After studying the life-nurturing ability, Huo Yuhao shifted his attention to the other two authorities he'd gained as Plane Lord after the plane's ascension.
Though the abilities to nurture life and revive could also enhance his comprehension of Creation laws, such improvement was indirect and slow—not as quick as these two authorities.
First, as Plane Lord, he could merge his consciousness into the plane and perceive its laws.
The benefits of this needed no elaboration. During the plane's ascension, the manifestation of laws had already greatly benefited him. Now he could actively merge his consciousness into the plane, immersing himself in a sea of laws at any time. His mastery of various laws would only grow stronger, even aiding his path after the divine level.
However, Huo Yuhao felt this effect was somewhat familiar.
It seemed like a bootleg version of the Heavenly Heart Imprint?
A faint smile crossed Huo Yuhao's face.
Come to think of it, a plane could only have one Plane Lord, who could suppress later experts from becoming deities. Using the Plane Lord's authority to perceive the world's laws was quite similar to the Heavenly Heart Imprint.
Besides this authority—which greatly aided his cultivation at the divine level—another authority was equally significant.
He could now mobilize heavenly tribulations within the Undead Plane!
He could even summon seven-colored thunder tribulations!
Huo Yuhao was surprised by this as well.
Just as almost everyone on the Douluo Continent could awaken a martial soul, the ability to summon thunder tribulations seemed to be an innate ability that every sufficiently developed plane possessed—like an innate divine ability.
The Douluo Plane, the Dragon Horse Twin Stars, and other planes all had this ability. Even in this region's planes, the thunder tribulations they wielded were essentially the same—all in the form of elemental tribulations.
Huo Yuhao suspected this might involve some universal law—perhaps a restriction derived from limiting deities?
But this was merely speculation; he didn't know the specifics.
In any case, after the plane was fully formed, Huo Yuhao felt he could wield this ability too.
Of course, he currently only knew the "what" without understanding the "why." He could only mobilize plane power to unleash seven-colored thunder tribulations, not control them as freely as the Four-Element Divine Thunder he'd mastered.
But with such a unique opportunity, mastering the seven-colored thunder tribulation was only a matter of time.
And the reason he said this ability helped his cultivation, besides helping him quickly master the seven-thundercolored, was another reason altogether—
He could strike himself!
BOOM!
A sudden thunderclap tore through the sky. Before the three artifact spirits' astonished eyes, a seven-colored tribulation descended from the Undead Plane and struck Huo Yuhao squarely!
"Master! Are you alright?!" the Eternal Angel couldn't help but exclaim.
Struck directly by the seven-colored tribulation, Huo Yuhao was wreathed in crackling lightning, yet not a single scorch mark appeared on his body. He took a deep breath, exhaled a white mist laced with arcs of lightning, and slowly smiled.
"I'm fine. I was just using the plane's power to cultivate."
Though this seven-colored tribulation barely reached the divine level, it had at least reached that threshold—it could replace his previous method of cultivating via limit-breaking tribulations on the Douluo Plane.
After all, the tribulations he'd attracted on the Douluo Continent by breaking limits had always been intermittent. For him now, their tempering effect was diminishing.
Within the Undead Plane, he could control these tribulations himself, continuously tempering his body with even better results.
After fully experiencing the benefits of becoming a true Plane Lord, Huo Yuhao felt some emotion.
"The Plane Lord's authority is truly extraordinary."
The benefits of becoming a Plane Lord were no less than those of a divine seat—in some aspects, even surpassing them.
No wonder in the eras of Soul Land III and IV, when the Divine Realm had vanished, aside from those connected to the Dragon God, the strongest beings were the Plane Lords.
In fact, one could say that apart from those tied to the Dragon God, the eras of Soul Land III and IV were entirely the age of Plane Lords. After all, in those two eras, the true chess players were essentially the Plane Lords.
Oh, Long Tianyang—the Plane Lord who appeared already sealed and later sacrificed herself for Bai Xiuxiu—didn't count. She was an unlucky one, not a chess player.
Thinking of that Plane Lord from Soul Land IV who appeared already sealed and later sacrificed herself for Bai Xiuxiu, Huo Yuhao couldn't help shaking his head.
To be reduced to that as a half-step God King was truly tragic.
But for now, the Dragon Valley was still on the Douluo Continent, so Long Tianyang should still be safe.
After all, Long Tianyang's misfortune only began when the Dragon Horse Twin Stars gave birth to super-divine-level experts. Ordinary divine-level beings couldn't seal her.
And the Dragon Horse Twin Stars wouldn't see super-divine-level experts until after the Dragon Valley was attracted there, following the dragon transformation. Now, with the Dragon Valley not yet attracted, there weren't even any dragons there—the birth of super-divine-level experts was still far off.
The current Dragon Horse Twin Stars should only have the so-called Tianma race, still in the period when they were called the Tianma Twin Stars. Even Long Tianyang should only have the name "Tianyang"—since the surname "Long" was imposed on her by the dragon clan after the Tianma Twin Stars became the Dragon Horse Twin Stars.
The children giving their mother a name—truly topsy-turvy. The Tianma race had forgotten their roots after becoming dragons.
At this thought, Huo Yuhao suddenly paused.
Speaking of which, Long Tianyang's tragedy began with attracting the Dragon Valley and indirectly becoming entangled with the dragon clan and the Dragon God. In fact, other than the little Dragon God, it seemed that all existences with deep ties to the Dragon God were especially unlucky.
Not only did Emperor Tian face the External Avatar Tribulation—a demon tribulation—during his godhood trial, but his soul ultimately took a tribulation bolt for Lan Xuanyu, and his body was turned into a warship.
Jia Lin was found by the Dragon Horse Twin Stars at birth, essentially imprisoned, and eventually forced to marry into the Dragon Horse Twin Stars' dragon clan.
Gu Yuena was certainly not fortunate either.
The rest needed no detailed enumeration.
When all was said and done, only Lan Xuanyu seemed to have the best luck.
If one were to measure fortune among all Dragon God-related existences: fortune had eight parts in total. Lan Xuanyu took one stone (ten parts), and the rest collectively owed two parts?
It felt like the Dragon God had become a star of misfortune.
Pulling back his thoughts with a strange feeling, Huo Yuhao turned to the three artifact spirits who had approached. "I've troubled you this time. You mentioned wanting to gain some experience outside, right? I'll arrange that later."
The Eternal Angel smiled gently. "Master is too kind. In a sense, creating a plane is also part of our duty as the Throne's artifact spirits—hardly a labor. As for gaining experience, we leave it entirely to your arrangements."
"Then come with me."
Huo Yuhao nodded, took one last look at the Undead Plane, and placed the Spirit Transmission Tower at the plane's core for nurturing.
With the Undead Plane's current level, its origin power and laws could subtly enhance the tower, solidifying its foundation.
Only with a sufficiently solid foundation could the Spirit Transmission Tower ultimately undergo its final transformation alongside him.
Returning to Mingdu, Huo Yuhao brought the three artifacts spirits—now in human form—back home.
At that moment, Snow Empress and Gu Yuena were conversing about something. When they saw him return, both showed joy.
But when they noticed the three artifact spirits, Gu Yuena's gaze turned questioning.
"Yuhao, who are they?"
"The three artifact spirits of the Eternal Domain." Huo Yuhao introduced them. "Na'er, you've met one of them before."
"Oh, that dragon." Gu Yuena immediately recalled the Holy Sacred Dragon, whose appearance differed so markedly from Douluo's dragons. Based on his aura, she quickly identified the middle-aged man the Holy Sacred Dragon had transformed into.
Because Yuhao had publicly declared their relationship that time, she remembered it quite clearly.
The Holy Sacred Dragon, respecting Huo Yuhao's close ones, spoke first: "Greetings, Mistress."
Hearing this, Gu Yuena's ears reddened slightly, but she didn't deny it. She simply gave a cool "mm" in acknowledgment.
Though speaking strictly not yet, she certainly would be in the future.
Snow Empress's expression remained unchanged at this scene—she simply smiled faintly—but Huo Yuhao inexplicably felt a prickle on his back.
Sensing this, he moved to stand beside Snow Empress and Gu Yuena before the Eternal Angel and the others could begin exchanging pleasantries after learning the situation through divine transmission. He introduced them: "This is Snow Empress, and this is Gu Yuena. They are my partners. Snow Empress oversees the Extreme North branch, which will be the first place I arrange for you to gain experience."
"After all, you're new to the Douluo Continent and not familiar with it yet. You'll first learn the basics at the Extreme North branch under Snow Empress's guidance. Once you're adapted, we'll make further arrangements."
As Huo Yuhao finished speaking, the three artifact spirits immediately understood the relationships.
The Eternal Angel and King Easton glanced at the somewhat flustered Holy Sacred Dragon, sharing a private smile, and simultaneously offered their greetings to both "Mistresses."
"Greetings to both Mistresses."
They'd just learned from the Holy Sacred Dragon via divine transmission that Gu Yuena was Huo Yuhao's girlfriend. They'd almost followed suit and only greeted Gu Yuena—which would have meant ignoring Snow Empress, a serious discourtesy.
Though Huo Yuhao, as the new God-Imprint Throne master, was the one they needed to respect, the saying goes: "When you see a monk, you respect the Buddha." For Huo Yuhao's partners, they naturally had to show respect.
Moreover, in a sense, Snow Empress was their supervisor at their training location—certainly not someone to be negligent toward.
And since they'd both greeted her, wouldn't that leave only the Holy Sacred Dragon in an awkward position?
The Holy Sacred Dragon glanced at his two colleagues, who seemed to be waiting for a laugh, gradually calmed down, and separately greeted Snow Empress.
As long as he had thick skin, he'd be fine.
You won't get a laugh out of me!
Seeing Huo Yuhao's timely remedy, Snow Empress's lips curled slightly. The terms "partner" and "mistress" gently stirred something deep within her.
She and Huo Yuhao had an unspoken understanding. But being explicitly called his "partner" in front of outsiders was indeed a first.
It felt good.
As for Gu Yuena, she was in a good mood too.
After all, last time Huo Yuhao had publicly identified her as his "girlfriend"—far less intimate than "partner."
Huo Yuhao glanced left and right, saw both women looked as composed as ever—even a bit softer than before—and finally felt at ease.
Both Snow Empress and Gu Yuena were reasonable women who knew their priorities. With external enemies still present, they saw the pressure he was under and wouldn't indulge in jealous squabbles or fights. But that didn't mean he could ignore certain things, especially attitude—he had to keep it proper.
"Then it's settled." Huo Yuhao cleared his throat and took out a soul tool light screen. "I've already arranged individual accommodations for you here in Mingdu. You can rest here first, then head to the Extreme North later."
He roughly understood the Eternal Lord's intention.
Sending the three artifact spirits out to gain experience was essentially to temper their minds. They'd lived smooth, uneventful lives in the Eternal Domain and hadn't seen much of the world's dangers. During the trial, the Eternal Angel had been deceived by him.
Now that they were out, this was for them to experience such things.
The God-Imprint Throne's journey had no end, and he was just one of its masters. Who knew what kind of person the Eternal Lord would favor next?
Learning some tricks of the trade in advance would certainly help the three artifact spirits in their roles as examiners.
After all, an examiner could go easy, but they couldn't be genuinely incompetent.
However, Mingdu was the Douluo Continent's political center. Throwing three blank slates into that environment might risk overcorrection. It was better to start with the simpler "dungeon" of the Extreme North branch.
The three artifact spirits listened seriously to Huo Yuhao's arrangements, then left on the pretext of wanting to see the Douluo Continent.
They could tell that Huo Yuhao and Snow Empress had matters to discuss and didn't want to be third wheels.
Huo Yuhao didn't stop them, simply contacting a Spirit Transmission Tower staff member to show them around Mingdu.
Stepping out the door, the three artifact spirits glanced back at the house. The Holy Sacred Dragon clicked his tongue.
"I never expected Master to have two romantic partners."
"Given Master's strength and ability, it's not hard to understand why multiple women would favor him."
The Eternal Angel recalled her brief meeting with Snow Empress and Gu Yuena, her expression somewhat odd. "But did you two notice something similar about them?"
King Easton and the Holy Sacred Dragon exchanged glances, looking at the Eternal Angel in confusion.
What did she mean? Similar how?
Seeing their innocent expressions, the Eternal Angel was speechless. "Their personalities and hair colors—both are quite... cool."
In their short contact, she'd found that both Snow Empress and Gu Yuena had rather cool dispositions.
Of course, since it was their first meeting, she couldn't tell if this was their true nature or just a front for outsiders.
As for their hair colors—Snow Empress had white hair, Gu Yuena silver—they couldn't be more different, yet they were both cool colors.
Perhaps this was Master's type—someone who loved white-haired women? Or rather, women with cool color schemes and cool personalities?
Thinking this, the Eternal Angel glanced back at the house but dared not say it aloud.
King Easton, however, had fewer qualms and summarized directly: "Maybe Master just prefers the cool type. After all, he's very steady and calm himself—it's natural he'd like someone similar."
"Actually, I'd have a harder time imagining the Mistress as a fiery type..."
"Ahem, enough. This isn't for us to discuss." Feeling a spiritual power fluctuation nearby, the Eternal Angel's expression shifted slightly, and she interrupted. "Let's wait for the person Master said would come, then head out to see Mingdu. Let's change the subject!"
King Easton was speechless.
Weren't you the one who started it?
Hah, fickle woman.
***
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