As the human race prospered, the need for trade arose. Without a unified standard, bartering was the common practice, leading to considerable inconvenience.
Lie Shan Shi pondered this situation.
At this time, Tai Qing Lao Zi emerged from Shou Yang Mountain and first arrived at the Asura Path.
Sensing Tai Qing Lao Zi's presence, Ming He walked out calmly. He harbored no fear of Tai Qing Lao Zi within the Asura Path.
"Whether it's you or the Two Sages of the West, the Luobao Jinqian must be handed over to Lie Shan Shi. This is the grand trend of development, and the Heavenly Dao's momentum cannot be altered. You decide for yourselves!" With that, Tai Qing Lao Zi departed without a moment's hesitation.
Ming He opened his mouth, feeling quite dejected. Why did this person leave? If you ask me, I would have given it to you if you had pleaded!
Staring at the two Luobao Jinqian in his hand, Ming He blinked, contemplating Tai Qing Lao Zi's words. Dao Ancestor Hong Jun had also spoken of this: under the Heavenly Dao, the grand trends are unchangeable, but minor trends can be altered. The Earth Emperor's enlightenment was a grand trend, undeniably immutable.
Was he, by holding onto the Luobao Jinqian, obstructing the Heavenly Dao's momentum?
Thinking of this, Ming He felt a pang of frustration. However, if he were to give the Luobao Jinqian to the Earth Emperor, would he gain merit? Yes, undoubtedly, and that would be excellent!
Thus, Ming He's heart swelled with delight. To gain merit amidst the Earth Emperor's enlightenment, overseen by the Three Pure Ones, made him feel quite smug. Indeed, regardless of the amount of merit, the mere act of siphoning it away from them brought Ming He immense satisfaction.
With a grand wave of his hand, Ming He hurled the two Luobao Jinqian outward, sending them soaring towards the Earth Emperor!
As for the destruction of the Luobao Jinqian, Ming He had not considered it at all. What did vex him was the disappearance of Chi Mei Wang Liang. Why weren't they causing trouble for the Three Pure Ones? This was quite bewildering, leaving Ming He unable to comprehend it.
Chi Mei Wang Liang, who had been by the Earth Emperor's side, felt the approach of the Luobao Jinqian and rejoiced.
Concurrently, Yuan Shi and Tong Tian also witnessed this. They hesitated, wondering whether to protect the Luobao Jinqian and then seal Chi Mei Wang Liang, or to follow their elder brother's advice and scheme for the Chaos Bell.
"Remain calm, and wait," came Tai Qing Lao Zi's telepathic message.
The two nodded.
At this moment, Chi Mei Wang Liang was ecstatic. The Luobao Jinqian! These Saints were so careless, to simply toss it out. Was it truly that easy to obtain?
With this thought, Chi no longer hesitated. He immediately unleashed the Li Di Yan Guang Banner, delivering his most powerful strike. A fiery red column shot towards the Luobao Jinqian, illuminating the entire sky.
The Earth Emperor also saw this, as did Guang Cheng Zi and others, whose mouths hung agape in stunned disbelief. What were they witnessing? The Li Di Yan Guang Banner, and such a powerful strike, aimed at golden coins with wings!
The Earth Emperor saw the golden coins and, with a sudden realization, understood how to unify the currency.
As the fiery red column struck the Luobao Jinqian, the principle of fire overcoming metal came into play. The two Luobao Jinqian shattered, splitting into four, effectively destroyed!
Chi Mei Wang Liang burst into triumphant, wild laughter. Now, there was no one in the world capable of sealing them!
The Earth Emperor, watching his personal guards suddenly transform and then fly away, was utterly bewildered.
Guang Cheng Zi and the others, however, turned pale. They had failed to realize that such powerful beings had infiltrated the Earth Emperor's retinue.
Just then, the Three Pure Ones arrived.
Tai Qing Lao Zi beckoned, and the Tai Ji Tu flew out, transforming into a golden bridge that directly immobilized Chi Mei Wang Liang.
Immobilized, Chi Mei Wang Liang showed no concern. Chi even scoffed, "Tai Qing Lao Zi, even if you hold us brothers captive, so what? Can you hold us forever? Haha!"
Mei and Wang Liang also roared with laughter. Indeed, if you have the ability, let's remain like this, and see if a Saint like you is willing to endure this indefinitely!
Tai Qing Lao Zi ignored Chi Mei Wang Liang and turned his gaze towards Lie Shan Shi.
Lie Shan Shi was already instructing his subordinates to mint currency, modeled after the Luobao Jinqian. With a unified currency, the Heavenly Dao immediately manifested, bestowing a Dao fruit. The Earth Emperor Lie Shan Shi's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.
At this moment, Chi Mei Wang Liang began to exert their power. Vast amounts of green smoke began to permeate the Great Desolation.
Countless beings in the Great Desolation collapsed. They were helpless; this plague was insurmountable even for Da Luo Golden Immortals, let alone ordinary creatures.
"Heavenly Dao above, Ming He, for his selfish desires, has released Chi Mei Wang Liang, who were suppressed within the Luobao Jinqian. Furthermore, he failed to use the Luobao Jinqian to seal them, instead allowing them to ravage the Great Desolation. I implore the Heavenly Dao to mete out punishment!" Tai Qing Lao Zi cried out.
As the Heavenly Dao manifested at this moment, a colossal eye hung in the sky.
"We implore the Heavenly Dao to mete out punishment!" Yuan Shi and Tong Tian echoed immediately.
Ming He, who had rushed over, was dumbfounded. What was going on? The Two Sages of the West exchanged glances and silently withdrew from Ming He's side. This Ming He was rather foolish. What was happening? Their carefully laid plans had somehow turned into this mess.
At this point, an ancient Daoist emerged from behind the Heavenly Dao's eye. Upon appearing, he glanced at Tai Qing Lao Zi, then at Ming He, and said, "Ming He, what do you say?"
Ming He was completely bewildered. He looked again at the Great Desolation. Good heavens, so many creatures were now lying prostrate. The sin was immense!
Moreover, Ming He wished he could slap himself. Why had he held onto the Luobao Jinqian for so long? He should have given them to the Three Pure Ones long ago. How could he have overlooked such an important matter?
The primary reason was that Chi Mei Wang Liang had not communicated with him, leaving Ming He confused at the time. Subsequently, Chi Mei Wang Liang's actions had made Ming He somewhat arrogant, believing that skilllessness could overcome all tactics. He had relaxed his guard, never expecting such a consequence, only to be reported!
What was even more vexing was that he had intended for Chi Mei Wang Liang to prevent the Earth Emperor's enlightenment, but their target was not the Earth Emperor at all, but the Luobao Jinqian. This was truly infuriating!
Now, Ming He regretted his actions to the point his intestines had turned green.
Seeing Ming He remain silent, Dao Ancestor Hong Jun declared, "Ming He, for your selfish desires, you released Chi Mei Wang Liang, causing widespread suffering among the beings of the Great Desolation. Considering this your first offense, you are hereby punished with confinement in the Asura Path for one hundred thousand years!"
With that, Hong Jun waved his hand, and Ming He was swept away to the Asura Path. He would not be free to cause trouble again for a hundred thousand years!
Tai Qing Lao Zi rejoiced. One hundred thousand years! Hahaha! By then, the Investiture of the Gods tribulation and the Journey to the West tribulation would likely have passed. Ming He would probably be too late to even catch up to the fresh dung.
"Teacher, I implore you to release the Chaos Bell to suppress Chi Mei Wang Liang!" Tai Qing Lao Zi requested.
Hong Jun's face darkened. He had specifically acquired the Chaos Bell earlier. Now, to suppress Chi Mei Wang Liang, he had to release it. However, once Chi Mei Wang Liang were suppressed, it would be impossible to reclaim it.
Tai Qing Lao Zi had precisely this intention. After all, with Chi Mei Wang Liang within, the Heavenly Dao would never reclaim it, allowing the Chaos Bell to remain in the Great Desolation permanently.
But there was no alternative. Hong Jun could only flick his hand, and the Chaos Bell appeared, descending to suppress Chi Mei Wang Liang.