The North Sea.
Shen Yue, who had been rushing toward Devil Island after discovering the fierce battle there, saw the scene before her and swallowed.
"So this is the power of a deity?"
In her eyes, the core island of the Devil Islands now remained only half. The other half, which should have been there, was replaced by a deep sea vortex over ten kilometers in diameter, unfathomably deep. Visible spatial cracks were scattered all around.
The center of the vortex was pitch black, as if leading straight to the Nine Netherworlds. Dark purple Destruction energy churned and collided within. Each flicker made the surrounding space ripple, even tearing open new, tiny black fissures.
Shen Yue stared fixedly at this apocalyptic scene. Her mind was seized by unprecedented shock. So much so that when a figure quietly appeared beside her, she failed to notice immediately.
It was only when the surrounding North Sea Legion soldiers' respectful greetings sounded that Shen Yue snapped back to reality. She looked at the figure beside her, her attitude growing even more respectful.
What you hear and what you see are always different.
"Your Majesty Huo Yuhao, did you."
Huo Yuhao, pale-faced and with lightning faintly flickering across his body, waved his hand, cutting off Shen Yue's words.
"You help me Protect the Path."
With that, he did not care about the North Sea soldiers' eager gazes. He sat down cross legged to recover his spirit power.
"Yes." Shen Yue thought this one was speaking to her. She replied, only to realize that seven spirit bodies had already appeared on the ship, expressionlessly guarding Huo Yuhao.
Shen Yue dared not ask more, lest she disturb Huo Yuhao. She silently waited.
And Huo Yuhao, while recovering his spirit power, replayed the battle.
His main purpose in this battle had been to put his recent insights into practice. What he had used most was, naturally, the laws of Destruction and Reincarnation. As for the laws of Creation, apart from coordination Destruction, they were currently not suitable for combat.
And the laws of Destruction, needless to say, could enhance the power of most attacks when added to them.
As for the laws of Reincarnation, he had mainly used them in an auxiliary role. Because of his mastery of When Extreme Reaches, Reversal Comes, the laws of Reincarnation were very useful for harmonizing many conflicting powers. Even because his two martial souls had respectively integrated Creative and Destruction power, the laws of Reincarnation had helped him complete the Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique, the Reincarnation True Body.
Huo Yuhao was very satisfied with this Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique.
Strictly speaking, it was a Trinity. It was born from the Sky Silkworm Metamorphosis, integrating the Spirit Eyes martial soul and the Ice Empress martial soul, and then, through the laws of Reincarnation, using the Reincarnation Domain, which had evolved step by step from the Necromancy martial soul, as its carrier.
Because after he had turned the Necromancy martial soul into a domain, it was equivalent to not giving it a form. This had instead became an advantage, giving the Reincarnation Domain extremely strong plasticity and inclusiveness, like a blank canvas waiting to be written on, an empty vessel capable of bearing countless possibilities. It could both carry the power of the Reincarnation divine persona in the future and serve as a carrier for the Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
This made Huo Yuhao with emotion. Cause and effect were determined by destiny. If he had sigh chosen to give birth to the Necromancy martial soul instead of turning it into a domain, even if he had completed the Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique, he would probably only have achieved a combination of two into one. This miraculous Trinity would have been almost impossible.
And the effect of his Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique was simple. After fusing the origins of the three martial souls, it gave birth to a new martial soul, fusing all the powers of the several martial souls. It was somewhat similar to the Little Dragon God's Dragon God Transformation, yet also different. And because the Sky Silkworm Metamorphosis was the Spirit Eyes martial soul, and the Necromancy martial soul had already evolved into a spiritual domain, the new martial soul was naturally a Body Martial Soul with him as the main body.
Having accommodated the power of three martial souls, the power of this Martial Soul Fusion Technique was naturally not weak. After all, his Spirit Eyes martial soul had already completed its Gold Grade Secondary Awakening. His Ice Empress martial soul could already be called divine. And the power of the Reincarnation Domain was also considerable.
However, what Huo Yuhao currently valued most was that this Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique was a noble Independent Multiplier. Even with his strength, he could obtain a cross-level amplification. And because it fused the power of the Ice Empress martial soul and the Spirit Eyes martial soul, the Martial Soul True Body of that new martial soul was a fusion of the Ice Empress True Body and the Spirit Eyes True Body, providing even greater bonus than the Ice Empress True Body alone.
This was also why the Martial Soul Fusion Technique was called the Reincarnation True Body. At least for now, the blessing of the Martial Soul True Body was still very important to him.
If, with cultivation rivaling a level 97 Super Douluo, using the Ice Empress True Body's boost made him roughly a senior Semi Divine (in terms of cultivation), then this Self-Combination Martial Soul Technique combined with the Martial Soul True Body could elevate him to Emperor Tian's level. Otherwise, without that foundation, he could not have launched a divine level attack.
However, although this allowed him to unleash power reaching the divine level, the consumption was also enormous. It had nearly drained all his remaining spirit power. If he had not been mindful and left spirit power to use his Reincarnation Domain for recovery, he would probably have been shattered into pieces by the plane's seven colored lightning tribulation.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao could not help turning his gaze to the residual lightning on his body.
After all, he had not yet inherited the Throne of Eternity and Creation God-Imprint. Without a super divine weapon to assist, crossing the line still meant suffering lightning punishment.
But this planar lightning tribulation was quite fair. He was not the only one struck by lightning. Er Ming had also been struck.
You see, Er Ming was actually also at the divine level. It was only because of the plane's suppression that he had been forced to seal his strength.
And just now, in order to block Huo Yuhao's attack, Er Ming had hastily connected to his small plane and, under the plane's suppression, unsealed his divine consciousness. Because he had not fully recovered to the divine level, Huo Yuhao had thought he would be fine.
But Huo Yuhao then witnessed what happened when a being that had already reached the divine level directly confronted planar suppression. Er Ming had only unsealed his divine consciousness, and some aura could no longer be concealed. The plane directly determined Er Ming's situation. Along with stronger planar suppression, the planar lightning tribulation also targeted him.
He had only been struck by one bolt of seven colored lightning tribulation. Er Ming had been struck by two full bolts. It was only after Er Ming, severely wounded, resealed his divine consciousness and returned to the small plane that the thunder clouds receded.
Huo Yuhao did not even know whether the injuries he had caused were greater, or the lightning punishment. But he felt that eighty percent of it was the lightning punishment. Those two bolts had shown a tendency to grow stronger.
"No wonder Da Ming and Er Ming were not seen using divine consciousness during this period. Without a special status, a divine level existence merely revealing divine power or divine consciousness would probably attract the plane's focused attention. Suppression and lightning tribulation, both would come. Either seal their strength or be completely erased. Below the second class god level, probably no one could endure it. In a sense, they were actually less free than a Divine Origin realm Near Divine."
Huo Yuhao sighed with emotion. By observing Er Ming's situation, he gained a clearer understanding of planar suppression and lightning tribulation. Then he stopped thinking about it and began to fully refine the lightning tribulation power that had entered his body.
Although the seven colored lightning tribulation was the most domineering punishment the plane could deliver, it contained no small amount of creation. After all, during Heaven Forging, metal also had to undergo planar lightning tribulation to form, which contained the power of new life.
And as Huo Yuhao used the Body Sect's body tempering method to refine the residual power of the lightning tribulation, he felt his physical strength and blood and qi grow somewhat stronger.
"It seems I have found a path for body tempering."
A strange feeling arose in Huo Yuhao's heart.
Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua, because he was a Titled Douluo built up through heavenly treasures, the lightning tribulation attracted by Heaven Forging was not a blessing for him at all. It was a "punishment" that would worsen his health.
But for the original Tang Wulin, it was a different kind of body tempering method.
Huo Yuhao felt that he could use planar punishment in the same way. Because of his Reincarnation Domain and his partial mastery of Creative power, he did not need to worry about the lightning punishment causing him harm. So why not treat the plane's punishment for breaking the limit to the divine level as a body tempering method?
After all, he was not at the divine level. After taking one strike, he would refine it. Nothing would happen. His physical strength had been improving, but at the current rate, it was a bit slow.
So, should he do this from time to time in the future?
Time passed as Huo Yuhao pondered how to Shear the Sheep from the plane. Back in his own small plane, Er Ming sat on a patch of blue grass meadow that emitted a dense Life aura, grimacing in pain.
A Yin's virtual image hovered beside him. Gentle Life energy, like the finest drizzle, continuously seeped into his blackened, cracked skin and bones. On Er Ming's chest, the erosion left by the Ice-Devouring Extreme Flame, attached with the laws of Destruction, was the most stubborn. It intertwined with the violent destructive power left by the lightning tribulation.
But under A Yin's treatment, the various law residues were dispelled, and the wounds were recovering.
Her combat ability among second class gods was relatively weak, but as a Healer, she was very strong. Strictly speaking, she was now the continent's most powerful healing expert. Not to mention wounds left by Near Divine level experts, even divine level wounds could be treated.
"Hiss, that guy really went hard. And the planar lightning tribulation, that struck too hard."
Er Ming hissed in pain.
"Be content. At least that Fire God reincarnation did not intend to kill you."
Da Ming watched Er Ming's condition, his anger rising. "What were you thinking? Why did you go to Devil Island for no reason?"
Er Ming shrank his head, muttering aggrievedly, "It was all Lan Muzi's fault. I am never listening to his advice again."
In Er Ming's eyes, Lan Muzi was qualified to create a God of Misfortune divine seat. What luck.
"Alright. Get up."
At this point, A Yin's virtual image stopped moving. She warned sternly, "Do not provoke those two deities again in the future. Otherwise, I will not treat you."
Given the current situation, a radical opposition with two reincarnated first class gods was not a good thing.
"I understand. If he had not forced me to fight, I would have already come back."
Er Ming got up, somewhat disgruntled.
Seeing his expression, Da Ming sighed, then frowned. "Is the Fire God very battle hungry?"
The impression the other had left on him last time was not like that.
"No. He seemed to be testing his understanding of the laws of Destruction and Creation."
Er Ming shook his head and recounted his experience to A Yin and Da Ming in detail.
Da Ming fell silent.
So Er Ming had just happened to walk into the line of fire.
On the other side, A Yin, upon hearing certain words from Er Ming's account, pondered. "Attacks using the seven elements. The seven elemental gods of the divine realm have never displayed such ability before others. The Emotion God, Rong Nianbing, however, is very skilled in this. But the seven elemental gods have a good relationship with Rong Nianbing. Perhaps they learned from each other."
To be honest, A Yin felt that the Huo Yuhao in Er Ming's description resembled Rong Nianbing more than the Fire God. But she also knew that was impossible. After all, Rong Nianbing had left the divine realm long ago.
Hearing this, Er Ming looked at her somewhat confusedly.
Why was she studying the Fire God's abilities at a time like this? Should they not be focusing on his tragic experience?
Da Ming, however, immediately understood A Yin's intent but did not say so. He simply said to Er Ming, "From now on, you will guard the small plane. I will go out and handle things."
After recovering, Huo Yuhao saw Shen Yue hesitating to speak and smiled slightly. "If you have something to ask, just say it directly."
"Your Majesty, was that Shrek true god attacking you?" Shen Yue asked.
The North Sea Legion had been observing the situation here. She had naturally seen Huo Yuhao's opponent.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "No. I forcibly dragged him into a fight."
Shen Yue was stunned.
She had thought of many answers. A hidden expert from Shrek suddenly attacking His Majesty Huo Yuhao. A destined battle between reincarnated deities. Perhaps even a Shrek true god wanting something in the North Sea, accidentally encountering His Majesty Huo Yuhao. She had even drafted several versions of her report. She had never thought of this one.
"You do not need to worry about him. He will not come again." Huo Yuhao said to Shen Yue while glancing at the seven old demons' numb expressions, storing them in his Undead Half-Plane.
Even away from Devil Island, he had plenty of ways to keep these seven alive. Since they had fallen into his hands, they could work for him for a few more years.
Huo Yuhao said, "By the way, the source of the Destruction energy on the Devil Islands has been dealt with by me. It is no longer as dangerous as before. After a decade or so, it can be developed. However, there is not much of value left inside. Only some residual Life energy and Destruction energy are still somewhat useful."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yue secretly admired.
Truly worthy of His Majesty Huo Yuhao. A life forbidden zone that ordinary people avoided had been dealt with so simply.
Afterwards, Huo Yuhao exchanged a few words with Shen Yue, did not stay long in the North Sea, bid farewell to the North Sea Legion Commander, and returned to Mingdu by soul powered aircraft.
Although he was tempted to try lightning tribulation body tempering, there was no rush. There was no need to do it in the North Sea. Having been away for so long, it was better to go back.
Along the way, through the soul tool network, he learned that during his six month absence, quite a few interesting things had happened in the Federation.
After learning that Huo Yuhao was a reincarnated deity, the previously dormant young geniuses on the Junior Genius Rankings had risen again.
Because of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, the members of this generation's Junior Genius Rankings actually had very little presence. Their radiance was entirely overshadowed by the two. Some had even begun to doubt themselves in their cultivation, wondering if they were not geniuses, since the gap with those two was so large.
But now it was different.
With the "exposure" of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's identities, those who had been mere foil suddenly found spiritual support. The gap that had once been suffocating disappeared overnight, even becoming a source of pride.
Phrases like "I was on the same rankings as a reincarnated deity" and "I lasted one move against a reincarnated deity" began to circulate online.
And so, the Junior Genius Rankings came alive.
Everyone felt that the sun was out, the rain had stopped, and they were feeling good again.
And as the saying goes, When prodigies do not appear, the rankings are all mediocrities.
Without the two freaks suppressing them, everyone felt refreshed. They thought the people ranked above them were not that much better. Some even became Hardheaded Kids.
No matter how much you brag, if your cultivation is not twenty levels higher than mine, I might still win.
Your cultivation is high, but the Junior Genius Rankings compare overall ability. Your secondary profession is far inferior to mine.
If you have the guts to fight me, but not to share the stage with me, that means you are avoiding me.
In short, without the two mountains weighing them down, and with Shrek destroyed, many young geniuses had gathered at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. The current younger generation of Douluo could be described as Heroes Competing for Supremacy, each full of vitality.
Until a six year old child entered everyone's view.
Jia Lin.
When they saw this name appearing at the bottom of the Junior Genius Rankings, many were in despair.
Because the reason Jia Lin had entered the Junior Genius Rankings was simple, just five words. Innate Level Twenty.
Just as two reincarnated deities had left, a six year old with Innate Level Twenty appeared? Was this not a legendary existence?
What kind of world was this? Could we ever stand up again?
Why is the sky over Douluo so dark?
"Is this really alright?" Watching the online discussions about Jia Lin, Gu Ruiqiu turned to look at Gu Yuena on the sofa. "Is it too early to put Jia Lin in the public eye now?"
"Jia Lin is different from me. Although she has some inheritance, to master it, she still needs considerable training." Gu Yuena shook her head. "And I am worried that keeping her by our side all the time will make her lose her drive. Right now, the younger generation on the continent is quite active. Let us give her a small goal first. Let her get first place."
Gu Ruiqiu looked at her speechlessly.
For Jia Lin, it was indeed a small goal. It would probably be achieved in a few years. But if she did that, the members of the Junior Genius Rankings would probably cry.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)