Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment, attempting to communicate with the ocean using his spiritual power. However, the messages he received were simple and repetitive, conveying the same information over and over again.
The Abyss of the Deep Sea—disliked, unwelcome.
"..." Huo Yuhao was momentarily speechless. He could only relay this information to Elder Yi and the others while beginning to ascend.
The pressure here was still immense for him, making it difficult to think deeply. He decided to let Elder Yi and the others discuss the situation first.
In the Sea of Consciousness, upon hearing the message Huo Yuhao conveyed, Bing Bing and the others exchanged puzzled glances. "Since when has Yuhao been connected to the ocean?"
Tian Meng was also confused. "Could it be that the lineage of the White Tiger Duke is actually the illegitimate descendants of the Sea God?"
"...You're being absurd." Bing Bing rolled her eyes inwardly.
"Is this about the plane and authority?"
Snow Empress frowned in thought for a moment before turning to Elder Yi. "Elder Yi, what do you think?"
"That's likely the case," Elder Yi nodded. "The ruler of a material plane usually has little consciousness, only possessing an instinct to maintain the plane. Of course, exceptions like Tang Hao, who was transformed into a plane ruler by a God King, don't count."
"In the past, the ruler of the plane was the planet itself. However, unlike the Abyss Plane, the ruler of the Douluo Plane only has instinctual consciousness and cannot take specific actions. Therefore, when a true deity descends upon this world, the plane ruler naturally cannot control the deity's actions."
"Uh, Elder Yi, could you explain a bit more clearly?" Tian Meng raised his hand. "I'm not following your reasoning."
Elder Yi paused and asked, "Just now, you instinctively thought the ocean was under the Sea God's control. Why?"
"Because the Sea God is worshipped by the sea soul beasts, and the laws he governs are also related to the ocean," Tian Meng replied, then frowned. "Elder Yi, are you saying that the ocean of the Douluo Plane acknowledges the Sea God, not the plane itself?"
"Exactly."
Elder Yi affirmed, "How could a plane consciousness with only instincts compare to a first-level deity? The Sea God, Tang San, also spent a long time on the Douluo Continent, leaving behind numerous legends. Many sea soul beasts worship him. The ocean of the Douluo Plane has long since shifted its allegiance from the plane itself to the Sea God."
This situation carries hidden dangers. The ocean occupies a vast area of the plane. If the ocean is not governed by the plane, the life energy the plane consciousness can mobilize will drastically decrease, leading to a pathological development in the maintenance of the ecosystem.
However, Elder Yi didn't bring this up at the moment, as it seemed this hidden danger had already disappeared.
"Yuhao was favored by the plane ten thousand years ago and had no connection to the Sea God. Yet now, the ocean is drawn to him. You should be able to deduce the reason."
At this point, Elder Yi's expression also became peculiar.
Although Huo Yuhao was located in the coastal city of Eastsea, he had never ventured into the ocean. It was surprising that he had missed such crucial information until now.
Bing Bing and Tian Meng fully understood Elder Yi's meaning and were somewhat stunned.
This statement... carried a lot of implications.
First, if the ocean is drawn to Yuhao, doesn't that mean the authority over the ocean has returned from the Sea God?
But under what circumstances would the ocean, which had already acknowledged the Sea God, return to the embrace of the plane?
Tian Meng and Bing Bing could only think of one scenario.
"Sea God Tang San... should we still call him the Sea God?" Bing Bing murmured.
"Probably not anymore," Tian Meng clicked his tongue, then looked at Elder Yi with some excitement.
"So, the original plane consciousness still exists? The plane ruler isn't Tang Hao, as Yuhao mentioned?"
If the plane ruler were Tang Hao, the ocean wouldn't be drawn to Yuhao. Only if the original plane consciousness still existed could such a situation arise.
"No, it's likely that both coexist."
Elder Yi shattered Tian Meng's optimistic assumption. "There's a gap between plane consciousness and a true deity. With only instincts, it's difficult for it to compete with Tang Hao. It's probably just barely maintaining itself. The return of the ocean's authority has further strengthened its power, making it difficult for Tang Hao to completely refine it and become the perfect plane ruler."
At this point, Elder Yi looked at Snow Empress, who was deep in thought. "Of course, besides the ocean, the Extreme North and the Star Dou Forest are also obstacles preventing him from fully becoming the plane ruler."
However, these are just additional factors. There must be something that inspires the plane consciousness to resist in order for it to survive.
Elder Yi glanced subtly at the imprint of the Divine Throne.
Is it this one?
Snow Empress, hearing this, smiled gently. "One reaps what one sows. Yuhao allowed me to survive, so it's only natural that he benefits."
Elder Yi withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly.
Yuhao's earlier arrangements had inadvertently given him an ace in the hole.
Snow Empress was a snow spirit born and raised in the Extreme North, deeply connected to the plane.
Moreover, she had lived in the Extreme North for hundreds of thousands of years, accumulating immense prestige. She was the faith of the Extreme North.
In a sense, just like the Sea God who took control of the ocean, half of the authority over the Extreme North was in her hands.
As for the Star Dou Forest, it goes without saying. The Destiny Beast itself symbolizes the fortune of the Star Dou Forest.
As long as Snow Empress and the Destiny Beast exist, the plane consciousness has a fallback. As long as it retreats to the areas of the Star Dou Forest and the Extreme North, Tang Hao would face difficulties in refining it.
Unless they disappear.
But without refining the plane consciousness, Tang Hao cannot directly act against these two, as the plane consciousness would instinctively protect them.
Thus, it's a direct deadlock.
"However, this doesn't mean he won't have others act against you and the Destiny Beast."
Elder Yi frowned as he looked at Snow Empress. "The period of re-cultivation is your weakest time. You haven't hidden anything from Yuhao, have you?"
Bing Bing immediately turned to stare at Snow Empress. "Xue'er, is that true?"
Seeing their gazes, Snow Empress smiled helplessly. "Why are you all so distrustful of me, just like Yuhao?"
Bing Bing: "Because you're not as good at running away as Yuhao, nor as cautious."
Snow Empress was momentarily stunned, then shook her head with a laugh. "Don't worry, there's really nothing to worry about. I still remember what Yuhao said back then. From the start of my re-cultivation, I haven't left the Extreme North Division..."
Ten thousand years ago, during his leisure time, Huo Yuhao had told her a story.
"There was once a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the leader of a soul beast gathering place. She had a companion, another hundred-thousand-year soul beast who called her sister and was trustworthy. But when she transformed to re-cultivate, she told no one. On the very day of her re-cultivation, she was caught by a Titled Douluo. Snow Empress, do you think her actions were worth it?"
For some reason, when she heard that story, Snow Empress felt as if she was being subtly referenced.
It was as if she was that hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and Little White was the other trustworthy hundred-thousand-year soul beast. As for who the Titled Douluo was, Snow Empress didn't know.
So, under the guise of teaching swordsmanship, she gave Yuhao a good beating... of course, without using too much force.
At the same time, she deeply remembered that story.
This time, during her re-cultivation, she arranged for trustworthy soul beasts and soul masters to guard her, equipped herself with all the trump cards and soul tools Yuhao had left her, and stayed within the Extreme North Division, leaving no opportunity for anyone to act against her.
"Alright, let's not talk about me. You haven't forgotten the other thing Yuhao mentioned, have you? The ocean is now repelling the Abyss of the Deep Sea. Based on our deductions, the divine fragment here is likely... the Sea God's, right?"