Heaven Dou City was several hundred kilometers from the Breaking Clan's compound. A high-level Soul Master might have been able to get there in just half a day, but a bunch of little brats riding in carriages needed three days to reach it.
Many of the children had never left the Breaking Clan's compound since birth, and their first trip away filled them with curiosity. Whether it was the flowers, grass, and trees outside or the passing carriages, everything filled them with curiosity and delight.
Sometimes they encountered small Soul Beasts along the road, and everyone was even more curious about those. They were children, after all, and seeing those little Soul Beasts was like seeing pets.
At night, they circled all the carriages and pitched a large tent in the middle, where everyone rested together. Yang Podi's dad and Second Grandpa took turns keeping watch to prevent any danger. Looking at how tense the two of them were, one would have thought they were about to face some formidable enemy.
After three days on the road, the group finally arrived at Heaven Dou City. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of its towering walls. Three straight days of travel had left all the children looking a little weary. They were only children, after all.
At the city gates, the guards saw as many as nine carriages and so many children that they grew a little worried this was a large-scale human-trafficking operation. But when they saw the Clear Sky Sect outer sect token and Yang Wushuang's Soul Saint-level Soul Power, they immediately let the group through.
After entering Heaven Dou City, the procession of carriages did not head straight for a hotel. Instead, it wound east and west through the streets until it reached a courtyard residence.
Yang Podi was a little puzzled. "Dad, Mom, aren't we staying at a hotel?"
His mom smiled at that. "Son, who told you we were staying at a hotel? Our Breaking Clan is the foremost clan in the Clear Sky Sect's outer sect, after all, and our medicine-making is renowned throughout the world. So we do own some properties in various cities. Even in Heaven Dou City, we have several houses."
Yang Podi was speechless. So this was how the great clans did things. They were even involved in real estate. In the original story, the Clear Sky Sect hid away for twenty-five years, yet its strength increased dramatically instead of declining. They probably survived through this sort of thing too. Surely the people of the Clear Sky Sect couldn't have gone off to farm themselves.
Something suddenly occurred to him, and he hurriedly asked his mom, "Mom, has our own family bought any houses or anything in Heaven Dou City?"
His mom answered with an eye roll. "Son, what are you thinking? Just who do you think your mom is? Would I need to buy a house?"
Yang Podi suddenly felt annoyed with himself. His mom was a Soul Emperor from the Defense Clan. If she wanted a house, wouldn't she only need a plot of land to get it done in minutes? There was no real estate business on the Douluo Continent, much less any such thing as rising house prices.
"Mom, you and Dad aren't that young anymore. Haven't you set aside any family assets or anything?"
His mom, Niu Jinfeng, spoke earnestly when she heard this. "Son, don't worry. Once you grow up, your dad and I will definitely prepare a generous betrothal gift for you and make sure you get married in style."
Yang Podi was speechless again. Was that what I was asking? Did you have to put it that way? I just wanted to know how much you had saved.
Beside them, his dad, Yang Zhentian, seemed to be struggling to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
After traveling through Heaven Dou City for over ten minutes, the carriages finally stopped in front of a large courtyard residence. Although it was a little old, it was fairly clean. Clearly, someone cleaned it regularly.
After some arrangements, everyone was assigned rooms inside. Since there were only so many rooms, many had to share with several others. Still, with most of the travelers being children, they could just about fit everyone in. And from the look of Second Grandpa, he seemed to have some other plans.
After dinner, Yang Podi returned to his room alone, lay down on the bed, and began to think.
The first little task was complete. My parents and I had all reached Heaven Dou City. Our lives should be out of danger for the time being.
Next came waiting for the Clear Sky Sect incident. Once Tang Hao wounded Pope Qian Xunji with his hammer, it would basically signal that Qian Xunji was about to die, and that war was about to break out.
There was nothing more I could do for the Breaking Clan. I could only hope Grandpa and the others could keep the losses to a minimum and come to Heaven Dou City immediately after the war. That would also reduce the war's aftermath, and Spirit Hall would no longer be able to obstruct their subsequent development.
Next, it was time to begin the second objective. After my Martial Soul Awakening next year, I would have to consider the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. That was the place that could truly change the Breaking Clan's fate.
Judging by the original story, Dugu Yan should be around my age, and her parents died of poisoning. Whether her parents were already dead could be used to determine whether Dugu Bo had taken possession of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If he hadn't occupied it yet, we would seize it first. If he already had, we would have to think of another way.
Whether Dugu Bo had become a Titled Douluo could also serve as a measure. If he was already a Titled Douluo, it would mean he had occupied the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and we would need to plan carefully for the long term.
As he thought, Yang Podi drifted off to sleep. Perhaps because his life was no longer under threat, he slept particularly soundly and deeply this time.
Niu Jinfeng and Yang Zhentian entered the room and saw their son fast asleep. Yang Zhentian was just about to speak when Niu Jinfeng quietly stopped him.
Then Niu Jinfeng tiptoed over to Yang Podi, stroked his sleeping little face, and tucked another layer of bedding over him before quietly calling her husband out of the room.
"Darling, have you noticed how soundly our son is sleeping today?"
Yang Zhentian shook his head. "No. How come I haven't noticed anything?"
Niu Jinfeng kept chiding him. "What do you know? Our son always used to sleep with his brows slightly furrowed, as though he was afraid of something, and he was very alert. Now that we're in Heaven Dou City, he seems to have completely relaxed. That's why he's sleeping more soundly."
"Dear, surely not? Our clan does have some strength, after all. What could our son be worried about? Even this time, I keep feeling he's making a mountain out of a molehill."
Niu Jinfeng immediately grew a little angry. "You can't even notice a change in how your son sleeps. What kind of father are you? Since he likes Heaven Dou City, we might as well live here from now on. It'll spare him from always living in fear."
"Dear, that wouldn't be very appropriate, would it? I'm the Breaking Clan's young clan leader, after all. What would it look like if I stayed away from the clan and lived in Heaven Dou City for the long term?"
"What do I care whether you're some young clan leader or anything else? Nothing is more important than my son. I don't care. Figure it out yourself."
Seeing that Niu Jinfeng really was getting angry, Yang Zhentian hurriedly began coaxing his wife. "Don't be angry, dear. Since our son wants to live in Heaven Dou City, I'll find a way."