Unable to understand the forging process, Ling Zichen looked away and focused on the design blueprint. As she studied it, she gradually furrowed her brow.
These structures and soul tool formations—was this soul tool's function amplification?
While Ling Zichen came to this realization, on Huo Yuhao's side, the nine-tier Faith Pagoda slowly descended and completely overlapped with the nine-tier tower embryo forged below.
In that instant, heaven and earth lost their color.
Boundless golden light burst forth from the pagoda, cascading down as countless rays of auspicious brilliance, enveloping the tower embryo.
Each ray of brilliance carried faith. Each strand of light contained the prayers of countless beings. The moment the golden light touched the tower embryo, faint chanting echoed through the void.
The tower embryo trembled violently, emitting a low hum like an ancient bell tolling.
Nine-colored light shot up from the tower body, intertwining with the golden sea of light. The nine colors and gold tangled, collided, and fused, eventually condensing into mysterious patterns on the tower's surface.
The seven-colored divine flame surged in along those patterns, burning and tempering them. The law imprints Huo Yuhao had hammered into the tower were fully activated in that moment.
One by one, imprints emerged from deep within the tower, like ancient runes awakening from slumber. There was the power of creation that nurtured all things, capable of revitalizing all life. There was the power of destruction that annihilated all things, making even distant onlookers feel their souls tremble, as if their very beings would be erased by that aura.
Each layer of the tower seemed to bear a different law, surrounding it with nine-colored radiance.
But Huo Yuhao wasn't satisfied. When the faith-formed vessel and the vessel he had forged fully merged, he linked his own aura with this soul tool, incorporating it into his third martial soul—the Reincarnation Domain—making the soul tool lifebound to him. Through this, he hammered in the final law imprint—the Law of Reincarnation!
The moment this imprint appeared, all previous phenomena froze.
The nine law imprints that had been integrated earlier seemed to find their home. They no longer operated independently but followed the guidance of the Reincarnation Law, constructing a complete cycle within the tower. Creation and destruction connected end to end. Ice and fire intertwined.
Nine layers of the tower, each layer connected through.
With Huo Yuhao's spatial folding technique, each layer was a small world, each self-contained with its own laws. But the nine layers stacked together formed a complete cycle of heaven and earth.
In that instant, the tower turned gray-gold. A vast, ancient aura spread from its deepest depths—mysterious, profound, and overwhelmingly powerful.
At the same time, a beam of light shot up from the tower's peak. The phenomenon ignored the ground entirely, piercing through layers of obstruction straight into the heavens.
Outside the Spirit Transmission Tower, countless people looked up at the pillar of light.
"What extraordinary treasure has appeared there?"
"Such a spectacle—could another deity-related object have emerged?"
"Wait, that's the direction of the Spirit Transmission Tower!"
Hearing this, many immediately abandoned any thoughts of investigation.
Inside the Spirit Transmission Tower, many also noticed the phenomenon and identified its source. But due to orders from above, they didn't rush to investigate.
Qianku Dicing, seeing this and knowing things had likely come to an end, instinctively looked at Snow Empress.
"If you wish to go, then go. He has permitted it." Snow Empress seemed to be communicating with someone, then nodded.
In the Spirit Transmission Tower's basement level, Ling Zichen also noticed this scene, her eyes filled with awe. It took her a long time to snap out of it.
"Is it finished?"
Huo Yuhao didn't answer immediately. He extended his hand, and the small tower, as if intelligent, drifted over and landed in his palm.
This Lifebound Soul Tool had already developed considerable sentience upon its initial formation. It lay quietly in Huo Yuhao's palm, its body gently vibrating in a rhythmic pattern that synchronized with his heartbeat, as if actively adapting to its master's aura.
"When I designed you, I already had your name in mind. I'll name you—Spirit Transmission Tower!"
"Spirit Transmission Tower..."
Ling Zichen's pupils contracted sharply. Her expression complex, she repeated the name, her gaze ultimately falling on the small tower.
The small tower seemed to truly understand. Its body trembled gently, nuzzling against Huo Yuhao's palm.
Only then did Huo Yuhao answer Ling Zichen's question. "From a soul tool perspective, it's complete. From a divine artifact perspective, it's not yet finished—or rather, it's just a weapon embryo."
When Ling Zichen heard Huo Yuhao name this Lifebound Soul Tool "Spirit Transmission Tower," she was already completely certain of his identity. Hearing his words now, she couldn't snap out of it for a moment.
But the figure who had just appeared at the basement level entrance, upon hearing this, looked at the "Spirit Transmission Tower" with shock in his eyes.
"This is just a weapon embryo?"
At this moment, the "Spirit Transmission Tower" hadn't fully restrained its aura. The terrifying pressure made even Qianku Dicing, a quasi-divine, feel the breath of death.
Qianku Dicing was absolutely certain that if he were struck by this soul tool's attack, he would be reduced to ash.
This was something that many divine artifacts left behind from the Divine Realm couldn't accomplish.
There was no doubt—this Lifebound Soul Tool was already a divine artifact, and more powerful than many divine artifacts left on the Douluo Continent from the Divine Realm.
Yet in Huo Yuhao's eyes, it was still a weapon embryo. What would the finished product look like?
While Qianku Dicing was stunned, Huo Yuhao's gaze turned to him.
Snow Empress had already informed him of the other's arrival here.
Earlier, because Huo Yuhao was forging, Qianku Dicing hadn't dared to disturb him and had remained inactive.
It was only after sensing things had come to a pause and receiving Snow Empress's—or rather, Huo Yuhao's—permission that he had hurried over.
Seeing Huo Yuhao suddenly look at him, Qianku Dicing's heart tightened. He quickly composed himself, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.
"Junior Qianku Dicing pays respects to the Ancestor!"
His tone was reverent with a hint of nervousness—after all, the person before him was the founder of the Spirit Transmission Tower, a legendary figure from ten thousand years ago.
When uncertain, it was one thing. But now that his identity was confirmed, he naturally had to show due respect.
Seeing this, Ling Zichen snapped back to the present and looked at Huo Yuhao with complex eyes, following with a bow.
"Greetings, Spirit-Ice Ancestor."
With Qianku Dicing bowing like this, she could no longer pretend not to know. She could only bow as a junior.
A lamentable thick barrier now stood between her and Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao looked at the two before him and calmly nodded.
"No need for such formality. Rise."
The two straightened up. Qianku Dicing glanced at Ling Zichen before speaking first. "Ancestor, now that you have returned, should we announce it to the continent?"
"You may know, but there's no need to spread it. Everything remains as before. Let things take their natural course." Huo Yuhao shook his head.
Knowing your identity, how could everything remain as before?
Qianku Dicing's eyelids twitched, and he continued, "Then what if we have Dongfeng step down and let you retake the Tower Master position?"
Huo Yuhao gave him a knowing smile.
"He hasn't done anything to harm the Spirit Transmission Tower. He's been diligent in his position as Tower Master. Why rush?"
Qianku Dicing's heart trembled, and he smiled bitterly inwardly.
He hadn't succeeded, but Dongfeng had indeed once wanted to change the Spirit Transmission Tower's direction. That was fact.
He didn't believe this person hadn't noticed. Was he waiting to catch them out?
Seeing his nervous expression, Huo Yuhao suddenly shook his head. "Alright, you don't need to be so tense. Since Snow Empress and Emperor Tian haven't pursued it, I have no interest in raking over old grievances. What matters now is the future, not the past."
He paused, his gaze profound as he looked at Qianku Dicing.
"As long as you keep the Spirit Transmission Tower's best interests at heart from now on, there's no need to dwell on the rest."
The heavy stone in Qianku Dicing's heart finally fell. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Ancestor."
Huo Yuhao nodded, put away the "Spirit Transmission Tower" and other items, and without another word, turned and left.
The weapon embryo had just been forged. He needed to test this Lifebound Soul Tool first, then nurture it with heavenly tribulation and plane power.
Footsteps faded into the distance. The basement level fell silent once more.
Qianku Dicing watched the direction Huo Yuhao had gone and let out a long breath.
Thankfully, this person had no intention of pursuing the matter.
Within his Sea of Spirit, seeing his expression, a Spirit Soul laughed. "Dicing, the way you looked just now—you were really cowardly."
Qianku Dicing snorted upon hearing this.
"What do you know? That's the Ancestor! If you have the guts, go face him yourselves!"
Facing the Ancestor—was that cowardice?
That was prudence!
Besides him, Ling Zichen also watched the direction Huo Yuhao had left, her emotions complicated.
Confirming that Huo Yuhao was the Ancestor, she felt both excitement and an indescribable daze.
That person who usually discussed soul tool technology with him, who she occasionally snapped at, was actually the Spirit-Ice Douluo?
In that moment, she recalled her bold words about replacing the Federation and surpassing her predecessors.
Ling Zichen suddenly felt her face grow hot.
This was truly embarrassing herself in front of the Ancestor.
She wondered what Huo Yuhao thought of her.
No, no. Don't think about that. Think positive—they were among the few in ten thousand years to see the Spirit-Ice Douluo's true face.
"What are you thinking about?"
Qianku Dicing asked, seeing her dazed expression.
He was familiar with Ling Zichen, the research genius. Now that they both knew Huo Yuhao's identity, they were in the same boat, so to speak. And Ling Zichen's relationship with Huo Yuhao was clearly closer than his—worth discussing.
Ling Zichen snapped back to the present and shook her head. "Nothing. Just... it feels incredible."
Qianku Dicing sighed softly, hands clasped behind his back.
"It is indeed incredible. Ten thousand years of time, and the Ancestor returns. If this news spread, the entire continent would shake."
Ling Zichen nodded, then couldn't help asking, "War Heaven Lord, why do you think the Ancestor is hiding his identity?"
Qianku Dicing was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "He naturally has his reasons. Perhaps he doesn't want to draw attention, or perhaps he's waiting for the right moment. That's not for us to question."
Ling Zichen first nodded, then asked with confusion, "If this is the Spirit-Ice Ancestor, then who is the other one?"
If Huo Yuhao was the Spirit-Ice Ancestor, then who was Gu Yuena? Was she also an ancestor of the Spirit Transmission Tower?
But no one seemed to match Gu Yuena's identity.
Qianku Dicing: "..."
You're asking me this? I don't know either.
Maybe that person really is a deity?
After exchanging a few words with Ling Zichen, Qianku Dicing left, intending to speak with Qianku Dongfeng and the others.
Huo Yuhao had only said not to rush, but he hadn't said he wouldn't retake the Tower Master position. They needed to be prepared.
Huo Yuhao ascended from the basement level to the first floor of the Spirit Transmission Tower, where quite a crowd had gathered.
Although they'd been told not to investigate, waiting on the first floor was acceptable.
Now seeing Huo Yuhao emerge, they grew excited.
"So it was Lord Huo Yuhao. No wonder there was such a commotion."
"What was that just now? The radiance of a divine artifact? Or has he reattained godhood?"
"Spread the word—Lord Huo Yuhao has returned to the divine seat!"
Facing the crowd's excited gazes, Huo Yuhao gave them a gentle smile and headed toward the Spirit Transmission Tower's higher-level cultivation chambers.
Once the door closed and the chatter faded, Huo Yuhao willed the small tower to appear and began testing its various functions.
First, because this Lifebound Soul Tool—or rather, divine artifact—was forged from extraordinary materials, ordinary means couldn't destroy it. At the very least, anything below the divine level needn't bother.
Its self-repair ability was also extremely strong. Starting from Spirit-Forged metal, metal already had self-repair capabilities. At a certain level, even engraved soul tool formations could be repaired together—similar to memory alloys in some novels.
And the "Spirit Transmission Tower's" material was a Divine Alloy synthesized from nine metals, making it even more extraordinary. Combined with the fact that its lifebound connection was to a third martial soul, linked to the Reincarnation Domain, it could enjoy the Reincarnation Domain's restoration capability alongside Huo Yuhao, without requiring much of his power.
This greatly increased the difficulty of destroying it.
Perhaps due to the various law imprints Huo Yuhao had hammered into it, this divine artifact had already developed the initial ability to mobilize law power.
It was becoming more and more like an imperial weapon.
"The only thing hard to evaluate is its power."
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly.
The "Spirit Transmission Tower's" functions as a soul tool were actually quite simple in his design—its primary functions were amplification and enhancement.
To this end, Huo Yuhao had collected a vast amount of data on amplification and support-type spirit abilities. Combined with years of research, he had drawn a Level 12 core amplification soul tool formation.
And the Spirit Power Amplifier he'd researched years ago, capable of elevating a soul tool by one level, had also been prepared for this Lifebound Soul Tool. The corresponding structures were integrated into it.
One could say that every layer of the nine-tier pagoda's soul tool formations, structures, and even the Level 12 core formation all pointed to the same goal: amplifying any power injected into it to the extreme before releasing it.
He had also referenced Elder Kong's Silver Moon Divine Light Shield's application of spatial force, allowing maximum accommodation of the amplified power. This was one reason each layer of the pagoda was a folded space.
Of course, because it incorporated various law imprints and a Source Core, it could also serve as a weapon of conquest in the future. But for Huo Yuhao, amplification was the core.
After all, in this world, offensive super-divine artifacts were more common. But once strength reached a certain level, those super-divine artifacts could make a deity peerless within their rank, yet rarely allow one to fight across ranks.
Not to mention that at the God King level, most already had super-divine artifacts. Those who didn't need not speak up.
If one had a self-amplifying super-divine artifact, the advantage in high-level combat would obviously be greater.
In Huo Yuhao's vision, his full power could reach the divine level. With the "Spirit Transmission Tower's" amplification, it should be able to reach the power of a second-class deity in the mortal world.
Absurd?
Huo Yuhao didn't think so. Without such power, how could it deserve to be called a Level 12 or higher soul tool?
Besides, Oscar's replication sausage could let a second-class deity unleash a God King-level attack. That was the truly absurd thing.
However, such power clearly wasn't suitable for testing. The commotion it would cause would be too great.
***
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