Douluo: Steal Tang San's luck and become stronger!

His tone softened somewhat, but it still carried a dominant force.

"Rest assured, Daoist, I do not intend to drag you or Tingfeng Pavilion into a direct war with the Holy Spirit Sect. The matter of our transaction today, once spoken by you, will only be heard by me, and will never be leaked to any third party or 'unrelated person'."

He deliberately emphasized the phrase "unrelated person," leaving a sliver of room for maneuver. Then, he proposed new conditions.

"However, in exchange, and as a token of our mutual respect for keeping this secret, I need you to provide me with... five more pieces of information."

Five pieces of news?!

Upon hearing this, Ding Huo nearly jumped up, his composure crumbling as he revealed a look of exasperation.

"Your Excellency! This...this is going too far! I have already revealed all the core information I know about that figure, and the transaction is complete! How can you add any more conditions? This is no different from forced buying and selling!"

He finally understood: this person had never intended to make a simple deal from the beginning, but was instead plotting step by step to bind him to their cause! Knowing the secret of the black metal piece already put him in a very passive position, and now the other party wanted to take the opportunity to extort more information!
Tang Lan simply looked at him calmly without saying a word, but her eyes clearly spoke volumes.

Do you think you have any other choice now? You've learned something you shouldn't have known. You either cooperate, taking the risks while also gaining potential benefits and a certain level of "protection," or... you're just waiting for the Holy Spirit Cult to silence you, or for our side to handle the "uncertainty."

Ding's chest heaved, his face changed constantly, and his mind raced with thoughts.

He was indeed wary of the Holy Spirit Cult's retaliation, but he was equally wary of the unfathomable, mysterious man before him. The fact that this man could so easily suppress Chai Yong and produce that terrifying metal piece suggested a powerful force or purpose behind it that made him uneasy. A complete falling out would be unwise.

After a long while, Ding Huo seemed to have all his strength drained away. His shoulders slumped, he sighed heavily, and his face was full of helplessness and frustration.

"Three! I will answer a maximum of three more questions! And they must be within the scope of my knowledge and not involve the core secrets and fundamental principles of my 'Listening Wind Pavilion'! This is the bottom line! Otherwise, I would rather risk reporting this matter to the main pavilion, seeking protection, or even temporarily abandoning this Rose City stronghold, than allow you to do as you please!"

He spoke with unwavering resolve, displaying a reckless attitude, while also pointing out that he was not entirely without options—the protection of the Tingfeng Pavilion's main branch.

Tang Lan looked at Ding Huo's "If you push me any further, I'll fight to the death" expression and knew that this was pretty much the other party's bottom line. Getting three more pieces of valuable information out of this slippery old fox was already an extra bonus.

His intention was not to drive them to the brink, but to establish a subtle "cooperative relationship" that was influenced by him to some extent.

"it is good."

Tang Lan nodded readily, her ambiguous smile fading as she became more serious.

"Then there are three questions. Since you are so straightforward, I will not let you work for nothing. The answers to these three questions may also help you better assess yourself and the Rose City stronghold, and how to deal with potential future troubles."

His words were a way of giving Ding a way out, implying that exchanging information would be beneficial to both parties.

Upon hearing this, Ding Huo's expression softened slightly, but he still snorted and said irritably.

"I hope so! Please ask, sir, which three questions? I must make it clear beforehand: if any question is beyond the scope of this document or if I truly do not know the answer, then it is invalid and cannot be replaced!"

After listening to Ding Huo's compromise on the "three questions" that were tinged with frustration and wariness, Tang Lan did not speak immediately.

He lowered his eyes slightly, seemingly weighing and selecting options quickly in his mind. The night breeze swept across the bridge, fluttering the three people's clothes. The river flowed silently beneath the bridge, and a few more lights in the distance went out, making the night even deeper.

Wang Qiu'er remained quiet, only occasionally glancing at Ding Huo with a cold, scrutinizing look.

She knew that every question Tang Lan asked at this moment must have a deeper meaning.

After a moment, Tang Lan raised her head, her gaze returning to Ding Huo's face, and slowly asked the first question.

"My first question is, I want to know the location of a... 'divine legacy'."

Upon hearing this question, not only was Ding Huo stunned for a moment, but even Wang Qiu'er, who was standing next to him, showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Divine Inheritance! That is the legendary place where ancient gods left their trials and gifts to the mortal world, the ultimate opportunity that countless soul masters dream of but can only dream of!

The value and secrecy of this information are no less than the closely guarded secrets of top sects, and may even surpass them! Why did Tang Lan suddenly ask this? Could it be that his current strength improvement requires the help of divine inheritance?

Ding Huo's bitter smile deepened as he stroked his beard, shook his head, and sighed.

"Your Excellency... you always surprise me with your words. Divine inheritance... such things are ethereal and elusive. Even if one knows its approximate location, without that destined 'fate' and the 'great perseverance' and 'great strength' to pass the cruel test..."

Going there would be futile, and might even lead to your death. Throughout history, the number of Soul Masters who have truly passed the divine trials and received their inheritance can probably be counted on two hands. Are you sure you want to ask this with such a precious question?

His words carried a clear hint of reminder and confirmation. In his view, rather than pursuing the elusive and highly improbable divine inheritance, it would be better to ask more practical and urgent questions, such as the Holy Spirit Cult's specific arrangements in Rose City and the movements of other suspicious powerful figures.

Tang Lan's expression remained unchanged; she simply nodded calmly.

"I'm sure. About this issue."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

Ding Huo gave Tang Lan a deep look. In the other's calm and unwavering eyes, he saw absolute confidence and a deeper level of consideration. This person was definitely not acting on a whim.

Could it be... that he's really confident enough to believe he's qualified to touch the divine inheritance? Or does he have something else backing him, or is the divine inheritance itself related to the crisis he's dealing with?
With his mind racing, Ding decided not to offer any further advice. As a qualified information broker, his clients' needs were his guiding principle. As long as they didn't cross his bottom line, he would answer whatever they asked, and their choices were none of his concern.

"Fine."

Ding sighed, reached into his robes, rummaged around for a while, and pulled out a small, palm-sized, rather old-looking leather booklet with worn edges.

The booklet's cover was completely blank, appearing quite plain. He carefully opened the booklet, using the dim moonlight and his Soul Master's excellent eyesight to meticulously search through each page. The inner pages seemed to contain densely packed small characters and some simple symbols and map fragments, clearly important intelligence notes compiled by Ding himself.

The search process lasted for quite a while, with Ding occasionally frowning in thought and his finger tracing over certain entries. Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er waited patiently without urging him.

Finally, Ding Huo's finger stopped at a certain spot. He carefully examined the record, pondered for a moment, and then looked up at Tang Lan.

"Based on the scattered information I have collected and compiled over the years, as well as some ancient records shared within the 'Listening Wind Pavilion,' I can determine the location of the divine inheritance sites, whose inheritance may not have been fully acquired or completely destroyed... Currently, I know of two such sites."

He paused, observing Tang Lan's reaction.

"Both of these places... are extraordinary, with extremely harsh environments and numerous dangers, making them veritable forbidden zones on the continent. Ordinary Soul Masters, even Title Douluo, would never set foot here lightly unless absolutely necessary. One is deep in the 'Death Desert' in the northwest, and the other is in the heart of the 'Misfortune Poison Swamp' in the southwest."

"Desert of Death...Poisonous Swamp of Doom..."

Upon hearing these two place names, even the usually quiet Wang Qiu'er couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. Tang Lan's eyes also flickered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

These two places are incredibly famous! The Death Desert is an endless sea of ​​sand, scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night. It is also plagued by unpredictable sandstorms, quicksand, and ferocious sand-attribute soul beasts adapted to the extreme environment. The harshness of the environment makes it a no-man's land.

The Poison Swamp of Misfortune is even worse, perpetually filled with a colorful and deadly poisonous miasma. The swamp's mud is bottomless, harboring countless highly venomous soul beasts and bizarre poisonous insects and plants. The air, soil, and water are all highly toxic and corrosive. Ordinary soul masters who step into it, without special means, would probably not survive for more than a short while.

These two places are indeed death zones rarely visited by human soul masters. Only top experts who are looking for extremely rare soul rings or engaging in some kind of extreme training will occasionally venture into the edge of these areas.

After Ding Huo revealed the two locations, he said nothing more, simply looking at Tang Lan and waiting for his reaction. In his view, knowing these were the two places, most people would probably back down, or at least ask more questions about the details of the inheritance itself, the risk assessment, and so on.

However, Tang Lan's reaction once again surprised him.

Tang Lan did not show much hesitation or retreat on his face. He just thought for a moment, then nodded and spoke.

"In that case, tell me the exact locations of these two places of divine inheritance, as well as any known methods or clues to enter them. These are my two questions."

"Two questions?!"

Ding was genuinely surprised this time, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He had initially thought that upon hearing about these two forbidden areas, the other party would either give up or press for details about one of them, exchanging one question for information about the other. However, he hadn't expected Tang Lan to be so "generous," directly offering two questions in exchange for the location information of both inheritance sites!

This was almost unimaginable in his previous trading experience. You see, while information passed down from the gods is certainly valuable, when it comes to a specific location in a forbidden area, its "immediate practicality" and "risk" often make many buyers feel it's not worth it, especially when it takes up a precious opportunity to ask questions.

"Sir...are you sure you want to use two questions to obtain information about these two places?"

Ding Huo couldn't help but confirm again, and he even wondered if Tang Lan hadn't heard the ominous reputations of these two places clearly.

“That’s the Desert of Death and the Swamp of Misfortune! Even knowing the location, getting there and finding the entrance to the inheritance would be a perilous journey, requiring a near-death experience! Its value…”

"I'm sure."

Tang Lan interrupted him, her tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable determination.

"Master, you only need to tell me the information."

Ding opened his mouth, but looking into Tang Lan's calm yet profound eyes, he ultimately swallowed back his words of persuasion.

His opinion of Tang Lan rose even higher. Tang Lan's actions sometimes seemed unexpected, even "unprofitable," but they often had hidden meanings, and he had extraordinary confidence in his own abilities and judgment.

He said no more and turned his attention back to the booklet in his hand.

"Ok."

Ding cleared his throat and began to describe in detail.

"First, there is the legacy in the Death Desert. According to records and vague information provided by a few explorers who were lucky enough to return from the depths of the desert, its location is roughly in the western part of the core area of ​​the Death Desert, in a stretch of shifting sands that the local surviving indigenous tribes call the 'Fantasy Sand Sea'."

There once stood an ancient 'city in the sea of ​​sand,' the capital of an ancient kingdom that enjoyed a brief period of glory for about a century. Later, for reasons unknown, the kingdom collapsed, and the city was swallowed by quicksand and completely obliterated.

The entrance to the divine lineage is said to be hidden somewhere beneath the ruins of the city in the desert, possibly connected to the sacrificial site at the heart of the royal city or the royal treasury.

As he spoke, he gestured with his finger on a page of the booklet, seemingly referring to a simple map on it.

"The specific triggering method of the entrance and the content of the internal trials are completely unknown. All that is known is that the quicksand in that area is unpredictable, and the space seems somewhat unstable, often displaying mirage-like illusions that interfere with perception and make it extremely easy to get lost."

Moreover, the ruins of the Sand City are not fixed; they seem to drift slowly with the forces of shifting sands and underground rivers. Therefore, the location can only be a general area, and you will need to find the exact spot yourself upon arrival.

After Ding finished speaking the first sentence, he paused slightly, turned the page, and continued.

"The second is the legacy in the Poison Swamp of Doom. Its location is in the deepest part of the swamp, in a giant network of underground caves known as the 'Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons'."

The cave entrance was hidden at the bottom of the poisonous swamp, covered by thick layers of toxic mud and highly poisonous vines, making it extremely difficult to spot. The cave's interior was a labyrinthine network, inhabited by countless terrifying soul beasts adapted to the darkness and toxic environment. These ranged from tiny poisonous insects to enormous venomous pythons and lizard-like soul beasts, a diverse array of species, all extremely aggressive, and most possessing deadly mixed toxins.

His tone was solemn.

"The entrance to the inheritance is said to be at the very bottom of the Ten Thousand Poison Cave. After passing through a complex network of poisonous tunnels, one will arrive at a relatively open underground space. There exists an ancient, temple-like structure built of some kind of corrosion-resistant, strange stone. The temple's 'gate' is a massive stone door engraved with eerie runes." (End of Chapter)