novelraw Chapter 175 Bibi Dong's Troubles
Chapter 175 Bibi Dong's Troubles
Chapter 175 Bibi Dong's Troubles
In the early morning at the Spirit Hall, a light rain quietly arrived, gently pattering on the glazed tiles of the hall and bringing the first hint of autumn coolness.
The rain, like smoke and mist, enveloped the entire Spirit Hall, making this magnificent building appear even more mysterious and unpredictable in the haze.
The morning air was filled with the fragrance of earth, and glistening raindrops clung to the leaves. Occasionally, one or two early birds chirped merrily on the branches, adding a touch of life to the tranquil morning.
As dawn broke, every corner of the Spirit Hall was already bustling with activity.
The Spirit Hall has a strict and standardized schedule, following the ancient wisdom that "the day's plan starts in the morning."
Therefore, every night around 9 PM, the members of the Spirit Hall would fall asleep, and at 6 AM the next morning, they would get up on time to start a new day's work.
After washing up, they changed into their matching Spirit Hall uniforms and greeted the new day with high spirits.
Inside the Papal Palace, the lights were already on, and Pope Bibidon, dressed in plain clothes, sat on the throne at the very top of the palace.
Her deep purple eyes seemed to see through everything as she listened intently to the Spirit Hall members below reporting on the latest developments.
Her stunningly beautiful face was calm and dignified, exuding an unapproachable aura that inspired awe in everyone.
The meeting was attended by many members of the Spirit Hall, all of whom were elders and important staff members of the Spirit Hall. They were all sitting respectfully in their respective seats, waiting for their turn to report.
Today, they were all dressed in the same uniforms of the Spirit Hall elders, their expressions serious and solemn.
Lou Gao, as the elder in charge of soul tool equipment in the Spirit Hall, was the first to stand up from his seat.
He knelt on one knee before Bibi Dong and respectfully said, "Your Holiness, after six years of unremitting efforts and continuous development, our Spirit Hall has achieved remarkable success. Today, over 20,000 Spirit Masters are all equipped with a complete set of Spirit Guidance Equipment. This equipment includes Spirit Guidance Armor, Spirit Guidance Cannons, healing bottles, and Spirit Guidance Shields. This equipment not only greatly enhances the combat capabilities of Spirit Masters but also significantly increases their chances of survival on the battlefield."
Lou Gao's report was detailed and specific. He not only reported on the progress of the Spirit Hall in the equipment of soul tools, but also frankly pointed out the existing technical bottlenecks.
He continued, "However, our current technological and financial limitations prevent us from mass-producing soul tools of level four and above. Soul tools of level four and above require more advanced materials and more precise craftsmanship, which is a huge challenge for us. In addition, the fifty soul masters in the Ultimate Individual Soldier Project have been fully equipped with their own soul tools. These soul masters have undergone special training and equipment, and their combat effectiveness has reached a whole new level."
Upon hearing Lou Gao's report, Bibi Dong parted her lips slightly, her tone carrying a hint of admiration: "Very good. In just six years, you have produced so many soul tools. Elder Lou Gao, you have done a great job. You may return now."
Then, Bibi Dong's gaze turned to Juhua Guan and Gui Mei: "Juhua Guan, Gui Mei, you two are in charge of the Spirit Hall's funds. Tell me, what has been the Spirit Hall's expenditure over the past six years?"
Upon hearing Bibi Dong's words, Juhua Guan and Gui Mei immediately stepped forward, kneeling respectfully on one knee, not daring to show the slightest negligence: "Your Holiness, the Spirit Hall's funds are indeed insufficient. In the past six years, we have invested a total of 50 billion gold soul coins in soul tools. To make up for these shortfalls, we have tried our best to squeeze funds from other sources, and our Spirit Hall army is also desperately eradicating evil soul masters and criminals throughout the continent, plundering their assets. However, compared to the investment in soul tools, it is still a drop in the ocean."
Next, Chrysanthemum Pass and Ghost gave a detailed report on each major expenditure, including the purchase of rare materials, the high salaries paid to craftsmen, and the maintenance costs of special research facilities established for secrecy.
They also mentioned that in order to maintain the daily operations of the Spirit Hall and the expenses of the army, they had to cut the budget for other non-critical projects.
Hearing the reports from Gui Mei and Ju Hua Guan, Bibi Dong also felt a headache coming on. Developing soul tools was indeed an expensive undertaking. The initial investment over the first six years alone had exceeded 50 billion gold soul coins, and that was only for mass production of low-level soul tools.
She wondered how much money would be needed to mass-produce intermediate or even advanced soul tools later on. She knew that with the advancement of technology, the demand for funds would only increase.
Bibi Dong now has to start thinking about whether they need to find new sources of funding or adjust the Spirit Hall's overall strategy to ensure that the Soul Tool R&D project can continue.
After a moment of contemplation, Bibi Dong slowly spoke: "We need to reassess our financial situation and strategic plan. The development of soul tools is crucial to the Spirit Hall's future, but we must also ensure the stable operation of the entire organization. Chrysanthemum Pass, Ghostly Demon, you must closely monitor all expenditures to ensure that every penny is used effectively. At the same time, explore new funding channels, whether through commercial activities or other means; we must ensure we have sufficient resources to support our goals."
Bibi Dong knew that besides the mass-produced soul tools, Huo Yuhao possessed a terrifying soul tool capable of killing a Super Douluo—the Sun and Moon Divine Needle.
The creation of this soul tool is extremely complex, requiring enormous sums of money and countless precious materials. However, once successfully manufactured, it will become a trump card in the hands of the Spirit Hall, an unparalleled super weapon.
The creation of the Sun and Moon Divine Needle requires not only a large financial investment but also top-notch soul tool makers and countless experiments. Every step may need to be redesigned and adjusted, and every failure means huge economic losses.
Despite this, Bibi Dong still placed high hopes on this weapon. After all, it was a terrifying weapon capable of annihilating a Super Douluo, and its power would be immeasurable once it was used on the battlefield.
However, the investment of funds is indeed a thorny issue.
The Spirit Hall has tens of thousands of Spirit Masters who need food, shelter, and training facilities, all of which require funding to maintain.
In addition, as a large organization, the Spirit Hall requires huge expenses for its daily operation.
From maintaining a large administrative agency to carrying out various tasks, everything requires financial support.
The Extreme Individual Soldier Project, which aims to cultivate super soldiers, is a bottomless pit that constantly devours the wealth of the Spirit Hall.
Against this backdrop, the Spirit Hall's finances were particularly strained. The elders in charge of various departments reported to Bibi Dong, almost all complaining about insufficient funds. Some elders mentioned that in order to maintain the Spirit Hall's daily operations, they had to cut some necessary expenditures, making their work even more difficult.
An elder also mentioned that some sects and nobles of the two great empires were unwilling to cooperate with the Spirit Hall's work, which not only affected the Spirit Hall's plan execution but also brought additional difficulties to fundraising.
Under this pressure, Bibi Dong felt her fists harden.
Just then, a Soul Master rushed into the Papal Palace, interrupting Bibi Dong's thoughts.
Looking at the Soul Master who had barged into the meeting without permission, Bibi Dong's face showed a hint of displeasure: "How dare you! I have repeatedly emphasized that during the meeting, no one is allowed to enter without my order. Have you all ignored my words?"
Her voice was full of reproach and dissatisfaction, and the atmosphere in the entire papal palace instantly became tense.
When Bibi Dong's angry gaze swept across the room, Juhua Guan immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.
He quickly stepped forward and began to reprimand them. He had no choice but to speak up; after all, this was a Soul Master under his command: "Lorddias, how many times have I told you? Don't always be so reckless! Can't you understand what I'm saying? No matter what happens, you should report first before coming in. Look at you now, a complete example of disorganization and lack of discipline!"
Just as Chrysanthemum Pass was launching into a long tirade, Lordias suddenly blurted out, "Your Holiness, the Holy Son has returned."