"The third one..." As he spoke, he paused.

"From now on, all trade in the ports of the Southern Ocean, regardless of scale, must be settled with our dynasty's Longevity Silver Coins. Those who violate this order will be executed without mercy!" His final words were delivered almost syllable by syllable, in a low voice laced with lethal intent, like an unsheathed sword that sent chills down one's spine. This is also one of the most crucial missions of the Great Yu Dynasty's navy in the Southern Ocean.

Other smuggling activities might be overlooked to a certain extent, but for the aspect of trade settlement, any deviation from using Longevity Silver Coins must be dealt with decisively and harshly, without the slightest leniency.

People like Meng Yuxuan didn't quite understand why it was mandatory to use Longevity Silver Coins for trade settlement. In their view, while a unified currency could simplify the transaction process and save trouble, wouldn't such a strict order possibly cause conflict and resistance?

However, they had absolute trust in Xu Qing, understanding deeply that every decision he made had profound considerations.

Moreover, the Longevity Silver Coins were finely crafted, with exquisite craftsmanship and intricate designs, making them not only practical but also quite collectible.

Many aristocratic families among the Southern Ocean natives had already started treating them as precious collectibles.

Though Xu Qing's military order was strict, upon closer reflection, it was not entirely unacceptable.

...

...

After handling the major military and political affairs, Xu Qing dismissed everyone, leaving only his steady and calm breathing in the spacious room. With official duties properly dealt with, it was now time for matters belonging solely to him.

In the flickering of dim candlelight, the box, crafted from gold, quietly appeared before Xu Qing.

The box gleamed with a chilling light, standing out strikingly in the dim environment.

At the same time, a sharp pain surged from his chest, prompting Xu Qing to instinctively clutch at his chest. Countless sharp threads of spell power, resembling fine steel needles, transformed into thin strands that pierced his body, delivering a heart-piercing sting.

"No wonder it's the Thunder Tribulation Ghost Immortal. Even after being struck by my Beidou Sealing God, it can still utter such a curse." Xu Qing frowned briefly, then quickly eased into a slight smile, which carried a hint of admiration for the Celestial Spirit Leader, along with full confidence and composure.

"Xu Gongming, release me, and I will lift this Heart-piercing Poison Curse for you." The Celestial Spirit Leader's voice, tinged with weakness, drifted out from within the golden box.

Xu Qing's lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile filled with disdain and pride: "A mere curse, and it can affect me? Once captured, don't overestimate yourself."

He then gently blew a breath, as softly as dispersing a feather. Yet, as this breath puffed out, a surge of formless Demon Qi moved instantly, enveloping the strands of the Heart-piercing Poison Curse like a tumultuous undercurrent.

In the blink of an eye, the curse strands vanished like snow in spring, leaving not a trace behind.

"Impossible!" the Celestial Spirit Leader exclaimed from within the box, his voice filled with shock and disbelief. He couldn't fathom how his powerful Heart-piercing Poison Curse could be dispelled by Xu Qing so easily.

Xu Qing merely responded with a faint smile, not intending to explain.

He understood well that if the Celestial Spirit Leader, after just passing the Thunder Tribulation, rested well, staying in peak condition, perhaps the Heart-piercing Poison Curse could indeed trouble the Heavenly Demon Body, perhaps even push the Tai Shi Demon Qi to its limits.

But now, after many ordeals, the Celestial Spirit Leader was critically injured, making his curse no match for Xu Qing.

"Do you have any other tricks? Bring them on." Xu Qing crossed his arms, watching the golden box leisurely, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

The Celestial Spirit Leader remained silent for a long time, the silence stretching on as if time had frozen, before he finally spoke slowly, a note of resignation in his voice: "You can't kill me."

Xu Qing chuckled at his words: "Even if I can't destroy your Yin God completely, I can throw you into the Alchemy Well of Dragon Tiger Mountain, ensuring you never rise again."

After surviving a Thunder Tribulation, Ghost Immortals develop notable immunity to Thunder Skills, and a Ghost Immortal's tribulation differs vastly from natural thunderstorms.

Xu Qing understood that he couldn't invoke a Thunder Tribulation out of thin air; even if successful, a slight misstep might ensnare him as well.

In reality, whether demons or adept Dao practitioners, once they cultivated to the level of a Ghost Immortal, it becomes extraordinarily difficult to kill them.

Dealing with such formidable entities mostly relies on sealing. Of course, there might exist extraordinary treasures in the world capable of extracting the Primordial Qi of such entities for alchemical purposes or enhancing one's own prowess, but such treasures are exceedingly rare.

Unfortunately for the Celestial Spirit Leader, compared to many suppressed predecessors, he was far more unfortunate, having fallen victim to the Beidou Sealing God Forbidden Technique.

Next, Xu Qing planned to take him back to the Capital's Heavenly Prison of the Great Yu Dynasty, where, combined with the suppression of Dynasty Destiny, even the thought of self-destruction to escape would be beyond his reach.

Moreover, having reached such a state through countless hardships and trials, who would willingly self-destruct, turning years of hard cultivation into a mere illusion?

The Celestial Spirit Leader understood well that his doom seemed inevitable. He fell silent, a profound and helpless silence filled with despair.

Yet Xu Qing, as if having unlocked a box of conversation, began to speak enthusiastically.

He didn't spare the Celestial Spirit Leader, instead engaging him in casual chatter, sometimes summarizing the reasons for his failure, occasionally exploring the mysterious cultivation knowledge of the Fang Immortal Dao, as if having a heart-to-heart talk with an old friend from years past.

On every occasion, Xu Qing picked topics he thought might interest the Celestial Spirit Leader, discussing everything from ancient stories to peculiar tales, avoiding only topics of personal feelings.

Initially, the Celestial Spirit Leader resisted engaging in conversation, ignoring Xu Qing's words. But the subjects Xu Qing spoke of seemed to carry an unseen magic, stirring an itch within him.

After all, having just passed through a Thunder Tribulation, he understood only superficially the profound Taoist Enlightenment, leaving many aspects unclear, while Xu Qing's theories appeared to be keys, seemingly capable of unlocking those unknown doors.

Xu Qing indeed embraced the best of diverse schools of thought, presenting his theories cogently and with solid reasoning, making them convincing.

Gradually, the Celestial Spirit Leader found himself unconsciously drawn in, forgetting completely his status as a prisoner.

In his heart, he rationalized it to himself, thinking he had nothing to lose by listening. Should he gain any insights, there might still be a chance for a turnaround...

With this mindset, the exchange between the Celestial Spirit Leader and Xu Qing deepened, unknowingly planting a faint demonic shadow within the Celestial Spirit Leader's heart, a shadow that seemed ready to devour him at any moment.

Later on, Xu Qing was very satisfied with the communication with the Celestial Spirit Leader, as he had finally succeeded in entering the latter's dream.

Now, the old master had no choice but to interact with Xu Qing.

Could a Yin God even dream? It was like seeing a ghost.

Well, as a Thunder Tribulation Ghost Immortal, the Celestial Spirit Leader had encountered plenty of strange occurrences, so seeing a ghost wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

However, he still couldn't fathom how Xu Qing managed to invade his dream.

It seemed like something his own cultivation-born Heart Demon would achieve.

But how could Xu Qing transform into his Heart Demon?

"Don't worry about it, let's get down to business." Xu Qing's voice, as if from a distant horizon, was ethereal and elusive.

"What kind of business?" The Celestial Spirit Leader asked instinctively, a hint of wariness in his tone.

"Rest assured, it won't harm you. Once successful, I'm the last person who'd want you to scatter your soul."

In the dream, Xu Qing looked at the Celestial Spirit Leader with a serene gaze, akin to the warm sun of spring, his words amicable, naturally lowering one's guard.

Then, he whispered gently as if uttering an ancient spell shrouded in mystery: "Heavenly Demon Transformation." Upon those four words, the entire dream space quaked violently, as if the apocalypse was imminent...

At the same time, Xu Qing's bronze mirror, its dim surface becoming clear as water, began to manifest a faint shadow, followed by an inscription.

This heralded the imminent birth of Xu Qing's new Protecting Demon King!

...

...

At the same time, court decrees of rewards were issued, along with a letter from Feng Wu's family.

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