Chapter 0616: Wealth Moves the Heart

"Well then, I won't hide it from you, Proprietress. As for Eternal Coins, I've brought quite a few with me this time. But whether it's cooperation or trade, there's no way I'll just hand over such a large amount for nothing. At the very least, the transaction should be based on equality. Given your operation of both the Dragon Gate Inn and the black market, I'm sure you have more than a few good items in your possession."

Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.

With Jin Xiangyu's capabilities—running the Dragon Gate Inn and a black market—there was no doubt she had all kinds of rare treasures on hand. The only real question was whether she was willing to part with them. But he believed that as long as both sides had needs, a deal wouldn't be hard to reach.

"I've got plenty of good stuff here—it just depends on whether City Lord Yi wants them or not."

Jin Xiangyu replied with a charming smile.

"As long as the items are good, price is no issue."

Yi Tianxing replied with confidence.

This time, the Eternal Coins he had brought were no small sum. The Demonic Thought Beads he had absorbed earlier had all been forged into Eternal Coins by the Heaven and Earth Coin Furnace, and the total number had already reached into the billions—an astonishingly vast sum. Some were left in Xuanhuang City, while the majority were stored in the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda.

Eternal Coins held intrinsic value—they would never depreciate. Unlike fiat currency, which could be declared valuable or worthless at a whim, Eternal Coins were value itself. This gave them immense purchasing power and made them universally accepted among cultivators. They were permanent, unchanging currency—true money.

"Indeed, with Eternal Coins, everything's negotiable. During this time, my Dragon Gate Inn has indeed collected a number of fine treasures. They're not inferior to the Spirit Gathering Array Diagram I sold you before. Some might be even more precious. Question is—can you afford them?"

Jin Xiangyu's interest was piqued. From their earlier conversation, she had already sensed that Yi Tianxing had brought an enormous sum of Eternal Coins this time.

"Should I rob him instead?"

A thought crossed her mind.

But she quickly discarded it. She was joking. From what she knew of Yi Tianxing, his strength ranked among the very top of his generation. He was ferocious in combat. Whether in terms of cultivation or other aspects, targeting him would be no simple matter.

Besides, there was already some rapport between them. Nurturing that connection would be far more profitable than any underhanded tactic. And deep down, she did have a bit of affection for Yi Tianxing.

He was the first man who hadn't shown disgust or fear upon seeing her face.

For some of her darker methods, she simply didn't want to use them on Yi Tianxing.

That was her personal boundary.

"We talked about this before—I had a Demonic Crystal Cannon. But this time, it's not one, it's four. The original price we discussed was 100,000 Eternal Coins each. You didn't agree then. I wonder—are you interested now?"

Jin Xiangyu suddenly spoke, and with a wave of her hand, four Demonic Crystal Cannons flickering with obsidian light appeared before them.

The cannons bore no signs of artificial carving. Their surfaces were etched with ancient, mysterious demonic patterns, naturally formed and pulsing with the rhythm of laws. Just looking into their dark muzzles gave one the sense of staring into a bottomless abyss—as if death could come at any moment.

Four cannons of the same kind—one could imagine the destructive power if they fired together. It would surpass even Arrow Towers. The might of a Demonic Crystal Cannon was nothing short of annihilation.

"Four of them?"

Yi Tianxing's eyes flickered.

The reason he hadn't bought it previously was because Eternal Coins were still scarce in Xuanhuang City. To promote the currency, he had to hold onto a foundational reserve. Also, one cannon, while powerful, wasn't enough to determine victory. It served more as a deterrent. He had figured he'd wait until he had more funds to revisit the idea.

But now—there were four.

That made a real difference. If nurtured properly, they could become a dominant force on the battlefield.

"Of course I'm interested. Four cannons at 100,000 each—that's 400,000 Eternal Coins."

He stated without hesitation.

"Hold it. That was the old price. Things are different now. The prices of Heaven and Earth Treasures have been rising every day. And this isn't just one—it's four. Plus, these are pure weapons of mass destruction, far more valuable than ordinary treasures. So the price must go up. If you want to pay in Eternal Coins, I want 400,000 per cannon."

Jin Xiangyu showed no sign of weakness. She made a steep demand, raising the price fourfold.

Yi Tianxing frowned slightly. He sighed, "While it's true that the value of Heaven and Earth Treasures has been rising, many are still in embryonic form. Just because something has potential doesn't make it top-tier from the start. Whether it can be cultivated or not is another story. 400,000 is too high. I can only offer 200,000."

Back when the myriad worlds had just fused with the Eternal Continent, most people didn't understand the value of such treasures. The currency system had collapsed, and evaluating prices was difficult. Now, nearly two years into the Eternal Calendar, people had learned how to value treasures, and prices had risen dramatically.

Trying to score bargains like before? Almost impossible.

"200,000 is too low. How about this—I'll make a concession. 300,000 per cannon. That's my final offer. Know this: four Demonic Crystal Cannons, once fully cultivated, can dominate a region. They're worth that price. And come on—we're old friends. No need to nickel and dime me, right?"

Jin Xiangyu tossed him a flirtatious wink. Had it not been for the red blotches on her face, it would've been devastatingly seductive. As it was—it bordered on terrifying.

Yi Tianxing, his willpower rock-solid, didn't react inappropriately. He simply smiled bitterly.

"Alright. Since it's you, Proprietress. 300,000 it is. Four cannons—1.2 million Eternal Coins. You really are a master of business."

Although he didn't know exactly how Jin Xiangyu had acquired these cannons, he was sure she hadn't paid anywhere near that price. She was making a killing.

Still, to Yi Tianxing, Eternal Coins were just a number. He controlled the sole minting method, and with the Money Tree, he could create coins almost at will. But he couldn't simply throw out absurd prices—doing so would destroy the system he had worked so hard to build.

The currency system must remain stable. The value of Eternal Coins needed to stay within a balanced range. Overpaying would undermine that structure.

So while 300,000 was a bit inflated, it was within tolerance—especially since places like the Dragon Gate Inn could help promote the Eternal Coin economy.

As long as everyone desired Eternal Coins, their thoughts and fate energy would gather toward it. Whatever he lost now could be earned back through circulation. For a currency issuer, profit was practically guaranteed.

Swish!

Once the deal was done, Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, piles of glittering Eternal Coins appeared, stacked like a golden mountain. The radiant glow was nearly blinding.

"Look! The fourth floor—it's glowing!"

"So dazzling! I feel a surge of powerful energy. Look—it's a mountain of gold!"

"Dear heavens! So much money! It's Eternal Coins—just like the ones on display at the Dragon Gate Inn. So many! I'd die happy if I could be buried under that mountain!"

"They say only VIPs can go up to the fourth floor—it must be that cultivator from earlier. Did he bring all those Eternal Coins?"

In the Dragon Gate Inn, many cultivators were momentarily stunned by the brilliance of the coins. They had heard the inn had some Eternal Coins, but not enough to trade in them consistently. Most deals used ledgers or substituted with spirit stones.

Now, seeing more than a million Eternal Coins in plain view—stacked in a mountain—it left them utterly speechless.

"City Lord Yi, you really know how to cause a scene."

Jin Xiangyu shook her head and chuckled as she looked down at the reactions below.

"Money isn't meant to be clutched tightly. It needs to circulate. That's the true value of currency."

Yi Tianxing smiled. He did, after all, have a little scheme in mind—but it was harmless.