Douluo Continent: This Tang San is different

Chapter 232 The Manor Bestowed upon Tang San by Emperor Xueye

Tian Dou City.

After going around in circles, Tang San and his companions returned to this place.

"Third Brother, after that grand event, you were granted the title of Earl by Emperor Xueye," Xiao Wu said, "Emperor Xueye even personally arranged a large estate for you in Tiandou City."

The noble titles in the Heaven Dou Empire are divided into baron, viscount, earl, marquis, and duke. Among them, marquises and dukes have the right to establish cities and start their own kingdoms, and even have autonomy over all matters within their own kingdoms. However, they are required to show submission to the Heaven Dou Empire on the surface and pay tribute every year.

Those who excel in the Continental Elite Tournament are granted the title of Baron by the Heavenly Dou Empire. This year's Continental Elite Tournament has produced a wealth of talent, and Emperor Xueye has generously offered the title of Viscount.

The members of the Heavenly Dou Royal Team One were all granted the title of Viscount.

Tang San was even directly granted the title of Earl.

When this matter was first spread, it caused quite a stir. Even the Platinum Cult Leader Salas felt that Emperor Xueye had gone too far, but considering that Tang San had been personally appointed as the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall by the Pope, he did not jump out to stop it.

After all, even now, Salas has to bow and pay his respects to Tang San.

"Captain Tang San, speaking of which, it seems you haven't visited the manor yet," Lan Yinzi teased, wanting to see the manor that Emperor Xueye had given to his son.

"It would be good to go and take a look." Tang San nodded, then chuckled. "I'm probably the only one who was granted a manor by the emperor but didn't move in right away. I'd have to wait a month or two to even go and take a look."

"Hehe, doesn't this mean that you don't care about fame and fortune, Third Brother?" Xiao Wu praised.

"No, I care a lot about reputation." Tang San shook his head, "but once I got it, I didn't care much anymore... It seems that what I like most is still researching the theory of martial soul cultivation."

Then, Tang San took out a map and led the three women toward the manor.

Upon arriving at the entrance, one sees a wide, ornate iron gate.

Two guards dressed in knight's armor stood outside the door.

"Four more imposters have arrived," one of the knights complained, stepping forward and saying, "Please leave. This is Earl Silverblue's manor. You can't just impersonate him by dressing up."

Clearly, quite a few people have been dressing up as Tang San recently, trying to sneak in, but they have all been discovered and driven away by these two guardians.

"I am Tang San." Tang San reluctantly took out a count's token from his white jade belt, on which were inscribed the words "Yin Lan," to prove his identity to the two. "If you still don't believe me—"

Five soul rings appeared: one yellow, two purple, one black, and one red.

This configuration of spirit rings is irrefutable proof!

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" x2

The two guards hurriedly knelt down on one knee to welcome Tang San.

"Get up, there's no need for such a grand gesture; I'm not used to it."

"Yes, Your Excellency!" x2

The two rose and hurriedly opened the ornate iron gate, watching with reverence as Tang San, Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, Lan Yinzi, and the others entered...

Like most of the manors in Tiandou City, this Silver Blue Manor has a Western European style.

From afar, the main building stands majestically with white pillars, marble swirling with snow-white patterns, and ebony doors and windows intricately carved. Surrounded by trees, it exudes a profound and magnificent beauty. In front, there is a circular fountain pool with a statue of a Blue Silver Emperor tree in the center. Water sprays from the central pearl and then cascades down from the twelve leaves.

Various plants are planted on both sides, and it is currently the season when the flowers are in full bloom, making the whole manor seem to be surrounded by a white mist of orange blossom fragrance.

A gentle breeze carries the fragrant scent of flowers, instantly relaxing the mind and body.

Around the main house, there is a large open space with many houses of varying heights arranged in a neat and orderly manner; these are houses prepared for the servants.

Behind the house is a garden filled with all kinds of precious and vibrant flowers.

When the servants saw Tang San and his group arrive, they immediately stopped what they were doing and came over to pay their respects. Tang San also took the opportunity to gather all the servants in the manor.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Everyone unanimously expressed their loyalty to Tang San.

Rather than calling them hired servants, they are more like slaves without self and with numb minds. Moreover, how many of these people are spies sent by Xueye, Xuexing, and Xueqinghe?

However, Tang San still gave them the appropriate respect: working in this manor would earn them two hundred gold soul coins per month! In return, if anyone cheated or shirked their duties, they would be dismissed immediately after their wages were settled, and their indenture would be returned, giving them their freedom.

Immediately, most of the servants became excited and expressed that they would definitely do their best and never slack off in the future.

As for freedom...

They may have thought about it at first, but now they all understand that without strength, wealth, and power, so-called freedom is nothing but a pipe dream, far less practical than being a servant in an aristocratic family.

Although life and death are not in one's own hands, the dangers one must face are visible and even tangible—the master's family and other noble forces.

Moreover, being a servant under a nobleman at least ensured that one was well-fed and clothed, and the higher the status of the master, the more likely these servants were to look down on some minor nobles.

Gaining freedom means that they not only need to consider unknown things that could threaten their lives, but also need to struggle for their daily meals.

Therefore, none of these servants thought of getting their indentures back.

Why is it better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix?

It's far less practical than three meals a day, not to mention that the Silver Blue Earl in front of us is as strong as the Pope of the Spirit Hall and has been personally named the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall by the Pope.

Why would they even think about leaving?

Another point is that this count was kind and amiable, and was even willing to pay them a salary. Moreover, if they did something wrong, he would simply restore their freedom and dismiss them... Other nobles would not be so generous. They would even kill their servants if they did something wrong without violating the imperial law.

Because servants had no human rights, if they died, they were simply dead; no one would care, and no one would criticize the nobles for such a thing... In that era, this was a taken-for-granted concept.

Tang San just wasn't used to it.

Now, he also has the right to make others conform to his habits.

After dismissing the servants, Tang San sighed and said, "Such a large manor needs a steward, otherwise we won't have time to manage it when we go to Wuhun City."

"I know there's a market area in the south of Tiandou City that specializes in selling slaves." Lan Yinzi's familiarity with Tiandou City far surpasses that of Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Guang Ling, who spend most of their time cultivating, researching, and fighting. After all, even when they go to Tiandou City, they mainly visit the more famous streets.

"Alright."

Tang San wasn't surprised by the existence of slave markets; surely slaves couldn't only be auctioned off at auction houses?

Only "rare items" or slaves with special status are put up for auction at large auction houses.

As for disciples of major sects and families being captured and enslaved... no one would do that before the major sects and families are wiped out or decline, because that would be tantamount to a direct provocation, and the consequence would be a fight to the death between the two sides.

Even though the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect are enemies, neither side will allow such a thing to happen openly, as the consequences would be disastrous.

Unless the auctioneer is invincible.

The so-called rare items and special identities refer to those whose martial soul mutations affect their physical bodies, or those who have been implicated in the destruction of their families due to certain mistakes.

Upon arriving at the Slave Market, Tang San's first reaction was that it was much more lively than other districts. The people coming and going were either rich or noble, or Soul Masters; there were very few ordinary people.

"Take a look, slaves from the North family of Sara City!"

"The Mary family of White Cloud City was wiped out by the Spirit Hall for colluding with the Fallen. The son and wife of the patriarch were all sold off cheaply, for 1,000 gold soul coins each."

"Look at these slaves of mine, they're strong and healthy, they'll definitely work hard!"

Listening to the cacophony of shouts around him, Tang San frowned slightly. Although he had expected it, he still found it hard to accept.

Xiao Wu felt the same way: "It's really hard to stand seeing people sold like living beings."

In the past, Xiao Wu would have already taken action and released all the slaves.

But now she understands that if she does this, not only will she be criticized and called naive, but the slaves she released will also be captured again and punished even more severely.

Even if she opened the prison, most of the slaves would not escape, because they knew that if they dared to escape, they would be treated even worse afterwards.

That's just how the world is.

Guangling pondered whether he would have suffered the same fate as these people if he hadn't met Tang San.

[It might be even worse; I might not even qualify to be a slave!]

"Where is the largest slave trading post around here?" Tang San stopped a passerby, paid him a silver coin, and asked.

The man's eyes lit up with joy upon seeing the silver coins, and he was even more astonished upon seeing Tang San's face, exclaiming excitedly, "You are...!"

"Shh~"

Tang San raised his index finger to his lips and pulled up his mask. "I'm pretty low-key."

"Sir, go south for three hundred meters, and you'll see an auction house that specializes in auctioning slaves. You can go there." The other person suppressed his excitement and pointed the way.

"Thank you." Tang San was about to leave when the other person suddenly called out to him, took out paper and pen, handed them over, and asked nervously, "Could you sign your name? I'd like to keep it as a souvenir."

Tang San took it, signed his name, and handed it back, laughing, "Don't make a fuss about it. I don't want to be chased by a bunch of people asking for autographs."

"Definitely! Definitely!" The other person took the paper and pen, repeatedly assuring them with a joyful expression.

In the Douluo Continent, showcasing oneself in the Continental Elite Tournament is the best way to become famous.

And idol worship...

With the large-scale production and dissemination of the Mother-Child Soul-Guiding Photography Sphere, it has become increasingly popular.

"Third Brother, you're really famous," Guangling said admiringly.

"It's actually quite troublesome. Every time I go out, I have to wear a mask, otherwise I can't handle a large group of people surrounding me." Tang San pulled down his mask and led the three of them toward the slave auction house that the passersby pointed out.

And this auction house is named:

Net!

(End of this chapter)