When Tang Hao announced his intention to take Tang San to Slaughter City, everyone present was stunned.
They had all heard rumors about what kind of place Slaughter City was—a paradise for the depraved, where all Soul Master skills were rendered unusable. People could only rely on their instincts and physical strength to survive in this lawless land without any rules.
Taking a child barely over ten years old to such a place—was that reasonable?!
Bai He's expression darkened. Gripping a wooden stick, he struck Tang Hao's head with a crisp dang sound, leaving Tang Hao momentarily dazed. Of course, given Bai He's strength and the fact that he hadn't used any Soul Power, the strike couldn't possibly hurt Tang Hao. It was just the suddenness of the blow that caught him off guard.
Rubbing the spot where he'd been hit, Tang Hao said, "Uncle?"
Bai He snorted coldly. "Hmph. I can't stop you from courting death yourself, but I won't allow my grandson to go to that hellhole at such a young age. At the very least, he should wait until he's level fifty—no, sixty—and has the ability to protect himself before going."
As Tang Hao's uncle, Bai He naturally knew about Tang San's Twin Spirits. His concern was simply that a ten-year-old child in such a place might go astray and become a murderous maniac—wouldn't that ruin him?
Slaughter City was a gathering place for the scum of the Martial Soul world, where all the wanted criminals congregated. How could a child possibly go there?!
Tang Hao didn't blame his uncle. Instead, he tried to persuade him gently, "Uncle, I'm just taking him to Slaughter City to awaken his second Martial Soul. I won't let him stay there any longer than necessary. The moment his second Martial Soul awakens, I'll bring him back immediately."
"Oh? You're confident you can bring Xiao San out of Slaughter City?" Bai He was slightly surprised. As a Soul Douluo-level expert, he naturally knew about Slaughter City. This place was known as the prison for Soul Masters—one couldn't leave freely. One had to traverse the Road to Hell to escape.
He had initially thought Tang Hao intended to throw Tang San in to awaken his second Martial Soul and rely on his own strength to get out. But now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
Tang Hao smiled and said, "Uncle, Xiao San is my son. How could I let him stay in such a place for long? I understand Slaughter City better than you do."
"But Uncle, don't forget—I possess the God of Slaughter Domain. The rule that prevents the use of Martial Souls in Slaughter City doesn't apply within this domain."
Though Tang Hao spoke with a smile, everyone present could detect a hint of threat in his tone.
Tai Tan, standing nearby, exclaimed, "No wonder you've been in seclusion these past few years, Master! Are you planning to conquer Slaughter City?!"
At Tai Tan's words, the eyes of the four subordinate families gleamed. If they could take control of Slaughter City—a place even the Spirit Hall didn't dare to interfere with—wouldn't they be even more formidable than the Spirit Hall itself?
Tang Hao wore an awkward smile as he ruffled his messy hair. "That damned place isn't easy to deal with right now. Just being able to pull Xiao San out after he enters is already pushing the limits."
Tang Hao wasn't being overly modest. After all, Slaughter City had existed for far too long. Apart from the ninety-ninth-ranked Slaughter King, there were at least several Titled Douluo-level enforcers in the city. Moreover, Tang Hao wasn't the only God of Slaughter—others had walked the Road to Hell and obtained the God of Slaughter Domain before him.
These Gods of Slaughter had seemingly vanished from the world, and some might even be dead. But there was no guarantee that none had chosen to remain in Slaughter City or even joined its ranks.
Otherwise, Tang Hao alone would have had the power to forcibly take Tang San away without needing to rely on the sect's strength.
Everyone else looked regretful, but only Tang San caught the underlying meaning in his father's words. He thought to himself, "[Now]? It seems Father has considered conquering Slaughter City at some point."
Just as Tang San was lost in thought, a knock suddenly came from the door.
"Come in."
With a creak, the door opened, and an elderly man around seventy years old entered, carrying account books in his hands.
This was Old Shopkeeper Feng Hong, a long-time employee of the Clear Sky Sect. Though not a Soul Master, he had worked at the Clear Sky Auction House since childhood. Now, he not only served as the auction house's chief manager but also assisted Tang San in managing both the auction house and the Soul Duel Arena.
Seeing Tang Hao present, Feng Hong immediately knelt and bowed respectfully. "This humble one pays respects to Clear Sky Crown."
This wasn't an overreaction on Feng Hong's part. For someone who wasn't even a Soul Master, a Titled Douluo was akin to an emperor. Ordinary people couldn't even address a Douluo directly—they had to add the honorific "Crown."
Tang Hao nodded. "Feng Hong, though you're not a Soul Master, you're a veteran of our Clear Sky Sect. There's no need for such formalities when you see me in the future."
"Thank you, Crown."
Tang Hao and the others tactfully remained silent, sitting to the side and sipping tea. Since the auction house and Soul Duel Arena now fell under Tang San's management, even Tang Hao theoretically had no authority to interfere.
After four years of management, Tang San had gradually grown accustomed to his role. Sitting back in the main seat, he asked, "Shopkeeper Feng, is there something you need?"
Feng Hong hurried to the desk and placed several account books on the table, lowering his voice. "Third Young Master, these are this month's accounts for the auction house and Soul Duel Arena. Also, here's the catalog for the monthly auction three days from now."
Tang San took the auction catalog and glanced at the monthly turnover. He had long since moved past astonishment to numbness. On the Douluo Continent, one gold coin equaled ten silver spirit coins or one hundred copper spirit coins. A single gold spirit coin could sustain a poor family for several months.
Yet the Clear Sky Soul Arena alone generated tens of thousands of gold coins in revenue each month. Though a portion had to be handed over to the Clear Sky Sect as reserve funds, after four years, Tang San's personal wealth had accumulated to a terrifying degree.
"Shopkeeper Feng, were you able to negotiate for those special materials?" Tang San asked while reviewing the auction items.
Feng Hong naturally knew what he was referring to. Some time ago, a few Soul Masters had brought several strange ores to consign for auction. Upon discovering them, Tang San had immediately instructed Feng Hong to contact the consignors in hopes of purchasing them directly.
Feng Hong hesitated. "Those Soul Masters are asking for fifty thousand gold coins. I doubt they'd fetch that much even if we put them up for auction."
Before Feng Hong could finish speaking, Tang San interrupted him without even looking up, instructing, "It's fine. Give them fifty thousand gold coins."
Tang San took out a draft, signed it, wrote the amount, and handed it to Feng Hong, saying indifferently, "Go to the Clear Sky Gold Exchange to withdraw fifty thousand gold coins. Those ores are worth the price."
"Great-uncle, go with him just in case. Remember, the gold coins don't matter—what's most important are those ores. I have great use for them."
Bai He of the Min Clan narrowed his eyes. Others might not understand, but the Min Clan knew very well that this ten-year-old boy had been tinkering with something called Hidden Weapons, crafted from special metals with formidable power.
"Little San, do you need..." Bai He made a throat-slitting gesture, his eyes flashing with menace.
The Min Clan was renowned for their speed and had long served the Clear Sky Sect as scouts and assassins.
Tang San chuckled and shook his head. "Great-uncle, our Clear Sky Sect is a righteous and honorable faction."
"What if they raise the price on the spot or go back on their word?"
"Then make sure it's done cleanly."