Duke of Hell

Zhu Huang had also heard plenty of news in human cities, especially over the past year or so, when many explosive pieces of information had spread.

For example, Spirit Hall's Pope had been killed by Tang Hao, the young sect master of the Clear Sky Sect. Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were at each other's throats. Although they had not truly gone to war, small-scale clashes had broken out one after another.

In the end, the Clear Sky Sect's old sect master was angered to death, and the Clear Sky Sect, forced into a corner, had no choice but to abandon its most important subordinate force, the four single-attribute clans. After that, it sealed its mountain gates and withdrew from the world.

As for Tang Hao, after killing the Pope, he vanished without a trace. Spirit Hall placed him on a worldwide wanted list, but still failed to find where he was hiding.

After the Pope's death, Spirit Hall had been left without a leader. In the end, Holy Maiden Bibi Dong took over as Pope. Now, the empress reigned over the world and had become an object of worship for countless female soul masters.

When passing through Heaven Dou City, Zhu Huang went to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After more than a year of recovery, Ah Yin's soul had fully awakened, and her strength had also recovered to roughly the level of a Soul Saint. If she wanted to return to her peak, she would still need another year or two.

"Your Majesty!"

Ah Yin stretched out her branches and twined them intimately around Zhu Huang, her soul fluctuations filled with dependence and admiration.

She had been revived by Zhu Huang, and in the process, she had absorbed a large amount of his blood. At this moment, Zhu Huang's place in her heart was already beyond comparison.

"Ah Yin, you still remember what happened before, right?"

Zhu Huang did not know what state Ah Yin was in now. Was she a completely new life, or had she been revived?

If she was newly born, then the current Ah Yin could hardly be said to be the same Ah Yin from before. After all, even if the seed was the same, the souls born before and after would not be completely identical. They could be seen as twin lotus flowers on one stem.

If it was only a revival, then her soul had not changed, and she was still the same person.

"Master, I remember. I'm still Ah Yin. Although my body was reborn, my soul hasn't changed."

Ah Yin's voice was soft, carrying remorse. "Ah Yin shouldn't have ignored Master's warning and been deceived by that beast in human skin, Tang Hao. Ah Yin regrets it. Please forgive Ah Yin, Master."

"It's all right. You were just too innocent and kind, which made it easy for those wicked people to use you!"

Zhu Huang gently stroked Ah Yin's branches and leaves, which was equivalent to caressing Ah Yin's limbs. Feeling the Blue Silver Empress tremble faintly, he comforted her in a gentle voice, "If anyone is to blame, it's Tang Hao for being too vile. He harbored evil intentions from the very beginning. Fortunately, he didn't gain any benefit either. He couldn't absorb that soul bone of yours. Once you fully revive in the future, you can personally take it back."

Ah Yin's branches wrapped around Zhu Huang's waist, and her soul mingled with his. A beautiful and graceful figure of Ah Yin appeared in Zhu Huang's mind. A gentle smile surfaced on her tender face, and her mature, beautiful charm was enough to make one's heart sway.

"Master, you're so good to Ah Yin."

Ah Yin was deeply moved. She really must have lost her mind back then to actually join Tang Hao in dealing with her master.

Thinking of Tang Hao, Ah Yin gnashed her teeth. "Once I revive, I'll take back the soul bone. That beast in human skin doesn't deserve to possess my soul bone."

Zhu Huang communicated with Ah Yin for a while. Back then, when Tang Hao had written to Spirit Hall to expose Ah Yin's whereabouts, Ah Yin had known about it at the time. She had simply still held a sliver of expectation toward Tang Hao, so she had not exposed him.

But she had never expected that Tang Hao truly had not the slightest affection left. In order to make Ah Yin sacrifice herself to him, he really forced her into a dead end. At that time, Ah Yin had only just given birth to his child!

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, although Ah Yin was gentle and kind, she still did not lack ruthlessness and fierce resolve deep in her bones. That was why she had rather self-destruct than let Tang Hao benefit.

"What about Tang San, then? In other words, your son. Tang Hao named him Tang San, I heard, to commemorate you, his Third Sister. How are you planning to treat this son of yours?"

Zhu Huang looked at Ah Yin with interest, wanting to know what choice she would make.

Ah Yin's expression shifted for a while before she finally gritted her teeth and said, "He is Tang Hao's seed, probably born bad as well. I don't want to have anything to do with Tang Hao anymore, and that child will have nothing to do with me in the future either. I'll just treat everything that happened before as a dream. Now that I've woken from the dream, everything in it has nothing to do with me anymore."

Zhu Huang was startled. He had not expected Ah Yin to hate even Tang San. This was hating the house and its crow. It was completely different from the original work, where she had been full of maternal love for Tang San.

But that made sense. In the original work, Ah Yin had never known about Tang Hao's filthy deeds from beginning to end. She had not been hurt to the core, and in her heart, she still deeply loved Tang Hao. Naturally, she was also full of maternal love toward their son.

But now, she had witnessed with her own eyes the entire process of just how despicable, heartless, and ungrateful Tang Hao had been. And the reason she had been forced to her death also had a great deal to do with giving birth to this son.

Because of all these reasons, she naturally had no good feelings toward this child Tang San. She was even filled with loathing, because whenever she thought of Tang San, she would think of Tang Hao, then think of her own experiences, and pain and hatred would rise in her heart.

After considering his words for a moment, Zhu Huang said, "Actually, that child of yours is probably already dead. The one alive now is a soul from who knows where."

"What?"

Ah Yin was shocked. "Master, what exactly is going on?"

Zhu Huang told Ah Yin about what he had discovered that day, as well as his own guesses, then said, "It's only my guess, but it should be close to the truth. Once you can leave this place, you can go see for yourself. I'll pass a cultivation method to you. Practice according to it, and it will speed up your recovery. In another year or two, you'll be able to recover completely."

"Thank you, Master!"

Ah Yin happily accepted her master's soul transmission. The two communicated for a while longer, and then Zhu Huang left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

At this time, Ice Empress and Snow Empress were at Dugu Bo's residence, touring Heaven Dou City in Lin Xin's company.

Heaven Dou City was the most prosperous city on Douluo Continent. It was worlds apart from the cities they had visited before, making them linger and forget to return.

Lin Xin did not find this strange either. She only assumed that Sky Demon Island was far from the continent and that the people on the island were cut off from the world, so their first visit to a large city made everything feel fresh and novel.

"My lord!"

When Zhu Huang returned to Dugu Manor, both Dugu Bo and his son were at home.

After more than a year of bitter cultivation, without the backlash of snake poison affecting him, Dugu Bo's strength had improved greatly, and he had already broken through to rank ninety-two.

Dugu An had also already broken through to Soul Emperor. He was only in his thirties this year, so it could be said that his talent was also extremely outstanding.

"Haven't Bing'er and the others returned yet?"

Zhu Huang did not see the two women, Ice Empress and Snow Empress, so he asked.

Dugu Bo said, "The two madams were invited by Her Majesty the Empress to visit Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. My daughter-in-law accompanied them. Please rest assured, my lord. Nothing will happen in Heaven Dou City."

"I'm not worried about anything happening. Since they want to have fun, I'll stay in Heaven Dou City for a few more days!"

Zhu Huang thought for a moment. There was nothing urgent, so he might as well properly accompany the two women for a few days. Once the novelty wore off, they would no longer be so attached to the prosperity of the human world.

Once they felt the mountains were too cold and lonely after a while, they could simply come out and have fun again.

In any case, with the strength of the two ice-and-snow women, there was nowhere on Douluo Continent they could not go. As long as no gods descended to the mortal world, there was no one in this world who could threaten them.

"My lord, His Majesty learned of your arrival and wishes to hold a banquet to entertain you. May I ask when you will be free, my lord?"

"Tomorrow. It's already late today, so forget it."

Dugu Bo said, "Then I will have someone reply to His Majesty."

After Emperor Xue Ye received the reply, he immediately sent people to invite Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo, asking them to attend the banquet together tomorrow. In truth, they were to serve as company.

Ning Fengzhi readily agreed. The three families could be considered allies now, and he also hoped they could interact more with one another.

Seeing that Zhu Huang had brought his family with him this time, Ning Fengzhi also planned to bring his wife and his two-year-old daughter to the banquet, so they could at least become familiar faces first, making it more convenient to plan a marriage alliance in the future.

When the sky was nearly dark, Ice Empress and Snow Empress returned in a palace carriage.

"Brother, there are so many good things in the imperial palace. The empress gave us lots of gifts."

Ice Empress happily took out quite a few curious trinkets from her storage Soul Tool. These past two days had truly broadened her horizons. In the past, she had never stayed long in large human cities, and had not known the human world was actually this prosperous. It was far more interesting than the unchanging Arctic Ice Plains.

"They're things given to you, so if you like them, just keep them properly. No need to stand on ceremony with the empress. None of them are especially precious, just rather rare and interesting."

Zhu Huang did not take it to heart. These things could not really be said to be all that valuable; even added together, they were not worth a single ten-thousand-year soul bone.

"Mm, I wasn't polite with her."

Ice Empress had little experience of the world and had no idea what politeness was. As long as the empress dared to give, she dared to accept.

Snow Empress stood quietly at the side, her bright eyes glancing at Zhu Huang from time to time, full of tender affection.

She was not as attached to the prosperity of the human world as Ice Empress. She said softly, "The prosperity of the mortal world is interesting, but once the novelty passes, it is a little noisy too. I actually think living in the Far North Ice Plains is quite nice. Though it's lonely, it's also quiet and carefree."

Zhu Huang said, "Each has its own good points. Just follow your heart. Live wherever you think is nice, and when you get tired of it, change to another place and another environment."

Both women nodded. In the past, they had been unable to live among humans for long because they feared their identities would be exposed and they would be besieged. Now that exposure was no longer an issue, naturally there was nothing to worry about.

"I've already had the Dugu family help me purchase a villa. In the future, when we come to Heaven Dou City again, we'll stay in our own home."

After thinking for a moment, he found Dugu Bo and said, "As for that hot spring valley, don't go there anymore from now on. Move your medicinal garden away too. I have a use for that place. Of course, as compensation, I'll give you a soul bone."

Dugu Bo hurriedly said, "My lord, that place was originally offered to you by this subordinate. I only wanted to look after it for you before. Since you have another use for it, this subordinate will move the medicinal garden away immediately. How would I dare ask for compensation from you, my lord?"

Zhu Huang shook his head and said, "If I give it to you, then take it. I never treat my subordinates unfairly."

As he spoke, he took out a left leg bone over thirty thousand years old. "This soul bone is the Jade Blood Golden Silkworm left leg bone. The Jade Blood Golden Silkworm is also a highly poisonous soul beast, so it suits you quite well. Absorb it yourself!"

Seeing that he could not refuse, Dugu Bo accepted the soul bone and bowed in thanks. "This subordinate thanks my lord for the reward!"

The night passed without incident. The next day, the Dugu family's people had already purchased a large villa in the high-end residential district at the city center for over one million Gold Soul Coins. If converted according to the RMB from Zhu Huang's previous life, it would be worth two or three billion.

Even in the high-end residential district of Heaven Dou City, where every inch of land was worth gold, such an expensive villa belonged among the very best residences.

Hearing that they were helping Zhu Huang buy a villa, Emperor Xue Ye had Prince Xue Xing personally come forward to make the arrangements, selecting several of the best villas for Zhu Huang to choose from.

Originally, Emperor Xue Ye had planned to gift it to him. To the imperial family of the empire, anything that could be settled with money was not a problem. If a single villa could earn Zhu Huang's favor, that would be an enormously worthwhile deal.

But Zhu Huang did not accept. He still insisted on paying out of his own pocket to buy this top-tier luxury villa that only the highest-ranking nobles had the qualifications to live in.

The villa occupied tens of thousands of square meters. Tall walls surrounded it, separating inside from outside, and the interior was almost a world of its own. Even in bustling Heaven Dou City, it seemed quiet and peaceful, bringing the idea of finding tranquility amid noise to the extreme.

The surrounding residents were also all top-level major figures. It was only a little over a hundred meters from Dugu Manor, and Prince Xue Xing's residence and Ning Fengzhi's villa in Heaven Dou City were both near Zhu Huang's villa.

The buildings within the walls were naturally beautiful and luxurious to the utmost. They had been personally designed and constructed by the Defense Clan. All kinds of facilities were complete, with numerous houses, a swimming pool, and gardens, making it look like a small palace complex.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress liked it very much after seeing it, and they moved in directly. The plaque on the gate was also replaced with one bearing Zhu.

"Your Eminence, in order to reflect your status and position within the empire, and to prevent any blind fools from offending you, His Majesty wishes to confer upon you the noble title of duke. If not for the fact that you dislike drawing attention, Your Majesty would even wish to make you a prince. May I ask whether you are willing to accept the empire's investiture?"

In the hall of the new villa, Prince Xue Xing wore a humble, ingratiating expression as he spoke obsequiously.

Ever since he had narrowly survived last time, Prince Xue Xing had restrained himself greatly over the past year or so, and he had even developed a psychological shadow toward Zhu Huang. His attitude before Zhu Huang was even more fawning and humble than when he faced Emperor Xue Ye.

After all, Emperor Xue Ye could never possibly kill his only younger brother no matter what, but this man would not care about his status. Even though the two sides were allies now, if he offended the other party, even if he did not kill him, he could still make him suffer torment.

Prince Xue Xing said to himself that he truly could not afford to provoke him, so he could only curry favor. As long as his attitude was humble enough, one did not strike a smiling face; perhaps he might even manage to cling to this powerful thigh.

Duke?

Zhu Huang thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Then thank His Majesty for me. I wonder what title His Majesty has chosen for me?"

Seeing that Zhu Huang had accepted the ducal investiture, Prince Xue Xing was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Your Eminence's title is Death God. His Majesty believes the Death God belongs to the underworld, so you could be titled Duke of the Netherworld, Duke of the Yellow Springs, or Duke of Hell. If you have a name you prefer, of course, we will follow your wishes."

Zhu Huang frowned and said, "Isn't the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire the Dukes of the Netherworld?"

Prince Xue Xing said, "How could a mere Star Luo Zhu family compare to Your Eminence? However, I also feel it is inappropriate. How could you share a noble title with someone else?"

Zhu Huang said, "Then call it Duke of Hell. When the Death God arrives, his enemies naturally enter hell!"

"Yes, Duke of Hell is excellent. It is both domineering and perfectly matches your title and martial soul. Your Eminence is wise. I will have someone replace the plaque with Duke of Hell at once. From now on, you will be the empire's foremost duke, with a status no lower than a prince."

Prince Xue Xing flattered him. What he said was not wrong either. Anyone who could be granted the title of duke was a super great noble, possessing wealth, power, and a fief. Although the bloodline of an imperial prince was noble, in terms of actual power and status, it truly might not compare to theirs.

Zhu Huang had no particular feeling about the ducal title. When one was out in the world, status and position were things one gave oneself. Now, Emperor Xue Ye was using a ducal title to curry favor with him; it was merely icing on the cake!