Whether it was the Hell Plane or the Demon Plane, both originally carried the suppression of their respective planes.
However, upon returning to the Hell Plane now, Xu Yuan could no longer feel that suppression.
At this moment, he had become self-sufficient, shielding himself from any external plane's constraints.
Even though his inner realm still relied on drawing sustenance from the outside, after absorbing sufficient nourishment, it became a self-contained system capable of providing him with a living space and resisting the pressure of the external plane.
Of course, there was another crucial factor—Xu Yuan's strength.
Forget about having an inner realm as a self-contained system. Even without it, with his current abilities, Xu Yuan was more than capable of resisting the entire Hell Plane's oppression on his own.
Even if the Hell Plane had a plane master, the power of its plane master would at most reach the 1st Class God level, and even then, only when mobilizing the entire plane's forces within the plane itself.
For a Hell Plane without a master, Xu Yuan, as a supergod-level being, could easily resist.
His essence, energy, and spirit were now in harmony, reaching the supergod level in all aspects.
In the state of essence-energy-spirit fusion, he directly possessed the power of a 1st Class God.
Now, all his powers were unified. The fusion of essence, energy, and spirit was his ultimate method of ascension. Whether it was the trinity fusion of martial souls or the Seven Forbidden Techniques, they were all encompassed within.
Though the apparent increase in power seemed smaller, in reality, this was the leap from the supergod level to the 1st Class God level.
The higher the level, the harder it was to fight above one's rank. Eventually, such difficulty could be considered impossible.
Xu Yuan being able to unleash near-1st Class God-level power in his supergod-level state through the unification of essence, energy, and spirit was already extraordinary.
Moreover, it wasn't a case of barely resisting.
He simply lacked further methods of ascension, not burst-type soul skills.
Whether it was the spear techniques of Jue or the integration of the Scroll World with the inner realm using the Rune Art to cast forbidden spells via Shan He, these were Xu Yuan's foundations. Even among 1st Class God-level beings, these skills were undoubtedly top-tier.
Thus, theoretically, Xu Yuan possessed the most elite 1st Class God-level combat power.
Having been away from Douluo Planet for nearly three years, if he hadn't undergone sufficient transformation, Xu Yuan would feel unworthy of the numerous records he had previously set.
With the inner realm restraining his essence, energy, and spirit, even the spatial passage couldn't sense Xu Yuan's immense pressure.
Passing through the Hell Gate and returning to the Demon Plane, Xu Yuan's expression grew more solemn.
"The Demon Plane is far stronger than the Hell Plane. Its nine Demon Lords are equivalent to nine times the power of the Hell Plane, not to mention the numerous god-level forbidden zones."
Xu Yuan had no intention of visiting each forbidden zone of the Demon Plane one by one.
These god-level opportunities would be left for the Seven Monsters to explore when they encountered bottlenecks.
---
Douluo Planet
Shrek Academy
Sea God Island
The moment Xu Yuan stepped out of the Demon Gate, he felt a sense of disorientation.
After three years, he had returned to Douluo Planet, to this familiar place.
"After reaching the god level, my perception has deepened. Douluo Planet truly is different from other planes."
Xu Yuan scanned the sky above. Chains of laws appeared before his eyes. Under the reflection of his inner realm, he observed the law structure of Douluo Planet.
The strands of golden light resembled separately governed domains, combining various laws into new ones, monopolizing them, and forming special golden laws.
"Are these the legacies left behind by the gods throughout Douluo Planet's history?"
Observing the numerous golden laws, Xu Yuan identified the most powerful ones. One exuded a chilling aura of slaughter—it must be the authority of the Asura God. Another, shaped like ocean waves, was likely the authority of the Sea God.
One by one, these authorities surfaced before him, as if recounting the legendary histories of those soul masters.
"There are quite a few soul masters who have become gods in the soul master world—more than I imagined. Before Tang San, perhaps there were gods who made history but chose to ascend quietly."
Xu Yuan could roughly guess why these gods' stories weren't recorded in soul master history.
It simply wasn't necessary to make a fuss.
Take Qian Renxue, for example. If it weren't for Tang San's presence, under Qian Daoliu's arrangements, ascending to godhood would have been a given. But based on her personality, would she have grandly descended to the mortal world as a god?
As for Bibi Dong, she might have unified the continent as a god.
But gods with god-level martial souls and arranged paths to divinity certainly existed.
After all, Xu Yuan knew that while gods had infinite lifespans, life in the God Realm was dull. To leave the God Realm and explore further opportunities in the universe, they first had to pass on their divine positions.
Fabricating god-level martial souls might not be within every god's ability, but tweaking their bloodline descendants or transmitted martial souls to purify their lineage was doable.
---
Withdrawing his gaze…
"Master's wife, your soul power…"
Xu Yuan sensed a different aura from Ya Li.
Ya Li smiled. "Thanks to the divine-forged Sacred Spirit Light Source Crystal you helped me forge, my understanding of laws has rapidly improved, and the sacred attributes of my martial soul have advanced further. Now, I feel I might have a chance to attempt breaking through that bottleneck."
Xu Yuan nodded.
After being away for three years, it was natural for his acquaintances here to make significant progress in their cultivation.
"Master's wife, there's no need to rush to the Netherworld to break through. From what I've observed, Douluo Planet is already on the verge of breakthrough. Wait for a few more potential Limit Douluos to emerge, and together, you can push forward. That might be the key to Douluo Planet breaking through the final barrier," Xu Yuan said.
He had also observed Douluo Planet's framework of laws and found it sufficiently stable. Many abyssal laws had already adapted to Douluo Planet's original laws.
Now, the two planes had essentially completed their interconnection.
Next was fusion.
Beyond the evolution of celestial phenomena, the process of fusion also depended on the changes in the two planes.
And these so-called changes naturally referred to stimulation.
"I know," Ya Li said.
Though she yearned to visit the Netherworld and reunite with Yun Ming, she understood that staying at Shrek Academy was essential.
Aside from Yun Ming, Ya Li was the only leader capable of earning everyone's trust and possessing strong leadership skills. Thus, she needed to ensure the academy's stability from the rear.
"Three years apart, and I can no longer see through your changes."
After speaking of herself, Ya Li turned the topic to Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan gave a faint smile.
"Master, I haven't wasted these three years."
"Of course I know. Since you entered the academy, you've never disappointed in your cultivation," Ya Li said with a gratified smile. "Xiao Yuan, have you already broken through to the god level?"
"Mm." Xu Yuan nodded.
Ya Li looked unsurprised.
"Never would I have thought that in just a few short years, you'd surpass us." Ya Li sighed helplessly.
"Master, I've just had slightly better opportunities than ordinary soul masters."
Ya Li was speechless.
"By the way, do you remember that flame egg you brought back?"
"Flame egg?"
Xu Yuan paused, then realized what Ya Li was referring to.
When he went to the location his father had left behind, he received his father's final message and found an egg.
That egg, which he handed over to the academy, had been neglected ever since.
Only now, upon Ya Li's mention, did Xu Yuan recall it.
"That egg hatched," Ya Li said with surprise, as if the lifeform that emerged from the egg was unexpected.
"What kind of soul beast is inside?"
"Soul beast?" Ya Li hesitated, then said, "She doesn't consider herself a soul beast. According to her, she's a divine beast."
"She?"
Xu Yuan was taken aback.
Of course, he knew who Ya Li meant—it had to be the lifeform that hatched from the flame egg.
This newly born creature already had consciousness?
And seemingly intelligence as well.
"It's a phoenix, but there's no trace of powerful bloodline energy. It seems to be an ordinary creature with the appearance of a phoenix," Ya Li said. "However, her spiritual power is incredibly strong. She can communicate with us and even use mental-type soul skills, but she has no soul power whatsoever."
"Take me to see her." Xu Yuan was intrigued by this phoenix.
Without a trace of phoenix bloodline aura, yet resembling a phoenix almost perfectly, and behaving in ways beyond the norm.
"In the Seven Saints Paradise."
Ya Li led Xu Yuan into the Seven Saints Paradise.
Without needing Ya Li's guidance, Xu Yuan had already sensed it.
His expression changed slightly.
Divine Origin Realm?
Such spiritual power at the Divine Origin Realm?
What was the origin of this fake phoenix?
How could it possess Divine Origin Realm spiritual power immediately after hatching?
Absolutely impossible.
There was only one truth—this fake phoenix had been sealed within the egg. Hatching was merely resealing.
Xu Yuan teleported directly to a valley filled with flames.
Before Ya Li could react, they arrived at Flame Valley. Her expression was one of shock.
There had been no sensation of spatial change, and she was suddenly teleported here by Xu Yuan.
His mastery of space was incomprehensible.
"How is this possible!"
A phoenix cry sounded, followed by a shocked voice entering Xu Yuan's ears.
A half-man-tall little phoenix flew over, landing in front of Xu Yuan. Staring at him, her pupils revealed an expression of disbelief.
"How is it not possible?" Xu Yuan said calmly.
The little phoenix paced back and forth, sweeping her Divine Origin Realm spiritual power recklessly across Xu Yuan, showing no manners.
"How is this possible? When you left, you were just a Limit Douluo, and you'd only completed organizing one martial soul. Based on your previous efficiency, in three years, you should have at most finished organizing all your martial souls. How could you break through so many realms?"
The little phoenix muttered "impossible" repeatedly.
Xu Yuan, however, grew alert.
So this fake phoenix had indeed self-sealed. Even before fully unsealing, she had perceived the outside world in a way Xu Yuan couldn't detect!
"Who exactly are you?" Xu Yuan asked sternly.
The little phoenix smirked proudly, flapping her wings. Suddenly, a ball of flame exploded in the distance, creating craters in the ground. She flew to a tall boulder, no longer looking up at Xu Yuan but instead gazing down at him.
This small gesture left Xu Yuan speechless.
"Do you know the Dragon God?"
"Yes."
"I'm on the same level as him!"
The little phoenix pointed her wing at herself, full of arrogance.
Xu Yuan gave her a skeptical look.
"You're a fake phoenix without even a trace of phoenix bloodline. How dare you claim to be on the same level as the Dragon God?"
"Ahhhhhh!"
As if provoked, the little phoenix flew up, emitting an angry cry.
"What do you know? If it weren't for that despicable Dragon God scheming early on, how could I have ended up like this?" the little phoenix wailed.
Her wing suddenly pointed at Xu Yuan.
"And you! Without me, would you be where you are today?"
Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed as he stared at the little phoenix, unsure of what she meant.
"Hmph, I was the one who enlightened your father. Without my guidance, how could an ordinary person smoothly research the God King Map?"
"Why couldn't he?" Xu Yuan retorted.
Seemingly caught off guard, the little phoenix stuttered for a moment before changing her tone. "Alright, I admit his research ability was strong, but without my guidance, he wouldn't have clearly aimed for the path of the God King in such a short time and achieved results."
"And without my guidance, he wouldn't have made all those arrangements, paving the best path for you."
"So, you're saying all my achievements now were prearranged by you?" Xu Yuan asked.
"Well, not entirely. I just laid the optimal foundation for your two martial souls," the little phoenix replied.
Xu Yuan nodded.
Though arrogant, this little phoenix wasn't stubborn, and much of what she said was reasonable.
"So, why did you make these arrangements?" Xu Yuan asked.
He stopped beating around the bush.
"Of course, it was for revenge. That guy, the Dragon God, schemed early on and barely defeated me after our conflict. I must take my revenge."
Listening to the little phoenix, Xu Yuan fell into thought.
Revenge.
From her words, he didn't hear any intent to kill, though her hatred was palpable, there was no murderous intent.
"That guy wanted to shed his shell like a cicada, heh. I'll disrupt his rhythm!" The little phoenix looked smugly at Xu Yuan, then flew closer, patting his shoulder with her wing. "You've done well, completing all the tasks excellently."
Xu Yuan brushed her wing away.
"So, who exactly are you?"
"Me?" The little phoenix returned to her earlier position, gazing down at Xu Yuan. Her tone turned serious as she introduced herself.
"I am the one and only Phoenix God in the universe."
Huh?
Xu Yuan's face was full of question marks.
Phoenix God?
Isn't that Ma Hongjun's 2nd-Class God position?
Seeing Xu Yuan's expression, the little phoenix, seemingly aware of his thoughts, became infuriated. "That's not me! That weak Phoenix God position is an insult to me!"
"Aren't you the only Phoenix God?" Xu Yuan ignored her tone and continued probing for information.
"Hmph, I am the first-generation Phoenix God. My god position is eternal, unique in the universe!"
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