Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 853 - 535 Dragon Transformation Essence

Chapter 853: Chapter 535 Dragon Transformation Essence

Lou Ji was ultimately persuaded with a reason.

Due to the increasingly tense situation, many war-related projects in the Prime Minister’s Mansion were being closely and concurrently researched, and among these projects, the research on the Xi’en Emperor’s heart was second only to two other top-secret experiments.

This research not only involved a substantial investment of manpower and material resources, but also involved persuading a Guest Elder from the Primordial clan, whose life was nearing its end, to act as the experimental subject for a transplant. If Xu Yuan’s body’s special abilities could reduce unnecessary expenses, it would be beneficial for the entire Prime Minister’s Mansion.

A group of four, Lou Ji, with her graceful figure, led the way at the front, walking alongside Xu Xinyao, while Ran Qingmo silently trailed behind.

Seeing Xu Yuan suddenly walk beside her, Xu Xinyao turned and glanced at the girl in black behind her, asking with slight surprise,

"Third Brother, do you need something from me?"

Xu Yuan nodded and looked at his fourth sister beside him, asking quietly,

"Has so much time passed, how is the progress on the Soul Ring research?"

Today, his visit to this Black Prison was rather packed, to meet Nameless, retrieve Soul-avoiding Clothes, examine the heart, and inquire about the Soul Ring research progress from his fourth sister.

Although Xu Xinyao had previously mentioned that this project would not see any returns in the short term, as the investor, he had the right to know all scientific research progress from the recipient.

Xu Xinyao’s eyes flickered as she replied in a soft voice,

"It’s okay, why do you suddenly ask this, Third Brother?"

The experience of being the investor in his previous life made Xu Yuan realize in an instant that this girl likely had made no progress.

Being evasive typically means wasting money.

In such scientific projects, even a slight bit of progress would make the recipient eager to showcase the results directly to the investor.

With this thought, Xu Yuan stared at Xu Xinyao without speaking.

After a moment of eye contact, Xu Xinyao felt somewhat guilty and averted her gaze, murmuring in defense,

"Third Brother... Xinyao has been very busy lately, you see I have to help with the Saint’s body, I also need to help with the repairs of the Black Prison, even Master sometimes asks me to help at the Geometry Institute, so... so..."

"So how much silver has been used up so far?" asked Xu Yuan with an impassive tone.

"About three hundred thousand," Xu Xinyao responded without hesitation, but she lifted her left hand to pinch her right arm.

Damn, lying at a glance.

Since childhood, this girl had similar habits when lying.

If sitting beside a tea table, during lying she would continuously pour and drink water; in a carriage, she would pull at the fur on the soft couch with her fingers.

Xu Yuan snorted lightly and said,

"About the research materials and personnel deployment, all I need to do is ask Hua Hong and Jiang He to know!"

Feeling guilty, Xu Xinyao softly stated,

"Five... five hundred thousand taels."

"Tell the truth!"

"It’s just a little over one million taels..."

"One million and a bit?" Xu Yuan glanced at Xu Xinyao, "How many extra tens of thousands?"

Xu Xinyao, looking at the flat stone path, murmured,

"Ninety-three..."

"..." Xu Yuan.

Damn it.

One million one hundred and ninety-three taels, this was the internal purchasing price of the Prime Minister’s Mansion; if it were spent outside, the amount of silver would have exceeded two million five hundred thousand, translating into over four billion in today’s currency, burning over four billion in just over a month...

Seeing Xu Yuan’s cheeks darkening, Xu Xinyao hurriedly explained in a low but rapid voice,

"This silver is the initial investment. To engrave the Qilin Cage Rune requires the ’Carving Dust Realm,’ but the usual ’Carving Dust Realm’ at the Geometry Institute does not meet the research needs for the Soul Ring, requiring a custom order from the Imperial Clan’s Ministry of Works, which is expensive, and also requires purchasing the spiritual materials for the rune..."

"Don’t give me these explanations that I don’t understand."

Xu Yuan directly cut her off, bluntly asking,

"The silver is spent, where are the results?"

"..."

Xu Xinyao hung her head in silence.

Lou Ji, leading at the front, hearing the conversation behind her, turned her gaze back with a hint of amusement and looked at the siblings.

However, this time, the sly woman did not kick Xu Xinyao while she was down but instead helped by softly explaining,

"Changtian, actually it’s not Xinyao’s fault. To create this Soul Ring, there hasn’t been a similar research project in our Prime Minister’s Mansion. The only thing that could help her is the Demon Ghost Formation. Transitioning a new thing from zero to one is really difficult, and spending two million taels is actually quite minimal."

Hearing this, Xu Xinyao immediately looked up, very grateful to Lou Ji, then pitifully gazed at Xu Yuan, the "investor daddy."

Looking at the thin, graceful figure under the light blue robe, Xu Yuan felt both exasperation and amusement in his eyes, asking softly,

"But I recall that when you first mentioned this to me, the initial requirement was only around two million taels."

Xu Xinyao responded righteously, her voice soft,

"With sufficient funds, of course, we need to use the best materials so that the day you see the product, Third Brother, can be moved up."

Pie in the sky.

Little Four has also learned to be sneaky.

"Since the best materials were used, why is there no progress at all?" Xu Yuan began to press for answers.

Xu Xinyao shrank her neck,

"This... this is because we lack materials. The list of materials for refining the Soul Ring provided by Elder Luo contains many materials that have gone extinct. Everything else can be managed, but the main material, Blood Refining Crystal, we still can’t find a substitute for..."

"...."