Chapter 30: The Grass is Not Fragrant
Ao Yun successfully signed a contract with Ao Lai's Minister of Diplomacy, Jia Youdao, and stamped it with the seal of Huaguo Mountain and the national seal of Ao Lai, bringing the contract into effect.
One of the clauses was that within six months, Huaguo Mountain Trade House allowed Ao Lai to exchange its local currency for Eternal Coins and Heavenly Dao Coins.
At first glance, it seemed like Huaguo Mountain was at a loss.
After all, Ao Lai's local currency was nothing but copper coins or paper money, and exchanging for Eternal Coins, even if it was ten thousand Copper Coins, was far less valuable than a single black-patterned coin.
But in reality, with the Cornucopia at hand, all the Eternal Coins and Heavenly Dao Coins that were traded out would return to the Cornucopia after being used, so there was no need to worry about any loss.
Unless one day, the Spiritual Energy vanished.
But this was obviously impossible.
Outside the Three Realms lies the boundless chaos, and the existence of the stars of heaven, besides matching the humanity's aspects of civil and military deeds, aggression, and fortune, also plays a role in transforming the chaos and condensing Spiritual Energy.
The Three Realms, from the desolation at the dawn of heaven and earth to now, have become increasingly prosperous, not weakened, which proves that the Spiritual Energy of the Three Realms is becoming more abundant.
It's just a pity that Spiritual Energy is insulated from ordinary sentient beings.
Humans are born with intelligence and thus wish to cultivate, but without the method of Qi Cultivation, even beginning is extremely difficult.
Mountain spirits, before awakening their intellect, can absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth, the essence of sun and moon, but once their wisdom is opened, this purity dissipates with the complexity of thought, and they can't even absorb the basic essence of the sun and moon.
In short, the Spiritual Energy of the Three Realms is inexhaustible and used endlessly, and to use the Cornucopia to draw the Zhou Tian Spiritual Energy to create currencies with gold, silver, copper, and iron is more than appropriate.
Even though it is so, since common people cannot perceive Spiritual Energy, let alone use it, and carrying it with them would strengthen and invigorate the body, extending lifespan, why would Huaguo Mountain do such a good deed?
In fact, it is not a good deed, but rather to enable Eternal Coins and Heavenly Dao Coins to circulate within Ao Lai.
Currency, currency, only through circulation does it hold value.
If Eternal Coins and Heavenly Dao Coins from Huaguo Mountain could circulate within the Three Realms, losing some Spiritual Energy... No, Spiritual Energy exists between heaven and earth, they are just spending some effort on transportation, which is trivial.
However, Ao Yun would not allow Eternal Coins and Heavenly Dao Coins to saturate the market in a short time, as that would only cause a significant devaluation. It needs to be done slowly, projecting that within fifty years, the mainstream currency used in Ao Lai would gradually transition to black-patterned coins...
After completing the task, Ao Yun experienced the local customs and culture of Ao Lai and then took a ship back to Huaguo Mountain.
Watching the departing ship, Jia Youdao heaved a sigh of relief.
That dragon girl, though youthful and beautiful, carried an elusive authority, heavier than even the King of Ao Lai, almost making it hard for them to breathe. Content sourced from MV4LEMPYR – My Virtual Library Empire.
Yet, they understood that when this ship reappeared before them, it would mark the moment Huaguo Mountain would establish trade houses in twenty coastal cities of Ao Lai.
Ao Lai did not wish for this, but during the three years of trade, Ao Lai had gained many benefits from Huaguo Mountain. In the initial period, the amount of pearls, agates, jade stones, and other precious items received from Huaguo Mountain was countless.
This kingdom, it must not be too greedy and should observe the courtesy of reciprocation.
How much was consumed back then must be repaid now, and even more so, manifold.
Thinking this way, Jia Youdao felt discontent, but ultimately, he let out a long sigh of relief and muttered to himself, "Perhaps, I should consider how much ten percent a year would be from the trade houses soon to be built in these twenty cities."
Huaguo Mountain.
Ao Yun, taking advantage of some free time, was preparing to visit the Wan Shu Tower. Passing by the cowshed, she found the Rakshasa girl throwing a tantrum, wielding a thin bamboo switch and fiercely lashing a white bull.
The white bull was in excruciating pain, but since its nose ring was held in the Rakshasa girl's hand, it dared not move a muscle, or it would experience heart-wrenching pain.
"What are you doing? How has this bull wronged you?"
Ao Yun frowned slightly. She did not know this white bull was the Bull Demon King, but since it was brought back by Sun Wukong, it must be some precious and strange creature and should not be mistreated like this.
The Rakshasa girl stopped the whip and said with a snort, "This white bull is a hungry ghost in lust, licking my face in the early morning when I was tending to the herd. I did not lash out on the spot. Instead, when I came back, I decided to punish this stupid bull. Later, I'll cut off its tongue and make it a dish to accompany wine!"
Ao Yun was covered in cold sweat.
This Rakshasa woman truly has a fierce temperament, actually considering cutting out the cow's tongue.
If a cow has no tongue, how can it chew grass and trees?
Isn't this tantamount to seeking its life?
"The King had you rear this cow for the purpose of cultivating your character and temper, to properly change that fiery temper of yours. How come you are still so aggressive?
If you continue like this, how can you wish to serve by the King's side in the future, to attain a body that neither perishes nor becomes impure, a body that exists eternally with the heavens and earth, sharing the same lifespan as the sun and the moon?" Ao Yun admonished, "You must change that temper of yours."
The Rakshasa woman hung her head low, and muttered hesitantly, "But this white cow really went too far, saying that in the future, he wants to take me as his wife and have a hundred and eighty children with me."
Only then did Ao Yun take a closer look at the big white cow, saying, "Who are you?"
"Moo~"
The white cow made a noise, yet it didn't speak human language.
The Rakshasa woman said, "Second King, this cow can only speak human language at noon, claiming it is due to a spell cast by the King. He said that he is a kind Demon King, captured by the Great King to toil as a laborer, and he wants me to undo the nose ring on his nose and set him free."
"But this cow is too foolish. I've long since learned from my master that this guy is the Bull Demon King, a great demon. How could I possibly let him go?"
"Right, Old White Cow?"
The big white cow mooed miserably, fear evident in its big eyes.
Because this Rakshasa was just too violent.
Simply not human!
The Bull Demon?
Could it be the Great Strength Bull Demon King from the west?
Ao Yun then straightened her attitude, and soon chuckled at herself.
She had heard of the Bull Demon King's reputation but had never truly sought to understand his character. However, she knew Sun Wukong's nature; he wouldn't capture a demon without reason for his mount.
It could only mean that the Bull Demon King was certainly not as bold and generous as the rumors made him out to be.
Sure enough.
This Bull Demon King, so ruggedly built, and reigning over a mountain in the Western Bull Hezhou, his so-called boldness was probably just calling friends, gathering in the forests, and looting homes.
The Great King must have seen his violence, and thus, captured him to temper his nature.
Plus, with the Rakshasa's fierce temperament, she was well-suited to discipline this Bull Demon King—it was a case of one thing overcoming another.
Of course, Ao Yun thought, the most critical item was the nose ring on its nose; otherwise, the Rakshasa woman would have surely been kicked to death by the Bull Demon King.
"If that is the case, Tie Shan, handle it as you see fit. A small punishment for the cow will suffice," Ao Yun instructed.
"Don't worry, Second King, I know my limits," Tie Shan chuckled with a hint of coldness in her eyes, "Although this white cow can't use its mana or wield its Divine Skills, its mana will protect its body automatically. Even if I chop off one of its hooves, it will grow back."
The big white cow immediately mooed mournfully.
"Whack!"
The Rakshasa woman whipped it again, cursing viciously, "Cry out again, and I'll really snip off your tongue and marinate it for a drinking snack."
In an instant, the white cow fell silent, staring at the Rakshasa who was pulling on its nose ring, cursing inwardly, "This girl, looking so innocent and cute, yet her heart is so cruel. Ever since I fell into her hands, even the fresh grass doesn't taste good anymore..."