Huo Yuhao had barely stepped out of the room when he encountered a familiar figure in the corridor.
It was Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin also noticed him. His eyes lit up, but then he seemed to think of something and quickly composed himself, bowing solemnly.
"Greetings, Tower Master."
The news of the Tower's change in leadership had already spread, so he naturally knew of it as well.
"It's Wu Lin." Huo Yuhao stopped, smiling helplessly. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Tang Wulin straightened, grinning as he scratched his head. "It's only proper respect for the Tower Master."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and stopped joking with him. "You came looking for me. What's the matter?"
"Nothing much. I met my teacher yesterday, and he told me you'd be leaving the Douluo Continent for a while. So I came to see you off—and to offer belated congratulations. Congratulations on becoming Tower Master."
He paused, his tone uncertain. "By the way, following Tower tradition, your title is now Spirit Transmission, right?"
The former Tower Master, Qianku Dongfeng, had stepped down and changed his title to Coiling Dragon. Following tradition, Huo Yuhao's title should presumably be Spirit Transmission, continuing the legacy.
"Xiong Jun didn't tell you?" Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow.
"No. Teacher didn't mention anything about that." Tang Wulin shook his head. "He only told me—"
Before he could finish, his Sea of Spirit stirred, cutting him off.
The next moment, a Spirit Soul appeared beside Tang Wulin, staring wide-eyed at Huo Yuhao.
"The new Tower Master is you? Spirit-Ice, you're still alive?!"
This Spirit Soul radiated a faint blue aura—it was the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul!
"Blue Silver Emperor, it's been a long time." Huo Yuhao greeted him as he appeared.
The Blue Silver Emperor had seen his true face ten thousand years ago and would naturally recognize him upon meeting. They simply hadn't crossed paths before, so the Spirit Soul hadn't had the chance to identify him.
After all, though Huo Yuhao had promised Tang Wulin the opportunity to contract the Blue Silver Emperor, he'd been too busy to personally participate in the contracting process and hadn't met the Blue Silver Emperor face to face.
The Blue Silver Emperor's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a long time, his shock slow to fade.
Though there were various images and news of Huo Yuhao online, as a plant-type Spirit Soul, he preferred the simulated primeval forest environment of the Spirit Elevation Platform and didn't pay much attention to outside rumors. He only knew that two reincarnated deities had come to the Tower—not that one of them was the Spirit-Ice Douluo.
Today was his first time learning of Huo Yuhao's return, and naturally, he was deeply shaken.
But Tang Wulin was even more shocked. The Blue Silver Emperor's exclamation of "Spirit-Ice" left his mind blank.
Spirit-Ice? Wasn't that the first-generation Tower Master's title? Why was the Blue Silver Emperor calling Yuhao that? Could it be that—
He recalled that the Blue Silver Emperor had once said he'd come to the Tower because of the first-generation Tower Master.
And now, standing before Huo Yuhao, addressing him as an old acquaintance, "Spirit-Ice"—didn't that mean Yuhao was the Spirit-Ice Douluo?
Yuhao wasn't just a deity—he was the Spirit-Ice Douluo, the first-generation Tower Master?!
His idol had been right beside him all along?
In that instant, Tang Wulin's mind completely crashed.
(Image of a galaxy, brain, formula.jpg)
Huo Yuhao vaguely saw an expression resembling a meme from his past life on Tang Wulin's frozen face and smiled slightly.
Seeing his smile, the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul snapped back from his shock, his expression complex.
"Your survival to this day proves that the rumors of your failed apotheosis ten thousand years ago were false. You really did become a deity?"
Huo Yuhao smiled without answering.
The Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul took that as confirmation and sighed. "Back then, we all thought you'd fallen. The Tower even set up a spirit tablet for you. I never expected..."
He trailed off, suddenly recalling the scene of the Tower burning incense and offering sacrifices to that tablet. He shot Huo Yuhao a strange look.
But Huo Yuhao's expression remained unchanged, his gaze calm, showing no embarrassment.
Seeing this, the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul somehow felt that he should be the one embarrassed. Still, he quickly set aside those strange thoughts and continued, "Sigh, if I'd known you'd succeed back then, I'd have done whatever it took to ride your path to greatness."
"Our attributes aren't compatible."
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "And saying such things in front of Wu Lin isn't appropriate."
The Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul glanced at Tang Wulin—the boy had turned to stone, his pupils dilated, mouth slightly open, his soul apparently wandering somewhere in the galaxy. He clearly hadn't recovered from the shock of "Huo Yuhao is the Spirit-Ice Douluo."
He chuckled lightly. "Wu Lin isn't the type to mind such things."
Hearing his name mentioned, Tang Wulin's eyes finally moved, slowly rebooting from his frozen state. He opened his mouth, his voice dry: "Yuhao, you really are,the Spirit-Ice Douluo?"
Huo Yuhao looked at Tang Wulin's cautious expression, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "What do you think?"
Tang Wulin swallowed, his gaze lingering on Huo Yuhao's face for a long time, as if seeing this friend for the first time.
One of his revered idols—the one who'd left behind the Tower's ancestral teachings, founded the Spirit Soul system, and indirectly given him the opportunity to cultivate—was actually this friend he'd known since childhood.
What kind of dreamlike experience was this? Even now, he felt as if he were in a dream, everything so unreal. This sense of unreality far surpassed the shock of learning Huo Yuhao was a deity.
Seeing he still needed time to process, Huo Yuhao didn't linger, simply patting his shoulder with a smile before walking away.
"I have things to do. I'll leave you to it."
His voice drifted back. "Once you've calmed down, check out the room ahead. There's a surprise waiting."
With that, he turned and descended the stairs, his unhurried steps making his robes sway in the corridor breeze. That upright, refined silhouette gradually vanished around the stairwell corner.
Tang Wulin stood frozen in place, staring after him as if nailed to the floor.
Old Tang appeared beside him, sighing. "I never expected him to be the Spirit-Ice Douluo you've always cited as your guiding light."
Tang Wulin often quoted the Spirit-Ice Douluo's teachings to discipline the Golden Dragon King's remnant soul. Old Tang had long been curious about this figure—never expecting him to have been by their side all along.
Tang Wulin didn't respond.
Old Tang raised an eyebrow, smiling. "What's wrong? Your idol is alive, became a deity, and didn't fall as history recorded—aren't you happy?"
"Happy? Of course I'm happy. Someone like the Spirit-Ice Ancestor achieving godhood and immortality is naturally something to celebrate."
Tang Wulin scratched his head, his expression twisted like crumpled paper. "But knowing that the Spirit-Ice Ancestor is Yuhao... I have mixed feelings right now."
Having a historical idol he'd admired turn out to be someone he knew personally—a scenario straight out of a novel—was something he couldn't process all at once.
Especially thinking about how he'd once burned incense before the Spirit-Ice spirit tablet and had discussed the Ancestor's teachings and achievements with Huo Yuhao—he felt like ants were crawling all over him, uncomfortable in every way.
Still, setting aside those complicated emotions, joy was definitely present.
In Tang Wulin's eyes, it had always been a pity that the Spirit-Ice Douluo hadn't become a deity. Now, knowing that he'd not only survived but truly stepped onto the divine path—that sense of "unsettled regret" being soothed filled him with satisfaction and happiness.
"I think I understand." The Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul smiled helplessly.
Tang Wulin scratched his head, unsure how to articulate his feelings, and changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, what did Yuhao—the Ancestor—mean by 'surprise'?"
"Go see for yourself."
Hearing this, Tang Wulin considered it and decided to head in the direction Huo Yuhao had indicated. The corridor was short; a few steps brought him to the slightly ajar door. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open.
Inside, a figure stood with hands behind his back, facing the window. Hearing the door, he turned.
It was a stern-looking middle-aged man, his aura completely restrained, like a sheathed sword.
"Sword Fanatic Ancestor?" Tang Wulin blurted out, his voice cracking.
His mind buzzed again.
This existence—who'd risen from level-three innate spirit power all the way to Super Douluo—had been a lighthouse on his cultivation path, a role model he'd used countless times to motivate himself.
He'd never imagined meeting the living person outside of simulation battles!
What was happening today?
One Tower ancestor after another, one idol after another, paraded before his eyes like a revolving lantern—his heart truly couldn't take much more.
While Tang Wulin was thrilled to meet Ji Juechen, Huo Yuhao had already arrived at the Spirit Transmission Tower's assembly hall for Title Douluo.
The hall was packed, every seat filled. Title Douluo who'd converged from various locations conversed in low voices.
The moment Huo Yuhao appeared at the entrance, all conversation ceased. Hundreds of eyes turned toward him—some reverent, some curious, some appraising.
Huo Yuhao stepped inside, his gaze calmly sweeping across the room.
"Is everyone here?" he asked.
Qianku Dongfeng immediately rose, his voice resonant: "Spirit-Ice Ancestor, all Title-level and above from Mingdu headquarters and all branches—aside from essential left-behind personnel—are present!"
The words "Spirit-Ice Ancestor" fell like a stone into a lake. The Title-level experts—some who'd already guessed the truth, others still in the dark—erupted in an uproar.
A Title Douluo's eyes widened as he turned to his companion in disbelief. "Spirit-Ice Ancestor? Does that mean—Lord Huo Yuhao is our Tower's first-generation Tower Master, the Spirit-Ice Douluo?"
His companion swallowed, his voice dry: "Apparently... yes."
"So that's it. Only that could explain why Lord Panlong stepped down now, and why his title is Spirit-Ice. Because the Spirit-Ice Ancestor is still alive—and already a deity."
One person murmured to himself.
"But—why would the Spirit-Ice Ancestor be the Fire God?"
"Surely there's some reason we don't know."
In the hall, discussions rose and fell, shock and realization interweaving. Some eyes bulged; some drew sharp breaths.
Yet no one questioned Huo Yuhao's identity.
Ridiculous—when even the Tower's higher-ups looked at him with such reverence, and the former Tower Master Qianku Dongfeng was so deferential, how could it be false?
Ji Feihong stood behind his father. Looking at Huo Yuhao, his father's words echoed in his mind: "Haven't you already figured it out?"
Dark Phoenix Douluo stood in the Execution Department's formation, her heart pounding as she gazed at that upright, refined silhouette. Though she'd suspected it before, when speculation became reality, she still felt dazed.
And among the crowd, those like Luo Sheng—who'd never imagined such a connection—received the strongest shock.
Huo Yuhao was the Spirit-Ice Ancestor himself. What achievements needed validation from anyone else? He'd once thought one must "equal" or even "surpass" the Spirit-Ice Ancestor's deeds to deserve the "Spirit-Ice" title.
But those very deeds he'd set as the benchmark were the ones this person had forged with his own hands!
Not only that—now returned, his future legends would only grow more glorious, far surpassing the records of history!
Luo Sheng's eyes lost focus. His earlier objections—"The Fire God shouldn't use the Spirit-Ice title," "Only achievements matching or surpassing the Ancestor's could justify it"—now all came back to hit him like a boomerang.
Seeing his state, his companion snapped back from his own shock and transmitted: "Don't worry. Your doubts never reached the Ancestor's ears. And you only voiced reasonable concerns from an uninformed perspective—even if the Ancestor found out, he probably wouldn't—"
"When did I ever question the Ancestor?"
Luo Sheng's expression darkened as he snapped back to reality. "Don't make things up. My reverence for the Spirit-Ice Ancestor is like an endless river,how could I ever question him?"
Though he hadn't said anything too extreme, if word got out or his companion teased him about it later, he'd be socially dead. Better to play dumb and pretend it never happened.
His companion: "..."
Selective amnesia?
Fine. You win.
Though the Title Douluo were shocked by the truth that "Huo Yuhao is the Spirit-Ice Douluo," their discipline quickly suppressed their surging emotions—though many still couldn't hide their excitement.
Standing before them, Huo Yuhao watched them quickly compose themselves and smiled slightly.
"Since you're ready—then march!"
He turned to face the Douling Continent, cold light gleaming in his eyes.
"Target: Douling! Crush the Holy Spirit Cult!"
"We follow the Ancestor's command!"
Over a hundred Title-level experts answered in unison, their voices like thunder.
Douling Continent, Tiandou City.
The streets bustled with people, a scene of apparent prosperity.
But beneath that prosperity, filth was everywhere.
On the outskirts of the Blood River God-Slaying Grand Array's core, a middle-aged evil soul master leaned in the shadows of an alley, watching the oblivious residents in the distance, a cold smirk curling at his lips.
"These fools—they're about to die and don't even know it. Pathetic."
Beside him, another evil soul master raised an eyebrow. "They just believe Lord Killing God has accepted their faith and will protect them. Not exactly stupid—they don't have much choice, after all."
"True. The real fools are those in the Douluo Federation. I hear they're winning battle after battle against Xingluo. But they never expected our real trump card to be here—and nearly complete."
The middle-aged evil soul master stamped the ground beneath his feet, his smile sinister. "I hope they're still smiling when the Abyss descends."
The other evil soul master was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm uneasy. You felt that deity's apotheosis earlier too—what if he attacks?"
The middle-aged evil soul master sneered, waving his hand dismissively. "So what if he's a deity? Lord Killing God receives our worship—he'll recover faster. With Lord Killing God here, the Federation's deities can't touch us."
"And besides, I think that deity is just bluffing. If he's been recovered all this time, why hasn't he made a move—"
BOOM!
Before he could finish, heaven and earth changed.
A massive spatial rift tore open the sky like a blade, spanning the entire city of Tiandou. An overwhelming divine presence poured forth, suppressing all directions.
Divine might like the sea. Divine might like the abyss.
In that instant, all the experts in Tiandou City felt as if a mountain had descended on their shoulders—their breath caught, their souls trembling.
"The Holy Spirit Cult—shall be destroyed!"
A majestic voice echoed over Tiandou City.
And with it, a thick bolt of seven-colored divine thunder descended from the heavens, striking directly at the location of the Blood River God-Slaying Grand Array's core!