Inside the western chamber.
Chen Shuiwen convened with Sun Zhengyi and others once again, but this time, the gathering clearly had a few fewer attendees than before.
With a sullen face, Chen Shuiwen asked, "Where are Wang Li and Jiang Yue?"
Sun Zhengyi answered, "When I went to call them, they said they weren't feeling well..."
Chen Shuiwen let out a cold snort and sneered contemptuously, "Most likely, they perceive that I'm at a disadvantage in this round and want to distance themselves from me. Never mind them, once I've dealt with Xiao Yi, let's see how I'll pinch them."
Sun Zhengyi hurriedly said, "Chancellor, rest assured, we are firmly on your side and will definitely not be fence-sitters like those two!"
"Right, in life we are yours, in death we are your ghosts!"
"What's Xiao Yi anyway? It's just that he's had some good luck today, even running into Ye Heng..."
Several people added hastily.
Although Chen Shuiwen knew they were simply flattering him, their words were still music to his ears.
Chen Shuiwen's expression softened somewhat, and he spoke indifferently, "The matter with Ye Heng isn't over yet. Today, Mr. Li stepped in to intervene, preventing Ye Heng from successfully becoming a disciple. Sun Zhengyi, from now on, you must stay in contact with Mr. Li and make sure to prevent Ye Heng from taking Xiao Yi as his master. Otherwise, having a disciple with a Sacred Body will become a big problem!"
"Chancellor, don't worry. I will head to Mr. Li's residence right after this!" Sun Zhengyi stated.
Chen Shuiwen nodded and continued, "Xiao Yi wants to recruit disciples and mentors, and he will certainly need your help..."
Zou Zheng said with a fawning face, "Chancellor, rest assured, we definitely won't let Xiao Yi recruit any disciples!"
Chen Shuiwen rebuked sharply, his face twisted into a malicious grin, "Not only must we not stop it, but we must also assist Xiao Yi with all our might, ensuring he recruits as many people as possible."
The crowd was momentarily stunned, confused yet impressed.
If Xiao Yi recruited enough disciples and mentors, wouldn't Xiaoshanhe Institute fall into his control?
A middle-aged man with a sharp chin and monkey-like cheeks spoke in a sinister tone, "Chancellor, this is a brilliant move!"
The others looked at him, not understanding.
Zou Zheng asked in confusion, "God of Wealth, what do you mean by that?"
This person was none other than Chen Shuiwen's absolute confidant, a Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouse Chen Xing, who also managed the finances of Xiaoshanhe Institute.
All resources of Xiaoshanhe Institute had to pass through his hands.
Thus, people called him the God of Wealth!
Grinning widely, Chen Xing said with a sly look, "Xiao Yi has made a grand claim that he will cover all cultivation resources for the disciples and mentors. Do you know how huge an expense that is? Not to mention anything else, just with the current size of Xiaoshanhe Institute, providing resources in his promised manner would cost three hundred million Silver Taels monthly. If he recklessly doubles the number of disciples and mentors, that's a monthly expense of six hundred million Silver Taels. And right now, there's less than a hundred million in Xiaoshanhe Institute's accounts..."
Everyone drew a sharp breath.
Then they understood Chen Shuiwen's intention.
"The Chancellor is indeed astute!"
"When Xiao Yi can't provide the resources, won't the newly arrived mentors and disciples tear him apart?"
Chen Shuiwen smiled smugly, saying, "As long as you follow me properly, naturally you'll reap your benefits! As for that Xiao Yi... just a wet-behind-the-ears boy thinking he can arm wrestle with me? He's still too naive..."
In the eastern wing room.
Xiao Yi and the others were also gathered together, with Little Lin climbing onto his shoulder, "Boss, it's just as you expected, Chen Shuiwen has called all those people together."
Yu Huaxian asked, "Little Lin, what is their plan?"
Little Lin nodded, his face showing a human-like mockery, "They are thinking of obstructing Ye Heng from becoming an apprentice, and at the same time they will do their utmost to help us recruit disciples and tutors, just waiting to see you fail to produce the promised resources so they can laugh at us!"
"These guys are really cunning!"
"Xiao is truly formidable, everything is just as you predicted..."
Xiao Yi waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "There's no need to worry about Ye Heng. As long as he is determined to take me as his master, even if Emperor Qian speaks out, it will be useless. Moreover, Emperor Qian will stand on our side..." He paused, then continued, "As for recruiting disciples and tutors, Chen Shuiwen and others are waiting to laugh at us, but this time they definitely won't trip us up; on the contrary, they will help us by all means possible. We should recruit as many disciples and excellent tutors as possible, and I will also find a way to bring in some experts!"
Currently, almost all tutors and disciples at the Xiaoshanhe Institute belonged to Chen Shuiwen's faction.
Xiao Yi must quickly cultivate his own loyal followers; otherwise, in the struggle for control of Xiaoshanhe Institute with Chen Shuiwen, he would ultimately be at a disadvantage.
"Yu Huaxian, leave the recruitment of disciples to you and Bing Xin. Elder Yan and Elder Xue will be responsible for the tutors!" Xiao Yi assigned the tasks.
Yan Mingli hesitated for a moment before asking, "Xiao, how many should we recruit this time?"
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and replied, "For now, let's recruit twice the current size!"
"Currently, the Xiaoshanhe Institute has seventy-three tutors and just over four thousand nine hundred disciples... If we recruit at twice the size, we'll need roughly one hundred fifty tutors and ten thousand disciples..."
Yan Mingli's deep eyes sparkled with wisdom.
Xiao Yi nodded, "Based on that scale, how much would our expenses be each month?"
Yan Mingli replied with a wry smile, "Almost one billion per month, and that doesn't even include the granting of a fourth-rank Yuan weapon should any tutor break through to the Tao Tribulation Realm."
"One billion silver taels a month? Good gracious!" Yu Huaxian swallowed hard.
Xiao Yi knew the expenses would be large, but he didn't expect them to be this enormous; frowning, he asked, "Elder Yan, how much money do we still have?"
When he left the Tianqing Kingdom, Jiang Tai had given him fifty billion silver taels as a reserve.
"There were fifty billion silver taels that you previously gave me. A few days ago, you withdrew five billion for Ye Heng's cultivation. Adding some expenses during this time, we still have forty-four billion five hundred million silver taels. Ten billion of which must be reserved for the ancestral worship ceremony in three months. This means we can support our expenses for at most three months!" Yan Mingli explained clearly, then added, "And if any tutors break through to the Tao Tribulation Realm within these three months, that expense is additional!"
Xiao Yi's eyebrows were tightly knit.
He had thought that fifty billion was a lot, but who would have guessed that it was only enough to cover three months of expenses?
Although if he just asked, Jiang Tai would provide the silver, even if he had to sell his last pot, Xiao Yi was unwilling to do that.
The Tianqing Kingdom was in need of advancement in all trades and industries. If too much silver was drawn, it would certainly impact the development of the Tianqing Kingdom.
"When will the royal subsidies arrive?" Xiao Yi inquired.
Yan Mingli replied with a bitter smile, "This year's subsidy was distributed half a year ago. Now that all the account books have been destroyed, there's less than one billion silver taels left in the treasury..."
Xiao Yi immediately felt a headache coming on. But the situation was such that they had to shoot the arrow since it was already on the string, so he said, "I'll figure out a way for the funds. You just proceed according to the plan!"
Everyone nodded and then dispersed.
Xiao Yi leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him.
He had thought himself rather wealthy, but now it seemed...