Recklessly providing food and supplies to foreign races was tantamount to collusion with the enemy—a betrayal of the Great Yi Dynasty. A seasoned political veteran like Heshen was acutely aware of this and would never dare cross such a line. He valued his life. The Great Yi Dynasty was no ordinary ancient regime. Though its surveillance over the realm appeared subtle, in truth, once it set its mind to it, there was little it could not uncover.
With StarNet and transmitters, any incident occurring anywhere within the dynasty could be relayed and even spread across the entire realm in moments. No one would remain unaware for long.
Not to mention the omnipresent Temple of Natural Disasters.
It was said that the temple had now begun cultivating an outer circle of disaster informants. These agents could be ordinary civilians, shopkeepers—anyone. Heshen certainly didn't want to do something questionable today and find a memorial reporting it on Yi Tianxing's desk the next morning.
"Those foreign races certainly have the nerve. Lacking food, they come directly to us seeking purchase. Do they not understand that in times like these, grain is as valuable as gold, as precious as life itself? Even cultivators can't fully live without eating. According to reliable sources, the world's spiritual energy has grown violent and chaotic, making it dangerous to absorb. True essence might erupt, mana could rebel."
Jia Yucun spoke loudly.
Word had begun spreading: due to the Cataclysm, the laws of heaven and earth were in upheaval. With the Heavenly Dao too weakened to suppress it, spiritual energy had become infused with turbulent, law-based forces, wild and unmanageable. Absorbing it had become not only difficult but also highly dangerous, risking qi deviation or even internal explosions.
Few cultivators dared draw ambient energy anymore.
Previously, high-level cultivators could fast because they could draw energy directly from heaven and earth to sustain themselves. Now that such energy was unstable, even fasting became impossible.
Eating—consuming food—had once again become the most fundamental necessity.
Fortunately, within Xuanhuang City, energy remained stable. As a Supreme Divine Artifact, the city was a self-contained world. It possessed innate spirit veins that replenished itself with spiritual qi. The chaos outside did not reach within. Even in other immortal cities of Great Yi, the River and Mountain Map stabilized the energy flows, taming the violent surge to a manageable level.
But beyond the borders of Great Yi, the situation was much worse.
Cultivation now required crystals, and survival demanded grain—preferably spiritual rice or spirit-infused food. Resources were being consumed rapidly, forcing other races to petition Great Yi for aid.
Under normal circumstances, these proud races would never stoop to such a request.
This disaster was truly all-encompassing.
"Even so, Your Majesty, this might be an opportunity. From what I know, these foreign races possess all sorts of rare treasures and unique specialties, items they rarely part with under normal circumstances. Why not use this chance to trade grain for their exotic goods?" said Xue Jin, stepping forward without hesitation.
The foreign races did indeed hold countless treasures.
His words made the faces of many ministers in the hall change slightly. Take, for example, a specialty obtained from the foxfolk—a fruit known as the Heart of the Fox Fruit (狐心果). Consuming it could clarify the mind and aid enlightenment, bolster vitality, and strengthen the heart. It could even grant a rare fire known as Foxheart Flame. More than that, it could make dull-witted individuals smarter, as if their minds suddenly opened.
And due to its origin in the foxfolk, this spiritual fruit carried a unique power: men became more charming, even handsome, while women grew more beautiful and alluring, gaining a natural seductive aura. It was wildly popular across the Great Yi Dynasty.
Even the likes of Cai Yan and Yao Yue had taken the fruit and found it quite effective.
Such specialties were considered treasures precisely because they could only be cultivated by certain races. The Foxheart Fruit, for example, required warm blood from a foxfolk's heart and could only be born in their graveyards, using specific secret arts. Other races couldn't replicate it.
Many such specialty goods had powerful effects.
The Minotaur Race, for instance, had a fruit called the Oxhide Fruit, which made one's skin as tough and elastic as oxhide. It could temper the body and increase physical defense, ideal for body cultivators. Regular use could harden the flesh to the point it rivaled defensive magic garments.
Then there were Spirit Snake Fruits from the serpentfolk, or Gold Rat Teeth (鼠牙金) from the ratmen, each a unique, highly sought-after good. Usually, one could only acquire a few at great cost. Now, the chance to buy them in bulk presented itself—undeniably advantageous to Great Yi.
War and disaster were the greatest times for profit.
While some might see such profit-taking as disgraceful, if it was from the foreign races, the ethical burden disappeared.
"But doesn't this risk aiding the enemy? If these tribes die off, it's a win for us. Helping them survive now might create future problems," said Wu Yong, frowning.
It was a valid concern.
Think back to the Ming Dynasty: had not some greedy merchants sold iron tools and materials to the Manchus, the Qing might not have conquered China so easily. A lesson in shortsighted greed.
"I believe the trade can go forward," Jia Xu said with a smile. "It is, after all, a transaction. We hold the dominant position. We decide how much to sell and at what price. As long as we ensure they cannot buy enough to recover fully, we needn't worry about them growing stronger."
True—but mastering that balance was the hardest part.
"By adjusting the prices, we can control supply. Grain might have been cheap once, but now it's worth its weight in gold," Xue Jin added firmly.
"And don't forget," Jia Xu continued, "our Eternal Coins (永恒币) could become the dominant currency. With chaotic energy flows, cultivators now depend more on alchemy pills and spirit crystals. Though crystals can be made into crystal coins, Eternal Coins are even better—more efficient, more powerful."
Eternal Coins contained refined spiritual qi, which not only boosted cultivation but also drew energy safely through the coin. Thanks to the power of will within, the coins could calm turbulent qi, making them even more desirable. Their added value was tremendous.
"If we control the trade well," said Huang Chengyan, nodding, "this deal could benefit us greatly."
Grain was not scarce in Great Yi. Trading regular food for rare goods and treasures previously unobtainable? That was nothing short of a windfall. A chance like this shouldn't be missed.
"Very well. Draft a formal plan and present it to me later," Yi Tianxing said calmly. "Now onto the next matter: according to Heshen, it's not only foreign tribes reaching out—numerous human factions are also seeking contact. What do you think?"
Naturally, humans and foreign races must be treated differently.
"Your Majesty," said Zhuge Liang, his eyes glinting with wisdom, "this is a cause for celebration—and an excellent opportunity for Great Yi. It is time for us to expand."
"Indeed," added Jia Xu. "Usually, we refrain from attacking other human settlements due to the principle of human solidarity. But if they come to us voluntarily—even if some within resist—we can still win over the hearts of the people. With proper strategy, we can absorb vast numbers of human forces without shedding blood."
As the saying goes, water can carry the boat, but also overturn it. Popular support was everything. If the people pledged loyalty, conquest would follow naturally. Destiny would be on our side.
"Wait... Does that mean we'll be providing free food and supplies to those human factions?" asked Jia Yucun, slightly hesitant. "What if we give and get nothing in return?"
"Heh, that's where Brother Mao's talents come in," Zhuge Liang replied with a smile, turning to Mao Sui.