But the Discipline Hall Elder abruptly swept her sleeve and pointed her dragon-headed cane at the Warehouse Steward, who knelt trembling on the ground. She barked coldly, "You tell us! Weren't you the one who did all the accounts? Report the truth!"
The Warehouse Steward shuddered at the sudden rebuke. Stammering, he moved a few beads on his abacus and answered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "R-reporting to the Discipline Hall Elder, the mining disciples in the tunnels received Spirit Stones this month... some received twice as many. Those with better aptitude who worked more shifts... received three times as many..."
He had barely finished speaking.
The Discipline Hall Elder abruptly turned and bowed deeply to the sect master, her voice heavy with anguish. "Sect Master! You heard that!
"Those utterly unruly mining disciples habitually shirked their duties, loved eating, and hated working. That was what kept driving down our sect's Spirit Stone output!
"Now that there's profit to be had, now that they can receive this so-called share of surplus production, every one of them is blinded by greed. Suddenly they have the strength to mine and the energy to push ore!
"They actually doubled the monthly Spirit Stone stipends they took home! Some even tripled them!"
She grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, her voice rising. "I'm not saying these lowly disciples shouldn't receive Spirit Stones!
"But with their inferior aptitude, negligible cultivation, and wretched backgrounds, what use do they have for so many Spirit Stones?!
"It's nothing but waste!!!
"If all the Spirit Stones distributed to them were handed over to the sect, they could serve a great purpose, whether we purchased heavenly materials and earthly treasures or refined powerful Magical Treasures!
"Not to mention, if these Spirit Stones were added to the