In the main hall, everyone looked much more relieved after hearing that there were 70 Spirit Stones.
Although it was rather hard to accept the loss of ten inferior-grade Spirit Stones for nothing, they felt that it wasn't too bad after learning that they had 70 Spirit Stones in the sect.
They regarded it as spending money to tide through a crisis.
However, when he saw the look of relief on their faces, Daoist Tai Hua shook his head bitterly.
In an instant, the disciples in the main hall fell silent again.
'It's not 70 Spirit Stones?'
'Is it 70 taels of gold?'
Their emotions became complicated.
It was indeed rather tricky.
"Is it 70 taels of gold? The difference may be huge but if we work hard, we can earn that amount in two months."
Su Changyu said with a grim expression.
He had the demeanor and sense of responsibility of the 'Eldest Senior Brother'.
Everyone calmed down after hearing his words.
They thought that 70 taels of gold wasn't too bad.
They were only 30 taels of gold short and there was some hope for them.
However, at the next moment, Daoist Tai Hua's face became even more grave.
Su Changyu swallowed his saliva immediately.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Sect Leader, don't tell me that there are only 70 taels of silver."
Su Changyu's face was full of disbelief.
If they only had 70 taels of silver, they wouldn't have to think about it.
If they had 70 taels of gold, they could still work hard to earn 30 taels of gold and have a slim chance of survival.
But 70 taels of silver?
What could they do with that?
Just when the crowd thought there were only 70 seventy taels of silver, Daoist Tai Hua shook his head bitterly again.
Su Changyu was speechless.
Xu Luochen was at a loss for words.
So was Wang Zhuoyu.
Chen Lingrou too.
Silence filled the air.
Everyone in the main hall sunk into despair.
70 copper coins?
'Damn it.'
'Are you kidding me?'
At first, the crowd thought that 70 taels of silver was actually already the bottom line of the Qingyun Dao Sect.
However, they didn't expect that Daoist Tai Hua would never disappoint.
70 copper coins?
What could they do with that?
What?
The Qingyun Dao Sect's annual net income was only about 30 taels of gold.
Although the Qingyun Dao Sect was an immortal sect, it was the worst of the worst. Hence, 30 taels of gold a year was not bad.
There were only eight people in the clan. Since they had no mines or land, they could only rely on selling spiritual rice to earn a small income.
How were they supposed to get so many silver taels in two months?
They might not be able to do so even if they sold their bodies.
"That doesn't seem right. Sect Leader, I know that our sect is poor but not to such an extent, right? What about our savings over the years?"
Some were in disbelief. They felt that even if the sect was poor, it shouldn't be to such an extent.
An immortal sect only had 70 copper coins in savings?
In the mortal world even some Escort Agencies had more than 70 copper coins.
Daoist Tai Hua couldn't help but be furious on hearing those words.
"Luochen, what do you mean by that? Could it be that you think that I've pocketed some of the money?"
Daoist Tai Hua questioned sternly with displeasure.
"I don't dare."
Xu Luochen immediately cringed.
However, Su Changyu looked straight at his unreliable master.
"Master, I believe that you will not pocket the money but it's impossible that we only have 70 copper coins left, just tell us the truth."
Su Changyu vaguely felt that things couldn't be that simple.
After he said that, Daoist Tai Hua wanted to retort but under Su Changyu's persuasion, he couldn't help but look a bit guilty.
"Actually, the sect originally had some savings."
"But later on, I thought that it would be a waste to keep the taels of silver with me, so the last time I went down the mountain, I discovered a new thing called an Immortal Cultivation Fund, which was said to provide a considerable sum of returns every month."
"I thought that it would be profitable to let someone safekeep our silver and allow us to earn some interest."
"So, I used the silver to buy some funds."
Daoist Tai Hua stammered a little as he explained.
"Fund? What's that?"
"Master, go and get it now then."
"Yeah, regardless of the interest, we must hurry and withdraw it now."
The members spoke up one after another and were relieved to learn that they still had a sum of money.
However, Daoist Tai Hua said helplessly, "I want to withdraw the silver too but after I deposited the silver, I couldn't find the person in charge.
He felt terrible at the mention of that matter. He had been smart all his life, but he never thought that he would make such a mistake.
"Sect Leader, you…."
"Sect Leader, how much silver did you invest?"
"Not that much but not little either. About 200 taels of gold."
Daoist Tai Hua answered, feeling a little embarrassed.
"200 taels of gold?"
Sss!
Everyone exclaimed in shock.
They really couldn't believe it.
Firstly, it was a shocking amount, and secondly, how could the Qingyun Dao Sect have 200 taels of gold?
Where did 200 taels of gold come about?
By normal standards, the sect would spend at most one to two hundred copper coins a day if they splurged on sumptuous food everyday.
In a month, they would spend 30 taels of silver.
In a year, they would spend 4 taels of gold.
They could eat luxurious food every single day for 50 years with 200 taels of gold.
50 years.
How many 50 years are there in life?
They were in agony and on the verge of tears.
"Sect Leader, did you make a mistake? 200 taels of gold? How is it possible for us to have so much?"
Wang Zhuoyu was doubtful.
No one else in the sect believed it either.
"I borrowed 120 taels of gold from elsewhere."
Daoist's Tai Hua's voice was rather soft as he dared not answer loudly.
Sss!
Everyone gasped.
He borrowed 120 taels of gold?
What did that mean?
Dumbfounded!
Dumbfounded!
Dumbfounded!
Everyone was dumbfounded.
'Does that mean that we have to solve the problem of raising 100 taels of gold for the fee, and accumulate another 120 taels of gold to repay the debt?'
Daoist Tai Hua lowered his head, feeling embarrassed.
Initially, he did not plan to tell them about it. After all, he held the authority of managing the sect's finances and no one would check the accounts anyway.
However, he had to tell them at this point.
It was dead silent in the main hall.
Everyone's heart was heavy.
Daoist Tai Hua didn't know what to say.
They were at a loss for words too.
In the end, Daoist Tai Hua took a deep breath, and then said slowly,
"No matter what, I will definitely think of a solution. Today, I hoped that I could get some ideas from you guys. If nothing works, I'll take the gamble and go to Jinglin Mountain Range."
Daoist Tai Hua said.
However, his words made them even more helpless.
Jinglin Mountain Range was a famous mountain range that was full of demonic beasts. Only the desperate ones would go there to hunt for demonic beasts to earn some Spirit Stones. It was incredibly dangerous.
How could they let their master go to such a dangerous place?
However, they genuinely did not know what to say.
"Forget it. You guys go back and see if you can think of a solution. Changyu, stay behind. I have some instructions for you."
Daoist Tai Hua told Su Changyu to stay.