When Huo Yuhao left the Ice and Fire Yin Yan Well, somewhere on the Douluo Continent.
Tong Yu spoke in a respectful tone in the darkness, "Sir, Huo Yuhao's growth speed is too fast. His cultivation is now close to the Soul Emperor level, and he has already gone to the Ice and Fire Yin Yan Well of the Tang Sect. If our predictions are correct, he will soon advance to the Soul Emperor level. If we don't act quickly, it might become impossible to recruit him into our Holy Church in the future."
"Oh? Where did this information come from?"
"Lan Fuzi, she is currently working at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, under Huo Yuhao."
"I see…"
The voice in the darkness became interested. "The Star Luo Empire has already started preparing an exchange plan with the Federation. Within a year, they will send a delegation to visit the Douluo Continent, and they will also test the strength of this place from an official standpoint."
"If the Federation is serious, they will certainly send people to visit Star Luo afterward... Since Lan Fuzi is by Huo Yuhao's side, let her get closer to him and try to persuade him to join us in the future. She rarely brings back information for the Holy Church, so this is a good opportunity to test her loyalty."
"Sir, isn't this inappropriate?" Tong Yu frowned slightly. "If our arrangements in Star Luo are discovered.."
"No worries. With him there, at least on the surface, Star Luo is peaceful, isn't it?"
Tong Yu's body trembled, and his expression became complicated.
"Yes, I understand."
...
As Huo Yuhao left the Ice and Fire Yin Yan Well, Leng Yaozhu and the others declined the Tang Sect's farewell and headed towards Heaven Dou City.
On the way, Leng Yaozhu looked at Gu Yuena and smiled, "Na'er, how do you feel after making a contract with the hundred-thousand-year immortal herb? Any improvements?"
"..."
Well, the taste of the immortal herb wasn't great. As food, she would give it a bad review.
Gu Yuena thought this, but she said, "My soul power has increased by a few levels. I'm almost at the Soul King level."
Leng Yaozhu nodded, waiting for Gu Yuena to continue, but Gu Yuena remained silent, causing her to gradually frown.
Just this much improvement?
Even if Na'er is currently limited by her physical strength and soul power, preventing her from obtaining a hundred-thousand-year soul ring from a soul spirit, the effect of a hundred-thousand-year treasure shouldn't be this weak, right? Just an increase in soul power?
"Na'er absorbed the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, and her physical strength has also improved significantly."
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao added, "Now she can undergo spirit ascension again."
Of course, this was a lie. After consuming the immortal herb, Gu Yuena only gained some soul power... as expected.
She is a first-level god, and a first-level god with powerful bloodlines at that.
To achieve significant improvement, she must go to the Dragon Valley, as only there can she obtain sufficient enhancement.
He is also working on a corresponding plan.
The Dragon Valley has many opportunities, including two super divine artifacts. If they can obtain the most important items, it will greatly enhance Gu Yuena's strength.
However...
Looking at Gu Yuena chatting and laughing with Leng Yaozhu, Huo Yuhao frowned slightly.
When it comes to the Dragon Valley, the Dragon God's throne is unavoidable.
And in Huo Yuhao's view, that divine throne is a trap.
How many opportunities did the Little Dragon God gain during his journey to the divine throne?
Not to mention the opportunities before inheriting the Dragon God's throne, during the inheritance, he had the super divine artifact Dragon God's Heart, the power of a first-level god's sacrifice, the nourishment of a half-step god king, the Dragon God's remains, the entire power of the Dragon Valley, all the Dragon God's bloodline within the super divine artifact Dragon Ascension Pillar, the full power of the Crimson God King, the bloodlines of the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King, and the divine seats of the ten great god kings...
With these bloodlines, divine seats, and energy-level opportunities, the Little Dragon God was gradually pushed to become the so-called Supreme God King, the Dragon God.
And that's not even the most troublesome part. The Dragon God's trial involves a "heart refinement" test, during which the examination is in a semi-crazed state, desperately craving power to fill themselves, filled with destructive desires.
In the original work, after the return of the Great God Circle, thirteen god kings took turns to intervene, and they all acted together to prevent the Little Dragon God from destroying everything in his rampage.
Isn't that a trap?
It can be seen that under normal circumstances, the Dragon God's throne has no possibility of successful inheritance.
Just stopping a rampaging pseudo-Dragon God requires the assistance of a sufficiently powerful god king.
Gu Yuena knows some things, but she doesn't know the various trials she will face during the inheritance of the Dragon God's throne.
He needs to find an opportunity to talk to her.
As he pondered, Huo Yuhao and the others arrived at the Heaven Dou Spirit Pagoda, where Xiong Jun finally looked at everyone.
"It's getting late. Let's rest at the Heaven Dou branch today. Tomorrow, I'll arrange a plane to take you to Mingdu, and we'll go together... to attend the upcoming Ice Spirit Ceremony!"
Xiong Jun's words interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts, causing him to look at the other party with an expressionless face.
At this moment, Xiong Jun had a somewhat strange smile on his face, glancing sizing him up, his meaning clear.
He couldn't wait to see the scene of Huo Yuhao worshiping the Ice Spirit!
He's getting excited!
Xiong Jun's words also drew the attention of the other two who knew the truth.
Snow Empress smiled naturally, while Gu Yuena also showed a strange expression, seemingly amused.
Huo Yuhao: "…"
What, everyone wants to see me worship myself?
Have you forgotten that you have to worship too?
Who will benefit more is hard to say!
Thinking this, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh.
With people like this around him, he could already imagine the scene when the ceremony began... Everyone wants to see him make a fool of himself, right?
Meanwhile, the five youngsters, hearing about the Ice Spirit Ceremony, no longer dwelled on not obtaining the hundred-thousand-year immortal herb at the Ice and Fire Yin Yan Well and began discussing the Ice Spirit Ceremony.
A three-ringed soul master defeating a hundred-thousand-year soul beast and gaining the approval of an immortal herb? Who could do that? Even a god couldn't manage it, right?
Let's not think about it anymore.
"The Ice Spirit Ceremony is a ceremony held by the headquarters to commemorate the Ice Spirit Douluo, right? What exactly will we do?"
Xu Xiaoyan asked curiously, "Do we need to make any preparations?"
"The Ice Spirit Ceremony is a ritual established by the Spirit Pagoda to commemorate the Ice Spirit Douluo, mainly reviewing his life and praising his achievements. There will be worship ceremonies, soul master exhibition matches, soul spirit contracts, and other activities. Many important figures from the Spirit Pagoda will also come to the Spirit Pagoda to celebrate the ceremony."
Xiong Jun explained with a smile, "But for you youngsters who have just reported to the headquarters for less than a year, your main task is to worship the Ice Spirit Douluo. You won't be in charge of the ceremony, so just relax and treat it like a holiday."
Huo Yuhao: "…"
Hehe.
He just smiled and said nothing.
Seeing Xu Xiaoyan so interested, Xie Xie suddenly lowered his voice and said, "I heard... every year during the Ice Spirit Ceremony, someone claims to have seen the Ice Spirit Douluo's spirit manifesting in the Spirit Pagoda!"
"Ah?!" Xu Xiaoyan grabbed Gu Yuena's arm in fright, "Really? Is it true?"
Xiong Jun laughed heartily, "Well... who knows? Maybe this year the spirit will really manifest?" He meaningfully looked at Huo Yuhao, who stood nearby with an expressionless face.
Huo Yuhao: "..."
Can you just stop? Be careful of karma...
Boom!
Just as Xiong Jun teased Huo Yuhao indirectly, a thunderous roar echoed in the distant sky.
From any corner around the Blacksmith Association, one can see the top of the building suddenly light up with a dazzling, colorful halo. This four-colored halo radiated outward, shining brightly for a long time without dissipating.
"What is that? A four-colored lightning tribulation?"
Xie Xie looked at the sky in shock, "Which expert... or beast is undergoing a tribulation?"
"A four-element lightning tribulation..."
After being taught by Xiong Jun, Tang Wulin, who had a good understanding of the blacksmithing path, looked excited, "Xie Xie, you came to Heaven Dou City at an unfortunate time, during the Divine Blacksmith's rest period, so you haven't seen this before. This is the Divine Blacksmith performing a Heavenly Forge!"
Heavenly Forge is the realm every blacksmith aspires to, and it is his goal as well.
On the other hand, upon seeing the four-element lightning tribulation, Xiong Jun's smile froze, and Huo Yuhao looked at him with a strange expression.
Based on the various pieces of information Huo Yuhao had gathered over the years, soul beasts cannot perform a Heavenly Forge.
It's not just a matter of ability but an extension of the "soul beasts cannot become gods" issue.
The best time to become a Divine Blacksmith is before becoming a god.
Because the lightning tribulation summoned after becoming a god is different from the one before becoming a god. The former is a true divine tribulation, targeting the god itself, and is fundamentally different from the lightning tribulation targeting metal.
If one cannot master summoning a lightning tribulation for metal before becoming a god, it would undoubtedly be difficult to find that feeling amidst various divine tribulations after becoming a god. (In the original work, divine-level experts who study blacksmithing can't even perform a simple Thousand Forge... Author can't figure out how to explain this strange situation, as it feels like blacksmithing is being forced to a higher level. So, in this book, the setting has been changed, and only the Heavenly Forge is the biggest hurdle due to the difference in lightning tribulations.)
Evidently, the soul beasts are now facing a similar problem.
Due to the "soul beasts cannot become gods" rule, the lightning tribulation they summon... will eventually strike them, turning into a soul beast's heavenly tribulation.
"Ice Spirit, stop teasing me... this damn heavenly tribulation." Xiong Jun transmitted a message, finally unable to hold back his curses, "Fortunately, I've passed the five hundred thousand year bottleneck. If I were at a critical juncture without certainty, that heavenly tribulation could kill me."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's expression turned serious, and he stopped teasing the other party, instead analyzing the implications.
'From this situation, it seems that soul beasts are treated the same as gods. And the Dragon God also mastered the power of lightning tribulation. The rule he initially set, "soul beasts cannot become gods," probably treats soul beasts as alternative gods, adding restrictions on lifespan and cultivation. So, after reaching a certain age, soul beasts must face heavenly tribulations.'
'However, lightning tribulations have the characteristic of being strong against the strong and weak against the weak. Therefore, soul beasts with abundant reserves can overcome heavenly tribulations time and again, becoming formidable beasts. But there is always an end to accumulation, and there will always be insurmountable bottlenecks. When the accumulation is insufficient to withstand the heavenly tribulation, that is when the soul beast dies.'
'Among these, the divine tribulation should be the most critical.'
The rule left by the Dragon God, "soul beasts cannot become gods," is probably simple, which is why some loopholes have emerged.
So, how does the simple rule ensure that soul beasts will fall at the step of the divine tribulation? Or, to put it another way, how can the power of the lightning tribulation be increased at the step of the divine tribulation to ensure that soul beasts absolutely cannot overcome it?
Huo Yuhao has a few simple conjectures.
It is known that there are only two situations that can bring down a divine tribulation, the heavens and the universe.
No matter how strong the Dragon God is, he cannot influence the laws of the universe, or else he wouldn't have died.
Moreover, in places outside the realms under the jurisdiction of the Divine Realm, there are beasts that can become gods, which shows that the influence of "soul beasts cannot become gods" only exists in the realms under the jurisdiction of the Dragon God's domain.
Since it is the heavens, ie, the realms, the Dragon God's choices are limited.
First, simply adding the underlying rule of "soul beasts cannot become gods" to the laws of operation of the major realms.
Second, using some law to place a "curse" rooted in the bloodline or soul of soul beasts, allowing the realms to give soul beasts some "special treatment" by adding something extra when they attempt to become gods.
Or, a combination of both?
Besides these, there are other possibilities, but thinking of "curses," Huo Yuhao thought of the situation when Di Tian underwent his tribulation.
The only example of a soul beast undergoing a divine tribulation is Di Tian, and he undergoes an external incarnation tribulation, a kind of obsession and inner demon tribulation.
He had to overcome the obsession of wanting to become a god that had formed over hundreds of thousands of years to achieve godhood...
This is essentially cutting off Di Tian's hope of becoming a god at the root, and it's highly targeted.
An obsession formed over hundreds of thousands of years? And an obsession to become a god? How could Di Tian win?
Make him give up on becoming a god?
Not just Di Tian, all soul beasts at the threshold of godhood have endured long periods of cultivation, obsessions of hundreds of thousands, nearly a million years. Can any soul beast overcome such a tribulation?
'If every soul beast's divine tribulation is so targeted, it's probably something like a curse.'
Looking at Xiong Jun, whose expression wasn't great, Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
After a moment, seeing the distant lightning tribulation gradually dissolved, everyone retracted their gazes and, while chatting about "Heavenly Forge" and "Ice Spirit Ceremony," entered the Heaven Dou Spirit Pagoda.
Arriving at his own territory, Xiong Jun naturally treated everyone well. However, what made Huo Yuhao speechless was that during the banquet, this guy deliberately tried to get close to him, and his intention to hear him call him "senior" or "Tower Master" was too obvious.
His mood recovered really quickly, or perhaps he was using him to lighten his mood?
After the banquet ended, only Snow Empress, Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao, and Xiong Jun remained in the reception room.
Huo Yuhao no longer pretended and looked at Xiong Jun, saying quietly, "You were really active today. What, seeing the Ice Spirit Douluo participating in the Ice Spirit Ceremony makes you so happy?"
"Of course I'm happy, what a great joke."
Xiong Jun snorted, "And you're just a Soul Emperor now, I'm not afraid of you."
Although he said this, when he saw Gu Yuena looking over, Xiong Jun coughed lightly and restrained himself a bit, "Alright, let's talk business. What do you plan to do with the immortal herb you obtained?"
Sigh, the master's favoritism is really a headache.
"...It's not far from the Star Dou Great Forest, so I'll leave it for you to handle."
Huo Yuhao looked into the distance, "Taking it to Mingdu, there's no place to put it."
Xiong Jun nodded, "Don't worry, leave it to me."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao was about to instruct him not to let his own people handle it when the "beep beep" sound of a soul communicator suddenly rang out, making him raise an eyebrow and take out the soul communicator to check.
It was Lan Fuzi...
Has she made up her mind?