Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

Xuanbao withdrew his gaze from Cangjie and the Four Treasures of the Study, his divine sense sweeping across the primordial land. The Human Earth Emperor had formally become a disciple of Xuandu, thriving under Xuandu's tutelage, and the Earth Emperor's Path was steadily unfolding. Under the guidance of the two emperors, the Human Race's fortune soared like oil being poured into a raging fire, rising ever higher.

However, Xuanbao's mind was not on the human race at present. He sat upright in the Lingxiao Palace, his Primordial Dao Heart as clear as a mirror, reflecting the myriad phenomena of the primordial world. After achieving the Great Luo Golden Immortal of Primordial Chaos, every step forward was as difficult as ascending to heaven. How could he quickly improve his strength?

The existence of the Chaos Gods is like a sword of Damocles hanging over the primordial world. Although the Heavenly Dao avatars of the Underworld have seized a tenth of the Heavenly Dao's power, temporarily establishing a three-way balance of power, the resentment of the Chaos Gods could retaliate at any moment. And those top-tier Chaos Gods lurking deep within the chaos, it's anyone's guess when they might return.

We need even greater strength!

Xuanbao closed his eyes and concentrated, circulating the Primordial Dao Fruit, with the three thousand Great Dao runes rising and falling within his Purple Mansion. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed like lightning across the depths of his consciousness.

Furthermore, even if I were to refine an innate spiritual treasure, I would need a large amount of innate materials. However, the primordial world has already been plowed up several times, and even if there are some innate spiritual objects, they are extremely rare and cannot withstand the consumption.

The richest people in the primordial world today are the myriad races of the primordial world, but what method can be used to make them obediently hand over their innate treasures?

"Treasure bowl...falling gold coins...business strategy..."

Xuanbao suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze blazing with divine light!

Oh right! How could I have forgotten that!

Xuanbao's true form is the Treasure Gathering Basin, a top-grade innate spiritual treasure. It is a treasure for business, but since he has only found the Treasure Dropping Coin and never even saw the Money Tree, he has never thought of taking the path of business. But now, whatever method can improve his strength is a good method.

……

"In the primordial world, trade among the myriad races was mostly based on barter or the exchange of innate spiritual materials, a chaotic and inefficient system." Xuanbao slowly rose and paced within the Dao Palace, his thoughts becoming increasingly clear. "If I could establish a universal currency system for the primordial world, based on something with real value and easy to circulate..."

The main point is that if he creates a primordial currency system, he will have inexhaustible money. Then, he can use this currency to bind the entire primordial world. Xuanbao thinks he might even become a primordial capitalist.

Xuanbao's gaze pierced through the thirty-three heavens, landing on the endless mountain ranges and ley lines deep within the primordial land. There lay boundless innate spiritual energy accumulated since the beginning of time, some so concentrated that it condensed into crystals, the so-called "spirit stones."

"Spirit stone... the essence of innate spiritual energy..." Xuanbao murmured to himself, his fingertips lightly tracing patterns in the air. Instantly, a rhomboid crystal, about the size of a pigeon egg, crystal clear and flowing with milky-white spiritual energy, materialized in his palm. This was not a real spirit stone, but rather a compressed form created by combining his own primordial Daoist essence with the spiritual energy of the heavens.

It feels warm to the touch, and the innate spiritual energy it contains is pure and gentle. Even mortals who hold it will feel refreshed and live longer. For cultivators, it can be directly absorbed and refined to aid their cultivation. Although its effects are not as heaven-defying as those of innate spiritual objects, they are far superior to ordinary breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth! More importantly, this item is formed by heaven and earth, and is found throughout the ley lines of the primordial world. Its reserves are immeasurable, making it perfect as a form of currency in the primordial world.

"Based on this, determine its grade, standardize its form, and give it 'value'..." A huge and meticulous plan quickly took shape in Xuan Bao's mind.

With a slight thought, a three-dimensional primordial geomantic map appeared before him, its surface shimmering with countless points of light, representing known or deduced nodes of earth vein energy and the distribution of spirit stone deposits. The light and shadow shifted, rapidly performing complex deductions and calculations.

"Spirit stones are valuable, but their inherent spiritual energy varies in density, their quality in purity and impurity, and their distribution in rarity and abundance. If used directly as currency, chaos and disputes are inevitable, and it would be difficult to assess the value of high-value treasures." Xuanbao frowned slightly, then relaxed. "However, what's so difficult about that? Now that the Heavenly Court has been established, it should set rules for the primordial world. This currency system will be determined by the Heavenly Court!"

Xuanbao's eyes shone brightly, and in the blink of an eye, he had roughly sketched out the basic shape of the spirit stone. Without further hesitation, he sent a divine thought to Haotian and Yaochi outside the Lingxiao Palace.

"Hurry to the Lingxiao Palace!"

A moment later, Haotian and Yaochi appeared before the gates of the Lingxiao Palace. Although they looked tired, their eyes remained sharp, clearly showing that while they had been busy these past few days, they were also invigorated by the growing power of the Heavenly Court. Seeing that Xuanbao had summoned them, they dared not delay and immediately went inside.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." The two bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities, please sit." Xuanbao waved his hand, and two futons naturally appeared. After the two were seated, he got straight to the point: "I summoned you here for a major matter concerning the future foundation of the Heavenly Court and even the cultivation of all living beings in the primordial world."

Haotian and Yaochi's expressions tightened, and they listened intently.

……

"In the primordial world, the myriad races traded goods mostly through barter or by using innate spiritual materials and rare treasures as collateral. This was chaotic and disorderly, with inconsistent standards. The strong could bully and dominate the market, while the weak were often exploited. This was not conducive to the circulation of goods, the progress of civilization, or... the gathering of fortune and the stabilization of order."

"Your Majesty means..." A glint flashed in Haotian's eyes, as he vaguely caught something.

"I wish to establish a currency system that will be universally accepted throughout the primordial world, in the name of the Heavenly Court." Xuanbao raised his hand, and a milky-white spiritual crystal condensed with Daoist energy appeared in his palm, hovering between the three of them. "Based on this, it shall be named—'Spirit Crystal'."

"Spirit crystals?" Yaochi curiously extended her divine sense to sense them, and immediately showed surprise. "Such pure and gentle innate spiritual energy! This thing... seems to be everywhere?"

"Yes and no." Xuanbao nodded. "Spirit crystals are not created out of thin air. Their raw materials are simply crystallized primordial spiritual energy, which is commonly known as 'spirit stones.' Spirit stone deposits are found throughout the mountains and ley lines of the primordial world, with reserves that can be described as inexhaustible. However, their quality varies and their forms are different. What the Heavenly Court needs to do is to use its supreme power and supernatural abilities to regulate, purify, and standardize them, giving them a unified value."

With a thought, Xuanbao's eyes flickered with light and shadow, and four illusory crystals of completely different shapes, sizes, lusters, and auras appeared one by one, arranged in the air.

The first one, about the size of a thumb, is pale white with a restrained luster. Although its spiritual energy is pure, the amount is small, enough to sustain a cultivator at the Earth Immortal Realm for about three days of cultivation.

The second one is the size of a pigeon egg, milky white, with a warm luster. Its spiritual energy and purity are increased more than tenfold, and it can be used by True Immortals and Profound Immortals to assist in their cultivation, with remarkable effects.

The third one is the size of a longan, and is a bright white color with a faint glow. Its spiritual energy is almost liquid, pure and abundant. It is beneficial to the cultivation of Golden Immortals and Taiyi Golden Immortals, and can also be used as a precious energy source for setting up formations and refining weapons.

The fourth one, only the size of a soybean, was a pale yellowish-brown color, with a golden light emanating from its core. Not only was its spiritual energy extremely pure, but it also exuded a strange Daoist charm that was warm, immortal, and calming to the mind!

"Low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, and top-grade." Xuanbao pointed in turn. "The exchange rate for the four types of spirit crystals is tentatively set at one to one hundred. Low-grade crystals can be used for daily cultivation and small transactions by cultivators below the Earth Immortal level; medium-grade crystals are suitable for True Immortals and Profound Immortals, and will be the main force in circulation in the future; high-grade crystals are for powerful beings above the Golden Immortal level, or for major transactions and strategic reserves; as for this top-grade..."

Xuanbao's gaze fell on the dark yellow spirit crystal, his tone carrying a profound meaning: "This top-grade spirit crystal will be forged by me personally, incorporating a trace of Heavenly Dao merit. It contains not only spiritual energy, but also the wondrous effects of aiding in enlightenment, resisting inner demons, and nourishing the primordial spirit. Even for us Primordial Saints, long-term wear or contemplation will provide some benefit in stabilizing our Dao heart and comprehending the secrets of Heaven. However, things are valued for their rarity, and the production of top-grade spirit crystals will be extremely limited. Only those who have made great contributions to the Heavenly Court and the Primordial World can obtain them. They will also serve as the highest-value currency and will not participate in daily circulation."

Haotian and Yaochi were deeply moved, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They instantly understood the immense power and profound significance of this monetary system! It wasn't just about facilitating transactions; it was about redefining the "value" of the entire prehistoric world with the absolute authority and credibility of the Heavenly Court! From then on, the spirit crystals issued by the Heavenly Court would be hard currency, the standard by which all treasures, services, and merits were measured! Controlling the issuance of currency was tantamount to holding the lifeline of the prehistoric world's economy in their hands; the Heavenly Court's rule would penetrate every corner of the prehistoric world, and the convergence of fortune would be unprecedented!

What's even more remarkable is that spirit crystals themselves possess tangible cultivation value, especially top-grade spirit crystals, which even saints find difficult to completely ignore. This ensures that their intrinsic value won't collapse, making them more easily accepted by all races. Furthermore, the circulation of spirit crystals will inevitably greatly promote the optimal allocation of resources, stimulate the development of all industries, accelerate the progress of civilization, and ultimately feed back into the boundless merit and fortune of humanity and the heavens!

"Your Majesty is wise! If this plan succeeds, the foundation of the Heavenly Court will be as stable as a rock, and the order of the primordial world will be completely renewed!" Haotian stood up excitedly and bowed, saying, "However... the implementation of this currency will inevitably affect countless existing interest groups, especially those powerful clans that control rich mineral resources and hoard them for speculation. They may fiercely resist and outwardly comply but inwardly defy us. Moreover, the matter of minting coins is complex and requires utmost caution."

Yaochi added, "And how should the exchange rate be set? How can we gain the acceptance and willingness of all races to use spirit crystals in the initial stages? How can we ensure that spirit crystals are not mass-produced? How can we maintain the stability of the currency value? Your Majesty, this matter is extremely important, as it affects everything."

Xuanbao had already thought things through, and upon hearing this, he smiled calmly: "Therefore, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight. I have already made initial plans. But there is one point, which is also the most important point: only the Heavenly Court can produce spirit crystals; anything made by anyone else in the Primordial World is a fake."

Xuanbao's words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, rippled through the hearts of Haotian and Yaochi. In particular, the statement "Only the Heavenly Court can produce spirit crystals" carried an unquestionable confidence and control.

"Your Majesty," Haotian replied calmly, though his brow remained furrowed, "I understand that the Heavenly Court must have exclusive control over the issuance of spirit crystals, otherwise the currency system will inevitably fall into chaos. However… there are countless talented individuals in the primordial world, many of whom are profound in the arts of weapon crafting and creation. Even if we use secret methods to refine them and set up restrictions, over time, there is a risk that they will be cracked and counterfeited. At that time, counterfeit currency will run rampant, disrupting the currency value and damaging the prestige of the Heavenly Court and the very foundation of this monetary system."

Yaochi nodded, her beautiful eyes thoughtful: "Your Majesty, anti-counterfeiting is indeed crucial. Ordinary rune restrictions may be able to prevent counterfeits for a time, but they cannot prevent them for eternity. We need a... unique, absolutely unreplicable mark."

Upon hearing this, Xuanbao revealed a meaningful smile. He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing up, and his mind stirred slightly.

"Buzz..."

A sliver of golden light emerged from nothingness, initially as faint as a bean, then rapidly expanded and solidified. Within the golden light, the faint echoes of the Great Dao resonated, and a profound Daoist charm of gathering treasures and wealth permeated the air. When the golden light stabilized and revealed its form, both Haotian and Yaochi held their breath.

It was a... coin.

It is not made of ordinary gold or silver, but rather has a warm and understated dark gold color, as if it carries boundless wealth and fortune. The coin is round with a square hole, the outer circle symbolizing the operation of the heavens and the inner square symbolizing the earth's carrying capacity, which perfectly embodies the principle of the round heaven and square earth.

Falling Treasure Coins!

"This is the 'Falling Treasure Coin'." Xuanbao's voice carried a strange resonance, as if expounding the ultimate truth of the Great Dao. "The Falling Treasure Coin was born innately and is originally a supreme treasure of the business world."

"Using this as the master coin, any spirit crystal, regardless of its grade, will possess the unique Dao essence of this Treasure-Falling Coin. Not to mention you are a powerful being, even an ordinary person can probably sense the authenticity of the spirit crystal."

Haotian and Yaochi listened with rapt attention. "My Your Highness is truly amazing! To imprint a unique mark on currency using a top-grade innate spiritual treasure! What a grand gesture! How domineering!" From now on, spirit crystals will be feared to be counterfeited. Moreover, in the current primordial world, it's unlikely anyone would dare to defy the world and counterfeit spirit crystals—it would be tantamount to challenging the Heavenly Dao and defying the profound treasures! Who has the guts? Who has the ability?

"Your Majesty's wisdom is profound, we are truly in awe!" Haotian bowed deeply in sincere admiration. "With this innate spiritual treasure as the mother coin, the spirit crystals naturally have an extra layer of anti-counterfeiting! However..." He still had doubts. "The refining of spirit crystals, especially high-grade and top-grade spirit crystals, requires a massive amount of spiritual energy, and the purification, shaping, and imprinting of Dao seals are certainly not simple processes. If we want to supply trillions of living beings in the primordial world, how can we guarantee the production? If the supply is insufficient, or if there is favoritism, it may cause resentment and also lead to hoarding and speculation, disrupting the currency value."

Xuanbao nodded slightly. What Haotian was worried about was precisely the key point. In a monetary system, the stability of the issuance volume and the value of the currency is its lifeline.

Think about the Zimbabwean currency nowadays; the zeros after the one are a headache for anyone to look at. As a Xuanbao with modern knowledge, it's natural that it wouldn't mass-produce spirit crystals.

However, spirit crystals have one advantage over paper money: spirit crystals are consumables, so they are definitely not just symbolic like paper money.

With the matter settled, Xuanbao once again successfully became a hands-off manager.

Haotian: The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated and ultimately didn't say anything, only sighing helplessly.

It's true what they say, "The higher-ups just give orders, but the people below have to run themselves ragged."

I really miss the days when I guarded the gate of Zixiao Palace.