Feeling the several watchful gazes and the faint ripple from the Battle Armor component on his arm, Huo Yuhao fell into thought.
Though he hadn't spoken, he knew well—as a sentient divine artifact, this Battle Armor clearly desired a name of its own.
So what name should he give it?
Huo Yuhao didn't plan to follow the conventional Battle Armor naming convention entirely—adding one character at a time until reaching six, as in the original. That was rather absurd.
Since their Battle Armor was a divine artifact, there was no need to follow that formula. He'd choose a suitable name this time and stick with it.
Likewise, Huo Yuhao wouldn't force himself to use four characters just because this was Four-Word Battle Armor.
The only constraint was the expectant look in the young woman's eyes and the subtle attention from within his Sea of Spirit.
"I feel that if I chose something completely unrelated, I'd hear the sound of hearts breaking." Huo Yuhao smiled helplessly and began to ponder carefully.
Though he felt somewhat apologetic, at a time like this, the more people he considered, the harder it was to choose a name. So Skydream, Ice Empress, and Elder Electrolux—not present—he apologized.
Ice Empress and Skydream: No, no, the title Spirit-Ice already encompasses us. We're just here to watch the show.
In his mind, Huo Yuhao brainstormed:
Just two characters—Xueyue? That doesn't quite work.
Lingbing Xueyue? It reads well, but it overlaps with his title. Let's think again.
Or Xueyue Chuanling? That doesn't work either—this is ultimately a divine artifact's name, and with the Spirit Transmission Tower already existing, using that seems inappropriate. (Xueyue Chuanling received the most likes and support, but considering that a future super-divine artifact is the Spirit Transmission Tower, using this name seemed redundant.)
Then—
After a long silence, Huo Yuhao finally spoke a name.
"I'll call this divine artifact the Xueyue Huangling Armor."
Gu Yuena blinked.
Xueyue Huangling?
She could discern its meaning.
It meant that Snow Empress and she illuminated Yuhao's soul—and even his path? Or conversely, Yuhao might be expressing that he shone because of them?
Either way, she was satisfied with the part referring herself.
But—
"He included Snow Empress after all," Gu Yuena thought, a little displeased.
Still, considering that her own Battle Armor and Yuhao's were essentially a matching pair, her mood improved. This time, she had the slight upper hand.
Seeing the shift in Gu Yuena's expression and feeling the attention from his Sea of Spirit fade, Huo Yuhao knew he'd passed this hurdle.
Still, he'd noticed her brief displeasure and caught a hint of jealousy.
Without showing it, he stepped closer to Gu Yuena, gently took her hand, and asked naturally, "Na'er, you asked about my Battle Armor's name, but you haven't told me what you're naming yours."
Gu Yuena was briefly startled.
She'd originally wanted something straightforward, like Silver Dragon Yuhao, but now, seeing Huo Yuhao's style, she felt that wouldn't do.
So after a moment's thought, she said, "Jiyue Longling."
Xueyue Huangling.
Jiyue Longling.
"You thought of that on the spot, didn't you?" Huo Yuhao savored the names and smiled helplessly.
Still, they paired well.
Back home, Huo Yuhao brought up another matter.
"By the way, have you told your teacher that you're now a Divine Craftsman?"
"I told Teacher Zhen Hua before. He was very happy. He originally wanted to announce it, but soon gave up." Gu Yuena's expression was amused as she spoke.
As someone who frequently suffered "heavenly punishment," Zhen Hua had long wanted to find a successor to take over his work.
Unfortunately, the successor he found was her—a "deity."
With no personal connection, who would disturb a deity to forge metal for them? Would a dignified deity even be willing to do such work?
With these concerns, even if the Douluo Federation knew she was a Divine Craftsman, fewer people would seek her out than Zhen Hua.
After hearing she'd become a Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua had realized this and decided not to announce it—instead, he'd gone into seclusion in frustration.
Gu Yuena could guess his thoughts:
Before his disciple succeeded, he couldn't retire.
After his disciple succeeded, he still couldn't retire.
So what was the point of taking on this disciple?
Hearing Gu Yuena's account, Huo Yuhao roughly understood Zhen Hua's dilemma and chuckled. "So what do you plan to do?"
He knew Gu Yuena wouldn't just stand by.
"I'll announce that I'm a Divine Craftsman at the right time, and let Teacher retire directly."
Gu Yuena paused, then continued, "Then, following your suggested method, I'll practice taking over all forging stages with world power, and put out the divine-level metals I forge during practice for those who need them to buy."
Zhen Hua's Heaven Forging success rate was only around eleven percent. But even without relying on her Creation Divine Persona or her own power—using only world power—her success rate for ordinary Heaven Forging metals should be no less than fifty percent. And with more practice, that rate would only improve.
After all, she was a talent prodigy. Her understanding of Creation was profound; her strength and spiritual power were both at the divine level.
Zhen Hua, on the other hand, was only an ordinary Title Douluo with Four-Word Battle Armor—not a true Limit. His spiritual power was only at the Spirit Abyss level, not Spirit Domain.
The gap between them wasn't small.
With such a high success rate and immunity to tribulation damage, even if she didn't work frequently, she could forge large quantities of divine-level metal in a short time.
Moreover, the quality of her metals might surpass Zhen Hua's—his limit was Heaven Forging five-metal alloys, relying on the special fusion forging technique Huo Yuhao had provided. Gu Yuena, if not forging divine artifacts, could complete Heaven Forging on seven-metal alloys.
Battle Armor made from these metals would surpass those made from Zhen Hua's, fully filling his role—so his concerns weren't an issue for her.
If others were hesitant to approach her for forging, she'd simply release large quantities of divine-level metal directly. It was just a different way of providing Heaven-Forged metals.
Huo Yuhao nodded, seeing she had a full plan, and said no more. He threw himself into forging the Four-Word Battle Armor.
In the days that followed, both were busy.
Gu Yuena immersed herself in forging, daily drawing world power from the mountains to provide the divine-level metals needed for their Battle Armor. Thunder tribulations became her constant backdrop.
Huo Yuhao set aside other matters, focusing entirely on the Battle Armor's design and forging.
In the workshop, eleven Divine Alloy components were arranged in order, their nine-colored radiance complementing each other. Using his divine consciousness as an engraving tool, he etched formations into each Battle Armor component. Each engraving deepened the connection between the armor and himself.
As time passed, all eleven Divine Alloy components were fully adjusted and integrated with him. When the final leg plate merged into his body, the Chaos Qi within him surged like a tide, resonating with the Battle Armor like never before.
He stood and willed it.
White Chaos Qi burst from his soul core. All eleven components simultaneously emerged from within, covering him perfectly, each fitting seamlessly.
Now, the Battle Armor's nine-colored radiance had turned inward, replaced by a deep chaos hue. Faint patterns flowed across its surface, as if the first light of creation had been solidified in the chaos armor.
With this divine artifact's enhancement, Huo Yuhao felt as if he'd gained the amplification of another self. His spirit power was suddenly amplified, then under his precise control and deep understanding of divine power, entirely converted into pure divine power.
Divine power, divine consciousness, divine body—all three complete!
The claim that Battle Armor forged from Divine Alloy could help one step into the divine realm was no empty boast.
Under this divine artifact's amplification, Huo Yuhao had stepped into an alternative path to godhood!
In that same instant, he seized the opportunity to fully refine the God-Imprint Throne's imprint into a complete Creation Divine Persona, merging it into his Spirit Eyes martial soul, inseparable.
His aura rose again, reaching an unprecedented peak.
Cultivation and divine persona complete—a Flawless True Deity!
A majestic, terrifying presence erupted from him like a tangible force, expanding outward in all directions. That invisible presence pierced walls, earth, and clouds, shooting into the sky.
In Mingdu, Gu Yuena, Snow Empress, and Electrolux sensed this aura, a flicker of joy in their eyes.
At the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters, Qianku Dongfeng was almost lightning-fast to the window, staring in the direction of Huo Yuhao. As a Limit Douluo, his perception was crystal clear—the aura wasn't violent, but heavy as an abyss, as if the weight of heaven and earth bore down on that direction.
"This is the Ancestor's aura—has he recovered to the true deity level?" he murmured, his voice trembling with barely concealed awe.
"It appears so." Beside him, Qianku Dicing was equally shaken. "This is a true deity? Just sensing the presence, I can't even muster the will to resist."
Though Emperor Tian and Yun Ming had both briefly touched the divine level, it had been fleeting. Qianku Dicing had never personally experienced such majesty. And Yun Ming's divine pressure likely couldn't compare to the impact of the Spirit-Ice Ancestor's presence—this majestic aura probably reached beyond Mingdu, sensed by experts across the Douluo Continent!
As Qianku Dicing thought, in that instant, every expert above Title Douluo across Douluo Star looked up at the sky, their faces full of shock.
Haotian Sect.
Da Ming gazed in Mingdu's direction, his expression grave. "One of those two seems to have fully recovered."
This fluctuation was completely different from Yun Ming's brief attainment of true deity. Yun Ming had lacked something—this was a complete deity.
Only such an existence could emit such an aura and alarm all the experts across Douluo Star.
Ah Yin stood beside him, looking into the distance, nodding gravely. "The final battle is likely not far off. Be prepared."
"I understand." Da Ming nodded.
Ah Yin was about to say more when she suddenly felt a familiar fluctuation, joy appearing on her face.
Under Da Ming's questioning gaze, Ah Yin vanished.
At the plane core, an consciousness was awakened by Huo Yuhao's aura, shocked beyond measure.
"How could a deity appear on the Douluo Continent?"
Tang Hao, suppressing the plane's consciousness, was utterly baffled.
Previously, there had been divine-level experts, but they all had flaws. This aura was different from the others—especially unique.
That was why he'd been awakened.
Soon, a green light landed beside him, answering his questions.
"Hao, you're finally awake." Ah Yin looked at Tang Hao with surprise and joy.
"Ah Yin, what's happened recently?" Tang Hao asked directly upon seeing her. "What's this fluctuation on the Douluo Continent?"
Ah Yin composed herself and recounted the events of recent years to Tang Hao.
The more he heard, the more shocked he became. He even wondered if he was under an illusion.
How had so many deities suddenly appeared on the Douluo Plane? Shrek was destroyed? Was this still Douluo?
This world felt so unfamiliar.
After a long time, once Tang Hao had calmed down and digested the news, Ah Yin continued, "Hao, they've been on the Douluo Plane for a long time. Didn't you notice before?"
Tang Hao shook his head. "No, they hadn't truly revealed their essence before. If he hadn't been so open about his breakthrough this time, I probably wouldn't have paid attention. Gaining the Plane Lord's full power is what matters most."
A flawless divine-level expert's breakthrough or mobilization of power, if sufficiently concealed—like the Killing God—could hide their presence and avoid his notice.
But Huo Yuhao clearly hadn't concealed anything this time.
Ah Yin nodded in understanding, then asked, "And the plane spirit?"
Tang Hao's expression darkened. "The plane spirit is off. Its resistance has grown stronger over the years—like a prisoner who's seen hope. I'm afraid I won't be able to resolve it before the possible final battle."
Ah Yin frowned. "Then what do you plan to do?"
Tang Hao took a deep breath. "I'm going to conduct one final negotiation with it. At the very least, I need to reach a consensus on dealing with the Abyss Plane—have it help me mobilize all the plane's power."
"As for your side..."
Tang Hao paused. He tried to use half of the Plane Lord's power to probe Huo Yuhao's location, but found only a void.
Some invisible force seemed to obscure fate.
Tang Hao frowned but didn't find it strange.
After all, that person had a divine persona as a first-class deity—having such abilities was understandable.
"For now, follow your existing plans. Don't conflict with those deities until I've finished negotiating."
With that, Tang Hao fell into a brief slumber to negotiate with the plane spirit.
They needed to talk.
Not just the Douluo Continent—the experts on the Xingluo and Douling Continent also seemed to sense something.
On the Xingluo coastline, Yun Ming was watching the Douluo Federation's troops set up defenses.
The Sea God Corps Commander had chosen a steady approach, so they weren't advancing recklessly—first stabilizing the occupied territory.
Just then, Yun Ming also seemed to sense something, looking up at the sky.
Beside him, Yuanen Zhentian looked toward the Douluo Continent with shock and turned to Yun Ming. "Is that a true deity?"
"Yes."
"But Lord Yun Ming, you've also stepped into that realm before—the impact wasn't this great."
Yun Ming was silent for a moment, then shook his head, frowning. "It's different. There's a fundamental gap between him and me."
On the Douling Continent, a group of Title experts trembled as they looked at the blood-colored figure on the main seat.
"To make such a grand display of aura upon returning to the divine seat—what's this? Provocation? Or a declaration of war?"
The Killing God looked toward the Douluo Continent and laughed coldly.
"Whatever it Yes, I'll take it!
***
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