Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 483 Resource Shortage

Speaking of the research progress, Xuan Ziwen's eyes changed, becoming extremely enthusiastic, and he said excitedly, "Soon! We'll see results very soon. This is a result that transcends an era. No! It's a result that transcends several eras!"

Xu Jiujiu's eyes lit up. She had been waiting for this good news for a long time. Finally, she could see the results. Xingguanzong had invested everything in this research. Whether it was building a research laboratory, purchasing experimental materials and rare metals, they had spent countless resources. Xingguanzong had almost used up all the accumulation of thousands of years, and even secretly misappropriated the national treasury of Xingluo Empire.

You must understand that this is a time of war. If they were to secretly divert some of the resources meant to support the war effort to research, it would cause a lot of trouble if other nobles and powerful figures in the empire found out. However, as the royal family, they still have ways to keep their actions a secret for the time being. But as time goes on, they will be exposed sooner or later. But as long as the research is completed before that happens, nothing else matters.

"That's great, Master Xuan. Thank you for your hard work. Is there anything we can help you with?"

Xu Jiujiu was overjoyed, and Ji Lin was also in a great mood.

The thought of what was about to be completed filled Ji Lin with excitement. He had been preparing for this day for a long time and couldn't wait to see the finished product.

"Speaking of this matter, we really need the help of the sect leader and Her Highness the princess. Although the research is in its final stage and the finished product will be available soon, the production of the finished product requires a large amount of rare metals. We have already consumed a lot of rare metals for the experiments, and most of them have been scrapped. If we want to produce the finished product as soon as possible, or even mass-produce it, we will need a large supply of rare metals."

Xuan Ziwen made his request without any expression.

Xu Jiujiu's face stiffened, and the joy she had just felt upon learning that the research was about to yield results vanished. Ji Lin looked at Xu Jiujiu. When it came to resource management, Ji Lin was only half-knowledgeable. He didn't care how many resources the research consumed or how many resources the Star Luo Empire provided. He had left everything to Xu Jiujiu and acted as a hands-off manager.

Seeing that Ji Lin was also looking at her, Xu Jiujiu felt bitter. Her husband really didn't know the value of money when he wasn't in charge of the household. He had no idea how much of the Xu family's resources this research had consumed, especially the rare metals. There weren't many rare metal mines in the Star Luo Empire to begin with. Most of them were purchased from the black market, either from the Sun Moon Empire, or from the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Fighting Spirit Empire.

The Sun Moon Empire has the most rare metal mines, not only in terms of quantity but also variety. This is a major reason why the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology is ahead of the original Douluo Three Kingdoms. A skilled cook cannot cook without rice. Rare metals are indispensable for the research of soul tools. The Sun Moon Empire is able to support a large number of soul tool researchers because of its abundant rare metal mines.

No matter how extraordinary a Soul Master's talent is in Soul Tool research, without rare metals to experiment with, they'll be completely lost.

Seeing the troubled look on Xu Jiujiu's face, Ji Lin understood that his rich princess had been drained dry and turned into a bankrupt princess!

Ji Lin crossed his arms and rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. Indeed, without a supply of rare metals, even if Xuan Ziwen and the others developed a replica of the blueprints, they would not be able to manufacture it. Moreover, Ji Lin planned to manufacture it on a large scale, at least to establish a Soul Master Corps. Several hundred pieces would be necessary, which would require a large amount of resources, the most important of which was rare metals.

For a moment, the laboratory fell silent. Xuan Ziwen leisurely brewed three cups of coffee and handed them to Xu Jiujiu and Ji Lin respectively. He was just a researcher, only responsible for research and manufacturing, and technology. Resource supply was not his responsibility, nor could he manage it, so there was no need to worry about it. He had already achieved half of his purpose in coming to the Star Luo Empire. He had learned the epoch-making technology and thoroughly studied the blueprints that he had been longing for. His only regret was that he had not yet been able to make a finished product by hand and fully reproduce what was on the blueprints. For the time being, he could only settle for second best, lower the standards and requirements, and simplify a beggar's version.

Xu Jiujiu was also very upset. She was about to succeed and see the results soon, but then she was told that there were no rare metals left. It was wartime, and even if the Star Luo Empire had money, they couldn't buy rare metals. The Sun Moon Empire wasn't stupid. They had turned a blind eye to the black market before, but now if the black market dared to sell rare metals to the Star Luo Empire, they would immediately face a thunderous strike from the Sun Moon Empire.

Although the Star Luo Empire's treasury still has a stockpile of rare metals, those were prepared for this war and are now in urgent need of use. Not only the military, but also many nobles are eyeing them. Even the royal family cannot touch these rare metals unless they announce what they are researching, but that is impossible. For Ji Lin's plan, they need to hide this achievement for the time being.

But this creates a vicious cycle: research requires rare metals, and to obtain rare metals, the research must be made public to gain the approval of the military and nobles. However, in order to carry out their plans, they must hide the research results. Hiding the research results means that outsiders cannot know about them, and they cannot use the rare metals in the national treasury. Without rare metals, they cannot continue their research.

Xu Jiujiu felt completely confused and was momentarily stunned. She looked pitifully at Ji Lin.

Ji Lin's lips twitched. Why was he looking at him?! He had grown up living off the princess, and now that the rich princess was bankrupt, there was nothing he could do! He could manage to rob, kill, and commit arson, but he was truly helpless in this matter!

Wait! Robbery!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Ji Lin. He quickly grasped the inspiration and remembered something. When he returned to Zizai Sect, he received a letter from Meng Hongchen. The letter contained many things, mostly Meng Hongchen expressing her longing for him, and then it mentioned the recent movements of the Sun Moon Empire. Much of it was classified information about the Sun Moon Empire, which Jing Hongchen had passed on to Ji Lin through Meng Hongchen.

Ji Lin remembered that Meng Hongchen said in the letter that some time ago, the Sun Moon Empire discovered a super-large rare metal mine at the border between the northern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Douling Empire. It even alarmed Xu Tianran. After all, the Sun Moon Empire had launched a war recently and consumed a lot of soul tools. It needed more rare metals to replenish them. The sudden discovery of a super-large rare metal mine was like sending charcoal in snowy weather for the Sun Moon Empire.

Ji Lin hadn't paid much attention to this matter before, after all, he had never been interested in resources and had truly been spoiled by the rich princess. Combined with the information brought by Nan Shuishui, there was an army of ten thousand men stationed outside Dragon City of the Sun Moon Empire, led by what appeared to be the Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Corps.

Instead of going to the front lines to attack the remnants of the Heavenly Soul Empire, the Protector of the Sun Moon Empire unusually stayed near Dragon City. Wasn't the super-large rare metal mine that Meng Hongchen mentioned located in the north of the Heavenly Soul Empire? Dragon City is also in the north of the Heavenly Soul Empire!

Ji Lin immediately told Xu Jiujiu about it.

Xu Jiujiu was initially overjoyed, but then lowered his head dejectedly, muttering, "But that metal mine is in the northern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire, too far from us. The Sun Moon Empire's army is stationed there, and even the Fire Phoenix Soul Instructor Corps is stationed there. Our Star Luo Empire can't spare any more resources to seize it. Besides, mining requires manpower and time. The northern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire has already fallen, and now it's full of the Sun Moon Empire's army. We're helpless!"

She looked at Ji Lin with a long, resentful gaze. This bad guy had given her hope, but it was a hope that was out of reach.

Ji Lin felt uncomfortable under Xu Jiujiu's resentful gaze and quickly said, "Sister Jiujiu, have you forgotten the Snow Emperor?"

Snow Empress? What does this have to do with the Snow Empress? He stood there for a long time, completely bewildered.

Looking at the clear foolishness in Xu Jiujiu's eyes, Ji Lin shook his head speechlessly. Isn't Sister Jiujiu usually quite smart? How come she gets confused at such a crucial moment!

"Sister Jiu Jiu, isn't the northern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire right next to the far northern ice plains?"

Ji Lin didn't keep him in suspense and directly reminded Xu Jiujiu.

The confusion in Xu Jiujiu's eyes gradually dissipated, her intelligence returned, and she exclaimed with delight, "That's right, the far north! Snow Empress, Soul Beast!"

Ignoring Xuan Ziwen's presence, Xu Jiujiu grabbed Ji Lin's head and buried it in his ample bosom, exclaiming excitedly, "How could I not have thought of that? The Snow Empress is the lord of the Far North Ice Plains, capable of commanding the soul beasts there. Taking over that super-large metal mine would be more than enough for her, and she could even have the soul beasts help mine it!"

As Ji Lin smelled the milky fragrance and felt the soft texture, she thought to herself, "With Sister Jiu Jiu's size, she won't have to worry about her baby going hungry when she has children in the future."

Thinking of this, Ji Lin suddenly realized that none of the girls around him were flat-chested. Even Xiao Xiao, now that she's grown up, has a curvaceous figure and is well-nourished in all the right places.

It is said that because of the soul power in Douluo Continent, people grow up at an accelerated rate and mature much earlier than people in Ji Lin's previous life. Whether it is height or figure, it seems that it is rare to see girls who are short and flat-chested with a loli-like figure. Even if there are such girls, they would be considered anomalies in the eyes of the people of Douluo Continent!

Xu Jiujiu, unaware of what Ji Lin was thinking, quickly calmed down, released Ji Lin, and seeing his blissful expression, tapped his brow with a hint of annoyance, saying helplessly, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you to make the trip, Xiao Lin."

The only one who can command the soul beasts of the far north is the Snow Empress, and the Snow Empress is bound to Ji Lin, so she cannot leave Ji Lin's side for long. Therefore, Ji Lin must make a trip to the far north.

(End of this chapter)