Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 56 - 56 48 Another Raid on the Grand Treasury Department

56: Chapter 48: Another Raid on the Grand Treasury Department 56: Chapter 48: Another Raid on the Grand Treasury Department Grand Treasury Department.

It was the Daqian imperial financial institution rivalling the Ministry of Revenue, charged with procurement, storage, and management of the palace resources, ensuring the sustenance of the royal family’s lifestyle and daily expenses.

It was the Emperor’s personal coffer, an institution low in hierarchy but heavy with authority throughout the ages.

It served as a means for the Emperor to amass wealth, separating personal from state assets.

Apparently progressive, it actually made the Emperor’s profligacy seem proper.

Using the state treasury was foolishness, but using his own treasury was beyond the reproach even of his ministers.

This dynasty’s Grand Treasury Department was very different, because the Emperor practiced alchemy, and its status had nearly overshadowed that of the Ministry of Revenue.

Not even the national silver reserves could rival the Grand Treasury Department.

Zhao Feng considered a hundred thousand taels for alchemy a trifle.

That damned Emperor had scoured the common people to mint alchemy funds.

The accumulated wealth from oppressive salt and iron levies and various exorbitant taxes over the years counted in the tens of millions.

Even if not a penny was spent, just one-thousandth remaining would still be an astronomical sum.

Who knew how many miraculous pills were inside?

Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to rob the Grand Treasury Department, with all of Bianjing’s moveable imperial guards congregated at Dragon Bridge?

Gu Wen’s eyes gazed intently.

By now, Hee Huan finished his breathing exercises and slowly exhaled a breath of dull energy, explaining, “Bound by the limits of the heavens, escape skills can adversely affect the divine soul, only one-tenth survive the journey, so please forgive any discomfort, Fellow Daoist.”

“But Fellow Daoist’s strike already contained the embryonic form of a dharma form, brilliant, just brilliant!”

Gu Wen did not respond, still staring into the distance, while Hee Huan, unable to see his face, was used to the other’s aloofness.

His gaze burned with fervor, his heart even more ablaze.

Hee Huan felt that his Daoist fortune was too good, having entered Daqian not long and already befriended a prodigy possessing a dharma form of martial Daoist skill, the unparalleled genius who defeated the Fox Fairy Lu Chan, fifth on the earthly list.

This too was a chance to rise toward immortality, a chance to form bonds with future top powerhouses of the Cultivation World.

Although the two had known each other for only a short while, they had already been through life and death together, and if this relationship developed continuously, it could never be poor.

Apart from blood relations, all closeness between people was established step by step.

“May I ask, Fellow Daoist, whom did you study under?”

Gu Wen returned to his senses and answered, “A Loose Cultivator, belonging to no sect, no school.”

He had expected confusion or disdain, but for some reason, the other’s eyes, which were already hot, seemed to blaze even more, a joy akin to winning the lottery.

Stepping forward, he grabbed Gu Wen’s shoulder with great solemnity and said, “Brother Red Dust, we feel as though we’ve known each other for life.

I don’t ask to become sworn brothers, but at least let’s be friends.

Should you ever be in a tight spot, I’ll definitely assist with all my might!”

Gu Wen was somewhat puzzled, thinking the other feared he would hoard for himself.

He took out a Condensing Dao Pill and said, “There’s no need for Mr.

Hee to be so reserved, I never go back on my word.”

Hee Huan shook his head, “No, no, no, I truly wish to befriend you as a friend.

If you’re willing, I’m even prepared to let you have this Condensing Dao Pill.”

He marveled at the other’s talent and fortune, able to gather so many Spiritual Objects to activate a Breaking Realm Array, and he realized something important.

Cultivation values the balance of skill, wealth, companions, and land.

A background is crucial when out in the world.

Conversely, a genius without allegiance only emphasizes their talent and fortune even more, furthermore, wasn’t his engagement with them like adding fuel to the fire in a time of need?

There was a saying in the Cultivation World: “Better to aid the needy than to bond with a Saint Heir.”

Oftentimes, unhitched geniuses, as if armed with gold bricks, walked through the streets, either to be robbed or to be invested in by various powers.

A Major Sect with heritage and a profound background, without exception, would choose the latter.

Even if they did not accept them into the sect, cultivating a good relationship was paramount.

Adding flowers to the brocade and offering fuel in snowy weather were not the same.

Gu Wen instantly understood the other’s intentions.

When doing business, he often encountered such exchanges where he’d give preference to big clients, who in turn would reciprocate in his field.

“Then, I thank you, Mr.

Hee.”

Gu Wen returned the pill, changing the honorifics.

He wasn’t averse to forging connections with others, least of all those with the ability to be connected to him.

Although Hee Huan lost a pill, he beamed with joy, “You’re too kind, Brother Red Dust.”

A Condensing Dao Pill might be precious, but it wasn’t indispensable for him.

He placed greater value on befriending a genius with a dharma form.

Looking once at the Grand Treasury Department, Gu Wen shifted the conversation, “Mr.

Hee, since we are friends, should we not share both good fortune and misfortune?”

“Of course.” Hee Huan nodded without hesitation, candidly adding, “Friends need not only share wealth, but should certainly help each other in times of adversity.”

“Then let’s rob the Grand Treasury Department.”

Gu Wen gestured toward the distance, Hee Huan also glanced over, his brows leaping as he caught on.

Hee Huan uttered, “Brother Red Dust, that belongs to the Lord Emperor, not the same as Zhao Feng.

You’re looking to dig the ground from under the God of the Earth’s feet.”

Gu Wen inquired, “Shall we go, or not?”

After a few seconds of hesitation, Hee Huan thought of the theft of Qianfeng Tower and didn’t mind going even bigger.

“I’ll risk my life to accompany a gentleman.”

“Let’s go.”

Gu Wen pulled the other person towards the Grand Treasury Department outside the alley.

He was not invincible and still needed someone to assist him from the sidelines.

Whether it was arrays or illusion techniques, he lacked countermeasures and could only rely on brute force to hurl bricks, but brute force wouldn’t work every time.

And that guy had too many life-saving tricks.

—————–

Grand Treasury Department.

The gates were tightly closed.

Two figures leaped from the alley, crossing the main road and vaulting over the high walls into the compound.

Inside, darkness prevailed except for a few spots of firelight.

Gu Wen and his companion quickly moved towards the light.

Perched on a rooftop, they observed an old man dozing off at the warehouse entrance, clutching a broken sword.

“He has cultivation.”

Gu Wen made this determination and then said, “Is this another worldly entrant or a protector?”

“It might not be.

I think he’s just one of the Lord Emperor’s disciples,” Hee Huan commented.

“I wonder if fellow Daoist has heard, several hundred years ago, the Lord Emperor took dozens of people into the Immortal Land, wiping out the forces planted by the major sects and establishing Daqian.”

His tone was casual, but the content was highly informative for Gu Wen.

‘Established Daqian hundreds of years ago, so is this Lord Emperor the founding great ancestor from back then?’

Gu Wen asked, “Can they live for hundreds of years here?”

Hee Huan shook his head, “They must have used secret techniques to seal themselves for centuries.”

“How did he manage to bring dozens of people here when a major sect only sent in three?”

Gu Wen asked again; as far as he knew, the cost to enter Daqian should be immense.

It couldn’t just be a matter of convention—when it comes down to a struggle for power, even a real father might be denied recognition, so who would follow the rules?

Hee Huan answered, “Normally, only the Sanqing Taoist Sect could muster such resources, but the Lord Emperor drained his entire sect and all his connections dry.

He didn’t hesitate to lose face by scamming and deceiving, even borrowing a Five Elements essence from my ancestor.”

“If a top power comes to you asking for a favor, would you sell it?”

Gu Wen had a peculiar look on his face.

He understood the logic; it was like a top conglomerate asking a bank for a loan—there’s no reason to refuse, but this strategy sounded like using small loans to grease the wheels for ascent to the Immortal Land.

He felt if he wanted to run, he could probably pull off a similar stunt on Dragon Bridge.

“Brother Hongchen, do you still want to raid?

Once we make a move, the Lord Emperor will definitely know, and we might not even be able to kill him.”

Hee Huan was rather apprehensive.

Gu Wen’s last question, “Can the Lord Emperor appear here in an instant?”

“He probably won’t show up.

He’s still guarding the pill furnace he’s been refining for over a decade.”

“Kill.”

Gu Wen’s voice was calm.

He suddenly burst forth, and the old man clutching the sword sensed something and opened his eyes wide, barking, “Who dares to be so presumptuous!”

Clang!

Sword clashed with spear, and a flash of blood appeared.

The elder’s body stiffened as his pupils were engulfed by an infinite killing Dao.

In that instant, a multitude of thoughts flooded his mind, and his sword swing lacked the usual swiftness, with only his pupils still reacting normally.

Gu Wen approached leisurely, spear in hand, and with what appeared to be a casual thrust, the spear pierced through the old man’s chest, the blood staining the bright moon.

It wasn’t that he was slow, but rather that the other was too fast.

The old man’s eyes bulged as he looked at the masked figure in the cone-shaped bamboo hat, standing an inch away, with the blade stopped just short.

His life-saving technique activated, only to be extinguished in an instant.

Gu Wen withdrew his spear, and the elder’s fresh blood was drawn out, merging into the spear, making the spear’s aura of blood thirst even more profound.

Thud!

A mummified corpse fell before him.

Weak, far too weak.

Gu Wen stepped over the body, his heart undisturbed.

Was this it?

Was he already dead?

Hee Huan stood by, somewhat dumbstruck, awkwardly holding his spear in place, having wanted to help with a decisive, covert strike.