580: Chapter 580 Adding insult to injury, Heavenly Fire commits suicide

"How much tax can we still collect now?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is less than one percent of what it used to be. It is very little. Our Dayu Dynasty has over sixty cities, and the pay for officials and the army will soon be extremely scarce!"

"If the border lacks military pay, I fear it will trigger a mutiny..."

The official from the Ministry of Revenue wiped away cold sweat and spoke with trepidation.

"Why? Only now do you realize..." the Emperor of Dayu said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, this matter involves a very obscure aspect of business, and the market fluctuations are intense. We thought it would get better and better, but who knew things would turn out like this!" The official looked helpless.

"Investigate it for Me, find the root cause, and cut it off directly!" the Emperor of Dayu said coldly. At this moment, there was not a trace of the joy of victory on his face.

He even felt that the twelve cities he had won were a hot potato.

"Yes!" the official said, terrified.

On the other side, in the Dafang Dynasty, Fang Ya was furious and berated his officials.

"Your Majesty, we did not expect the shops to cause such a big stir. Our dynasty has very few talents proficient in business, so it was difficult to detect!"

"Merchants are hoarding medicinal pills. Although we have confiscated some, the pills are flowing back into the market."

"But there are too many speculators, and it is difficult to control!" the official replied.

"Is there any solution?" the Emperor of Dafang said coldly. He even discarded the order to send people to take over the twelve cities of the Dazheng Empire!

Chang'an City, Dazheng Dynasty!

Hun Tiandi sat upright on the dragon throne, tapping his fingers on the armrest, as if waiting for something.

Below him were Mr. Corpse Soul, Elder Dan...

A figure sped over; it was the excited Shui Xing, who bowed respectfully.

"Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Hun Tiandi opened his eyes and said indifferently.

"Your Majesty, both dynasties have now lost the support of the people. People in the cities are fleeing one after another, and maintaining order has become extremely difficult."

"It won't be long before the economies of both dynasties collapse!"

Shui Xing could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart; he had truly opened his eyes to something new.

"It is not enough. I need to add more fuel to the fire for both dynasties..." Hun Tiandi sneered.

Dayu Dynasty!

How high is the price of medicinal pills? After this battle, the market demand will also increase. Medicinal pills are almost a necessity for everyone, yet the national reserves are extremely low.

Private trade has never had such big problems.

Once borrowed, if bought back from the Dazheng Dynasty, should it be sold at a reduced price in the Dayu Dynasty? Or at the original price?

The shortage of medicinal pills will definitely lead to chaos.

Moreover, the Dazheng Dynasty will not sell us too many medicinal pills.

"According to intelligence, the Dafang Dynasty is in the same situation. It won't be long before the Dazheng Empire issues a decree targeting our dynasty."

"At that time, it will be adding frost to snow, and the market will be in chaos. If people with ulterior motives get involved, it will trigger market turmoil!"

Yu Lang took a deep breath and said helplessly.

"Then how long do we have to wait?" the official asked.

"At least half a year!" Yu Lang said. Although he saw the situation clearly, there was still no solution.

Dafang Dynasty!

"Experiencing this market chaos also serves as a lesson to the people of the world. All major sects and Fortune Dynasties have realized the importance of resource reserves and using decrees to stabilize the market."

"This is a bloody lesson from our dynasty, a warning to the people of the world!"

Fang Ya said with a bitter smile.

"Your Majesty, is there any way? With half a year of turmoil, the Dazheng Empire will surely be eyeing us covetously..."

The official said worriedly.

As the two emperors had said, a targeted decree was issued.

"Refuse trade!"

Do not trade with surrounding sects and Fortune Dynasties; otherwise, offenders will be executed without mercy.

This move by Hun Tiandi really added frost to snow for the two great dynasties.

The issuance of various decrees regulated the market.

The strategists of all major forces realized that this business warfare was a hundred times more terrifying than actual war.

In the Yang Realm, Starfall Pavilion.

Hun Tiandi played the Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Melody, weaving countless illusions, causing those who heard it to sink into them, unable to extricate themselves.

"Not good, why is Venerable Skyfire not moving?" Mu Qingluan's face was gloomy. This could not go on.

The sky was filled with Nether Qi, pitch black like ink.

It permeated the square, and from time to time, evil ghosts would dart about, devouring a Starfall Pavilion disciple.

This eerie scene caused the Starfall Pavilion elders to intervene.

"Cheng Jue, go and rescue Venerable Skyfire!" Pavilion Master You Quan ordered slowly.

"Yes!" Cheng Jue moved, violently rushing towards Hun Tiandi.

Liu Ling flickered, blocking his path, not letting him interfere with Hun Tiandi.

"Get lost!" Cheng Jue said coldly. Dou Qi surged out and poured towards Liu Ling, as if to crush him.

He seemed to see that Liu Ling's cultivation was far lower than his own.

"A mere Five-Star Dou Zun dares to block me? Go to hell!" Cheng Jue said arrogantly.

Liu Ling's expression was calm. He opened his mouth and spat out a ball of golden flame—the heaven-burning, sea-boiling Sun True Fire—which condensed into a golden Three-Legged Golden Crow behind him.

Caw...

A hoarse and unpleasant screech caused the space to show signs of melting.

"That is... Heavenly Flame condensation?" Pavilion Master You Quan said in shock. Only by reaching a state of pure perfection in fire control...

...could one achieve this. Generally, this is only possible for an Alchemist who has spent years immersed in the art of alchemy.

"How can there be so many capable people by Hun Tiandi's side?" Mu Qingluan said, unwilling to accept it.

If such talent could join the Starfall Pavilion, she believed their strength would certainly be able to advance further.

The Three-Legged Golden Crow opened its mouth and spat out a ball of Sun True Fire, which sprayed out and landed in Cheng Jue's massive Dou Qi.

Sizzle...

Immediately, white smoke emerged, emitting a sizzling sound.

"Not good..." When Cheng Jue realized that his own painstakingly cultivated pure Dou Qi was being burned by the golden flames, he was utterly terrified.

This was the first freak Cheng Jue had ever encountered since he began his cultivation who could burn Dou Qi.

What Cheng Jue did not know was: "The Sun True Fire is extremely Yang and rigid, domineering to the extreme, capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas."

This divine fire could even destroy the heavens, the earth, and the endless seas.

Burning mere Dou Qi was even less of a challenge.

Ah...

Immediately, a scream rang out. Cheng Jue channeled his Dou Qi, wanting to extinguish the Sun True Fire.

Instead, he added fuel to the true fire. Being one step too slow in his actions, he ended up being engulfed by the Sun True Fire.

Under the terrifying flames, Cheng Jue turned into charcoal, and both his physical body and soul power were burned away completely.

Cheng Jue, body and soul destroyed!

This tragic scene appeared before their eyes in an instant, shocking the entire Starfall Pavilion.

Liu Ling clapped his hands, put away the Sun True Fire, and turned to stand back behind Hun Tiandi, guarding his side.

Ding dong...

Suddenly, the zither music became rapid. Hun Tiandi unleashed the Qi of Myriad Desires, and the illusions he wove changed constantly.

They continuously assaulted the mind, and a crack appeared in the originally tenacious mind.

The Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Melody was permeated with the power of a supreme demonic tune, and it increased its attack along this crack.

Hun Tiandi sneered in his heart: "Adding more fuel, let you kill yourself!"

As the zither music shifted, everything happening within the Purgatory illusion was presented before everyone's eyes.

Venerable Skyfire's gaze was dull, and a look of pain appeared on his aged face.

"Zi Yan, I have come to find you!" Venerable Skyfire muttered to himself.

Puchi!

In the horrified eyes of everyone, Venerable Skyfire slowly raised his right hand, covered his hands with Dou Qi, and slapped his forehead with a palm.

His skull cracked, and blood splattered.

The aura of life was dissipating, and his blood-stained hand slowly dropped down.

"This is impossible. How could Venerable Skyfire commit suicide?" Pavilion Master You Quan shouted hoarsely.

"The truth is right before our eyes; Venerable Skyfire has committed suicide!" Mu Qingluan shook her head. She did not believe it at all in her heart, but the truth was presented before her eyes.

They could not help but believe it!