At the bottom of Seagod Lake on Seagod Island, in the Tianxuan Continent, the orc respect-level powerhouse Seagod Venerable and human powerhouse Haotian Venerable arrived before a translucent human figure.
"Xiao San, what's the situation now?" asked Haotian Venerable. That translucent figure would be immediately recognized by anyone from the Douluo Plane.
After all, the name of the lone hero Tang San had long since echoed across the Douluo Plane.
"Great-grandfather, the situation is dire. I went to the Demon Plane and found it had been breached. The plane lord I left behind was killed, and even the seal of the Fallen Angel was broken." Tang San's face was grim, clearly not having anticipated the upheaval in the Demon Plane—it was beyond his calculations.
"Lord Seagod, even you don't know who broke through to the Douluo Plane?" Seagod Venerable asked in surprise.
"The enemy also entered the Demon Plane through the Demon Gate. That gate originally led to the Douluo Plane, but now I can feel that the other side of it no longer connects there," Tang San said, face dark. "I found no signs of a first-level god battle in the Demon Plane, which means the Fallen Angel might still be alive. A first-level god's power is immense, and I'm just a wisp of divine sense now, no match at all. I didn't dare cross the Demon Gate to investigate where it now leads."
"What should we do then, Lord Seagod?" asked Seagod Venerable.
"The enemy must already know about the Tianxuan Continent. Before they find it, we must destroy the Demon Gate. Hurry and become gods. As plane masters, once you become gods, you can erase the Demon Gate's imprint. That way, it'll be hard for them to track the Demon Plane." Though abandoning the Demon Plane, Tang San's eyes were full of unwillingness—but it was the safest choice for now.
"But Xiao San, what about your millennium-long grand plan?" Haotian Venerable asked.
"The plane lord of the Demon Plane is dead and can no longer cooperate with us. We'll have to choose a new target." Tang San replied with confidence: "We'll proceed as planned. Don't worry, I have backup plans. The millennium grand plan won't fail."
"Good, we'll prepare to become gods as soon as we return," Haotian Venerable nodded.
"There's another matter. A powerful quasi-god has suddenly appeared on the Tianxuan Continent, possibly coming from the Demon Plane. Might they disrupt our plan?" Seagod Venerable said suddenly.
"Hmph! They must be related to the ones who killed the Demon Plane lord. No matter who they are, they dared to ruin my grand plan and now seek the faith power of Tianxuan Continent? They've chosen the path to death. Since that's the case, show no mercy—spare them and it'll only bring trouble. But for now, don't alarm the enemy. Don't attract the Fallen Angel. Once you become gods and destroy the Demon Gate, then strike and kill them in one blow." Tang San's gaze was filled with killing intent. A powerful quasi-god clearly came for faith power, and he wouldn't allow anyone to steal what belonged to him. He continued, "They're just clowns taking advantage of my absence. The forces I left behind on Tianxuan can't contend with a first-level god, but dealing with a quasi-god is within reach. Once the God Realm returns, I'll settle all accounts."
Haotian Venerable thought for a moment and still asked, "Xiao San, are Hao'er and A-Yin safe on the Douluo Plane?"
"I don't know. Though I left a wisp of divine sense there, it can't communicate across planes once the main body is gone," Tang San shook his head. But he quickly smiled confidently and added, "I left far more safeguards in the Douluo Plane than on the Tianxuan Continent. Even first-level gods shouldn't pose a threat. My parents and Wu Lin will be fine. Great-Grandfather, rest assured—the grand plan on the Douluo Plane is likely already a success by now. Once we fully absorb the Abyss Plane's origin energy, the Douluo Plane can ascend to a demi-god realm. Then, perhaps my parents will also gain first-level god strength."
Mentioning the Douluo Plane, Tang San's eyes were full of confidence. As his base camp and main source of faith, he had invested the most into it.
"By this time, the Silver Dragon King should already be my daughter-in-law," Tang San thought to himself.
If it came to a crisis of life and death, Tang Hao could even be reborn as Poseidon.
With the Silver Dragon King and Poseidon, both top-tier first-level gods, even a God King would have a tough fight.
With such a powerful setup, no wonder Tang San was so confident.
"In that case, we can rest assured," Haotian Venerable nodded, then turned to Seagod Venerable and said angrily, "Xi'er, let's become gods and hunt down the one who sabotaged Xiao San's grand plan."
"Alright, Brother Chen!" Seagod Venerable's eyes also turned fierce.
According to Tang San's millennium plan, the Tianxuan Continent had a chance to ascend to a high-level plane.
At that time, they, as plane masters and life cores, would benefit as well and break through to become second-level deities.
Now that the Demon Plane was lost, and they dared not covet it anymore, Tang San had to resort to a backup plan—whether that could help Tianxuan reach a high-level plane was uncertain.
It was already hard to become a god. To those who obstructed their ascension, they would show no mercy.
"The Demon Plane invaded Tianxuan for many years. Why show up now? They must be after Lord Seagod's millennium grand plan. That plan is to benefit billions of lives on this continent. Anyone who sabotages it walks the path of death." Seagod Venerable said coldly. Although Tang San was her grandson, she preferred to address him as "Lord Seagod."
Indeed, both the Seagod Venerable and Haotian Venerable came from the Douluo Plane.
One was Tang San's great-grandfather, Haotian Douluo Tang Chen, and the other was the High Priestess of Seagod Island from 20,000 years ago—Seagod Douluo Bo Saixi.
It was Bo Saixi who once sacrificed herself to allow Tang San to inherit Poseidon's power.
Though their bodies had died, their souls were brought to the God Realm by Poseidon.
Without bodies, they could do nothing. So Tang San reincarnated them on the Tianxuan Continent—to help them become gods while collecting more faith power.
Meanwhile, deep in the Eternal Forest, within the territory of the Elves.
A purple light shimmered around Yuanen Yehui, and a magnificent set of purple four-word battle armor appeared on her body. Ye Xinglan's eyes sparkled.
"Don't stare. Once you become a Title Douluo, I'll forge one for you too. Work hard in cultivation," Xia Yi said, ruffling her golden hair.
"I'm just curious," Ye Xinglan giggled and hugged Yuanen Yehui's arm. "Sister Xinglan, have you decided on a name for your armor?"
Yuanen Yehui scratched her head and glanced at Xia Yi. "Tian Yi Hui Xing. 'Tian' from Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, 'Yi' from you. What do you think?"
"Sure, as long as you like it." Xia Yi nodded awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
He knew battle armor users loved to incorporate their partner's names or soul abilities.
But his own armor name had long been set—it couldn't reflect every romantic link.
Gu Yue's four-word armor: Dragon Fox Yue Yi.
Leng Yaozhu's new one after reforging: Phoenix Cry Yi Heart (Feng Ming Yi Xin).
Yali's, similar to Leng Yaozhu's: Holy Thought Yi Heart (Sheng Si Yi Xin).
Xia Yi even suspected she copied Leng Yaozhu.
Leng Yulai, after getting four-word armor, ditched the first three characters of her three-word armor and initially suggested: Brother-in-law Crossing Lai.
Rejected by Xia Yi and Leng Yaozhu, she changed it to: Yi Gives Lai Life (Yi Yu Lai Sheng).
Because Xia Yi gave her a new life.
The Demon Queen, though she had no use for armor, was still gifted a set by Xia Yi: Blue Fox Xia Lord (Lan Hu Xia Jun).
Back when the Demon Queen disguised as a merchant on a ship, she used the alias Blue Sea Lord (Lan Hai Jun). Xia Yi thought it was fake, but after getting together with her (Lan Fozi), he realized it was her real name.
Not even the Ghost Emperor or the Underworld Emperor of the Holy Spirit Church knew it.
Which made sense—very few knew her real name, so why bother faking one?
Her daughter, Lan Fozi, named her armor similarly: Blue Fox Yi Fo.
Mu Xi forged her own: Yi Sun Shines Xi (Yi Yang Zhao Xi).
Now with Yuanen Yehui's Tian Yi Hui Xing, that made eight armors incorporating Xia Yi's name or spirit.
Xia Yi had only one four-word armor. How could he respond to all this with just four characters?
"Tian Yi Hui Xing… Sister Yuanen, you've had this planned all along!" Ye Xinglan teased. "I thought the 'Tian' came from the Fallen Angel. And what about 'Yehui'?"
As her sister, Ye Xinglan knew all her armor name changes. Now she realized that Yehui had Xia Yi in her heart early on.
Otherwise, why would she name her one-word armor "Tian" before?
At that time, her cultivation focused on the Titan Giant Ape—naming should've used a Titan-related word.
She must've felt too shy to use something closer to Xia Yi, like "Fox".
"I've always had a crush on my husband. So what?" Yuanen Yehui replied proudly, storing her armor.
After going through the blood-red illusion, both she and Ye Xinglan had become much bolder.
Calling him "husband" came naturally now.
Even in public, they felt no embarrassment.
Seeing the two women, Xia Yi smiled and said, "Go train first. I'll contact Yali to see what's going on."
Since Yali's hidden mission was completed, she should be able to return.
"Holy Lady!" Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan froze.
"What is it?" Xia Yi asked, puzzled.
"Husband, it's late. The Holy Lady shouldn't travel at night. I've prepared the bed… how about we rest first and contact her tomorrow?" Ye Xinglan shyly asked, clutching her clothes.
"Yes, husband. Let us help you change and rest," Yuanen Yehui blushed.
Yali, unsafe on a night journey?
Yali was an ultimate Douluo—among the strongest—wielding god-slaying power.
And it was still afternoon.
Seeing the nervous but determined looks of the two girls, Xia Yi understood.
They wanted to "cook the rice while it's hot" before Yali returned.
They feared opposition not just from Leng Yaozhu and Gu Yue—but also Yali.
After all, they'd followed Yali and were like her disciples.
"Xinglan, very thoughtful. I'll contact Yali tomorrow. But you two..." Xia Yi looked between the two girls, hesitant.
"I and Sister Xinglan are your wives. Serving you together—what's wrong with that?" Yuanen Yehui's eyes were firm. On Xia Yi's wedding night, he had a room full of seven brides—they hadn't cared. Why should they now?
Hearing that, Xia Yi no longer hesitated. He picked up both Ye Xinglan and Yuanen Yehui and carried them into the bedroom.
He was no saint. When girls were this direct, how could a man still pretend?
Both girls were red-faced with shyness.
They didn't understand why the blood-red illusion didn't include what came next.
If they'd experienced it in the illusion, they'd know what to do.
Now—they were complete novices.
The Elven elders once said: illusions born in the Blood Mist reflect what you fear.
If you don't fear it, it won't appear.
All three were only filled with expectation.
Not fear.
So of course it didn't appear in the Blood Mist.