What Is the Treasure-Dropping Coin

Hong Ze said that Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao's states of mind were unstable. Now, neither of them dared harbor the slightest doubt.

But they did not understand why the Treasure-Dropping Coin could not be used often, or why Eldest Grand-Uncle had even advised them not to use it.

In the end, Xiao Sheng directly asked Hong Ze, "Eldest Grand-Uncle, why can't the Treasure-Dropping Coin be used regularly?"

Hong Ze extended his hand toward Xiao Sheng. Xiao Sheng immediately understood and hurriedly took out the Treasure-Dropping Coin, placing it in Hong Ze's hand.

Hong Ze looked at the Treasure-Dropping Coin in his hand, then set it on the table as he spoke.

"This treasure is called the Treasure-Dropping Coin, but do you know what money is, and why it can make magical treasures fall?"

Asked by Hong Ze, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao shook their heads in unison.

"Please enlighten us, Eldest Grand-Uncle."

"So-called money is a special thing used to purchase items. It simply has not yet appeared.

However, with the emergence of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race, it will become the most tempting thing in this world.

Yet money is not obtained so easily. It must be earned through effort.

It is precisely because money can purchase all things in the world that it possesses the ability to make others' magical treasures fall.

Put simply, you use money to buy the other party's magical treasure.

But you do not give the Treasure-Dropping Coin to the other party, which means you owe them karma.

What it means for cultivators to owe karma to one another, I need not say. You should understand."

After Hong Ze's explanation, Zhao Gongming seemed to awaken from a dream and spoke.

"Eldest Senior Brother, are you saying that because they used the Treasure-Dropping Coin to bring down my Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, they came to owe me karma?

So by taking them as disciples, I was indirectly allowing them to repay the karma they owed?"

Hong Ze shook his head. "The Sea-Stabilizing Pearls are still in your possession, which means that transaction was never completed.

Therefore, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao do not owe you karma. There is truly a bond of master and disciple between you."

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao were now completely convinced. With a thud, they fell to their knees before Hong Ze.

"Please offer us more guidance, Eldest Grand-Uncle. Help your grand-disciples improve our states of mind as soon as possible, so that we do not fall into the demonic path in the future."

Hong Ze once again reached out and helped the two of them up, then said,

"If you wish to cultivate your hearts, you may seek out your aunt-master Yun Xiao. She is more qualified than I am, your Eldest Grand-Uncle, to guide you.

However, I can tell you the proper way to use the Treasure-Dropping Coin."

Hong Ze did not know that Zhao Gongming had already comprehended the Law of Tranquility, the strongest law for cultivating one's state of mind.

That was why he recommended them to Yun Xiao, whose state of mind was the most steadfast, so that she could help Zhao Gongming instruct his disciples.

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao were naturally overjoyed. They nodded as they asked Hong Ze,

"Eldest Grand-Uncle, how must the Treasure-Dropping Coin be used for it to count as proper use?"

Hong Ze waved at Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, signaling for them to lean their heads closer.

Then Hong Ze whispered a few words into their ears.

Zhao Gongming did not hear what Hong Ze had said, but he saw the incredulous expressions that had appeared on his two disciples' faces.

However, Zhao Gongming could not ask Hong Ze what he had said at that moment, so he could only say,

"Since your Eldest Grand-Uncle has told you the proper way to use the Treasure-Dropping Coin, you must remember it well."

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao nodded, then once again bowed to Hong Ze in apology.

Hong Ze waved them off, then sat down to drink tea with Zhao Gongming.

Although Zhao Gongming's tea-making technique could not compare with that of Hong Ze, the Great Dao Tea Saint, it was absolutely top-tier in this primordial world.

Thus, when Hong Ze tasted the tea Zhao Gongming had brewed, praise could not help but appear on his face.

"I never expected Junior Brother Gongming to have studied the tea ceremony as well. It seems we must drink tea and discuss the Dao more often in the future."

Zhao Gongming smiled and nodded. "Eldest Senior Brother is absolutely right, but drinking tea and discussing the Dao is not urgent.

These two disciples of mine are visiting Eldest Senior Brother for the first time. Shouldn't Eldest Senior Brother give them a token of greeting?"

Seeing Zhao Gongming ask for gifts on behalf of his disciples made Hong Ze feel somewhat troubled.

If Zhao Gongming had asked Hong Ze to prepare a few dishes and share a few drinks, that would not have been difficult.

But asking him to give away magical treasures left Hong Ze rather strapped for resources.

After all, aside from the Water Fire Daoist Robe bestowed upon him by Master Tongtian, he had no other magical treasures at his side.

Left with no choice, he said, "Junior Brother Gongming is right, but I currently have no presentable magical treasures with me.

When I see Master another day, I will certainly ask him for a few respectable spiritual treasures to give to my two grand-disciples."

Zhao Gongming merely smiled and shook his head. "How could such a minor matter disturb Master?

How about this? Eldest Senior Brother, just see what you have nearby and casually give them two things.

Or Eldest Senior Brother could write a few words or paint a picture. We only want an auspicious token; whether it is a magical treasure is not important."

Hearing this, Hong Ze looked around his Thatched Cottage and found that there truly was nothing he could offer.

After all, anything presentable had long since been looted clean by Holy Mother Gui Ling and the others.

If they did not still come to Hong Ze's place to freeload meals from time to time, they would probably have carried off even his pots, bowls, and utensils.

Thus, Hong Ze was truly destitute at this moment, poor beyond all measure.

Helplessly, he sighed. "Fine. Who told your Eldest Grand-Uncle to be so poor?

Since your master has said so, I will paint one picture for each of you."

After saying that, he turned and fetched brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, preparing to paint something for Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao.

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao did not know that none of Hong Ze's paintings were ordinary.

They could not help complaining inwardly about why Zhao Gongming had not let their Eldest Grand-Uncle ask their grandmaster for magical treasures.

But at the instant Hong Ze put brush to paper, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao immediately changed their minds. At the same time, they saw the satisfied smile of Zhao Gongming's scheme succeeding.

The two of them exchanged glances and secretly gave Zhao Gongming a thumbs-up.

With swift strokes, Hong Ze completed two paintings before long.

The one given to Cao Bao was a Rare Treasure Picture. The treasures in it were lifelike, making anyone who saw them want to reach out and take them.

The one given to Xiao Sheng was a Treasure Accumulation Picture. Within the Treasure Accumulation Pot in the painting, treasures were piled as high as mountains, stirring greed in anyone who looked upon it.

Although the grades of these two paintings could not compare to the Carp Playing with Lotus Picture given to Qiong Xiao, they had absolutely reached the level of Acquired Supreme Treasures.

Zhao Gongming could not help rejoicing inwardly and immediately said to Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, "Hurry and thank your Eldest Grand-Uncle."