178: Chapter 178 The Law of Money

On Mount Heng, inside Fuyu Palace.

Approximate shed his dragon form and transformed back into a dog, saying proudly, "Master, I have finally fully mastered this Physical Body."

"From now on, I am both Approximate and the Golden Dragon Immortal; we are no longer separate."

Zhao Yi...

"You..."

"Alternating between a dragon and a dog, it's truly a mess."

Approximate...

"Is it?"

"Heh! Now that you mention it, Master, there really is a bit of that."

"How about I transform into a human,"

he said, starting to wriggle his body,

"An S-curve shape, do you like it, Master?"

Zhao Yi felt a wave of revulsion.

This Dead Dog has truly changed; they say dragons are naturally lewd, could he have been influenced by the Golden Dragon Immortal?

Thinking back, how pure was the old Approximate?

But in the end, there's no going back.

"Just settle down and protect me while I Breakthrough my cultivation."

"What?"

Approximate was shocked and suddenly appeared before Zhao Yi.

"Master, weren't you just fooling the Heavenly Dao earlier?"

"My god, when did you start cultivating again?"

Approximate felt his dog skin prickle; why did Zhao Yi's cultivation always Breakthrough so quickly?

"Stop that nonsense."

"Don't think that just because you have a Physical Body, I can't do anything to you. Hurry up and protect me."

Zhao Yi said angrily.

This dog, now that he had a Physical Body, actually dared to question him.

"System,"

【Miner: Zhao Yi】

【Cultivation: Early Human Immortal Realm (Upgradable)】

【experience points: 6400/6400】

【Reward: None】

"Level up cultivation."

Upon reaching the Human Immortal Realm, his body had become an Immortal physique, completely converted into energy. Now, Immortal power circulated within him, continuously strengthening his Immortal body.

As his experience points dropped to zero, Immortal power in gold, azure, and green appeared within Zhao Yi's body,

simultaneously strengthening his Immortal physique and power while deepening his understanding of the heavenly dao law.

However...

In an unknown space, Zhao Yi stood in the center.

To his right was the familiar azure-spirit color. This Law originated from the Azure Spirit Scripture, resembling the Law of Wood while carrying the breath of life.

To his left was a brilliant golden light, a river composed of countless flowing golden runes. It wasn't light or energy, but an absolute, cold order.

Under the golden light, the Spirit Stones within Fuyu Palace unexpectedly revealed fine golden veins inside them, pulsating like living things.

Every pulse of the veins was accompanied by a trace of pure Spiritual Qi dispersing into Fuyu Palace's Formation.

This was not a natural flow but a contract of equivalent exchange: the Spirit Stones were "paying" Spiritual Qi, while Fuyu Palace—or rather, Zhao Yi—was "consuming" it.

Immediately after, his consciousness was pulled even further away.

Zhao Yi heard the sounds of an argument between two Cultivators in a distant market being infinitely amplified, every word transforming into a golden rune.

"This century-old Spirit Medicine is clearly priced; no credit allowed!"

"Hu San, the remaining balance of Spirit Stones from last time has accumulated interest; it must be settled today."

Those voices were no longer words but the pronouncements of a Law, carrying an unquestionable force that turned the face of the debtor Cultivator pale instantly, as if bound by invisible chains.

Deeper still, Zhao Yi "touched" a massive, cold will.

It was like a heavenly net, enveloping the entire Qingling Realm.

Zhao Yi saw a brilliantly talented youth attempting to break through a Bottleneck, but the Spirit Gathering Formation within his Immortal Cave dimmed and extinguished due to "arrears."

The youth roared in pain as the Spiritual Qi around him dissipated. Above the heavens, the resource allocation agreement composed of countless golden runes coldly executed its ultimate command:

'Insufficient permissions, service terminated.'

A chill originating from his Soul swept through Zhao Yi's entire body.

This was the Law of Money.

It was not a peaceful heavenly dao law, but more like a massive, precise, and heartless machine.

It didn't care about your Heart-Nature or your talent; it recognized only one standard:

Spirit Stone balance!

Its outward manifestation was those omnipresent golden runes shimmering with the light of transactions and contracts,

the "crisp" sound, like metal clashing against stone, made when Spirit Stones were consumed,

and the blood-red breach-of-contract warnings that instantly appeared on Immortal Caves, Formations, or even temporarily purchased "Protection Talismans" when there were "arrears."

It was cold and pragmatic, with a metallic texture and digital precision, forcibly pinning the act of "cultivation"—something that should have transcended the mundane—onto a "balance sheet."

It told Zhao Yi that from then on, every breath of Spiritual Qi, every use of a Magical Artifact, and even every time he sought protection would have a clear account silently calculating in the background.

This was the "Dao Rhyme" of the Law of Money,

not wind, thunder, water, or fire, but the sound of ledgers turning and the burnt smell of Debt-Collection Talismans.

And, of course, the clinking sound of Spirit Stones colliding.

Zhao Yi was unconsciously drawn to it.

He glanced back at the azure-green Law.

What on earth was that?

Without hesitation, Zhao Yi immersed himself in the Law of Money, and his entire being and Divine Soul became clear and transparent.

"Whew~"

After opening his eyes, Zhao Yi felt a bit of regret.

"Damn it, can one even switch the Law they Cultivate?"

"There won't be any side effects, will there?"

"Holy crap, Silly Dog, what's with that expression?"

It turned out that Approximate's dog face was almost pressed right against Zhao Yi's.

"Master, look~"

Approximate pointed at the entire Fuyu Palace.

"Look at what?"

Only then did Old Ancestor Zhao discover that the Spirit Stones originally piled in Fuyu Palace had all vanished.

"The Spirit Stones?"

Approximate had a strange expression.

"They were all eaten by your body."

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"What do you mean 'eaten by my body'?"

Approximate curled his lip; fortunately, he was prepared.

"Please look at the Recording Stone."

An image appeared in mid-air.

In the image, countless Spirit Stones merged directly into Zhao Yi's body, leaving not even a speck of dust behind; they truly had been completely "eaten" by Zhao Yi's body.

"Could it be the Law of Money?"

"Holy moly, could it be that this Law eats Spirit Stones?"

At this thought, Zhao Yi's eyes lit up.

"Let's test it!"

"Come on, let's go mine some more Spirit Stones."

Approximate...

"What are you dazed for?"

"Hurry up, don't waste time."

Zhao Yi stowed away Fuyu Palace and reached out his hand, the great sumeru treasure hoe appearing in his grasp.

Just as he stepped out of Fuyu Palace, the massive eye of the heavenly dao was almost pressing down on the top of Zhao Yi's head.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Are you specifically waiting for me?"

Not far away, a black vortex was spinning continuously, exuding a mysterious aura.

"A Space-Time Tunnel?"

"What if I don't leave?"

In his life, Zhao Yi hated being threatened the most.

Before his voice even faded, the sky suddenly darkened, and the sun, moon, and stars grew dim, leaving everything in a murky grey.

Not far away, a giant beast lay prone in the Void Realm.

Approximate said blankly, "Chaos World-Destroying Beast."

"Holy crap, are you crazy?"

"Master, this brain-dead Heavenly Dao has gone mad; it wants to perish together with you."

Zhao Yi...

"Fine, fine, fine!"

"You brain-dead thing, if you can't kill me, you're going to commit suicide?"

"I'll give you that one!"

If the Qingling Realm really committed suicide because of Zhao Yi,

then Zhao Yi wouldn't need to Cultivate anymore; he might as well just lie down and wait for death, as the Great Dao would absolutely never allow him to live.

"Approximate, let's go~"

Cursing under his breath, Zhao Yi walked toward the Space-Time Tunnel without looking back.

"Truly strange, where did a Chaos World-Destroying Beast come from?"