the prostitutes had become even lower, and this "gold content" was still rising.

The Golden Toad was the same; he had made the surrounding commoners wealthy. The poor provided labor, and the rich contributed the gold and silver accumulated by their ancestors, receiving in return a stamped debt voucher. This voucher had no meaning in itself; it only possessed the credit of the Golden Toad himself.

The poor commoners did not understand the logic behind it. Most of them had lost their land, and if they chose to continue farming, they were no longer like the tenant farmers of the past, but belonged to the category of hired laborers; this was a transformation in status.

If they did not become hired laborers, they could also become apprentices, where there was also a bowl of rice to eat. The "Virtuous Wealth" realized by the Golden Toad was carried out in tandem with Xu Jia's "rural areas encircling the cities" strategy. These people could all be developed into Daoist followers, so being an apprentice was not about being worked like an ox or horse for three years and another three years, but truly learning a skill, receiving Work Wages, and even getting a subsidy.

The Golden Toad thought: Do I owe those farmers whose land I bought? Did I cause them to become displaced? Did I force them to starve their own children to death? None of that.

Although the hired laborers were not the owners of the land, they signed five- or even ten-year contracts. They would receive a sum of money to help the Golden Toad farm. The seeds, farm tools, or oxen used for farming were all provided by the Golden Toad. Regardless of whether it was a bountiful year or a disaster year, the hired laborers did not have to be responsible for the land's output; in return, the Golden Toad would help them pay various agricultural taxes.

Previously, a farmer only cultivated his own two or three mu of land. After becoming a hired laborer, each person could focus on intensive cultivation, taking care of ten to twenty mu. For every extra mu planted, he would get an extra portion of Work Wages; this was purely his own Work Wages.

Likewise, the village opened a large canteen. No matter who came—the elderly, children, or hired laborers—their wives could eat a meal there for the cost of one Flower Money, with at least three dishes and one soup.

The women who were skilled at cooking were employed in the canteen, washing fruits and vegetables, tending the fire, cooking, serving dishes, and dishing out rice…

Those who grew vegetables or raised chickens, ducks, and pigs at home could sell them directly to the canteen to become the daily three meals for the villagers.

The remaining people, having liberated their hands, began to professionally raise chickens, ducks, and pigs, raise cattle, and professionally grow vegetables… then they would supply restaurants and eateries, earning money that belonged to them.

The Golden Toad, in turn, obtained a large amount of grain. This portion of grain was his ballast against risks. As long as the local grain price did not become chaotic, the basic foundation would not be in disarray. At the very least, the next time there was a Heavenly Disaster, the Golden Toad had enough reserves to survive an entire famine year.

The golden Ten Thousand People Umbrella, transformed from the Wealth Treasury representing the interests of the farmers, blocked a portion of the lightning; this represented the small-scale peasant class that the Golden Toad stood for.

The remaining lightning continued to strike down.

The Golden Toad thought: "Do I owe the ordinary small-town citizens?"

The small-town citizens in the county did not engage in farming; on the contrary, every day they woke up to firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. They were the financial subjects who consumed money in the market.

The small-town citizens of Yushan and Dexing had also changed. At the very least, making money had become easier, and they even had places to deposit money and earn interest…

Because agriculture was controlled by the Golden Toad as a basic foundation, the prices of vegetables and grain tended to be stable, and there was no situation where the price of rice would suddenly rise by one, two, or even ten times.

In fact, the decline of the dynasty had already manifested. At the very least, during the Dexing flood, before the Longevity Sect was driven out, the grain price had reached six or even seven times the usual amount at its highest. Now, at its highest, it could only be twice as much; this was the Golden Toad's regulation.

Because the Golden Toad regulated grain prices, the local large landlords could not sell at high prices during the chaos, so they would not take the initiative to hoard grain. As for the grain released, the Golden Toad continued to actively acquire it, allowing them to not make a huge profit, but also not suffer a loss, so they shifted their focus to other businesses.

At the same time, a large number of job openings made finding work easier. Small-town citizens who mastered a craft could even consider letting their children receive further education.

In the past, they could not save money all year round and would even go bankrupt. Now, most could save seven or eight taels of silver a year, greatly increasing their ability to resist risks.

Regarding the small-town citizen class, the Golden Toad thought: "I have not let them down either."

The golden Ten Thousand People Umbrella representing this class erupted with golden light, further weakening the lightning summoned by Fenglei Daoren.

"Do I owe those merchants who invested in me?"

"They came only for profit, like a pack of greedy hunting wolves. Initially, they wanted to carve me up, but in the end, they compromised and joined this game. They are the main body of the wealth gathered in my capital pool. They were originally Gentry and local tyrants, the privileged class, holding the power of discourse. Their wealth was obtained by exploiting small-town citizens and exploiting farmers."

"They invested their money in me because there was profit to be made, because money could beget money, because they could speculate… they could double or triple their own wealth through investment in a short period of time… In fact, I wanted to suck their blood, and they also wanted to suck my blood… We checked and balanced each other, growing together, but I am ultimately going to take a knife to them. To complete the harvesting of merchants and landlords, I only need to actively prick this bubble, which will cause the money they invested to evaporate, and then buy back the debt vouchers in their hands at a low price… kicking these traditional merchants and landlords out of the game until they follow my rules to set up industries and factories, provide employment for the locals, and drive industrial development."

"For this group of people, it is not a matter of Virtuous Wealth or Virtuous Wishes; it is only in my own heart. I feel that I have done right by them, and that is enough."

The lightning landed on this golden Ten Thousand People Umbrella, its meaning unclear. It was not fully protected and fell straight onto the head of the Golden Toad, because this part represented "Trust." The Golden Toad invited people to invest in him, but the result was a Trap Banquet. The merchant or landlord class was the foundation of the society's accumulated wealth, which is the so-called "middle class."

"Do I owe those county clans? Those scholars and Gentry?" the Golden Toad thought.

The county clans, Gentry, and scholars were a political group, potential bureaucrats, but there were not many of these people in a single county; they were the so-called "pure and noble people."

This group of people did not accept the Golden Toad's model and even thought it was "misleading the country." However, after some of them invested in the Golden Toad and saw the visible growth of their silver, they also joined the game.

Even when the Golden Toad spent money to build several nurseries where the young children of small-town citizens could be looked after and taught some simple characters, knowledge, and arithmetic, they even wrote articles to praise it.

The greatest function of the nurseries was to liberate the women in small-town citizen families, allowing them to also participate in work, and for slightly older children, they did not need much discipline.

Spending more time with children of the same age was just like having many more brothers and sisters; they were naturally more cheerful, more lively, and more articulate—in fact, they were "more enlightened."

Besides this, the Golden Toad also spent money to hire down-and-out scholars and child students to establish elementary schools, recruiting children over six and under twelve (in this era, twelve was equivalent to being an adult, and some would even start matchmaking and getting married).

Although it still cost money to attend school, many in the small-town citizen class could already afford this kind of primary education, which undoubtedly broke the monopoly on education.

The Golden Toad thought: "The one created together with me was also a pure gold Wenchang Pagoda, but he did not nourish any spirituality. I did what he was supposed to do—promoting literature. I have done right by these scholars. They always talk big, but it is all just paper talk. Their words can be listened to, but cannot be believed."

The lightning continued to fall, blocked by the golden umbrella revealing Literary Qi, from which came the sound of children reading: "When poor, one should improve oneself; when successful, one should benefit the world…"

The Golden Toad had already achieved benefiting the village…

The Divine Nature of the True Wealth God was gathering step by step: Benevolent Wealth, Virtuous Wealth, Righteous Wealth, Trustworthy Wealth, Wise Wealth, Literary Wealth, Martial Wealth, Yin Wealth, Yang Wealth… these represented the Nine Great Wealth Treasuries, and were also the goal of the transformation of all his Evil Wealth and Partial Wealth.

Under the Heavenly Lightning, he had a clear conscience.

Fenglei Daoren finally sensed it within the Fenglei Altar: beneath the dissipating Evil Aura was an indomitable Righteous Qi.

The ugly bumps on the Golden Toad's back were indeed the Desire Thoughts of all living beings, and indeed the poison of greed.

But they were also the longing of all living beings for a better life. If everyone lacked these Desire Thoughts, all living beings would be a pool of stagnant water, and it would no longer be the human world, but merely walking corpses.

The interest in life is always found in this red dust.

The Golden Toad had completely transformed; the Nine Great Wealth Treasuries and the nine golden Ten Thousand People Umbrellas merged into one.

The gold coin with wings held in his mouth flew into the clouds, and the lightning tools in the hands of those Thunder Generals were suddenly dropped.

The Thunder General was shocked: "My treasure!"

It was a thunder drum and two golden cymbals.

The thunder drum was swallowed by the Golden Toad, and the golden cymbals stuck to both sides of his cheeks. From then on, the toad's croak sounded like a drum, and his cheeks reflected light under the moon.

The Treasure Basin beneath him surged with gold coins like a spring, among which there was no lack of pearls, gemstones, and coral. It grew from the size of a basin to the size of a large fish tank, but it was still steadily sat upon by the Golden Toad; Evil cannot suppress Righteousness.

The Dharma Realm Yin Demon lost its spirit.

In the Heavenly Vault Dharma Realm, a golden light fell; it was a string of gold coins, copper coins strung with golden thread, all with wings. As they landed on the Golden Toad, he carried them on his back.

"Ninth Rank True Wealth God of the Form Realm."

This is the imperial decree and recognition of the Heavenly Court, not some mere game played by the Desire Realm alone... This signifies that the Golden Toad has been acknowledged and valued by the Wealth God of the Heavenly Court's Ministry of Finance.

The Golden Toad was instantly moved to tears; whatever fell from him turned into pure-colored gemstones.

Fenglei Daoren's expression was complex as she retracted her magic and descended from the altar; she felt as incredulous as Fa Hai seeing the White Snake give birth.

"We are leaving."

She intended to take Ling Yun and Yilei away.

But a Golden Flood Dragon Sword and a Silver Flood Dragon Sword tore through the space of the Dharma Realm, blocking her path.

Xu Jia did not come in person; the two Immortal Swords were spiritual enough.

Sensing the sharp Qi upon them, the hairs on Fenglei Daoren's neck stood on end, and she dared not attempt to escape.

"Fellow Daoist, you perform rites and summon thunder within the territory of my Jade Mountain Administration, causing such a great commotion—did you ask this poor Daoist for permission?"

The Golden Flood Dragon Sword transformed into a slender golden flood dragon and spoke from its mouth.

"This poor Daoist is responding to the Heavenly Mandate to administer a Calamity; at most, I am a Shijing Moka Zhi Guan. The human demon within is being tested by a thunder calamity that Heaven has borrowed my hand to impose."

Fenglei Daoren spoke quite eloquently: "If not for this layer of testing by this poor Daoist, Heaven itself would have sent down a corresponding test anyway."

"So that is how it is. This poor Daoist actually thought you had come from thousands of miles away to cause trouble for me, and I was even thinking of borrowing your head for a moment."

The Golden Toad had sworn a thunder oath, and while that oath had now been tested once, it did not mean he could act recklessly in the future; it was very likely that a second or even third thunder oath would manifest. As long as he continued to do such things, he would always need to be under the strictest supervision.

Fenglei Daoren said coldly: "You are welcome to try."

Ling Yun spoke directly: "This is all the disciple's fault. The disciple's Daoist Practice is insufficient, and my wisdom is lacking; I could not see through the appearance to discern the essence, mistaking a True God for an evil god..."

"You did not see wrong; he was originally an evil god. It is just that he has now used my hand to pass this tribulation and turn from evil to good. The Evil God of Wealth is something everyone should punish; that is not the issue. The fact that he could be 'whitewashed'—that is the problem." Fenglei Daoren Yuan Wenying said: "It seems this Lingbao Sect Leader truly has heaven-reaching means."

This made Ling Yun feel embarrassed. Fenglei Daoren had a fiery personality and was straightforward, and this Lingbao Sect Leader was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

If a fight were to break out, she feared her master would be no match... After all, these two Immortal Swords were not things that an ordinary Earth Immortal could refine.

Hearing this, Xu Jia was not angry, because he had already grasped the truth. The Golden Toad had been able to pass the Calamity and complete the transformation from evil to good without his help, which made Xu Jia heave a sigh of relief. If the tribulation had failed, Xu Jia would have fallen into self-doubt: was he walking a right path, or a wrong one?

Perhaps the road is winding, and there are times when one takes a wrong turn, but as long as one has the courage to face mistakes, look them in the eye, and correct them in time, the cost will be reduced, rather than speeding recklessly down a wrong path.

The Golden Toad represents Xu Jia's "results of edification."

Such strange beings can indeed be the results of edification; they can indeed turn from evil to good.

This gave Xu Jia confidence, and it also gave Xu Jia a goal.

"It seems you all remain arrogant, unable to see yourselves clearly, lacking respect for the heavens, the earth, and all spirits, unaware of the suffering of reincarnation, and still believing this poor Daoist to be of a crooked path..."

Fenglei Daoren spoke up: "As far as I know, the vast majority of those who turn from evil to good find it very difficult. Those who fall into the animal realm have their own karmic causes, and even if they cultivate into demons, few possess human nature. As the saying goes, it is easier to change rivers and mountains than a person's nature. This Golden Toad became a Wealth God by satisfying the Desire Thoughts of sentient beings; he will inevitably fall again when those desires are not met. You take the edification of demon hordes as your mission, and you will inevitably be burdened by them."

"Being able to teach one or two is merely a matter of chance. It is like trying to make a wolf stop eating meat and only eat fruits and vegetables; this is inherently contrary to nature. Humans cannot even change themselves, let alone demons and ghosts?"

"Instead of edifying these demons and ghosts, Fellow Daoist, why not edify humans? Selecting those with excellent character and Dexing, and those with superior talent and aptitude—would that not be better than wasting your energy on them?"

(End of chapter)