After they left the gates of Spirit City, the scenery on either side of the main road gradually opened up.
Yang Wushuang wasted no time. He found a fine carriage outside the city and headed straight toward the Heaven Dou Empire at speed.
The carriage interior was simply furnished yet comfortable. Yang Chang'an sat cross-legged on one side, his small body held perfectly straight, the excitement of leaving Spirit City still lingering in his eyes.
Yang Wushuang leaned against the other side and rested with his eyes closed for a while. Once the carriage was moving steadily, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at his grandson.
"Chang'an," Yang Wushuang said evenly, "we're heading to the Soul Beast Forest in the Heaven Dou Empire. There are things you should understand."
"Each of the continent's two great empires has a Soul Beast Forest. In terms of the overall quality of their soul beasts, the difference isn't enormous, but on closer examination, the Heaven Dou Empire's forest still has a slight edge."
At those words, Yang Chang'an leaned forward slightly, listening carefully to what came next.
"The reason is simple," Yang Wushuang continued. "The Star Luo Imperial Family is powerful, and its empire is strong. It keeps an extremely tight rein on the major factions within its borders, making it difficult for Soul Master families to expand as they please."
"The Heaven Dou Empire, on the other hand, has a weak imperial family and loose control over its territories. Its major Soul Master sects and hereditary families are practically self-governing. As a result, nearly seventy percent of the continent's Soul Master families have relocated within Heaven Dou's borders."
"More sects mean more powerful cultivators. Hunting and nurturing go hand in hand, and over time, the Heaven Dou Soul Beast Forest has developed a wider variety of soul beasts, with more high-quality specimens as well."
Yang Chang'an nodded. This information matched the outline of the original story in his memories perfectly.
The Heaven Dou Empire seemed vast and full of factions, but in reality, it was a heap of loose sand. It was precisely this fragmented structure that had attracted countless Soul Master factions to put down roots there.
Among the Seven Great Sects, the Upper Three Sects-the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan-were all within the Heaven Dou Empire without exception. Even the immensely powerful Elephant Armor Sect of the Lower Four Sects was entrenched around Heaven Dou City.
But every advantage came with a drawback.
It was also because the Heaven Dou Empire's control was so weak that Spirit Hall's infiltration ran deepest there. From local branch halls to nobles and the imperial court, from small and medium-sized families to powerful sects, Spirit Hall's tentacles slipped into virtually every crack.
After that great war years ago, the Breaking Clan, Speed Clan, Defense Clan, and Strength Clan had scattered, each seeking a place to settle. The Breaking Clan and Speed Clan had retreated into the Star Luo Empire's heartland, while the Defense Clan had taken root in the buffer zone between Heaven Dou and the Star Luo Empire-all to distance themselves from Spirit Hall and find a little breathing room.
Although Yang Wushuang did not spell out these hidden matters, Yang Chang'an understood them perfectly.
Seeing the understanding on his grandson's face, Yang Wushuang nodded slightly and continued:
"Before we left, I made inquiries through Spirit Hall's internal channels. Several highly suitable soul beasts have been active in the Heaven Dou Soul Beast Forest recently. Whether in attack power, soul power attributes, or compatibility with the Soul Breaking Spear, all of them are viable choices."
"Thank you, Grandpa." Yang Chang'an bowed respectfully.
Yang Wushuang waved a hand and said no more. With a slight movement of his right hand, an antique-looking bronze bracelet appeared in his palm. He then held it out to Yang Chang'an.
Yang Chang'an quickly reached out to take it. It felt cool to the touch, and his fingertips brushed over its patterns. A single glance was enough for him to roughly determine its purpose, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
"Is this... a Soul Tool?"
"You have a good eye." Yang Wushuang closed his eyes again, his tone calm. "This is a Space Soul Tool of quite excellent quality. It isn't mine. Someone specifically entrusted me with passing it on to you as a gift."
"A gift?" Yang Chang'an paused, instinctively turning the bronze bracelet over in his hands as his mind raced.
There were very few people in Spirit City who were close to him and could afford a Soul Tool of this caliber. The first person who came to mind was Niu Yue, head of the Niu family, which was on friendly terms with the Yang Family.
"Was it from Grandpa Niu?" Yang Chang'an asked tentatively.
Yang Wushuang slowly shook his head. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes again, his gaze growing more solemn as he lowered his voice slightly:
"Not Niu Yue. It was Spirit Hall's seventh worshipper-the Demon Subduing Douluo."
"The Demon Subduing Douluo?!"
Yang Chang'an jolted, his fingers instinctively tightening around the bronze bracelet, astonishment written all over his face.
He knew that name all too well.
Spirit Hall's Worship Hall was the core of its greatest combat strength, as well as the most feared concentration of power on the continent.
The seventh worshipper, Demon Subduing Douluo, and the sixth worshipper, Qian Jun Douluo, were brothers by blood-two Douluos from a single family. Both were level ninety-six Peak Douluos, and both possessed the Coiling Dragon Staff martial soul. When they joined forces, their power multiplied, leaving them utterly unafraid even of an ordinary level ninety-seven Titled Douluo.
In the original story, the brothers had not appeared often, yet every appearance carried an overwhelming presence. They had left bold, vivid strokes upon the great war in that story.
What concerned Yang Chang'an even more was the terrifying potential of the Coiling Dragon Staff martial soul lineage. Even twenty thousand years later, it remained a top-tier tool martial soul whose might shook the continent. Several Limit Douluos had emerged from it in succession, making its family arguably the foremost great house of that era, with unfathomable reserves.
A Peak Douluo standing at the very summit of the continent's pyramid had actually given him a gift?
Yang Chang'an was completely bewildered.
He had never even met the Demon Subduing Douluo. Why would the man give him such a valuable gift? He sent his soul power into the bronze bracelet and immediately sensed the space within. A rough calculation revealed a full twenty-five cubic meters of independent space.
A single space measuring twenty-five cubic meters-this was already a remarkably high-grade Space Soul Tool!
In this era, Soul Tools were scarce to begin with, and most were monopolized by Spirit Hall and the major sects. An ordinary Soul Master might go an entire lifetime without owning even one.
Even one with less than ten cubic meters was a treasure. Anything over twenty cubic meters was enough to tempt Soul Douluos and even Titled Douluos.
And the Demon Subduing Douluo had simply given away such a precious item?
"Why... would he give me this?" Yang Chang'an looked up in astonishment, his voice full of confusion.
Yang Wushuang sighed softly and shook his head. "I don't know the exact reason either. That day at Spirit Hall, he handed me the token and this bronze bracelet together. He only said it was a first-meeting gift for you and offered no further explanation."
He paused, then looked at the doubt in Yang Chang'an's eyes and said gravely, "Still, a gift bestowed by an elder must not be refused. Since he has offered it as a gift, you should accept it, whatever his intentions may be."
The corner of Yang Chang'an's mouth twitched, and he could not help grumbling inwardly:
Since when did the Demon Subduing Douluo count as an elder? Grandpa, do you even believe that yourself?
But grumbling aside, he understood Yang Wushuang's deeper meaning.
Right now, the Yang Family was nothing more than fish on a chopping board. Never mind a Soul Tool-even if it had been a cup of poisoned wine, they had no right to refuse.
Besides, a top-tier treasure for free was not something to turn down. Resources came first in a Soul Master's cultivation, and Soul Tools were immensely practical. This one would be a tremendous help in his upcoming cultivation and training.
As for Spirit Hall's schemes... with their current strength, worrying would accomplish nothing.
"I understand."
Yang Chang'an nodded, his hands moving without the slightest hesitation. With a faint stir of soul power at his fingertips, he slipped the bronze bracelet onto his left wrist. It fit perfectly. With a thought, he stored the entire bundle of belongings beside him inside the Soul Tool.
A flicker of delight crossed Yang Chang'an's eyes. He was already silently planning to buy a few things when they passed through a town and make full use of those twenty-five cubic meters.
Seeing Yang Chang'an accept it so readily, Yang Wushuang's tense expression eased considerably. A faint smile curved his lips as he deliberately asked:
"Aren't you worried at all? Spirit Hall harbors sinister intentions, and the Demon Subduing Douluo holds an exalted position. Giving you such a valuable gift for no reason might conceal a scheme, or even... something harmful to you."
Yang Chang'an lifted his head. The excitement faded from his face, replaced by a calm beyond his years.
"I understand all of that. But Grandpa, in this world, only people with value have the right to be schemed against."
"As for useless people, they don't even qualify to be thrown onto the rubbish heap."
"If they're willing to spend their effort on me, it means I'm still useful. As for danger and schemes... when you're not strong enough, worrying does no good. Only by growing stronger as quickly as possible can I take control of my own fate."
Those words hardly sounded like something a six-year-old child could say, yet they perfectly reflected Yang Chang'an's transmigrator soul and the temperament he had developed over years in Spirit City's oppressive environment.
A sharp gleam flashed in Yang Wushuang's eyes, and he nodded firmly. Much of the worry in his heart dissipated.
This was precisely why he, Yang Quji, Yang Xue, and the others all thought so highly of Yang Chang'an.
Talent was certainly important, but even rarer was this calm, clear-headed temperament that understood the times and knew when to advance or retreat.
The Yang Family was trapped in desperate straits, treading on thin ice. The last thing it needed was someone who flaunted every sharp edge. What it needed was a youth like Yang Chang'an, who knew how to endure and gather strength without losing his edge.
As long as he had time to grow, he would surely achieve great things.
After those words, silence settled over the carriage once more.
Yang Wushuang closed his eyes again, resting while remaining alert to the movements around them. Yang Chang'an leaned against the carriage wall, gently rubbing the bronze bracelet on his wrist as countless thoughts swirled through his mind.