As the sun rose, Gengxin City welcomed a new day. Early risers gradually appeared on the streets, and shops preparing breakfast had already opened, filling the air with tempting aromas.
Inside Duke Qi Tian's Mansion, Ma Xiaotao had just finished her meditation. She stepped out of her room and casually tidied her golden-red hair.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence beside her.
However, she did not tense up. With her ultimate fire attribute, she was now a Super Douluo and could even contend with an ordinary Limit Douluo. More importantly, the only person who could freely move within the Duke's Mansion and approach her without her noticing was Wang Nan.
Sure enough, his voice sounded by her ear in the next instant.
"Do you want to go back to the Academy?"
Ma Xiaotao leaned slightly toward him, feeling the warmth beside her. "Are you going back to the Academy?"
"Yes. I want to see if I can borrow a place from the Academy. It's also been a while since you've gone back."
"Alright. When are we leaving? I'll go pack my things."
"If it's convenient, we can leave now."
"Okay, then wait for me."
She suddenly slipped out of his arms and hurried back into the room. Wang Nan smiled as he watched her figure disappear.
---
At the same time, on Sea God Island, as the sun rose in the east, a purple glint flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. His mental force surged, then gradually settled.
After a long while, his Sea of Consciousness finally calmed. Huo Yuhao opened his eyes, disappointment evident in them.
"Tianmeng Bro, I failed again."
Two years ago, with the help of the consciousnesses within him, primarily Electrolux, Huo Yuhao had successfully condensed his third spirit core and broken through to Rank Ninety-Nine, becoming a Limit Douluo.
Yet after two more years, he still had no clue how to advance further.
The Sea of Consciousness was silent. The Ice Empress and the others said nothing, quietly waiting for Tianmeng Iceworm to speak.
The Snow Empress remained relatively calm. From the very beginning, she had not been like Tianmeng Iceworm, who actively became a spirit ring. She had simply been desperate, wanting to spend more time with the Ice Empress while she still lived.
"I'm sorry, Tianmeng Bro, I—"
"This isn't your fault."
The one who spoke was not Tianmeng Iceworm, but Electrolux.
"Teacher."
"Actually," Electrolux said slowly, "many years ago, I already noticed changes in this world. At the time, I thought it was simply because this world differed from the one I once lived in. Now, it seems there truly is a problem."
Within Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux's rarely seen figure gradually condensed. The moment the gray, indistinct form appeared, Tianmeng Iceworm, Ice Empress, and Snow Empress all turned their attention toward him.
"According to the rules of this world," Electrolux continued, "with the big worm's million-year cultivation, he should have already touched the realm of the so-called gods. If the God Realm truly exists, it should have noticed you long ago."
"But Teacher," Huo Yuhao said, "it's said that Tang San, the ancestor of the Tang Sect, became a god and ascended to the God Realm. There are even traces of a divine battle left near Jialing Pass."
"Then there is only the second possibility," Electrolux replied calmly. "There is something wrong with the God Realm of this world."
"A problem with the God Realm…"
Huo Yuhao unconsciously lifted his gaze. He saw only the ceiling of the quiet room, yet his sight seemed to pierce through Sea God Pavilion and reach the distant sky.
"Is something like that really something we mortals can resolve?" he murmured.
No one answered.
---
"Yuhao, you've come out of seclusion."
Outside Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Zi lay half-reclined at the entrance, completely unconcerned with appearances, eating and basking in the morning sunlight.
"Elder Xuan."
Seeing the furrow in Huo Yuhao's brow, Xuan Zi lifted his wine gourd and took a swig, chewing noisily before swallowing. "What's with that expression? Ran into a problem?"
Huo Yuhao looked at him in silence for a long moment, recalling Electrolux's words.
If there truly was a problem with the God Realm, then even Xuan Zi, a Limit Douluo and one of the strongest figures on the continent, might not have any way to deal with it.
"Elder Xuan," Huo Yuhao finally said, "is there really no possibility of further breakthrough after reaching the Limit Douluo realm?"
Xuan Zi's expression grew serious. He slowly set down the wine gourd. "It seems you're not willing to stop here either."
"Either?"
Xuan Zi sighed softly. "Even an old fellow like me still harbors a trace of fantasy. With your talent, it's only natural that you'd strive for that legendary realm."
Huo Yuhao immediately understood his meaning. He was not the only one yearning to advance beyond the limit.
A figure surfaced in his mind.
If there was anyone else on this continent with the greatest potential to become a god, it could only be that person.
"Elder Xuan, I—"
Before he could finish, Huo Yuhao's expression suddenly changed.
As a mental-attribute Soul Master who had reached the limit, his perception far surpassed ordinary people. On the Douluo Continent, only one person's mental force could exceed his.
He immediately sensed that someone had arrived on Sea God Island.
Almost at the same moment, Xuan Zi also detected the two unfamiliar yet unmistakable auras.
---
Stepping onto Sea God Island once more, Wang Nan deliberately let a trace of his aura leak out.
He knew there were several elders stationed here. Releasing his aura was simply to identify himself and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Sea God Island really hasn't changed much," Wang Nan said softly.
"Yes," Ma Xiaotao replied, gazing at the mist-covered Sea God Lake. "But the Outer Courtyard has changed a lot."
Wang Nan nodded. The distinction between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance System in the Outer Courtyard had nearly vanished. Martial Soul students frequently visited the Soul Guidance Device testing grounds, learning how to use such tools.
The Soul Guidance System had gradually become a place focused on research, refinement, and production, rather than pure cultivation.
"Let's go," Wang Nan said.
"Aren't we heading to Sea God Pavilion?" Ma Xiaotao asked, puzzled, as she noticed his direction. "Come with me. There's someone not far from us."