Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

Chapter 44 Transactions: The Art of Balancing

Deep in the valley, Zhang Kui found a natural stone cave hidden by vines. After setting up an even more secure concealment spell, he sat down cross-legged. He took out the innate spiritual treasure that had caused the deaths of Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao and had left a significant mark on the original Investiture of the Gods—the Treasure-Dropping Coin.

The copper coin felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet carried a hint of the coolness characteristic of metal. Its small, golden wings trembled slightly, as if they possessed life. Heavenly Dao inscriptions flowed across its surface, emanating a profound and obscure Daoist aura. Zhang Kui composed himself and slowly probed it with a wisp of his divine sense.

In an instant, he seemed to step into a strange space woven from countless golden rays of light. The rays crisscrossed, outlining an intricate network of restrictions. Upon closer inspection, there were thirty-six innate restrictions, nested layer upon layer, interlocking and as deep as the sea, confirming the treasure's status as a superior innate spiritual treasure.

However, as Zhang Kui's consciousness attempted to penetrate to the core, an ancient and profound verse resounded like a great bell deep within his sea of ​​consciousness:

"Weighing cause and effect determines the universe, measuring merit subdues all heavens. Transactions clarify gains and losses, and the laws govern the entire world. When gods and demons inquire about the price, they will know that this treasure is truly what it is."

The information contained in these few lines of verse made Zhang Kui's expression extremely interesting, from initial shock to astonishment, and then to a kind of almost absurd, laughable state.

"Construct a trading system applicable to all realms? In this primordial world?" Zhang Kui muttered to himself, a chill running down his spine. Coming from the modern world, he naturally understood what concepts like "general equivalent," "currency," and "finance" meant—a vast, complex system requiring strong credit and rules. In this primordial world, where the strong prey on the weak and supernatural powers reign supreme, discussing such a thing was far too advanced, far too…wishful thinking.

"Just finding a general equivalent that can be recognized by all the heavens and myriad realms would be enough to give even a saint a headache, wouldn't it?" Zhang Kui shook his head helplessly, temporarily putting this unrealistic "path to advancement" out of his mind. The most urgent task was to refine the existing restrictions and master their ability to drop treasures.

He cleared his mind of distractions, focused his spirit, and began to nurture and refine the first innate restriction of the Treasure-Dropping Coin with his own magical power. To his surprise, the refining process did not encounter much resistance. His magical power flowed into the Treasure-Dropping Coin, operating according to some unique rules. His mind unconsciously conjured up economic concepts from his previous life, such as currency circulation and equivalent exchange. His divine sense and magical power seemed to resonate with the core of the magical treasure in a peculiar way.

"I see..." Zhang Kui seemed to understand. "This treasure contains the law of 'trade,' and refining it is itself a process of 'trade.' One uses one's own understanding of 'trade' and 'rules' as 'bargaining chips' to exchange for control of the restriction. Those two fools, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, only knew how to activate it with their blood essence, but they didn't know the right method. Not only did they achieve half the result with twice the effort, but they also damaged their own foundation and fortune."

Having grasped the key, Zhang Kui's refining speed greatly increased. Combining his understanding of the rules of the modern financial system from his previous life with the characteristics of the Golden Core Dao governing all laws, he continuously reached a "consensus" with the magical artifact's restrictions. In less than half a day, he successfully refined the first innate restriction.

After refining a restriction, Zhang Kui gained a clearer understanding of the Treasure-Dropping Coin. Its ability to drop treasures was indeed miraculous and unparalleled, but it also had great limitations.

First, it can only take down magical treasures with restrictions. Weapons like swords, spears, and halberds that rely solely on their material and malevolent energy to injure, or special rare treasures that are naturally formed and have not undergone systematic refinement and the enhancement of restrictions, are beyond the reach of the Treasure-Dropping Coin. This is easy to understand; restrictions are the core of a magical treasure's energy and rules, and the Treasure-Dropping Coin's trading principle applies precisely to these core restrictions.

Secondly, there is a daily limit to the number of treasures that can be obtained, approximately three. This is due to the inherent rules governing magical artifacts; excessive use will damage one's foundation.

Finally, the key is the cost. Activating the Treasure-Dropping Coin consumes not merely magical power or essence, but the more mysterious "luck." Luck is elusive, yet it concerns a cultivator's fortune, misfortune, life, and death. Excessive consumption can lead to minor misfortunes or even calamities. The weakness Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao exhibited after using it was a manifestation of their luck being drained. However, the verse also indicates that "merit" can be used to replace the consumption of luck.

"Merit..." Zhang Kui said with a wry smile, "This thing is good, but it's too difficult to obtain. To contribute to the creation of heaven and earth and all things, one must perform great acts of merit, which is rare and hard to come by. It seems that this Treasure-Dropping Coin cannot be used lightly; it can only be used as a trump card in critical moments."

He carefully put away the treasure-dropping coins and then checked Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao's storage bags. The two were quite wealthy, having accumulated a large amount of spirit stones, precious materials, and some high-quality medicinal herbs and rare fruits. For Zhang Kui, this was a considerable windfall, enough to support his cultivation for a long time to come.

After dealing with the spoils of war, Zhang Kui began to circulate his Nine Breaths Qi, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy to restore his mana. At the same time, he kept replaying the battle with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao in his mind, especially the scene of him using the "Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light" to annihilate Xiao Sheng at the end.

"My Great Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light, although derived from Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light, is more focused on 'annihilation' and 'forbidden techniques'. While its power is immense, its consumption is also terrifying, and its coverage and control precision still need refinement. At present, it seems more suitable as a decisive killing method and should not be used frequently."

After several days of tireless refinement, Zhang Kui, relying on his unique understanding of the rules of "trade," has successfully refined the first six innate restrictions of the Falling Treasure Coin. With each one refined, his understanding of the "trade" or "weighing" principles contained within the coin deepens.

"To use it effectively, one must first understand its principles. Although the path to advancement for this Treasure-Dropping Coin is far beyond reach, the 'Way of Balance' it contains is itself a supreme divine power. If one can comprehend it, not only will one be able to use this treasure more smoothly and reduce its consumption, but it may also benefit my state of mind and even my cultivation of the Golden Core Dao." Zhang Kui understood this clearly.

He recalled the serendipitous moment he felt during the refining process: when his divine sense and magical power approached the restriction according to some concept of "fair exchange" and "value measurement," the refining efficiency greatly increased. This made him realize that the path of cultivation could not be pursued in isolation; one needed to experience the world, observing, participating in, and even guiding the occurrence of "transactions" amidst the bustling world.

"The Shang Dynasty... Chaoge..." Zhang Kui's eyes gleamed. "A vast and ready-made trade system is right before our eyes. Since King Zhou ascended the throne, although the court has become increasingly corrupt, the foundation of the Shang Dynasty over hundreds of years remains. Feudal lords from all directions pay tribute, and merchants from all over flock here. Chaoge itself is one of the largest distribution centers of goods in the world. The trade, value assessment, and supply and demand changes contained within it—isn't this the perfect training ground for cultivating the 'Way of Balance'?"

A preliminary plan took shape in Zhang Kui's mind. After returning to Chaoge, he could use his position as the Deputy Commander of the Northern Army to gain a deeper understanding of the trading activities of the people in Chaoge.

"Perhaps we can start by understanding the most basic 'transactions' such as grain price fluctuations, tribute calculations, and military procurement..." Zhang Kui mused. As the Deputy Commander of the Northern Army, it was perfectly legitimate for him to access this information.

Having made up his mind, he didn't delay any longer and carefully put away the treasure coins.

Upon emerging from the stone cave, the sky was filled with stars. Zhang Kui determined his direction, mounted his escape light, and left the Wuyi Mountains, flying towards Chaoge.

Several days later, in the western suburbs of Chaoge City, Zhang Kui arrived at the mansion in the evening after a long and dusty journey.

"General!" Wu Wenhua stepped forward, his voice loud and joyful.

Zhang Kui nodded and smiled, "Is everything alright? Come on, let's go inside and talk in detail."

Upon entering the hall, Wu Wenhua reported on recent events, changes in the political situation, and so on.

Then, Zhang Kui instructed, "Wenhua, arrange for a few clever personal guards to record and report to me daily, starting tomorrow, the prices of major goods in the East and West Markets of Chaoge City, especially the price fluctuations of basic commodities such as grain, salt, cloth, and copper. Also, try to find out about some large-scale commodity transactions, such as the conversion of tribute from feudal lords and the procedures and prices for official granary purchases."

Wu Wenhua scratched his head and said, "General, the manor has enough money and goods, there's no need to go into business, is there?"

Zhang Kui laughed loudly upon hearing this: "You misunderstand. This matter concerns the path I cultivate. Enlightenment is not necessarily found in the deep mountains; true meaning can also be found in the marketplace."

Although Wu Wenhua did not understand the deeper meaning, he always obeyed Zhang Kui's orders without question, and immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir! General, rest assured, I will handle it perfectly."

In the days that followed, Zhang Kui's life rhythm quietly changed. In addition to his daily diligent cultivation, refining the Golden Elixir, and comprehending the Heavenly Gang Divine Power, he added two more fixed activities: one was to read the collected market price reports; the other was to travel incognito to the East and West Markets of Chaoge to observe the trading process, listen to the bargaining between buyers and sellers, and experience the value game of the Shang Dynasty people.

At first, he only felt that the world was chaotic and noisy, nothing more than petty squabbles. But when he tried to observe it with the sense of "weighing" he had gleaned from the treasure coins, the world before him seemed to shed a layer of superficiality.

He observed that the price fluctuations of a bushel of millet were linked to factors such as the abundance or scarcity of crops, the smooth operation of the Grand Canal, and even border conflicts; the transaction of a bolt of silk involved the skill of the weaver, the origin of the mulberry and hemp, the value of the dyes, and even the risks and discounts associated with long-distance transport. Every instance of bargaining was a clash between the buyer and seller based on their own information, needs, and judgments.

On this day, Zhang Kui was in a quiet room in his mansion, holding a precious coin in his hand, reflecting on what he had seen and heard in recent days. He tried to attach a wisp of his divine consciousness to an ordinary cowrie shell (one of the common currencies in the Shang Dynasty), and then placed it on one end of a table, with a small bag of millet on the other end.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, using his divine sense to simulate a market transaction, guiding the wisp of divine consciousness attached to the cowrie shell to "measure" the "value" of the bag of millet. Recent records of grain price fluctuations, the differences between various qualities of millet, and even the hardships of the grain transporters flashed through his mind… All this information converged, and the ordinary cowrie shell trembled slightly, establishing an extremely faint causal connection with the bag of millet.

Although the connection was fleeting and the coins did not undergo any supernatural changes, Zhang Kui suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

"It works. This kind of value judgment based on real-world rules can indeed resonate with the falling treasure money."

He vaguely felt that if he could persist in this kind of "worldly cultivation" for a long time, he might be able to use the treasure-dropping power of the treasure-dropping coins more efficiently and precisely without relying on luck or merit.