The East King Duke's Cudgel of Sanction? Sorry, This Lord Only Accepts Hard Currency!

Eastern Sea Domain, Purple Mansion Continent.

Here, purple qi perpetually comes from the east, immortal islands dot the landscape—it is a famed cave heaven and blessed land in the Primordial World.

As the newly appointed Head of Male Immortals' Dao field, Purple Mansion Continent has recently been basking in boundless glory, with ten thousand immortals paying court.

Yet within the most magnificent Pure Yang Hall, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

East King Duke sat high upon the Pure Yang Throne, a symbol of supreme authority, clad in the Nine-Dragon Imperial Robe and crowned with the Peace Crown. His face was majestic but tinged with a sinister gloom.

In his hand, the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure bestowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun—the Dragon Head Cane—was now pressed heavily like a paperweight atop a dharma decree radiating vast golden light.

"Hmph! Western Sect's Taiyuan."

East King Duke muttered the name, each word squeezed through gritted teeth, dripping with endless hatred and vindictive glee. "Last time outside Purple Cloud Palace, you relied on your numbers, even colluding with those uncivilized Witch Clan brutes, to humiliate This Seat. That debt, This Seat remembers day and night!"

"This time, This Seat will see how long your so-called 'wealth' can hold out in that desolate, buyerless, marketless dead end!"

"With all trade cut off, I'll watch you try to fill Mount Sumeru's bottomless pit!"

With a wave of his hand, the dharma decree, imbued with the will of the Head of Male Immortals, instantly transformed into countless dazzling beams of golden light, shooting like a meteor shower toward every corner of the Primordial World.

Every Loose Cultivator's cave dwelling of any size, every minor force dependent on Purple Mansion Continent, received this unquestionable command:

"Decree! Henceforth, all male immortals under Purple Mansion Continent's jurisdiction, and even Loose Cultivators across the Primordial World, are forbidden from any trade of spirit materials, elixirs, or magic treasures with the Western Sect!"

"Whether buying or selling—even a single blade of grass, a single piece of iron—anyone who dares sell goods to the Western Sect, or buy any of their junk, is an enemy of This Seat, an opponent of the Head of Male Immortals! When that happens, don't blame the Dragon Head Cane in This Seat's hand for being merciless!"

"This Seat will turn Mount Sumeru into an isolated island! They will sit on a pile of trash, unable to buy even the most basic Qi Replenishment Pill! I will starve that so-called Western Sect to death on their own golden mountain!"

The moment this decree was issued, it instantly stirred up a massive uproar across the Primordial World.

Countless Loose Cultivators who had planned to try their luck in the West, hoping to barter for some good finds, were forced to stop in their tracks.

Though they inwardly cursed the Head of Male Immortals for his petty grudges and underhanded tactics, the weight of that "official title" and that cane capable of killing a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal made most choose to play it safe, publicly declaring a severance of ties with the West.

In an instant, the Western border, which had occasionally seen merchant caravans, became utterly desolate—even passing birds flew around it.

Sun Star, Sun Palace.

Blazing True Sun Fire raged, illuminating two majestic imperial thrones.

Di Jun and Tai Yi sat upon their thrones, watching the scene unfold with meaningful smiles.

"That East King Duke, though a brainless fool, this economic blockade is somewhat interesting."

Tai Yi held a piece of white silk, gently polishing the Chaos Bell that exuded chaotic aura, his tone playful. "Isn't Taiyuan the one who loves doing business? Isn't he the one who likes trading that junk blood essence for our Sun Essence Gold? Let's see how he handles this now. If he can't hold out and comes begging our Demon Race..."

At this, a sharp glint flashed in Tai Yi's eyes. "Big Brother, shouldn't we take this chance to bleed him dry? Make him hand over that creation divine ability?"

"Not yet."

Di Jun waved his hand, a glimmer of wisdom shining in his deep, starry eyes. "Let the arrow fly a little longer. We won't answer East King Duke's ban, nor will we actively help. We'll just watch the show from the sidelines."

"When Taiyuan truly hits rock bottom, the price for Myriad Monster Blood Essence won't be what it is now. We might even make his Western Sect a vassal of our Demon Race."

These two future Heavenly Emperors were playing their cards shrewdly.

Not just the Demon Race—even the Three Pure Ones on Mount Kunlun had their own reactions. Primordial Heavenly Lord sneered repeatedly, thinking Taiyuan had brought this on himself; Sovereign of Heaven, though somewhat worried, also wanted to see just how capable this old friend Taiyuan really was.

Western Sect, Mount Sumeru.

On the open ground before the bamboo hut, what should have been a peaceful farming scene was instead thick with an anxious atmosphere.

Liuguang Daoist stared at the several Messaging Jade Talismans that had been returned due to canceled orders, sweating profusely, his gray robe soaked through.

"Great Master! This is a real mess!"

"Those Loose Cultivator alliances from the east who agreed to buy spirit grass—they've all backed out! They forfeited their deposits, saying they're afraid of being purged by Purple Mansion Continent!"

"And those demon kings from the north won't come either, saying Di Jun hasn't given the word, so they don't dare act rashly."

"If we can't sell the spirit materials we just collected from the warehouse, they'll rot in our hands! This is the foundation we—no, you—painstakingly built up!"

Zhunti, listening nearby, was fuming. He kicked over a stone stool carved from innate jade, sending it tumbling far away.

"This is too much! That old bastard wants to starve us out! Big Brother, let's stop holding back and just attack Purple Mansion Continent! I hear their spirit veins aren't bad either—perfect for digging up to fill our pool!"

Taiyuan, however, still lounged in that enviable Carefree Chair, idly playing with a crystal-clear droplet faintly radiating golden merit light.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto his face, and his expression showed not a trace of panic—only a hint of mocking amusement, as if watching a clumsy monkey show.

"Attack what? Fighting and killing is so uncivilized."

Taiyuan stretched lazily. "Besides, if he wants to blockade, he'd better have the key to do it. This Primordial World is vast, and people's greed runs deep. What makes East King Duke think a scrap of paper can control everyone's desires?"

Taiyuan stood up and flicked the droplet in his hand.

That droplet was none other than the coveted Eight Treasures Merit Pool Water.

It fell to the ground, instantly transforming into a cool mist that revived the few wilted spirit plants nearby that had been neglected, even making their leaves stretch out, releasing denser spiritual energy.

"Liuguang, go take down that 'No Loitering' sign outside our mountain gate."

"Put this one up instead."

Taiyuan waved his hand casually, and a massive golden signboard, a full three zhang tall and gleaming all over, crashed down from thin air, hitting the ground with a thunderous boom.

The sign bore seven large characters, written with such flowing, dragon-like strokes that each seemed to shimmer with irresistible allure:

[Western Specialties Exhibition]

"Also, spread the word."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Taiyuan's eyes. "Tell them that our Western region, targeting the most common and troublesome afflictions plaguing cultivators in the Primordial World—'Heart Demon Troubles,' 'Sha Qi Infestation,' and 'Bottleneck Breakthrough Difficulties'—has specially developed a groundbreaking new product: the [Low-grade Eight Treasures Merit Pool Water]."

"This water, diluted from the essence of Mount Sumeru's core Merit Pool, can not only instantly purify the Sha Qi that has accumulated in the body for years and eliminate the hidden dangers of heart demons, but regular consumption also beautifies the skin, prolongs life, and even works wonders for breaking through bottlenecks."

"Most importantly, at this exhibition, we accept no trash! Only hard currency! Top-grade Spiritual Materials, rare ores, or even spiritual beast cubs that can work—all are accepted for exchange!"

"Limited quantity, first come, first served! No waiting after the deadline!"

Liuguang Daoist froze, staring at the sign, then at the so-called "low-grade" Merit Water (which was, in truth, a product diluted with many times the amount of spiritual spring water). He hesitated. "Great Master, will this... work? East King Duke has made his stance clear. Who would dare offend the Head of Male Immortals for a bit of this water?"

Taiyuan let out a cold laugh, his eyes brimming with a confidence born of seeing through the world.

"In this world, there are no eternal friends, and even fewer eternal enemies."

"Only eternal interests."

"When the temptation is great enough, forget the so-called Prohibition Order of the Head of Male Immortals—even if you put a blade to their throats, they'll kneel and beg for the medicine."

"What do cultivators cultivate? Their lives! Without their lives, what is the Head of Male Immortals? What is a Prohibition Order? All of it is nothing but dog shit!"

"Go. Set up the stall and just wait to count the money."