After hearing Great Immortal Zhenyuan's words, Bo Huang was speechless. "Great Immortal, don't joke around. I don't even have enough merit for myself, and you want me to use it to mint currency for trade? Hmm, how much merit does one of your Ginseng Fruits cost?"
Great Immortal Zhenyuan smiled. "The Merit Divine Wheel behind your head could cover all the Ginseng Fruits for the next million years."
Bo Huang considered it carefully. He was not yet entirely safe in the Primordial Wilderness, and he needed to keep his merit for protection. Thus, he shook his head. "Senior, do you have any other suggestions? I really don't have enough merit for myself..."
Great Immortal Zhenyuan smiled. "Something else... luck? If you use the luck of the demon race as currency, it would be enough to push Hongyun into sainthood. His Becoming a Saint would all be thanks to you. When the time comes, he can share some merit with you. How about it?"
Bo Huang stared in astonishment. "Great Immortal, if you hadn't mentioned Senior Hongyun, I would have forgotten. Why haven't I seen him in so long?"
Great Immortal Zhenyuan wiped away his sweat. "Recently, fellow Daoists like Kunpeng and Minghe broke through one after another. I was afraid they would kill Hongyun and seize his Primordial Violet Qi, so I used the Earth Book to set up an array and hide him away. He's inside my Wuzhuang Temple."
Bo Huang nodded. "All right, so that's what happened. But would Senior Hongyun be willing to associate with our demon race? We might end up fighting the Witch Clan in the future."
Great Immortal Zhenyuan laughed heartily. "As for that, let him discuss it with you himself."
Bo Huang nodded. "All right." With that, he went with Great Immortal Zhenyuan to the rear courtyard of Wuzhuang Temple.
Hongyun looked at Bo Huang. "Oh, so the Great Golden Crow Crown Prince has arrived. You are quite the rare guest."
Bo Huang said, "Senior Hongyun, you're about to Become a Saint. How do you feel about that?"
Hongyun looked completely baffled. "Become a Saint? Are you pulling my leg?"
Bo Huang shook his head. "I definitely am not. However, if you wish to Become a Saint, you must make a deal with me. I recently obtained a spiritual treasure that contains the Dao of trade."
Hongyun frowned. "The Dao of trade? I've been around the Primordial Wilderness for many years. How have I never heard of such a Dao?"
Bo Huang straightforwardly showed Hongyun the Treasure-Dropping Golden Coin, thinking, Old softhearted Hongyun definitely won't covet my magic treasure. If it were those two from the West, that might not be the case.
After examining the Treasure-Dropping Golden Coin and asking about its use, Hongyun said, "This item is ominous. It is best used sparingly."
Bo Huang nodded. "Indeed, it can't be used too often. It shortens one's lifespan... My idea is to quantify merit and use this item as the foundation to create Merit Coins, issued by my Heavenly Court. What do you think?"
Hongyun nodded. "It's a good idea. Then what?"
Bo Huang said, "Then, I need to keep my merit for protecting myself and refining treasures. After you Become a Saint, the merit you can spare must be given to me for minting coins. You must also endorse it in the name of a Saint. I want to open a bank in the Heavenly Court."
Dazed, Hongyun asked, "What in the world is a bank?"
Bo Huang said, "It means having cultivators give me all the merit they don't need. I will be responsible for minting it into coins and storing it for them. Every ten thousand years, they can also receive interest."
Hongyun asked, "Then can the merit I give you to mint coins at the beginning also earn interest?"
Bo Huang nodded. "Naturally."
Hongyun was overjoyed, thinking, Once I become a Saint, won't I have merit to spare? What's wrong with associating with the demon race? Normally, I won't have to worry about anyone seizing my Primordial Violet Qi. At worst, the Witch Clan will hate me, but Saints are immortal and indestructible. What is there to fear?
After reaching an agreement, Bo Huang brought Hongyun to the Heavenly Court. Kunpeng immediately joked, "Great Crown Prince, are you planning to seize the Primordial Violet Qi?"
Bo Huang shook his head. "Demon Master, don't joke with Senior Hongyun. We invited Senior Hongyun here this time for a matter of great importance to our demon race."
Di Jun looked at Bo Huang, seeming to understand something. "You don't mean to have Hongyun establish a sect on behalf of our demon race, do you?"
Bo Huang nodded. "Precisely. What do you think?"
Di Jun stepped forward and felt Bo Huang's forehead. "This child doesn't have a fever. Our demon race's Heavenly Court is doing perfectly well, so why put another Hongyun above our heads?"
Bo Huang smiled. "Father, please take a look at this plan." As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Slip. Di Jun looked over the Heavenly Court Bank proposal on the Jade Slip and frowned, thinking, Having a Saint backing it really would be better. More importantly, we truly have to rely on Hongyun for the initial coin minting. No one in the Heavenly Court has surplus merit for this.
Thus, Di Jun nodded and agreed. "Fellow Daoist Hongyun may establish the Demon Sect and become an honored guest of our demon race. However, I ask that you do not interfere excessively in the demon race's internal affairs."
Hongyun nodded. "Fellow Daoist Di Jun, rest assured. After I Become a Saint, I will only be responsible for protecting the demon race and endorsing the Heavenly Court Bank in exchange for a share of luck. I will not meddle in the demon race's governance."
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