Chapter 6: Arrival in Heaven Dou City
Heaven Dou City was several hundred kilometers from the Po Clan's territory. For a high-ranking soul master, it would take just half a day's journey, but for a group of children traveling by carriage, the trip took a full three days.
Many of the children had never left the clan grounds before, so this first trip away from home filled them with curiosity. Everything they saw—flowers, plants, trees, and passing carriages—brought them joy and excitement.
Occasionally, they encountered small spirit beasts along the road, which captivated the children even more. To them, these little spirit beasts looked like friendly pets.
At night, they'd circle the carriages together and set up a large tent in the middle for everyone to rest. Potian's father and his second grand-uncle took turns standing guard, keeping watch as if they expected some formidable enemy to appear.
After three days of travel, they finally arrived at Heaven Dou City. As they gazed up at the towering city walls, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The children were visibly exhausted after the long journey.
At the city gates, the guards grew suspicious seeing so many children and nine carriages, wondering if it might be a large group of traffickers. However, upon seeing the Haotian Sect's emblem and sensing Yang Wushuang's Soul Sage-level soul power, the guards promptly allowed them entry.
Once inside Heaven Dou City, the convoy didn't head directly to a hotel. Instead, they wove through various streets until they reached a courtyard.
Potian asked, "Dad, Mom, aren't we staying at a hotel?"
His mother chuckled, "Who told you we'd be staying at a hotel? Our Po Clan is Haotian Sect's top affiliated family, and our reputation in alchemy is well-known. We own properties in various cities; even here in Heaven Dou City, we have a few estates."
Potian couldn't help but feel surprised. So this is how big clans operate—real estate in every city! In the original story, the Haotian Sect hid away for 25 years, only growing stronger over time. This kind of setup must have helped them survive. After all, they wouldn't have their people farming for a living.
A sudden thought crossed Potian's mind, and he quickly asked, "Mom, did we buy any properties here in Heaven Dou City?"
His mother shot him a sidelong glance. "Son, think about who your mother is. Why would we need to buy properties?"
Realizing his mistake, Potian was a bit embarrassed. His mother, after all, was a Soul Emperor from the Yu Clan. If she wanted property, getting a plot of land was just a matter of asking. In the world of Douluo, there was no real estate market, let alone any worries about rising property prices.
"Mom, you and Dad aren't exactly young anymore. Shouldn't you be building up a bit of wealth?"
His mother, Niu Jinfeng, replied with a smile. "Don't worry, son. When the time comes, your father and I will prepare a grand dowry for you. We'll make sure your wedding is a splendid one."
Potian felt a bit speechless. That's not what I meant! I just wanted to know how much you've saved.
His father, Yang Zhentian, tried to hide a smirk.
After about ten more minutes in the carriage, they arrived in front of a large estate. Though the place looked a bit old, it was clean and well-maintained, clearly tended to regularly.
Once inside, everyone was assigned a room. Since there weren't enough rooms, many had to share. But with most of the group being young children, it was manageable. Potian noticed that his second grand-uncle seemed to have something else planned.
After dinner, Potian returned to his room alone, lying down to think.
His first objective was complete: he and his parents were safely in Heaven Dou City, with no immediate danger to their lives.
Now, he would wait for news from Haotian Sect. Once Tang Hao injured Qian Xunji, it would mean the Pope's end was near, signaling the beginning of war.
As for the Po Clan, he could do nothing more to help them. All he could do was hope that his grandfather and the others would minimize their losses. He hoped they'd make it to Heaven Dou City soon after the battle to avoid further fallout from the war and limit interference from Spirit Hall.
Next, he needed to focus on his second goal. After his martial soul awakening next year, he'd start planning for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—the key to changing the Po Clan's fate.
According to the original story, Dugu Yan was likely around his age, and her parents had died from poisoning. By checking whether Dugu Yan's parents were still alive, he could determine if Dugu Bo had already claimed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If Dugu Bo hadn't yet taken it, he'd make his move. But if Dugu Bo already occupied the site, he'd have to find another approach.
Potian thought he might also be able to tell by whether Dugu Bo had reached Titled Douluo level. If Dugu Bo had already attained that rank, then he had probably already taken control of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and Potian would need a longer-term plan.
Thinking over these things, Potian drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep, feeling secure for the first time in a while.
That night, Niu Jinfeng and Yang Zhentian came to check on their son. Seeing him sleeping so soundly, Yang Zhentian was about to speak when Niu Jinfeng gently hushed him.
She then quietly approached Potian, gently stroked his cheek, and tucked him in before signaling her husband to leave the room with her.
"Did you notice how peacefully our son is sleeping tonight?" Niu Jinfeng asked.
Yang Zhentian shook his head. "No, I didn't notice anything."
Niu Jinfeng sighed. "You don't get it, do you? In the past, he'd always furrow his brows in his sleep, as if he were afraid of something, always so tense. But now, here in Heaven Dou City, he looks completely relaxed, which is why he's sleeping so well."
"Dear, you're kidding, right? Our clan is fairly strong. What could our son possibly be worried about? Honestly, I still think he's blowing things out of proportion."
Niu Jinfeng's expression turned slightly irritated. "How can you call yourself his father if you can't even see this? If he feels safe in Heaven Dou City, then maybe we should settle here for good, so he doesn't have to live in fear."
"Honey, that wouldn't be appropriate. I'm the Po Clan's young leader. What would it look like for me to live long-term in Heaven Dou City?"
"I don't care about titles. Nothing is more important than my son's well-being. You can figure it out yourself," she replied, clearly annoyed.
Seeing his wife's reaction, Yang Zhentian quickly tried to appease her. "Don't be upset, dear. If our son wants to stay in Heaven Dou City, I'll make it happen."
(End of Chapter)