Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment, then attempted to communicate with the ocean using his spiritual power. However, the response he received was extremely simple, repeating the same sentiment over and over.
The Abyssal Deep… rejection… hostility.
"…."
Huo Yuhao was at a loss for words. He could only relay this information to Elder Electrolux and the others while beginning his ascent. The pressure here was still immense, making it difficult for him to think clearly. It would be better to let them analyze the situation first.
Inside the Sea of Spirit, after hearing the message, Ice Empress and the others exchanged glances.
"When did Yuhao ever have any connection with the ocean?"
Skydream looked just as confused. "Could it be that the White Tiger Duke's lineage is actually descended from the Sea God?"
"…That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard." Ice Empress rolled her eyes.
"Could this be related to plane authority?" Snow Empress pondered briefly before turning to Electrolux. "Elder Electrolux, what do you think?"
"That is most likely the case," Electrolux replied with a nod. "The Plane Lord of a physical world typically possesses only instinctual awareness, focused on maintaining the plane itself. Of course, someone like the current Tang Hao, who has been altered by a God King, is an exception."
"In the past, the Plane Lord was essentially the planet itself. However, the Douluo Plane differs from the Abyss Plane. Here, the plane's consciousness is instinctual and cannot take direct action. Thus, when a true deity descends, the plane has no means of restricting their actions."
"Um… Elder Electrolux, could you explain that a bit more clearly?" Skydream raised his hand. "I'm not quite following."
Electrolux paused, then asked, "Why did you instinctively assume that the ocean belongs to the Sea God?"
"Because sea spirit beasts worship him, and the laws he governs are tied to the ocean," Skydream replied, frowning. "Are you saying that the ocean recognizes the Sea God instead of the plane itself?"
"Exactly."
Electrolux nodded. "How could an instinctive plane consciousness compete with a First-Class God? Tang San, the Sea God, spent a long time on the Douluo Continent and left behind countless legends. Many sea spirit beasts revere him. Over time, the ocean came to acknowledge him as its ruler, rather than the plane itself."
This situation once carried hidden risks. The ocean covered a vast portion of the plane. If it was not under the plane's control, the life energy the plane could mobilize would be significantly reduced, potentially leading to ecological imbalance.
However, Electrolux did not elaborate further, as this issue now seemed to have resolved itself.
"Yuhao was once favored by the plane and had no connection to the Sea God. Yet now, the ocean shows affinity toward him. You should be able to deduce the reason."
At this point, even Electrolux's expression turned somewhat strange.
Despite living in the coastal city of Eastsea, Huo Yuhao had never truly interacted with the ocean. It was only now that they realized how significant this detail was.
Ice Empress and Skydream quickly understood, their expressions shifting in shock.
The implications were enormous.
If the ocean now favored Yuhao, did that mean the authority once held by the Sea God had returned?
Under what circumstances could the ocean, which had long acknowledged the Sea God, revert to the plane's control?
They could think of only one possibility.
"…Should Tang San still be called the Sea God?" Ice Empress murmured.
"Probably not," Skydream said, clicking his tongue. Then he looked at Electrolux with hope. "Does this mean the original plane consciousness still exists? That the Plane Lord isn't actually Tang Hao?"
"If Tang Hao were the true Plane Lord, the ocean would not show affinity toward Yuhao."
"No. The two likely coexist," Electrolux replied, shattering that hope. "There is a fundamental gap between a plane consciousness and a true deity. Even weakened, Tang Hao would still surpass it. At best, the plane consciousness can barely maintain itself. However, with the return of ocean authority, its strength has increased, preventing Tang Hao from fully refining it."
He then glanced at Snow Empress. "Additionally, the Extreme North and Star Dou are also obstacles."
These were not the main factors, however. There had to be something else supporting the plane's resistance.
Electrolux's gaze flickered faintly toward the mark of the God-Imprint Throne.
Could it be related to that?
Snow Empress smiled softly. "What goes around comes around. Yuhao helped me survive, so it's only natural that he benefits."
Electrolux nodded slightly.
Back then, Yuhao's actions had unknowingly left behind a powerful advantage.
Snow Empress herself was a spirit born from heaven and earth in the Extreme North, deeply tied to the plane. Having ruled the region for hundreds of thousands of years, she effectively embodied its will.
In a sense, just as the Sea God once held authority over the ocean, she held half the authority of the Extreme North.
As for the Star Dou Great Forest, its Auspicious Beast represented its fortune.
As long as both existed, the plane consciousness retained a fallback. If it retreated into those regions, Tang Hao would find it difficult to fully refine it.
Unless they were removed.
But without complete control over the plane, Tang Hao could not directly act against them. The plane's instinct would protect them.
A stalemate.
"However, that doesn't mean he won't act through others," Electrolux said, frowning. "During your re-cultivation, you were vulnerable. Nothing happened, did it?"
Ice Empress immediately turned to Snow Empress. "Xue'er?"
Snow Empress smiled helplessly. "Why are you all as worried as Yuhao?"
"Because you're not as good at escaping or hiding as he is," Ice Empress replied bluntly.
Snow Empress froze for a moment, then laughed softly. "Don't worry. Nothing happened. I remembered what Yuhao once told me."
She recalled a story from ten thousand years ago.
A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast leader chose to re-cultivate but told no one. On the very day of her transformation, she was captured by a Title Douluo.
At the time, Snow Empress had felt oddly targeted by that story.
So this time, she had made thorough preparations. She arranged for trusted allies to guard her, remained within the Extreme North, and never exposed herself.
"Enough about that," she said. "You haven't forgotten what Yuhao mentioned, right? The ocean now strongly rejects the Abyssal Deep."
She paused slightly.
"Based on our deductions… these divine power fragments likely belonged to the Sea God."
***
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