Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

Cinderella glanced in the direction of the main house, then at Tang San, keenly sensing the change in his aura in that instant, but she didn't ask anything, only nodded: "Okay."

She turned and went back to her room, gently closing the door behind her.

Tang San stood there, listening to Yu Xiaogang stretching his limbs in the courtyard with great enthusiasm, his eyes filled with a cold indifference.

Yu Xiaogang broke through level 30 and became a Soul Master.

In Tang San's view, this was not a good thing at all; on the contrary, it might make their current situation even more troublesome.

Previously, Yu Xiaogang was only level 29. Despite bearing the title of "Master of Trash," he was always somewhat insecure and lacked confidence deep down. He was relatively restrained in his actions, at most using theoretical knowledge and petty benefits to win them over.

Now, having broken through the bottleneck that had plagued him for half his life, he feels triumphant and confident about the future, which inevitably leads to an inflated ego.

Moreover, he and Cinderella's father, Tang Hao, have disappeared without a trace.

A Soul Master with an inflated ego and a strong possessive desire for them will be much more difficult to deal with than the previous depressed and frustrated Great Soul Master.

If Yu Xiaogang feels the time is right and can't hold back any longer, wanting to forcibly establish a master-disciple relationship and thus possess them...

Tang San's right hand quietly clenched in his sleeve, the internal energy of the Xuan Tian Gong flowing slightly through his meridians, bringing with it a chilling sensation.

He would never allow anyone to force his sister to do something she didn't want to do.

If Yu Xiaogang really dares to use his status as Soul Master and his title as a teacher to force them to formally become his disciples...

Therefore, the moment the apprenticeship ceremony is held will be the moment Yu Xiaogang chooses to die.

He has at least ten ways to make this newly promoted Soul Master die unexpectedly without leaving any trace.

These dark, blood-stained thoughts flashed clearly through Tang San's mind, but his face remained calm befitting his age, even carrying a hint of the taciturnity of a young man.

He turned and went to the kitchen to prepare a simple breakfast.

In his heart, Cinderella only needs to stay happy and innocent as she is now.

He cleans up all the filth and danger. Anyone who tries to disrupt his sister's peaceful life is his enemy.

As for enemies, the Tang Clan has always had only one principle.

……

Inside the study of the Crown Prince's residence.

The flickering candlelight cast long and short shadows of the figure bent over the desk as he wrote.

Qian Renxue, or rather, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, finally finished reviewing the last memorial on his desk.

She put down her pen, leaned back in the wide chair, raised her hand, and vigorously rubbed her throbbing temples.

Her face, though disguised, betrayed her exhaustion. After dealing with complex political affairs for several hours in a row, even she felt mentally and physically drained.

In particular, a considerable portion of these political tasks were specifically assigned by Emperor Xueye to train and test her.

Thinking of the emperor, who was growing old and increasingly paranoid, and who held onto power tightly, Qian Renxue felt a strange sense of irritation.

She never imagined that Emperor Xueye, who was mediocre in his talent for Soul Master cultivation, would be so entangled and suffocating in his control and balance of political power.

Over the years, she has worked diligently and conscientiously to play the role of a qualified, even outstanding, crown prince, managing the Tiandou Empire in an orderly manner and winning the praise of many court officials.

But what about Emperor Xueye?

He seemed to be delegating authority, handing over more and more complicated tasks to her, keeping her extremely busy.

On the other hand, however, he remained completely tight-lipped on crucial personnel appointments and military and national affairs, like a hawk guarding the country.

Various checks and balances emerged one after another. Today they supported this prince, tomorrow they hinted at that nobleman, stirring up the waters of the court and making her feel constrained every time she implemented policies.

She felt like a donkey with weights on its back, pulling a heavy millstone in circles, with a carrot called the throne hanging in front of her, visible but unattainable.

She has already invested far too much in achieving this goal.

More than a decade of youth, countless hours of painstaking effort... all of this is like a sunk cost, making it impossible for her to give up easily.

Giving up would mean all her previous efforts were in vain, and that everything she had done would become a joke.

If they don't give up, does that mean they have to continue being used as a tool by Emperor Xueye, endlessly exploited until the day he dies?

Who knows how much longer that old guy will live? What if he lives another twenty or thirty years?

Thinking of this, Qian Renxue felt an indescribable sense of frustration welling up in her chest.

She stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and let the breeze caress her slightly flushed cheeks.

Chapter 167 Haotian Sect

Looking at the rising sun outside the window and the faint lights of the emperor's bedroom in the distance, Qian Renxue's eyes gradually turned cold, like a frozen lake.

This can't go on any longer.

She must speed things up.

The Snow Night Emperor's existence has become the biggest obstacle to her plan.

It seems that the tampering with his food before was not enough.

Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes slightly, and a trace of coldness and determination, completely inconsistent with her current identity as Xue Qinghe, flashed in those eyes that were disguised as black.

It's time to increase the amount.

……

Haotian Sect.

All communication with the outside world and the transmission of external resources depended almost entirely on Tang Yuehua's one-way street.

Although this secluded sect is closed off, it is not completely isolated from the world. The supplies sent by Tang Yuehua every month through specific channels are an important source for maintaining the sect's order and understanding the outside world.

On this day, an elder in charge of receiving and counting the supplies frowned deeply as he looked at the resources delivered this month, and his white beard stood up.

He picked up the list and checked the medicines, metals, gold soul coins, and some daily necessities neatly arranged on the ground again. His face darkened.

"This number is wrong!" He said, his voice clearly displeased, as he looked up at Tang Zhong, who was standing quietly to the side.

"How come it's down by 15% compared to last month? Did something go wrong on the way?"

Tang Zhong lowered his head, his tone calm and composed, revealing no emotion whatsoever: "Reporting to Fifth Elder, everything that was handed over and inventoried was delivered according to Miss Yuehua's arrangements, and there were no oversights."

"According to her arrangement?" Upon hearing this, the Fifth Elder snorted coldly, his hand gripping the list so tightly it made a rustling sound.

"What kind of arrangement is this? Although the sect is currently closed, there are still so many disciples who need to cultivate, eat, and drink. Doesn't everyone need resources? She has been running things outside for many years. Doesn't she know what's important?"

He grew angrier as he spoke, his voice rising involuntarily: "I think she is..."

"Fifth Uncle, what's wrong?" A deep, steady voice interrupted the Fifth Elder.

Sect Leader Tang Xiao strode in. He was tall and imposing, and his face bore a resemblance to Tang Hao, but he possessed a greater sense of composure and restraint befitting a sect leader. His gaze swept over the supplies on the ground, and he already understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

When the Fifth Elder saw Tang Xiao arrive, he seemed to have found his pillar of support and immediately pointed to the pile of supplies, saying, "Sect Master, you've come at the right time! Look at the things Yuehua sent this month, it's suddenly 15% less than usual! I asked Tang Zhong, and he only said it was Yuehua's arrangement! This... what kind of talk is this!"

Tang Xiao bent down, picked up a metal ingot of decent quality, weighed it in his hand, then put it down, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at the Fifth Elder.

"Fifth Uncle, please calm down. It's already not easy for Yuehua to support Yuexuan in Tiandou City and navigate between various forces. There must have been some unexpected situation in Tiandou City recently, or Yuexuan has encountered some temporary difficulties and needs funds, so she had no choice but to temporarily reduce the supplies here."

He paused, his tone filled with protection and trust for Tang Yuehua: "Yuehua always acts with discretion and would never do such a thing without a reason. As her family, and with the sect as her support, we should understand her difficulties instead of criticizing her."

Another, older, Seventh Elder nodded and spoke up to ease the atmosphere: "The Sect Master is right. That child Yuehua has been working hard for the sect, and we within the sect can hardly understand the hardships she has endured. She must have encountered difficulties and is temporarily short of funds. A little bit of resources, even if it takes a month, is not a big deal."

The Fifth Elder's expression softened slightly when he saw that Tang Xiao and the Seventh Elder had spoken in this way, but he was still indignant. Especially when he thought about what had happened before, he couldn't help but snort coldly and bring up the old matter again: "Difficulties? Unexpected changes? What kind of terrible changes could they be! I think she's just gotten too big for her britches and has been blinded by the outside world. She wants to use this to control us and show off her importance!"

His murky yet sharp eyes swept over Tang Xiao and the Seventh Elder: "Have you forgotten what happened a few months ago, about that... pill?"

The Fifth Elder's tone grew increasingly dissatisfied at the mention of elixirs, clearly still harboring resentment over the matter.

……

Several months ago.

Information about Ge Duo and her miraculous elixirs was sent back to the Haotian Sect via Tang Yuehua's urgent dispatch for the first time.

At that time, the effects of the elixir had not yet been widely verified, and the information was only secretly spread within a small circle of nobles and the top three sects of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

When the elders in charge of the Haotian Sect heard the news and gathered together to discuss it, their first thought was simple and direct.

"Find a time when it's dark, find out where that girl is, and plunder the pills and rare herbs she has."

Sitting to the side, the Fifth Elder, whose temper was the most volatile, spoke up. His tone was as calm as if he were telling someone to go to the back mountain and chop two bundles of firewood.

In the Douluo Continent, strength reigns supreme. The Clear Sky Sect has remained hidden for many years, but its creed has never changed—to subdue others with martial arts and let the fists do the talking. If you have the strength to take what you want, it is only natural to do so.

Even though Tang Yuehua mentioned in her letter that Ge Duo was a titled Douluo, the elders present did not show the slightest fear on their faces. On the contrary, some of them had a glint of eagerness in their eyes.

Titled Douluo? Within their Haotian Sect, there is more than one Titled Douluo. Apart from Sect Master Tang Xiao, several elders have already reached the Titled Douluo realm.

The arrogance of being the number one sect in the world is already etched into their very bones.

"The Fifth Elder is absolutely right." An elder with a sharp face nodded in agreement. "If that pill is truly effective, it should be used by our Haotian Sect. To put it in the hands of a cowardly girl would be to waste a precious gem."

Just as the Fifth Elder and the others were getting ready to fight, and even began to discuss which elders would take action and choose a dark and windy night to wipe out Ge Duo, Tang Yuehua received the message.

She traveled through the night, returning to the closed sect in a dusty and weary state, and finally managed to stop the elders before they could take action.

"Yuehua? Why are you back?" The Fifth Elder put down his teacup, frowning slightly. He was somewhat surprised and displeased by her sudden return.

This is a sacred place within the sect; even if she is the sect leader's sister, she shouldn't act so recklessly.

Tang Yuehua's chest heaved violently, her breath rapid from the journey, but she tried to straighten her back, her gaze sweeping over every elder present, her voice slightly hoarse but crystal clear: "Elders, regarding the matter of Geduo, you must not use force!"

"Oh? Why?" The Fifth Elder raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat dismissive.

"A mere rogue cultivator who has reached the Title Douluo level? My Clear Sky Sect can't even touch him?"

Chapter 168 Resource Reduction

"It's not that you can't move, it's that you absolutely cannot move!" Tang Yuehua took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and spoke faster.

“That Ge Duo is not alone. The pills she refines have now attracted the attention of almost all the top forces in Tian Dou City! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Blue Lightning Tyrant School, and even the high-ranking officials of the Star Luo Empire are all watching her and have overt or covert connections with her!”

"If we act rashly, we will not only be robbing Ge Duo, but also offending almost all the top forces on the mainland! This will not be a simple robbery. Can our Haotian Sect afford the chain reaction that will follow?"

Tang Yuehua glanced around at the crowd. Seeing that the elders' expressions shifted slightly but they still remained unconvinced, she continued, "More importantly, the Spirit Hall! They've been looking for any possible opportunity, any pretext, to attack our Clear Sky Sect! If we were to commit such a robbery now, wouldn't we be handing the Spirit Hall a ready-made handle? They could use this opportunity to unite with those sects whose interests have been harmed, and under the banner of maintaining order on the continent, come to punish us! At that time, our Clear Sky Sect will truly become the target of everyone's wrath!"

His words resonated deeply.

A brief silence fell over the hall. The elders exchanged glances, their anger subsiding slightly, but still retaining a touch of their inherent stubbornness and bewilderment.

In their view, once something is seized, it belongs to them. If others are dissatisfied and come to their door, they will fight back. It's a good opportunity to let the world witness the sharpness of the Haotian Hammer. What's there to be afraid of?

Tang Xiao, who had been listening in silence, looked at Tang Yuehua's anxious yet determined eyes and sighed inwardly.

He knew that the elders' ideas were outdated and that the sect could no longer remain closed-minded and act recklessly.

Therefore, he slowly stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and said in a deep and steady voice with the unquestionable majesty of a sect leader: "What Yuehua said makes sense."

Tang Xiao's gaze swept over the elders: "Our Haotian Sect has gone into seclusion to accumulate strength and temporarily avoid conflict, not to truly isolate ourselves from the world, much less to make enemies of the entire continent. Since Ge Duo's pills can be obtained through trade, why take this risky move, needlessly making enemies and giving others a handle against us?"

He paused, then emphasized, "This matter ends here. All matters concerning Geduo and her elixirs will be handled by Yuehua, and all transactions must be conducted according to the rules. No one is allowed to act privately; violators will be punished according to the sect's regulations!"

Seeing that the sect leader had spoken and his attitude was so clear, the elders, though still harboring their own thoughts, could only suppress them and clasped their hands in response, "Yes, sect leader."

Recalling the argument from a few months ago, the Fifth Elder's expression was still not very pleasant.

Although he was persuaded, deep down he still harbored some resentment towards Tang Yuehua for "blocking" them from obtaining the elixir.

Seeing that resources had been reduced again, both old and new grievances flooded his mind, making him displeased with Tang Yuehua's every move.

Tang Xiao looked at the Fifth Elder's still indignant expression and sighed inwardly. He knew his uncle's temper and didn't try to persuade him any further. He simply turned to Tang Zhong and said gently, "Go back and tell Yuehua that everything is fine in the sect. Tell her not to worry. As for her and Yuexuan's safety, she should prioritize them. If she encounters any difficulties, she must send a message back."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I'll write her a letter; you can take it back later."

Tang Zhong respectfully replied, "Yes, Sect Master."

Seeing this, the Fifth Elder knew that the matter was already settled, so he could only snort coldly and leave.

……

In the private room of Tang Yuehua in Yuexuan, Tiandou City.

In the candlelight, Yuexuan's accounts for the past few months were laid out in front of her. Her slender fingertips traced lines of numbers, her beautiful brows furrowing more and more, until finally turning into an almost inaudible sigh.

The numbers on the books were even worse than she had expected.

Originally, given Yuexuan's status and management in Tiandou City, his monthly income and expenses were fixed, balanced with a slight surplus, maintaining his business and supplying some resources to the sect without any problems.

But during this period, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.