How Was the Wasteland Developed?

I don't keep an eye on the Spirit Hall's treasury very often.

It must have been Bibi Dong who took advantage of the loss of the spies in the Worship Hall and then embezzled the treasury's money.

To embezzle such a huge sum of money without consulting the Worship Hall is simply outrageous. I think she doesn't respect the Worship Hall at all!

"If we don't teach her a lesson, she'll really think we're pushovers!"

Golden Crocodile hurried towards the Spirit Hall.

In his view.

The ruins just moments ago have been transformed into their current state; it must have cost a fortune, otherwise how could they have achieved this in such a short time?

Weeding, ground preparation, and labor costs alone will consume a lot of money, not to mention that the project has been going on for several days and has certainly consumed even more money.

"Li Mubai and Bibi Dong really don't know the value of firewood, rice, oil, and salt!"

The Spirit Hall's foundation will be squandered by these two sooner or later.

Snort!

I won't stand idly by. If you want to squander your wealth, you'll have to get past me first!

The Golden Crocodile gritted its teeth and secretly swore an oath in its heart.

Back on the cobblestone road, he quickened his pace, looking nothing like an old man, drawing sidelong glances from passersby.

Certainly.

Some Soul Master recognized the Golden Crocodile's identity and immediately exclaimed in surprise.

Some Soul Master even stood on the spot and respectfully bowed.

Certainly.

Most people were still completely baffled.

There are always more ordinary people than Soul Master. They are usually preoccupied with their wives, children, and warm beds, so they naturally have little time to spare. Not to mention, they have absolutely no connection with the Soul Master World, so it's perfectly normal that they don't recognize the Golden Crocodile.

The Golden Crocodile, its face dark, sped along at breakneck speed.

They soon arrived at the entrance to the Pope's Hall.

He looked inside and saw that the hall was completely empty, without a single person in sight.

He was well aware that Bibi Dong would usually be in the rear room unless there were important matters to attend to.

"Hmph! Embezzling funds from the treasury and daring to remain so calm, as if nothing happened—they truly don't respect the Worship Hall!"

Golden Crocodile snorted inwardly, a look of anger appearing on his face. Ignoring Bibi Dong's order forbidding anyone from trespassing into the Pope's Hall, he immediately strode towards the back of the palace.

Only.

As soon as he arrived at the back garden, he was stopped by two women dressed in black with fox patterns embroidered on their clothes.

"Worshipper Golden Crocodile, His Pope's Hall has decreed that no one is allowed to trespass into the backyard. Please obey His Pope's Hall's orders. If there is any further request, we will convey the message to him."

Golden Crocodile scoffed. "Pope decree?"

He glared at the two masked women.

"Have you all forgotten yourselves, or perhaps I have forgotten my own identity? The Spirit Hall is not the only powerful force here. Many things cannot be decided by the words of a mere Pope!"

The words had barely left his mouth.

A fierce glint flashed in the Golden Crocodile's eyes.

Immediately afterwards, a vast and boundless aura erupted from his body, and the two women felt as if surging waves were constantly impacting their souls, causing them unbearable pain.

Under the impact of this force, the two trembled violently and swayed precariously.

As the oppressive force continued to assault them, their knees gradually bent. Despite their best efforts to resist the aura, it was all in vain.

The two were about to kneel down.

The Golden Crocodile suddenly snorted coldly, withdrew its aura, and instantly transformed into a harmless old man who appeared to pose no threat whatsoever. The space returned to peace and tranquility once more.

Chirp chirp...

Two birds perched on the fence in the yard and played.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the two men's bodies suddenly went limp, as if they had just finished a fierce battle and were completely exhausted.

Despite this.

The two exchanged a glance.

After a brief exchange of glances, one of them stayed behind to continue blocking the Golden Crocodile, even though he was exhausted, while the other walked through the garden toward the study, his steps unsteady but hurried.

Watching the woman's departing black figure, Golden Crocodile did not choose to stop her. Instead, he waited for her to come to him. He knew Bibi Dong would definitely come, and he didn't want to force his way in and get into a fight with her later.

Qian Daoliu instructed... unless it is a major matter, do not interfere with Bibi Dong's actions.

Just this point.

He dared not disobey.

Study.

Bibi Dong was carefully reading the various pieces of information on the Xuan paper in her hand.

Occasionally, she would read something delightful and smile knowingly; or when she read something unkind, she would raise her eyebrows, like a willow branch swaying in the spring breeze, causing the branch to tilt, her expression solemn.

"Your Pope's Hall... the Worshipper Golden Crocodile has arrived."

A hurried, broken voice rang out, as if spoken after a vigorous run.

Bibi Dong frowned. The voice outside the door was very familiar to her, extremely familiar. What surprised her was why the Golden Crocodile had come.

Aren't those people in the Worship Hall always aloof and disdainful of having anything to do with her? Why are they suddenly coming to her door now?

And the tone of voice of the person who came.

He was clearly exhausted after a fierce battle. What happened? Did he fight the Golden Crocodile?

Bibi Dong put down the secret letter in her hand, stood up, and slowly walked to the door.

With a creak.

The door opened.

Bibi Dong immediately noticed the slightly hunched woman in black.

Her relaxed brows furrowed instantly. "What happened?"

The woman in black was trying her best to suppress her breathing, making it less rapid and heavy. But who was Bibi Dong?

Titled Douluo!

With a slight twitch of her white jade-like ears, Bai Yu immediately noticed that the woman in black was breathing somewhat abnormally.

"I... Phew... It's nothing. The Worshipper Golden Crocodile is at the entrance to the garden from the main hall. Your Highness, please go there quickly."

The woman in black shook her head slightly as she spoke, her eyes, not hidden by her veil, gazing in the direction of her companion, a hint of worry in them.

Golden Crocodile!

Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with a cold light.

Although the woman in black didn't say much, she could guess what was going on from the other person's reaction.

Enraged, she immediately flung her sleeves and left.

"Golden offering, what a magnificent display of power!"

Just as the Golden Crocodile was getting impatient...

A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a graceful figure slowly walking out from around the corner of the ornamental tree not far away. It was indeed Bibi Dong.

"Pope Holiness, you have finally arrived."

The Golden Crocodile smiled while hiding a dagger; his tone was devoid of any respect, filled entirely with sarcasm.

The reason he was so respectful at last month's meeting was because Qian Daoliu was present. They had all been instructed by Qian Daoliu and dared not disobey.

He could somewhat guess what Qian Daoliu was thinking.

The last conference was also the first time Qian Daoliu had participated in the monthly meeting, because the Elder Hall welcomed a new figure.

That's exactly right.

This was the first time that Qian Daoliu, who had always been indifferent to worldly affairs, had ever been to the Pope's Hall.

As for why he behaved so obediently towards Bibi Dong at the conference, Golden Crocodile had no idea.

"The Worshipper Golden Crocodile, but little do they know what I have said before."

Is anyone other than those I have personally appointed strictly forbidden from trespassing into this garden?

Nowadays.

What is the meaning behind the Worshipper Golden Crocodile this?

Bibi Dong, with a cold expression, strode forward and waved for her two subordinates to leave.

After the two left, Golden Crocodile said with a smile, "Your Pope's Hall, please take a look."

As they were talking.

The Golden Crocodile lowered its head slightly, its gaze sweeping downwards until it finally settled on its toes. It twitched its toes slightly, then looked up at Bibi Dong, a smug smile on its face, "Have I stepped into this garden?"

He already knew that Bibi Dong might use this incident to make a fuss, so he was careful and deliberately did not step into the garden, but stood at the end of the passageway leading to the garden.

Here, the other party has no leverage over them.

As he expected, Bibi Dong did bring up the matter, but it was like punching cotton; the other party must have felt quite uncomfortable.

Bibi Dong had prepared many things to say, but they were certainly not pleasant words.

And now.

These words were all stuck in her throat, leaving her with nowhere to vent them. Her anger raged, but her expression remained unchanged, always calm and indifferent.

"Hmph! Stop beating around the bush. If you have something to say, just say it. If not, please leave!"

Despite her burning anger, Bibi Dong's expression grew even colder.

"Since His Pope's Hall is so unfriendly to me, then I shall simply state the matter at hand."

Golden Crocodile didn't want to waste any more words. He immediately straightened his expression, his sharp gaze fixed on Bibi Dong, and his tone became serious.

"Your Pope's Hall, did you unilaterally misappropriate funds from the Spirit Hall's treasury? If so, isn't this extremely disrespectful to my Worship Hall?"

Misappropriation of funds?

Bibi Dong was somewhat bewildered. When had she ever misappropriated money from the treasury?

Not only did she not do it, she also added over 20 million to the treasury—equivalent to three years' worth of profits for the Spirit Hall. With such merit, what difference would it make if she did embezzle funds?

Immediately afterwards.

She then realized... was Golden Crocodile deliberately trying to frame her?

Bibi Dong stared directly into Golden Crocodile's aged yet piercing eyes, trying to discern something from them. However, Golden Crocodile's eyes were simply too deep, and she couldn't see through his thoughts at all.

These old monsters are definitely not to be trifled with!

Bibi Dong thought to herself.

Thinking about this...

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that Li Mubai was the best; she could hear his thoughts and wasn't afraid of him harboring any ill intentions. Unlike these cunning old men in front of her, she had to be constantly wary of any hidden meanings in their words, which was a real headache.

"Ha! It's just some money in the treasury. Don't say I wouldn't stoop to embezzling it; even if I did, what could you do about it?"

This moment.

Bibi Dong finally felt that she had a place to vent her anger.

The arrogant tone immediately made Golden Crocodile frown. "Pope Holiness, don't forget that to misappropriate the money in the Spirit Hall's treasury, you must obtain the approval of the Worship Hall, otherwise it is a crime of overstepping the rules of the sect."

Your Pope's Hall, you must be unaware of the punishment for this crime, right?

Now is not the time to say things in anger; you should think carefully before you speak.

"Haven't I made myself clear enough?"

Bibi Dong glared at him coldly, completely unconcerned by Golden Crocodile's slightly threatening words.

She already had no good feelings towards the Worship Hall, and the fact that Golden Crocodile had attacked her subordinates earlier had already angered her. Her current words were already quite polite; otherwise, she would have already shown the guests away!

"Your Pope's Hall, some things cannot be said lightly; if they are, there will be consequences!"

"Golden Crocodile continued."

"Then tell me, what price do I need to pay?"

Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, her expression flippant, and her tone suddenly carried a hint of domineering arrogance, making one want to look up to her.

"Snort!"

Golden Crocodile snorted coldly and immediately turned and left.

Bibi Dong's answer was ambiguous, sounding as if she hadn't embezzled any funds, but would he believe her so easily?

Since he couldn't get any answers from here, he decided to stop rambling on with Bibi Dong.

Although he was stronger Bibi Dong, he didn't dare to do anything to her.

If he were to teach Bibi Dong a lesson, then Qian Daoliu would surely be thrown into chaos once again.

He wasn't afraid of Bibi Dong, but Qian Daoliu...

After the Golden Crocodile left.

Standing beside the delicate flowers, Bibi Dong fell into deep thought.

Why would the Golden Crocodile come here and ask such a strange question?

Could it be that they discovered a new city under construction and assumed that the Spirit Hall was funding its construction?

If that's really the case...

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong's lips curled up and she chuckled softly.

If that's really the case, then it's hilarious.

These stubborn old mindsets are like a stubborn rock, completely impossible to enlighten. As for her, she only needed to explain the plan to Li Mubai to understand this novel way of building a city.

But Golden Crocodile, that stubborn old man, still thought that the new city needed funding from the Spirit Hall to be built.

How ridiculous!

Bibi Dong increasingly believed that Li Mubai was a treasure and she absolutely could not let him go. She had to let him contribute to the development of the Spirit Hall and lay a solid foundation for her future plans.

On the other side.

After leaving the Pope's Hall, Golden Crocodile went straight to the location of the Spirit Hall's treasury.

Elder Jin!

Elder Jin!

Upon seeing the newcomer, the two guards at the vault gate immediately straightened their expressions and greeted him respectfully.

Golden Crocodile nodded in response and walked to the gate.

He looked up at the blazing sun hanging high in the sky, then turned to the two guards and said, "You two are quite good. Despite the heat, you've persevered and are dedicated to the Spirit Hall. You truly deserve to be called the backbone of the Spirit Hall!"

"Elder Jin is too kind. Serving the Spirit Hall with utmost dedication is our greatest honor!"

The two guards said modestly in unison.

Despite their modesty, a smile involuntarily appeared on both of their faces.

They were very pleased with the Golden Crocodile's praise.

"By the way, has there been any large expenditure from the vault recently?"

If you want to get things done, you need to do it beforehand and smooth things over with connections.

Golden Crocodile was adept at handling these social niceties.

After offering his praise, he then asked the questions he needed to understand.

"Reporting to Elder Jin, the treasury has not been used for any expenditures for over a month."

One of the guards answered.

This guard was an informant planted by the Worship Hall, and naturally answered Golden Crocodile's question without hesitation.

"You're sure there were no expenses in January?"

Golden Crocodile was slightly surprised and asked again, somewhat incredulously.

If there have been no expenditures in the past month, where did the money for the new city construction come from?

Who would be foolish enough to buy land in such a desolate place, other than the Spirit Hall investing in its development into a new city?

"Elder, the treasury has indeed not been used for any expenditures for a month."

Now.

Another guard also told the truth.

The Golden Crocodile's praise had put him in a slightly better mood.

This question can naturally be answered, even though he wasn't an informant Worship Hall.