"What kind of joke is this, ten million gold soul coins a month!"
"Who was the idiot who made the financial application for the Spirit Hall Academy? Does he think gold soul coins grow on trees! He can pluck as many as he wants."
In Spirit City, within the Elder Hall, seven figures were gathered, discussing important matters.
The one speaking was somewhat tall and thin, with the lower half of his face covered by a black cloth, revealing only his eyes. But these eyes were now filled with rage.
He was one of the Elders of the Spirit Hall, titled Ghost Leopard.
"Ghost Leopard, we are currently discussing precisely this matter."
"If the matter weren't so important, why would all seven of us be gathered here?"
Another Elder, stout and even somewhat obese, a titled Douluo, calmly admonished Ghost Leopard. This one was titled Porcupine.
Within the Spirit Hall, there were seven offerings and eight elders. Among the eight elders, except for Yu Xiaogang, the other seven were all titled Douluo.
Ghostly Specter, Ghost Douluo.
Moon Guan, Chrysanthemum Douluo.
She Long, Serpent Spear Douluo.
And the previously mentioned Ghost Leopard Douluo, Porcupine Douluo, Demon Bear Douluo, and the only female Douluo, Spirit Kite Douluo.
Although Yu Xiaogang was an elder, he was merely an honorary elder. With his strength and ability, he was not qualified to participate in this meeting, let alone the fact that he had left the Spirit Hall years ago.
"A monthly expenditure of ten million gold soul coins, while exaggerated, is barely within the Spirit Hall's financial capacity. However, we at least need to know why this money is being spent."
She Long, also known as Serpent Spear Douluo, had a somewhat gaunt face with a light stubble on his cheeks and chin. Though somewhat unkempt, his strength and status were not to be underestimated.
"Indeed, She Long's words are quite reasonable. Moreover, the applicant for this financial request is the homeroom teacher of Class A, First Year. Considering His Holiness the Pope's emphasis on the Spirit Hall Academy and the applicant's identity, we cannot simply dismiss this matter."
The only female Douluo, Spirit Kite Douluo, possessed an heroic face, her expression and tone conveying deep seriousness and solemnity.
She could let the others decide on other matters, but this current issue required her utmost attention, because the homeroom teacher of Class A, First Year, Ying Yanyang, was none other than her own younger brother.
Although there was more than a decade's age difference between them, they were indeed full siblings.
As an elder sister, she naturally had to take her brother's matters seriously.
"Spirit Kite, could you please speak less on this matter! We all know that the homeroom teacher of Class A, First Year, Ying Yanyang, is your brother!"
"Favoring your kin over justice is not appropriate for this occasion."
Demon Bear Douluo, with a full beard, shook his head and sighed.
"Yes, perhaps this money is intended for your brother to line his own pockets."
Ghost Leopard glanced sideways at Spirit Kite, malice evident in his eyes.
Although there were seven people in the Elder Hall, they were essentially divided into three factions: Ghostly Specter, Moon Guan, and Spirit Kite belonged to the Pope's faction; Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard belonged to the faction of the Disciplinary Elder Qian Daoliu; while She Long and Porcupine were temporarily neutral.
"Ghost Leopard, what utter nonsense are you spewing! If your brain is filled with excrement, then go and dump it out before you come back in."
"Do you not know who the 'Fierce Eagle' title of the Spirit Hall was reserved for!"
"If it weren't for my foolish brother, who dedicated over ten years to researching theories for the sake of his so-called teaching duties, how could he, with his innate level nine soul power, still only be a level seventy-four Soul Sage!"
Spirit Kite exploded on the spot, her words utterly lacking politeness, even bordering on coarse. She displayed an attitude that suggested she would fight if an agreement wasn't reached.
Her brother had dedicated himself to the Spirit Hall Academy, neglecting his own cultivation, and had yet to gain any significant benefits. To be slandered like this, how could she tolerate it?
Although Spirit Kite's words caused Ghost Leopard's face to flush, he surprisingly did not retaliate, because what she said was the truth, something even he had no right to refute.
Ying Yanyang, who coexisted in the same era as the current Pope Bibi Dong without being overshadowed by her brilliance, naturally possessed exceptional qualities.
His schemes and methods, his talent and abilities, were all among the top tier. Coupled with Ying Yanyang's ruthless decisiveness, the ability to kill in one blow and never give a second chance, he had earned the respect of many titled Douluo at the time.
With the deaths of three titled Douluo level evil soul masters as a backdrop, even though Ying Yanyang was merely a Soul Sect at the time, he had earned the title "Fierce Eagle" within the Spirit Hall.
Originally, this title should have belonged to the current Spirit Kite, but the character and methods displayed by Ying Yanyang were more fitting.
Thus, with Spirit Kite's voluntary request, a unanimous decision from the Elder Hall, and the joint approval of Pope Qian Xunji and Disciplinary Elder Qian Daoliu, the former Fierce Eagle Douluo became the current Spirit Kite Douluo.
And the title of Fierce Eagle remained vacant, waiting for Ying Yanyang to break through to titled Douluo, at which point it would be conferred upon him.
However, Ying Yanyang was too responsible. After becoming a homeroom teacher, he poured all his energy into teaching and nurturing students, constantly delaying his cultivation progress. Until now, even Frost Moon Lotus, originally an auxiliary soul master, had caught up to him.
"Alright, Spirit Kite, please calm down. We naturally acknowledge your brother's talent and character."
"However, the sum of ten million gold soul coins is simply too enormous. As elders, we must be exceedingly cautious."
Porcupine Douluo once again played the role of peacemaker, offering a word of advice, then turned to Ghostly Specter and Moon Guan on the other side of the table.
"Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, this matter was brought up by you two. Moreover, you often accompany His Holiness the Pope. Please share your views."
In response, Moon Guan and Ghostly Specter both smiled and said in unison, "I agree!"
Without any hesitation, they cast their votes directly, without even explaining the reasons for the matter to those present.
Who these ten million gold soul coins were for, others might not know, but these two certainly did.
Furthermore, His Holiness the Pope had long established a rule: any reasonable request from the Spirit Hall Academy that the Spirit Hall could fulfill should not be rejected.
As loyal supporters of the Pope, they naturally agreed.
"I agree as well!" Spirit Kite Douluo also cast her vote.
"I agree."
"I agree too."
She Long and Demon Bear exchanged glances and cast their votes one after another.
Moon Guan and Ghostly Specter's decisive actions suggested there was a reason unknown to outsiders. As the Pope's trusted aides, their stance largely represented the Pope's stance.
At this moment, opposing the Pope would not be the attitude of a neutral party.
"Fine, even if you all agree to this matter, at least tell us the reason!"
Ghost Leopard said through gritted teeth.
Ten million gold soul coins; even as an elder, he had never personally disbursed such a large sum.
"Are you sure you want to hear it?" Moon Guan narrowed his eyes, smiling heartily.
Matters within the Spirit Hall Academy, if heard by elders who were not part of the Pope's faction, would come at a cost.
Either loyalty, or one's life!
Ghost Leopard was completely silenced and stopped speaking.
"I, however, would like to hear it."
"Me too!"
She Long and Demon Bear spoke successively.
"Let's find a time, and I'll trouble Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo to explain it to us properly."
As these two sentences were spoken, Porcupine and Ghost Leopard felt a sense of unease.
The power dynamics within the Elder Hall had shifted!