Chapter 22: Written in the DNA

Page 1/3

Tang Nian looked at Bibi Dong with a smile. She had been wondering how to obtain the Soul Hall’s financial details, and now Bibi Dong, for reasons unknown, had delivered them right to her doorstep. She didn’t believe Bibi Dong’s intentions were entirely good for her, but for now, it seemed she wouldn’t suffer any loss.

Calculating based on the Soul Hall’s scale, she probably couldn’t afford their daily expenses with her current funds. So she decided to start with the Beggar Sect’s daily expenses. Once she clarified all the details there, she would expand her calculations accordingly, and at the same time figure out where everything was purchased. She needed to secure some supply channels.

Overall, she wasn’t in a rush. Taking it step by step was better than revealing everything at once.

“What do you want the financial details for?” Bibi Dong finally asked.

Her authority was limited to the Pope’s Hall and did not extend to the Offering Hall. If the Offering Hall wanted Tang Nian to reach into Bibi Dong’s affairs, that would not bode well for her future plans. Financial matters today could lead to political power tomorrow; who knew what schemes they were plotting. Bibi Dong had to remain vigilant.

Seeing Bibi Dong’s heavy suspicion, Tang Nian realized these financial records wouldn’t be handed over easily. But this was a transaction, not a matter of simply asking for them.

Tang Nian said, “If His Holiness the Pope is unwilling, then let’s forget it. If I hadn’t said I wanted to study at the Soul Academy myself, my master would never have agreed to let me go. I hope His Holiness understands the pros and cons involved.”

“Sharp-tongued,” Bibi Dong smiled coldly. “I will have Yue Guan take you to see the financial details. Whatever you intend, it’s closely related to the Offering Hall. If I catch you betraying us, not even your master can protect you.”

“Understood, Your Holiness.”

Tang Nian responded promptly.

Bibi Dong’s warning was merely a show of bravado. Even if Tang Nian wavered, it would be her position at risk—not that she would leak family secrets. She was no traitor like Huliena.

After reaching an agreement with Bibi Dong, Tang Nian followed Yue Guan. Yue Guan was somewhat surprised; when Tang Nian first arrived, she had asked about money matters. Now, a year or two later, she was allowed to see the financial details. She was truly capable.

Watching Tang Nian leave, Bibi Dong sighed, thinking the Offering Hall had indeed produced an extraordinary individual. If only her own Nana could be like Nian...

With that thought, she sighed again.

Well, she’d give Nana more time.

*

Page 2/3

The finance room.

Yue Guan led Tang Nian inside.

Presenting the token specially issued by Bibi Dong, the guards outside allowed them entry.

The Soul Hall’s finance room was vast, filled with countless ledgers as far as the eye could see.

About ten or so accountants were responsible for the records. Yue Guan introduced Tang Nian to them and explained their purpose.

They were just workers; since the Pope had ordered it, they had no objections.

“Miss Nian, what specific details do you need?” one worker asked.

“If you want last year’s details, I’m afraid they can’t be organized today.”

The Soul Hall’s annual finances were enough to build mountains. Anything before this year was archived, and retrieving it would be a huge task.

As a finance professional, Tang Nian understood this well. “Just the last three months will do.”

She didn’t want to see those mountain-high ledgers and get a headache.

This was the kind of breakdown etched into every accountant’s DNA.

The workers began compiling the last three months’ expenditure details. Meanwhile, Tang Nian asked about the Soul Hall’s daily expenses, maintenance costs, and other related questions—everything very professional.

Yue Guan watched dumbfounded. This girl really was something else...

After a few days, Tang Nian figured out the Soul Hall’s expenses, including construction and repairs.

In short, the sum was astronomical, far beyond her current means.

She would start with the Beggar Sect’s consumption first. If that didn’t work, she’d roam around Tiandou City; at least in the auction house, she could spend nearly a million.

At present, she had a base fund of 1.9 million Soul Coins. In three to four years, it would rise to 3.9 million, around the time she could enter the auction.

After planning, Tang Nian returned to the Light Feather Hall to inform Guang Ling about her desire to study at the Soul Academy.

Though Guang Ling didn’t fully understand, Tang Nian insisted, and he didn’t stop her.

Given Tang Nian’s talent, it was mostly a formality. Guang Ling didn’t care what she planned to do, but suppressing Bibi Dong’s disciple and vying for the Holy Maiden title wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Four years later.

Tang Nian was eleven years old.

After four years of expenditure, her base funds reached 3.9 million.

Page 3/3

According to the system’s reward settings, she received a two-million tier reward.

That was a set of upgradable thousand-year soul rings.

She could place this set on either her first or second soul spirit.

By the system’s rules, this set was perfectly matched to her soul spirit, and the soul skills granted were the best.

To avoid drawing attention, Tang Nian chose to equip the soul rings on her second soul spirit, the Blue Silver Grass.

Mainly because she was lazy about cultivating the Blue Silver Grass spirit later on, and if the system could provide a shortcut, she was more than willing to take it.

She had yet to absorb the three-million Soul Coin reward—an upgradable thousand-year soul bone.

If she absorbed it, her soul power would increase dramatically, which would be hard to explain to her humble master.

Until she found a suitable reason, she didn’t want to be “attacked” by others.

Four years had passed, and the system had matured considerably. At least teleporting from Soul City to Tiandou City was effortless now.

Currently, she had 1.1 million Soul Coins in liquid funds, deliberately kept for spending. That way, she could directly reach the five-million reward tier, upgrading a thousand-year soul ring to a ten-thousand-year soul ring—just thinking about it was thrilling.

To prevent her soul power from skyrocketing uncontrollably, Tang Nian had the system control the growth from the second soul spirit. So even if it upgraded to ten-thousand years, it wouldn’t affect her fundamentally.

Opening a portal, Tang Nian landed directly in Tiandou City.

Tiandou City’s bustling splendor rivaled Soul City. Crowds thronged the streets. She chose the afternoon session, the busiest time, and arrived at the grand auction house. After lingering outside briefly, she went in.

She had earlier asked Zhou Yang to open an account here. Now, she was a VVVIP of the auction house, able to occupy a private box alone.

Wearing a mask, she stepped inside.

“Excuse me.”

—End of excerpt—