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*****
"Aunt?"
Tang San was surprised. There was only one aunt in his identity, and that was Tang Yuehua, the master of Moon Pavilion in Tian Dou City.
How did she find her way to Nuoding City?
Could it be based on the name "Tang San"?
That's not right!
Tang Hao had taken him to Saint Soul Village after the Battle of the Popes, and Tang Yuehua shouldn't know he was Tang Hao's son.
So, there were only two possibilities.
First, Tang Hao had found Tang Yuehua during this period and told her some information, prompting her to find her way here.
Second, Tang Yuehua had never met Tang Hao, but she had realized he was talented and began searching for information about him, and Tang Hao eventually had to tell her the relevant information.
Two possibilities, which boiled down to whether Tang Hao took the initiative.
Tang San got up, and together with Xiao Wu, left the study and went to the living room on the first floor, where he saw the woman who claimed to be his aunt. Just as Xiao Wu had said, she was dressed plainly, but her fair and beautiful skin, along with her graceful demeanor while pouring tea, made it clear she was not a commoner.
"You claim to be my aunt?"
Tang San wasn't particularly fond of uninvited guests, even if they were truly his blood relatives.
"My arrival might seem sudden to you." The woman stood up and looked at Tang San's face, a hint of nostalgia appearing in her eyes as she saw the resemblance to her elder brother's wife. Then she introduced herself, "My name is Tang Yuehua, I'm Tang Hao's younger sister, and indeed, I'm your aunt."
Tang San had anticipated this and didn't show surprise. Instead, he waved his hand, indicating for Xiao Wu to take Guang Ling to the courtyard for training, and then personally poured tea for Tang Yuehua, asking, "Do you have any evidence?"
"Uh..." Tang Yuehua was a bit flustered, then smiled, "My sudden appearance must have caught you off guard. As for evidence, I can't provide any, and besides, I can't reveal my identity to you, or else you might be in danger."
"If you hadn't come, I would be safer. Tang Yuehua, the master of Moon Pavilion in Tian Dou City," Tang San didn't beat around the bush, revealing Tang Yuehua's true identity, "Tang Hao's younger sister and the sister-in-law of the current pope. And you, what a coincidence?"
Tang Yuehua opened her mouth in surprise, unsure why Tang San would say such a thing. "Do you know about your father's identity?" she asked.
"Yes."
Tang San nodded, wondering why Tang Yuehua was asking this.
"Then you should know that I'm good at analyzing," Tang San poured himself a cup of tea and tasted it leisurely. "Is it difficult to analyze that Tang Hao is a Pope? Regardless of martial spirits, among commoners, even blacksmiths, it's impossible to be as tall and strong as him."
"You're really smart, Xiao San, but don't blame your father. He was also thinking about your safety," Tang Yuehua said with a bitter smile. "This is all the fault of the Martial Soul Hall."
"Is that so? I think the Martial Soul Hall is quite good. It's much better than those sects and the two empires. It even provides subsidies to common soul masters," Tang San said casually.
"The money from the Martial Soul Hall comes from the two empires. The Martial Soul Hall itself doesn't produce anything," Tang Yuehua frowned, criticizing the Martial Soul Hall.
"How should I put it? Without the Martial Soul Hall, the two empires wouldn't give money to common soul masters. Although the money from the two empires is obtained by exploiting commoners without innate soul power, the Martial Soul Hall is indirectly exploiting them. But at least it's useful for the people," Tang San said insightfully. "But the two empires... I haven't been to Star Luo, so I'm not sure about the specifics, but within the territory of the Heavenly Soul Empire, there are multiple kingdoms and duchies, and the city lords within these countries have autonomy. They can enact their own laws... You've probably heard about some of the absurd things done by nobles, right?"
"Do you think they would be willing to distribute money to common soul masters?"
Before Tang Yuehua could speak, Tang San answered first.
"They would, but common soul masters would have to work like slaves and become their tools," he continued, "And what about the Martial Soul Hall?"
At this point, Tang San paused for a moment, picked up the teacup, took another sip, and said, "At the very least, it gives common soul masters a sense of dignity. It's assistance, not charity."
Tang Yuehua was speechless, but she still didn't want Tang San to have a favourable impression of the Martial Soul Hall, so she decided to mention something about his mother: "Don't you want to know how your mother died?"
"How did she die?" Tang San's gaze was calm.
"At the hands of the Martial Soul Hall."
Tang Yuehua was a little afraid of Tang San's calm reaction, but she still tremblingly said those three words.
"Who in the Martial Soul Hall?"
"The former Pope."
"Did the former Pope die?"
"He did."
"Why are you bringing this up?" Tang San remained calm, "First of all, I've never seen my mother. Whatever the reason, she didn't raise me, that's a fact. I don't have any feelings for her, at most just gratitude for giving birth to me. So don't accuse me of not being her son."
"Secondly, the former Pope of the Martial Soul Hall, Qian Xunji, is dead. The direct enemy no longer exists, so there's no need to continue this feud. Even if I wanted to pursue it, it would only be to settle scores with those who followed Qian Xunji at the time."
"As for the Martial Soul Hall, to a commoner like me, it's not an object of hatred. I'm not qualified to hate it, and I hope you don't bring the grievances of the past generation of the Haotian Sect onto me."
Tang Yuehua was shocked.
What shocked her wasn't Tang San's speculation about how the descendants of Haotian might treat her, but that he knew about her secretly sending supplies and information to the Haotian Sect.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Tang San raised an eyebrow. "With your identity, except for those who don't know about the Upper Three Sects, within all the major powers, it's common knowledge. Even the high-level members are well aware. I even speculate that they know the route you use to send supplies to the Haotian Sect. They just haven't intervened. Do you think they're all idiots?"
"Or maybe you've spent too much time with the nobles of Tian Dou, and your brain has become stiff?"
Tang Yuehua was stunned.
"The Martial Soul Hall also knows. After all, the Martial Soul Hall has branches established throughout the entire continent. As long as it's a village under the jurisdiction of the two empires, excluding those villages established near major sects, towns, and the like, there are branch halls established."
Tang San continued, whether his analysis was true or false, it was undermining Tang Yuehua's confidence, "If the Martial Soul Hall wants information, can you hide it from them? Not to mention, your Moon Pavilion is also established in bustling cities like Tian Dou. Anyone could be a spy."
"If the Martial Soul Hall knows, why don't they intervene?" Tang Yuehua asked, "Don't they want to wipe out the Haotian Sect?"
"It's simple. They're afraid of the fish dying and the net breaking," Tang San said. "The Martial Soul Hall has the ability to wipe out the Haotian Sect, but they need to consider other forces on the continent. Moreover, those titled Douluo of the Martial Soul Hall can't all be deployed."
In the original work, the Great Elder of Sea God Island, Poseidon, and the seven Guardian Douluo only guard the inheritance grounds of the Sea God. Usually, they cannot leave the island, let alone leave for Saint Light City.
Likewise, it's highly probable that the Great Elder of the Guardian Angel Inheritance Grounds behaves similarly.
After all, according to the original work, the Guardian Douluo of the Guardian Angel Inheritance Grounds only appear in the final battle. At other times, they never leave their respective inheritance grounds.
Even Qian Dao Liu, the Great Elder of the Guardian Angels, apart from his battle with Tang Chen and Poseidon before he officially became the Great Elder, and perhaps traveling the continent with Poseidon, he has never left the Guardian Angel Inheritance Grounds at other times.
In the absence of these elders of the inheritance grounds, it would not be easy for Bibi Dong to take down the Haotian Sect.
"Indeed, the Martial Soul Hall's Titled Douluo can't all be deployed, otherwise, their rear would be left undefended," Tang Yuehua calmed down, and her eyes brightened as she looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, why don't you come with me to Moon Pavilion? I can teach you the etiquette of the nobility."
"No."
Tang San vetoed outright, "Why should I? Because of etiquette? I'm already hypocritical and double-standard enough. There's no need to embellish anything further."
"You... Where did you learn to speak like this about yourself?"
"If you came here to advise me, then please leave. I have nothing to do with the Haotian Sect or Tang Hao. He has already severed ties with me," Tang San didn't want to say anything more. He just reiterated that he was alone in terms of blood relationship. "So, you're not my aunt, and I'm just a commoner who happens to have some knowledge of soul theory, which isn't worth mentioning."
"Xiao San, I..."
"If you're worried about my livelihood, there's no need to bother. I've already bought a small estate here in Nuoding City with my own abilities. Although it was sold to me at a cheap price by a kind grandfather, I'm not lacking in wealth."
Tang San looked at the soul card Tang Yuehua took out from her storage soul tool, rejecting her kindness. "If you've come to visit me, a master of soul theory, I welcome you. But if you want to use your seniority to pressure me, then please think twice, because I'm not a good person."
"... "
Speaking of which, if the Martial Soul Hall wants to unify, the problem is huge. Its economy depends on the two empires. Once it becomes independent, the two empires will definitely cut off its source of funds. Those small countries won't be able to supply it either. It's just a matter of time before it collapses. The economic foundation of the Martial Soul Hall itself is far from enough to support it in breaking away from the two empires.
The more soul masters the Martial Soul Hall has, the more resources it consumes.
In short, without the economic foundation at the grassroots level, it can't dominate the world. Even if it does conquer, it won't be able to manage it well after a hundred years. It might even fall apart.
Why emphasize a hundred years?
Because after becoming a god, you can only stay in the mortal realm for about a hundred years (according to the original setting). Otherwise, you have to hide, like the Flame in the Wine God, the Tang Hao and Blue Silver Emperor left behind in the Douluo Continent. Moreover, the author estimates that after becoming a god, you can't interfere with mortal affairs on a large scale. Otherwise, the gods in the divine realm will be at a loss for reasons to come down and have fun.
As for Tang San in the Douluo series after the second generation, it can only be said that he has become one of the makers of the rules.