Chapter 10: Development Planning
Neuvillette watched Furina retreating back as she slipped away, shaking his head slightly before refocusing his attention on the notebook in his hand. The tip of his pen glided across the paper with a rustling sound, recording the requests for help from several believers just now: Old John needed plaster for his rheumatism, Little Mary hoped for a "blessing" that would make her family's sickly hen lay more eggs, and the blacksmith's apprentice wanted to ask if he could awaken a Second Martial Soul (this one was directly crossed out by Neuvillette)...
Meanwhile, having slipped back inside, Furina impatiently closed the door and rubbed her hands together excitedly. "System, System! Open the mall quickly and let me see!"
The light curtain expanded in response, appearing to have more content than before. At the very top, it displayed her current points: 2280. Furina blinked; it seemed Neuvillette's management was indeed effective, as faith points were growing much faster than before.
She browsed through the mall items, muttering to herself:
"The gold coin exchange is still the same, 10 points for 1, what a black-hearted merchant..." "Eh? These are..." She saw a row of newly unlocked categories, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
[Medicinal Pill Section]:
Blood Coagulation Powder (30 points/pack): Used for external bleeding, the effect isn't much better than Cake, but you don't have to eat it. Qi Recovery Pill (60 points/pill): Quickly restores a small amount of spirit power. Power Accumulation Pill (80 points/pill): Increases strength by 10% for half an hour. Wind-Walking Pill (80 points/pill): Increases speed by 10% for half an hour. Profound Water Pill (200 points/pill): Has the effect of cleansing tendons and marrow, with significant effects on low-level Spirit Masters.
Furina curled her lip. "Aside from the Profound Water Pill, why are they all low-level pills? The names even seem a bit familiar."
Scrolling down, there was something even more surprising:
[Weapon Section]:
Heavy Profound Ruler (Imitation) (300 points): Looks very heavy, but doesn't seem to have any special effects. Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler (One-time Scroll) (500 points): Can release a single fire shockwave. Green Lotus Core Flame (Seed State) (1500 points): Noted as "requires special conditions to Cultivate."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Furina rubbed her eyes. "Why do these things look so familiar? System, did you copy these from some novel?"
She continued scrolling down and saw a special category:
[Spirit Master Exclusive]:
Ten-Year White spirit ring (300 points): Random skill, effect depends on fate. Hundred-Year Yellow spirit ring (600 points): Slightly better skills, still depends on luck. Thousand-Year Purple spirit ring (3000 points): Can't afford it, just looking. Random Ten-Year Spirit Bone (1200 points): Random body part, unknown effect. Note: Selling a ten-year Spirit Bone will definitely be an eye-opener (heavy fog). Level One Soul Guide Dagger (200 points): Comes with a weak sharpness effect. Level Two Soul Guide Shield (400 points): Can block one strong attack.
Furina stared dumbfounded. "You can even buy spirit rings and Spirit Bones? System, you're going to be Heaven-Defying! But this is way too expensive..."
Finally, there was [Special Items]:
storage ring (5 cubic meters) (600 points): Storage space, finally I don't have to stuff everything in my pockets. Random Cultivation Technique Scroll (800 points): What you get depends entirely on luck.
Furina looked at that simple-styled storage ring, feeling very tempted. "Six hundred points... still so expensive." But thinking about not having to worry about storing things anymore, she gritted her teeth and exchanged for it.
A silver ring suddenly appeared in her hand, simple in style and slightly warm to the touch. She tried to "collect" a cup on the table; with a thought, the cup indeed disappeared! With another thought, the cup reappeared in her hand.
"Fun, so much fun!" Like a child with a new toy, she put things in the room in and out, playing with great joy.
After playing enough, her gaze turned toward that Random Cultivation Technique Scroll. "What if I get a powerful technique? Wouldn't I be able to speed up my cultivation? It couldn't possibly be a defective Mysterious Heavenly Skill left behind by Buddha Tang, right? I wouldn't want that even if I were beaten to death."
But the high price of 800 points made her hesitate. "Forget it, forget it, I'll save up for now." She muttered as she closed the light curtain, "I'll check again when I have more points."
When she walked out of the house, she found the courtyard had changed significantly. Neuvillette was directing several believers to build a sturdy shed in a corner of the yard, with several tables and chairs neatly arranged underneath. Mademoiselle Crabaletta was using her crab claws to help fix the wooden boards; though her movements were a bit clumsy, she was very diligent. Gentilhomme Usher was using a tentacle to hold a brush, trying to teach a young believer how to keep accounts, though unfortunately, ink was being spilled everywhere. Surintendante Chevalmarin floated in the air, supervising the whole scene and occasionally letting out bubbles of dissatisfaction.
"The progress is quite good!" Furina leaned in next to Neuvillette, trying to act as if she had always been concerned about church affairs.
Neuvillette didn't even look up as he continued writing something: "Based on the current progress, we should be able to complete basic infrastructure construction by tomorrow. Additionally, I've noticed that our material storage is quite problematic."
Furina triumphantly shook the storage ring on her hand: "That problem is solved! Look, a newly acquired storage ring!"
Neuvillette finally looked up and carefully examined the ring: "An interesting spatial device. What is the capacity? Does accessing it consume energy? How is the security?"
A series of professional questions left Furina dazed: "Uh... 5 cubic meters? It shouldn't consume anything? Security... it should be okay?"
Neuvillette made a note in his notebook: "I suggest that important materials should still have a physical storage location; such spatial devices are best used as backups."
He closed the notebook and suddenly asked: "Regarding those children who have awakened spirit power, what are your plans?"
Furina was stunned for a moment: "Ah? What plans?"
"According to the records, a total of seven children have awakened spirit power ranging from level one to level three," Neuvillette flipped through the register. "They need a systematic Spirit Master education; otherwise, this tiny bit of spirit power is meaningless."
Furina scratched her head: "This... send them to a Spirit Master academy?"
To be honest, she had previously only helped awaken Martial Spirits and spirit power, then urged their parents to take them to a Spirit Master school, giving them quite a bit of money, and ignored everything else. She didn't even know how those children had developed.
"The tuition for the nearest Elementary Spirit Master Academy is 50 silver coins per year, which is a significant expense for commoner families. Two of the children stayed with the Water God Cult for this very reason," Neuvillette said calmly. "Our current monthly donation income is equivalent to about 1 gold soul coin, and the Water God Cult has a total of one hundred gold coins remaining, but we still have other expenses like building the Water God Cult."
Furina immediately wilted: "It's that expensive..."
She thought to herself: "It seems I need to exchange for more money."
"So I suggest," Neuvillette continued, "we can first start an enlightenment class ourselves. Hire a teacher to teach basic knowledge while screening promising children for focused cultivation."
"Hire a Spirit Master? How much would that cost?"
"It won't cost too much. Some low-level Spirit Masters are frustrated scholars; it will be much easier to start with them." Neuvillette seemed to have investigated already. "We can also use providing room and board and discounts on 'sacred objects' as part of the compensation."
Furina's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea! Then we can also teach them to read and do math! Then I, as both the Pope and the Water God, can help them hunt Spirit Beasts to obtain spirit rings."
"Exactly." Neuvillette nodded. "For those children willing to stay and develop within the cult, we can provide more comprehensive training, so they may become the backbone of the cult in the future."
He spread out a simple map and pointed to several spots on it: "For long-term planning, I suggest consolidating our existing strongholds first, then gradually expanding to surrounding villages. Each stronghold can provide basic medical and awakening services to expand our influence."
"At the same time, we need to establish more stable sources of income. Besides believer donations, perhaps we can develop some specialties, such as using your Soul Skills to make special food for sale to non-believers, or performing musical dramas and the like. I believe that is your specialty."
Furina was dumbstruck: "You've even thought of this?"
"Just basic management planning." Neuvillette's tone was flat. "Of course, all of this requires time and a stable environment."
"But as for money, you actually don't need to worry. I'll find a way. You just have to be responsible for making sure I get more and more believers." Furina stood with her hands on her hips, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
Isn't it just money? As long as there are points, there is money, and as long as there is faith, there will be points. A mere small change is not worth mentioning!
Neuvillette didn't understand why she was so confident, but he didn't ask more, only nodding: "If you have a way, Miss Furina, then I shall not worry about it."
"Now, let us first solve the children's education problem."
The development blueprint for the Water God Cult was slowly unfolding in Iudex's notebook. Meanwhile, Furina began to think about how to use her limited points to secure the greatest development space for this newly started small sect.