NOVPUBAs soon as Lin Rui stepped into the Divine Palace, he felt an immense divine pressure.
This Divine Sky Hall was as vast and empty as it was the last time he came, with only a single Cloud Platform perched high above.
Ahead of the Cloud Platform hung a nine-layered curtain of pearls and veils, with a shadowy figure indistinctly sitting within.
Last time Lin Rui merely glanced at this figure and felt excruciating pain in his eyes, as if they were about to explode.
The boundless divine might also forced Lin Rui’s Primordial Spirit to shrink tightly together, trembling violently and almost shattering.
However, this time, perhaps due to his enhanced cultivation or the acquisition of the Holy Thunder Tribulation Fire, the pain wasn’t as severe.
Still, Lin Rui feigned a look of great pain, avoiding direct gaze at the deity.
Yu Huaxuan stepped forward and bowed in report, "Minister Yu Huaxuan greets the Divine. The first trade since the opening of the Starport has concluded, with a total tax reaching forty-eight million two hundred thousand liang of Divine Gold. As this amount greatly exceeded expectations, far beyond our estimates, we specially brought back the account books from each dock area to report to the Divine."
The figure behind the veil lightly flicked a sleeve, "The Great Celestial Master has already informed me, I am aware!"
The deity’s voice remained as resonant as a bell, yet also as vast as the sound of all creations, possessing indescribable depth and authority, imbued with endless power.
With the deity’s voice, the wooden crates outside the hall suddenly opened, and numerous account books flew out, thousands of them flipping rapidly in mid-air.
In just moments, the books simultaneously fell to the ground, and the mighty divine voice rang out again, "Have all the tax silver coins been stored?"
"Already stored!"
Lin Rui bowed, "However, Heavenly Demons do not produce Divine Gold or Magic Silver, so I reported to the Divine Envoy to allow the Heavenly Demons to substitute with various rare earths, alloys, and pharmaceutical raw materials they produce, even nuclear power reactors and various weapons above the Sixth Realm, calculated at eighty percent of the current market price."
This, without doubt, is profitable for the Great Song Court.
Those Heavenly Demon alloys and nuclear power reactors can be used to forge various weapons and battle armor, especially the Heavenly Demon Armor, which can be mass-produced.
Pharmaceutical raw materials can also be used to refine new elixirs.
The Medicine God Sect’s methods of refining elixirs have, in recent years, absorbed the strengths of the Heavenly Demons, evolving rapidly, with pharmacists inventing many cheap and practical prescriptions requiring the raw materials provided by the Heavenly Demons.
The Earth Federation also benefits, as their surplus production can be monetized through the extraction and refinement of various rare earths and alloys—indeed a great boon.
"Good!" The deity’s voice carried a tone of approval, "You may inform those Heavenly Demons that not only rare earths and alloys, but also their so-called ’machines’ can substitute for silver coins. The Cabinet may discuss relevant regulations to encourage trade of these items by the Heavenly Demons. Duke, what you have established at the Starport, these so-called ’factories’ and ’training classes,’ are very commendable, and I am very pleased with them."
Lin Rui slightly squinted his eyes and bowed in acknowledgment.
It seems that during the Divine’s slumber, there was still attention on the Starport.
The others, including the Emperor, noticed this shift in attitude towards the Heavenly Demons with keen interest.
What could be the reason for this change?
At this moment, the divine voice paused, becoming stern and chilling, causing everyone present to feel a shiver down their spine, covered in goosebumps.
"I have awakened today for two reasons: First, the tax revenue of the Starport far exceeded expectations; second, concerning the Three Gods of Purgatory. My Divine Sense perceives from the Heavenly Curtain that the Three Gods of Purgatory may dispatch troops within ten days, dividing forces into five routes, primarily targeting our East Continent!"
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat at the words, thinking indeed the Purgatory Demon Army is planning their attack!
When they heard the last line, they were taken aback, wondering why target the East Continent?
Although the Great Song of the East Continent is the most ancient among the Four Great Dynasties, in terms of national strength, the Great Song ranks among the top two, just slightly below Da Liao.
The current Emperor and the First Divine Envoy have, over the centuries, worked diligently to recover some of the Great Song’s decline.
Especially over the past year, Lin Hao ascended, purged the Heavenly Demons and the Demon Sect, opened ports for trade, further enhancing the Great Song’s national strength.
Moreover, their Divine ’East Abyss’ is second only in power to those two in Central Continent and is recognized as the strongest single-combat Abyss!
Are the Three Gods of Purgatory out of their minds to choose to breach from the East Continent? Aren’t they afraid of hitting their heads and bleeding?
Lin Rui and several Divine Envoys immediately noticed that both the Divine and the Great Celestial Master were gazing intently at the Emperor.
They instantly realized that the choice of the Three Gods of Purgatory is likely related to the Grand Ancestor and Grand Emperor of the Great Song Royal Family.
These two Longevity Realm beings have been lurking under the Purgatory for thousands of years, with no signs of movement.
But recently, rumors have surfaced that someone witnessed the two entering and exiting the Divine Palace of the Three Gods of Purgatory.
The Emperor felt his scalp tingle, but he braced himself, bowing and declaring in a resolute voice, "Divine! I will personally command the Imperial Guard and the Yulin Army to directly defend the Sky Pond against the Demon Army! I swear by the names of the Divine Law Venerable and the Green Blood Venerate, should the henchmen of the Three Gods of Purgatory dare to come, no matter who they are or what their status, I vow that these demons will find no return!"
"Good! Your resolve is commendable." The figure behind the veil nodded, "You may leave the Imperial Jade Seal in the Imperial City and go with the First Divine Envoy and Third Divine Envoy to defend the Sky Pond!"
Lin Rui heard this and couldn’t help but feel peculiar, thinking Li Xianglong’s schemes might actually succeed.
However, does this mean that his master Luo Wangshu must also go to defend the Sky Pond and battle the demons?
The Emperor’s face turned ghostly pale, but he did not dare hesitate, bowing again, "I obey."
At this moment, the deity’s gaze shifted towards Lin Rui, "Duke, based on your estimates, how much can the Starport maintain in monthly tax revenue in the future?"
Lin Rui pondered slightly and then bowed, "Divine, the reason this time far exceeded expectations was due to my blockade for nearly a year, causing many goods to accumulate. Future transactions will see a significant reduction in both the value and quantity of traded goods. As long as the entire Great Song remains prosperous and stable, in the next two months, the Starport’s daily tax revenue should be around two million to two hundred fifty thousand Divine Gold."
While returning to Luojing on Yu Huaxuan’s Flying Chariot, Lu Hanyuan had already informed him through quantum communication about the reasons behind such high revenue.
One reason was indeed Lin Rui’s blockade for nearly a year, causing a substantial stockpile of materials within the Great Song.
These materials were mainly high-grade raw resources, as traders first sought to hoard them to inflate prices; second, they dared not easily bring these high-value bulk materials to trade, fearing they would be confiscated by the Imperial City Department, leading to significant losses.
The second reason was the anticipation of a policy change by the Great Song Court. Everyone was eager to trade in expensive Heavenly Demon items, especially Armaments and injectables.
As long as they passed through the Starport and paid their taxes, these goods became legal, and the Imperial City Department could no longer pursue them.
Many even fabricated transactions, passing previously implanted Armaments through the Starport and paying taxes to legitimize them.
Lin Rui himself did the same, legitimizing the injectables and Armaments for his master and subordinates.
Everyone shivered upon hearing this.
Two million liang of Divine Gold daily? That amounts to at least seven hundred thirty million liang of Divine Gold annually! Seven billion three hundred million liang of Magic Silver.
This would not only double the court’s tax revenue! Almost close to doubling!
Luo Wangshu looked at Lin Rui with slight concern, wondering if the Starport could indeed achieve such high income; it would be foolish to boast.
If Lin Rui couldn’t deliver, it would invite calamity upon himself.
The Great Celestial Master noticed Lin Hao’s expression, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, and frowned, "Before the Divine, do not stammer."
Lin Rui then clasped his hands and spoke, "Divine, the reason this trade amounted to twenty-four million liang of Divine Gold may also involve the Demon Sect. In the recent two months, this sect and various forces have engaged in frequent battles, and the Outer Heaven Demon has issued a ban on magic to the Demon Sect. The Demon Sect may want to use the Starport’s channel to buy and sell various materials.
I am uncertain whether to rigorously examine and expel them or to observe the situation. As the Spy Catcher Bureau Commander, my duty is to eliminate demons and traitors, but I also serve as the Minister of Commerce and Starport Governor. If we permit the Demon Sect’s materials to enter the market, it could potentially increase the Starport’s daily tax revenue by another million liang of Divine Gold, possibly increasing further to two million liang in the long run."
The scale of future dealings with the Demon Sect would be enormous, certainly not easily concealed. Lin Rui wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could hide it from the Divine, so he preemptively addressed it.
The Great Celestial Master initially intended to reprimand him.
But upon hearing an additional daily revenue of one million liang of Divine Gold, he swallowed back his words.
One million liang of Divine Gold per day amounts to three billion six hundred fifty million annually.
Lin Rui clasped his hands again, "I am indeed inclined to use this trade channel to hold the Demon Sect in check, ensuring they don’t cause trouble in Luojing’s eight prefectures and the inner twenty-four territories of the East Continent."
The East Continent is vast, divided into the inner twenty-four territories and the outer forty-eight territories.
The outer forty-eight territories are sparsely populated, home to many demons and fierce beasts.
Even at the founding of the Great Song, management of the East Continent was primarily diplomatic, with only a small tax levied.
"Let us observe first!" The Divine’s voice was like jade, "Emperor, Duke’s proposal to open trade and establish the Starport is meritorious."
The Emperor immediately understood, "The Duke’s loyalty and bravery shine like the sun and moon, his literary and martial talents prominent under heaven, truly a pillar of the nation. He should be elevated to the rank of Duke of the State to acknowledge his achievements!"
The figure behind the veil slightly shook his head at these words, "State? A small state, the title should remain as Duke, Duke of the Nation."
The Emperor bitterly smiled upon hearing this.
The Divine did not grant Lin Hao a direct elevation, affording him some face.
Yet, choosing the word ’Duke’ serves as a cautionary note.
Lin Rui felt indifferent, seeing no difference between Duke of the Nation and Duke of the State. It was merely a matter of higher rank without any real change in authority.
However, the next moment, he saw three drops of golden blood suddenly fly towards him.
The blood drops hovered, radiating golden light, illuminating the surrounding ten yards, making the already luminous and serene room even more splendid.
Lin Rui’s eyes widened in surprise.
He recognized this as the ’Divine Blood’ granted to him by the Divine!
This divine item could help one condense the highest bloodline talent, significantly enhancing True Yuan and strengthening the physical body. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Unfortunately, after being granted this once, despite his numerous accomplishments, Lin Rui had not received it from the Divine again.
"Your cultivation advances swiftly, and you are just a step away from Divine Skills. These three drops of ’Divine Blood’ can aid you in reaching the Seventh Realm Divine Power sooner."
The figure behind the curtain then scanned the room, "Apart from the Starport, do you have any other pressing matters to report? My awakenings are rare, make your submissions quickly."
Lin Rui joyously collected the three drops of ’Divine Blood’ into a jade bottle, carefully placing it within his sleeve.
In that moment, his mind flickered, and he glanced suspiciously downwards.
Just then, Lin Rui sensed something amiss with his Divine Sense.
It seemed as though someone was obscuring the connection between his Primordial Spirit and certain elements of the world.
Lin Rui found this perplexing; what was this person trying to do? What trickery was this?
Suddenly, his mind raced, contemplating if this was the Knowledge Barrier, but it was so blatant. Did they take him for a fool?
Lin Rui quickly realized that the other had not failed to conceal, but that he, as a God, could not be shielded from.
The question remained, what was the other trying to hide from him?
