Lu Jingming did not act too forcefully; instead, he chose to soothe the Demon Empress. After all, she was a formidable combatant and a useful pawn.
She merely sought revenge—bitter grievances and deep-seated hatred were only natural human emotions. Lu Jingming had no reason to intervene.
Furthermore, he had not lied. If Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were taken back by him, they would only become Ruan Mei's experimental subjects.
Ruan Mei was not like Herta. Her humanity was thin, and her values and worldview differed significantly from those of ordinary people. Falling into Ruan Mei's hands meant that even if Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing eventually survived, whether that survival would be a blessing or a curse remained an unknown.
The Demon Empress retreated several steps, taking a deep, shuddering breath as her chest heaved violently. She did not cast another glance at Dai Mubai or Zhu Zhuqing, fearing she might lose control of herself.
She turned her head, her piercing gaze shooting toward Huo Yuhao, who was watching from a distance.
"You owe me a favor."
With those words, she did not linger for another moment. Her entire body transformed into a bolt of blinding purple lightning that tore through the sky, vanishing into the horizon in an instant. The fury contained within that lightning seemed as if it would incinerate every cloud in its path.
In the distance, Huo Yuhao watched the receding lightning, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on his face.
He knew all too well that he owed a debt.
The original targets of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's pursuit had been him. To counter two Second-Class Gods, he had requested assistance through the channels of World Serpent. Whether it was the Demon Empress, who had just departed in anger, or Xue Di, who stood quietly beside Lu Jingming—or even Lu Jingming himself, who had stepped in to end it all—he now owed each of them a heavy favor.
At their level, a debt of gratitude was far more burdensome than any contract; it would inevitably have to be repaid in some form in the future.
"Take care of yourself. Your troubles are far from over."
Just as Huo Yuhao was lost in thought, Lu Jingming's indifferent voice rang in his ears.
Huo Yuhao snapped back to reality, meeting Lu Jingming's deep red eyes, and nodded solemnly. "I know. Thank you all for this time. I will remember this favor."
His troubles... were indeed far from over.
Once the matter of him and Xiao Wu was discovered by the Divine Realm—specifically by that man—it would ignite a terrifying storm. Lu Jingming had already ascended to godhood and was far ahead, while he had yet to take that final step.
To face the wrath of the Sea God Tang San, a fury capable of overturning everything, and to protect the most important person in his life, he had to become stronger—strong enough to contend with that God King. After all, he had not only challenged the authority of a God King but had also struck at a man's most fundamental nerve.
Lu Jingming seemed to see through his thoughts but said nothing more, simply averting his gaze. To him, Huo Yuhao was an important piece in his plan, and the youth's growth affected the smooth progression of certain layouts. However, no matter the final outcome, it could not shake the foundation of his grand blueprint.
The amusement Huo Yuhao provided was interesting, but that was all.
He ignored Huo Yuhao, stepped forward, and naturally took Xue Di's wrist. Xue Di's body stiffened slightly before she relaxed, a faint, imperceptible ripple appearing in her ice-blue eyes as she submissively allowed him to lead her.
Then, Lu Jingming reached out toward Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing on the ground.
A cluster of soft, holy white light surged from his palm, wrapping around the two like flowing water. Under the shroud of this light, their wounds seemed to be smoothed away, and their shattered divine armor dissipated into flecks of light, revealing the ordinary clothing beneath.
Immediately afterward, the light contracted, forming a translucent, fist-sized sphere that settled quietly back into Lu Jingming's hand. Within the sphere, a miniature world seemed to exist, where the figures of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing lay sleeping, sealed by eternal time.
As the God of Wisdom and Life, such methods of creating micro-spaces and sealing living beings were effortless for him after his ascension—as simple as breathing.
Having finished this, he pulled Xue Di and prepared to depart.
"Let's go. I'll take you to see the new Sea Abyss City. You haven't been there in a long time, have you?"
His voice had softened significantly, as if his cold demeanor from moments ago had been a mere illusion.
Xue Di did not speak, only offering a soft "mm." Her long white hair brushed against Lu Jingming's arm in the breeze as she reached back, gripping his hand.
The two took a step forward, and the space beneath their feet rippled like water. Their figures became blurred and transparent, vanishing from the rejuvenated land without leaving a single trace.
It wasn't until that sovereign, all-dominating pressure completely disappeared that Huo Yuhao let out a long, heavy breath, his tense back instantly slumping. Only then did he realize that his back had been soaked in cold sweat at some unknown point.
The pressure Lu Jingming exerted on him was too great. It wasn't just a suppression of power, but an absolute oversight from a higher level of existence—as if a mortal were gazing at the stars, unable to feel anything but awe and incapable of harboring any thought of resistance.
"Whew—they're finally gone!"
The exaggerated voice of the Tianmeng Ice Worm shouted within Huo Yuhao's mental sea, carrying the relief of a survivor. "My god, Yuhao, that Lu guy is way too terrifying. Even if he's an ally for now, you must be careful in the future. That guy... he isn't human. He's a monster in human skin—no, he's scarier than a monster."
"The big worm is right."
Electrolux's aged and grave voice echoed slowly, interrupting Tianmeng's clamor.
"To have just reached godhood and yet be able to defeat the Hell White Tiger—which possesses the strength of a First-Class God—with such ease... such a terrifying figure is unheard of, even in my world."
Electrolux's tone was filled with profound lamentation. Though he was merely a remnant of divine consciousness, as Huo Yuhao's mental power grew and he was nourished by the Core of the Herrscher of Sentience, he had recalled much of his past.
The world he had lived in possessed unique laws. Although he had not ascended to godhood, during his peak when he held authority and created demi-planes, his combat power was by no means inferior to any First-Class God of the Douluo Continent. He had not become a god because he chose not to, not because he lacked the ability.
Yet, even so, Electrolux had mentally simulated the encounter countless times, and the conclusion was always the same. Even if he returned to his peak and wielded the Tower of Eternity, he would have no chance of victory against the Lu Jingming who held the Outer Path Manifold: Black Abyss White Flower.
"His strength does not lie in divine power, but in authority and essence."
Electrolux's voice grew deeper, as if analyzing an unprecedentedly terrifying existence for his disciple.
"Yuhao, you must remember that the Lu boy is completely different from the gods you know. He possesses two godhoods. In this regard, he is like the Sea God Tang San of your world's legends—a dual godhood possessor."
"But the difference is that Tang San's dual godhoods, the Sea God and the Asura God, likely cannot be used simultaneously. That is a burden even a God King cannot endure. However, the Lu boy is different. His two godhoods are not simple; they likely can be used at the same time. The power of two overlapping godhoods is not as simple as one plus one."
"The God of Eternity and Lightning... this is more than just controlling lightning. The word 'Eternity' implies he has touched the authority of time, and even lightning is one of the foundations of the world."
"And the other godhood is even more frightening—the God of Wisdom and Life. 'Wisdom' represents the understanding and analysis of the laws of all things, while 'Life' represents 'Creation' from nothingness."
"You saw it. He could easily reverse the divine skills of the Hell White Tiger, converting their attacks into life energy to heal the earth. His mastery over his authority exceeds that of most gods. Coupled with those twin artifacts called 'Black Abyss White Flower'... the authorities of Creation and Destruction gathered in one body... that thing has likely surpassed the category of divine artifacts."
Every word from Electrolux felt like a mountain pressing down on Huo Yuhao's heart. He had originally thought that by fusing with the Core of the Herrscher of Sentience and wielding the authority of Spirit and Illusion, he had stepped onto a unique path. But now it seemed Lu Jingming was walking an even more powerful road.
"So, Yuhao, you must accelerate your progress."
Electrolux's tone became incredibly solemn. "Your future enemy is not just that God King Tang San. This 'ally' beside you is, by his very existence, the greatest threat to all who do not submit to his order. If you cannot ascend to godhood soon and develop the authority of the Herrscher of Sentience to its limit, in the future... you might not even have the qualification to stand upright before him."
Huo Yuhao stood silently, the evening wind ruffling his hair. He took the words of both Electrolux and Tianmeng to heart. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails sinking deep into his palms.
Pressure, crisis, shock... a mix of emotions intertwined, but ultimately they did not crush him. Instead, they transformed into an unprecedented motivation, burning fiercely in his chest.
In his mind, images of Xiao Wu's gentle smile and their child still in swaddling clothes appeared. And there was his mother's soul, held in Tang San's hands.
Yes, he had to become stronger. For the sake of protection, he had to possess power sufficient to face everything. If Lu Jingming was the pioneer of a new era, then he, Huo Yuhao, would become one of the top powerhouses within that new age.
He took a deep breath, the last trace of confusion fading from his eyes, replaced by iron-clad resolve. He turned away, not sparing another look at the vibrant grassland, and stepped out in a direction different from both Lu Jingming and the Demon Empress.
The northwestern border of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Stretching mountain ranges resembled crouching dragons, sealing off the clamor of civilization. The peaks here were uniquely perilous, piercing the clouds and shrouded year-round in mist so thick it would not disperse. Mortals who wandered in would lose their way within half a day, eventually collapsing from exhaustion in deep ravines.
This secluded paradise was the hidden location of the Haotian Sect.
Two figures, a man and a woman, ignored the natural barriers that would deter any high-level soul master, walking along the rugged mountain path as if taking a leisurely stroll. They did not fly, nor did they use any soul skills; they simply measured the land with their feet, as if paying tribute or searching for their roots.
The man was tall and brawny, his weather-beaten face etched with fortitude. His black robe whipped in the mountain wind. With every step he took, he seemed to synchronize with the pulse of the entire mountain range, steady as a monolith. He was the Haotian Douluo who had once intimidated an entire era, now a god of the Divine Realm—Tang Hao.
The woman beside him was exquisitely beautiful, her long blue dress flowing like a stream. Time had left no mark upon her face. She was barefoot, her white ankles wrapped in several loops of anklets woven from Blue Silver Grass. With every step onto the hard rock, tiny sprouts of Blue Silver Grass would burst from the stone beneath her feet, blooming and withering in an instant. She was the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Empress, Tang San's mother, and now a god as well—Ah Yin.
"It still smells the same."
Tang Hao took a deep breath of the air, which carried the scent of vegetation and the chill of stone, his voice low and raspy. "How many years has it been? The mountains here, the wind... none of it has changed."
His expression was complex—filled with nostalgia, guilt, and a touch of the alienation that comes with returning home. This was the homeland he had once turned his back on, yet it was the place of his dreams.
Ah Yin gently took his hand, the warmth of life energy transferring from her palm. "It's good to be back. This is your root, and it is San-er's root too."
They did not deliberately hide their tracks or their presence. Thus, as they stepped into the warning perimeter of the Haotian Sect's core area, the sect's urgent alarm bells immediately rang out.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The chimes echoed through the mountains, carrying a tension of facing a great enemy. In the next moment, seven or eight powerful auras soared into the sky, turning into streaks of light that sped from the direction of the sect's Great Hall atop the peak. In an instant, they landed a hundred meters in front of Tang Hao and Ah Yin, blocking their path.
The three leading them were all white-haired elders with surging soul power—clearly three Titled Douluo. The middle-aged men behind them were at least Soul Douluo-level experts. This was the foundation the Haotian Sect had maintained after going into seclusion; even after the passing of time, they were not to be underestimated.
However, the sect elders, who were usually majestic and authoritative, now wore expressions of lingering fatigue and anxiety. They warily sized up the two before them. Upon realizing they could not fathom the depth of the newcomers' power, their vigilance reached its peak.
"Who goes there? Why have you trespassed upon the Haotian Sect's place of seclusion?"
The leading elder barked a question. He raised his hand slightly, the phantom of a massive Clear Sky Hammer flickering behind him, but he did not strike immediately. He could feel that the pressure emanating from these two was even more intense than when he faced the Sect Master. These were definitely no mortals.
Looking at the familiar martial soul, the alienation in Tang Hao's eyes melted away, replaced by the warmth of an elder looking at a junior. He did not answer, but slowly raised his right hand.
Buzz—
A hammer—entirely pitch-black, ancient in design, yet seemingly condensing all the weight of heaven and earth—quietly appeared in his palm.
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