At first, it was just a commotion affecting the lower levels.

You must understand, the lower levels were mostly mortals. Even the cultivators there were only at the Qi Refining stage. As for the Outer Dao Immortal Talismans in their hands, forget one hundred thousand—it was pitifully rare to see anyone with even ten thousand.

However, the situation gradually began to change.

Under Lü Yang’s intervention, the Outer Dao Alliance launched an all-out promotional campaign. More and more cultivators began exchanging their Outer Dao Immortal Talismans for the Wuyou Talismans issued by Lü Yang.

The funds had begun to circulate.

The lower-level cultivators had once led stable lives, a predictable routine of work, cultivation, and entertainment with almost no major expenses.

But the Wuyou Talisman was like a pebble tossed into a pond, stirring ripples through the lower levels. This was especially true after the Outer Dao Alliance designated certain rare goods as purchasable only with Wuyou Talismans, which intensified the phenomenon. It led people to believe that the Outer Dao Immortal Talisman was about to be phased out, and the Wuyou Talisman was the way of the future.

At the same time, this was happening.

The Righteous Qi Dao’s training and education business officially opened. After being trained by the Righteous Qi Dao, a large number of cultivators gained the opportunity for Ascension and went directly to the Second Layer.

And their experiences on the Second Layer were widely publicized.

Stories about how the air on the Second Layer was fragrant, how you could get cultivation resources without working, how you could smoothly reach Foundation Establishment as soon as you arrived, and so on.

And so, the enthusiasm of the first layer was completely ignited.

Longevity, cultivation, power, money—it was as if all dreams were concentrated on the Second Layer, making more and more people desperate to squeeze their way in.

But how could they get in?

Through the Righteous Qi Dao’s training program!

What? The Righteous Qi Dao’s program is too expensive? Then go speculate on Wuyou Talismans! The earlier you buy, the more you’ll earn when the Wuyou Talisman’s exchange rate rises!

One investment, three times the profit.

On top of this, Lü Yang deliberately restricted the supply of Wuyou Talismans, further stimulating a massive surge in their value and exchange rate.

Soon, this trend spread to the Second Layer.

Admittedly, most of the Qi Refiners on the first layer didn’t have much money, but their sheer numbers formed a force that could not be underestimated.

A massive amount of Outer Dao Immortal Talismans flooded the Second Layer’s market because of them, quickly attracting the attention of interested parties. This also brought the Wuyou Talisman into the view of Second Layer cultivators. After all, with the support of the vast lower-end market, the exchange rate between Wuyou Talismans and Outer Dao Immortal Talismans was soaring daily.

"Hey, have you heard?"

"The new Wuyou Talisman from the Outer Dao Alliance started with an exchange rate of 1-to-5 with the Outer Dao Immortal Talisman, but now it’s already shot up to 1-to-19!"

"That high? It’s almost on par with the Dancing Flame Immortal Talisman!"

"Don’t even mention it. The prices for the Lesser Yin Immortal Talisman and Dancing Flame Immortal Talisman have plummeted recently. A lot of people are selling. I bet the Immortal Monarchs behind them are in some kind of trouble..."

"Anyway, this is an opportunity!"

"You know the Wang Family Immortal Race on the Second Layer, right? They were the first on the Second Layer to buy Wuyou Talismans. They spent a fortune, and now they’ve made a killing. They bought a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object outright, and the guy came out of seclusion a couple of days ago—already a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator! So many other Immortal Races are green with envy..."

Gradually, more and more people dove in.

At first, everyone was a little hesitant and didn’t dare to invest too much. But they soon discovered that the rise of the Wuyou Talisman showed no signs of stopping.

In fact, it was getting faster and faster!

"The rise of the Wuyou Talisman is by no means temporary. It is the Outer Dao Alliance’s attempt to change its Immortal Talisman strategy and open up a new track. This is a major positive for the future market..."

Mountain Mover, the Alliance Leader of the Outer Dao Alliance, gave a special speech on the matter.

With the endorsement of an Outer Dao True Monarch, coupled with the Outer Dao Alliance’s monopolistic position below the Sixth Layer of the Celestial Mansion, the Wuyou Talisman naturally became more and more sought after.

The storm had officially formed.

Gradually, everyone came to know that the Outer Dao Immortal Alliance had released a money tree. All you had to do was go to a trading hall designated by the Outer Dao Alliance and sign a contract.

Then, you just had to bet your entire fortune to buy a Wuyou Talisman.

Next, you just had to go back into seclusion. When you came out, you’d find that the Wuyou Talisman in your hand had risen in price by at least a third compared to yesterday!

Then, with another trip to the Outer Dao Alliance, you could easily pocket a huge profit!

And the more you invested, the more you earned!

If you spent one hundred thousand Outer Dao Immortal Talismans, you’d come back to find it had become one hundred and thirty thousand, or one hundred and fifty thousand. If you waited another two days, it would turn into two hundred thousand, or even three hundred thousand!

Who could witness this and not go crazy?

Of course, some people questioned this obviously abnormal growth.

However, the Outer Dao Alliance spent a fortune to broadcast a live feed across all levels below the sixth. Anyone who looked up could see the real-time exchange rate of the Wuyou Talisman.

Every minute, the number would tick up a little.

And every time it ticked up, it meant that those who had bought Wuyou Talismans had earned more money. As this number continued to rise, it was impossible for anyone to remain calm.

Even the skeptics couldn’t help but wonder if they were mistaken. ’After all,’ they’d think, ’it’s a currency issued by the Outer Dao Alliance, endorsed by so many Outer Dao True Monarchs. How could there be a problem?’ And so, the desire to get rich quickly overwhelmed their doubts.

Even the clever ones who saw through the truth chose to join in.

After all, it was still rising, wasn’t it? As long as it was rising, there was room to maneuver. The worst-case scenario was just getting out in time before the crash.

And so, more and more people flocked to the Outer Dao Alliance.

When Lü Yang emerged from his Quiet Chamber, this was the scene that greeted him: a sea of cultivators, so vast it nearly filled the entire headquarters of the Outer Dao Alliance.

The sound of people discussing the Wuyou Talisman was everywhere.

The interacting Divine Senses even stacked up into layers upon layers of Illusionary Colors.

In that moment, the passion of the people coalesced into a visible ocean, and a terrifying image that only a Perfected Lord could witness hung high in the dome of the sky.

Its name was—

Money

’My heavens...’

At this moment, even Lü Yang, the instigator of this storm, couldn’t help but widen his eyes, a look of shock appearing in them.

’This isn’t right...!’

Mere speculation couldn’t achieve something like this. The birth of an "image" meant that there had to be a Fruit supporting it from behind, one that had resonated with it!

In other words:

’The Great Dao Immortal Talisman system of the Celestial Mansion is, in essence, actually corresponding to a Fruit... But how could there possibly be a Fruit based on Money in Heaven and Earth...?’

So-called money is, in essence, just an object of trade.

Divorced from a physical form, it has no value. It couldn’t possibly become a foundation of the world like the Yin Yang Five Elements, let alone evolve a corresponding Fruit.

Unless...

At this thought, Lü Yang was suddenly horrified:

’...A Void Certificate!?’

That’s right, just like with the Sword Dao, if someone had created a Fruit called "Money" through a Void Certificate, then the image before him would make perfect sense!

’Did that Golden Core Great True Monarch from the Celestial Mansion, Taiyin Immortal Venerable, create a Fruit through a Void Certificate? But he’s already a Great Perfected Lord, what could he use to make a Void Certificate... Or does this mean that the so-called Void Certificate isn’t actually limited to the Foundation Establishment stage? Even after becoming a Perfected Lord, is there still a chance to obtain one?’

At this moment, Lü Yang began frantically pinching his fingers, making calculations.

At the same time, he didn’t forget to use his world-shaking wisdom:

"Progenitor, what do you think?"

After telling Progenitor Tingyou his conjectures, Progenitor Tingyou also frowned, pondered for a moment, then nodded and affirmed Lü Yang’s guess:

"It’s very likely."

"I’ve thought about this before... Have you forgotten? The Seeking Dao Immortal Technique of the Middle Stage of Golden Core. In my view, that actually has some of the characteristics of a Void Certificate."

The Seeking Dao Immortal Technique?

The definition of the Seeking Dao Immortal Technique flashed through Lü Yang’s mind: to refine the image of one’s own Fruit, craft a True Treasure, and then combine and piece together the True Treasures—

And finally, create one’s own Immortal Technique.

’True Monarch Baolian Fuzang... The Fruit of Hairpin-Brace Metal she attained has nothing to do with karmic links, yet her Seeking Dao Immortal Technique is able to influence karmic transformations...’

’It really does have the feel of a Void Certificate!’