Chapter 480: Deal Rejected, Snow Empress's Determination
"Who are you?" Snow Empress's cool gaze shifted from the golden trident to the figure holding it, her tone solemn.
As the leader among the three Kings of the Far North, Snow Empress possessed power at the peak of the continent's hierarchy, along with an astute insight. Though the aura of the human before her was not on her level, the golden trident he held emitted a deeply sacred, menacing presence, making her skin crawl—a sensation she recognized as divine in origin. If not for the aura, she would have already expelled this uninvited guest from her territory.
Dai Yao quietly observed the renowned Snow Empress, a figure with great prominence in Absolute Soul Land. If beauty were measured in ten levels, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan, whose appearances had been refined by lotus transformation, would reach the ultimate level of beauty. Snow Empress's beauty would fall at a close nine, comparable to Bibi Dong, possessing a lithe, graceful figure and a chilling, otherworldly allure.
Despite her formidable power and beauty, the Snow Empress's fate was marked by hardship. Facing an imminent divine tribulation, she once chose a transformation that broke her free from the beast restrictions, taking on human form. Yet, in her weakest state, she was ambushed by the Sun Moon Empire and sealed within their artifact. Fate later led her to become part of Huo Yuhao's spirit—a mix of fortune and fate's interference.
For now, Dai Yao's aim was to persuade the Snow Empress to grant herself as a spirit for Xue Wu. That outcome would be ideal.
"Haha. Who I am is irrelevant," he said with a slight smile. "In the human world, my name holds some recognition, but likely hasn't reached your ears. You can call me 'Dai Yao.'"
Snow Empress's brows knitted. This was not ten thousand years in the future—her name was virtually unknown in the human world and hardly known here, in the Far North. Yet, this "Dai Yao" had called her name without hesitation, suggesting he knew a great deal about the Far North.
Snow Empress's gaze lingered on the golden trident for a brief moment before turning sharply to Dai Yao. "It doesn't matter who you are," she said coldly. "Tell me what you're here for and what you want."
Since there was no need for pretense with soul beasts, Dai Yao decided to be direct. "I'm here to offer you an opportunity."
"Opportunity? What kind of opportunity?" Snow Empress asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone.
"If my information is accurate, your cultivation has reached between six hundred eighty and six hundred ninety thousand years, meaning you'll soon face the ten-thousand-year divine tribulation. Given your current strength, it's unlikely you'll succeed."
Snow Empress's brows drew together, her gaze cooling further.
Not only had he revealed her exact level of cultivation, but he also knew details about her coming tribulation—something she had never shared. How could this man know her secrets so clearly?
"What exactly are you trying to say?" she replied icily, her tone laced with danger. If he failed to give a satisfactory answer, she would ensure he remained here on the ice forever.
Despite the clear threat in her voice, Dai Yao took his time, raising the Seagod's Trident in his hand. As the golden trident mark on his forehead gleamed, waves of divine energy filled the air.
"This is the Seagod's Trident, a weapon granted by the Seagod himself. I was fortunate to receive his blessing and am on the path to inheriting his divine position, though I'm one step away from the full inheritance. The Seagod has tasked me with slaying the Deep Sea Demon Whale, as my final trial."
"Of course, I am confident I can kill the Demon Whale and inherit the Seagod's position, but there's another issue. One of my wives lacks sufficient cultivation to enter the God Realm."
"Therefore, I seek the help of a hundred-thousand-year ice-attribute soul beast to offer herself as a spirit to her, raising her strength."
Dai Yao spoke with honesty.
But his words left Snow Empress both shocked and furious.
She was astonished that this human had earned a divine inheritance, his trial requiring him to hunt down the legendary Deep Sea Demon Whale, a beast nearing a million years in cultivation and a god in its own right. Long ago, she'd once encountered the creature at the farthest edge of the Far North, and even a distant glance filled her with fear.
Yet beyond the shock, there was anger. This human wanted her to offer herself as a spirit so he and his wife could be together in the God Realm?
Calling it an "opportunity" was the height of arrogance!
How unashamed could he be? Even if he were to become a god, what did that matter to her? His condescending tone, suggesting that becoming a spirit for his wife was some grand honor, was beyond insulting.
For the first time in tens of thousands of years, Snow Empress felt rage bubble within her calm heart.
"Humans truly are insatiable. To think you would covet my spirit! Out of respect for the Seagod, I'll overlook this transgression if you leave now. But if you insist on staying—" Her voice was like frost, and an ice sword formed in her hand as she spoke, as the air around them grew colder and fiercer.
Dai Yao hadn't finished explaining when Snow Empress's hostility erupted into open aggression. He realized that while he had clarified his intentions, he hadn't yet explained what she would gain from this exchange.
In Soul Land, Snow Empress had eventually become Huo Yuhao's spirit. When Huo Yuhao inherited the God of Emotions' position, she became a permanent, though lesser, entity in the divine hierarchy. While this wasn't a bad ending, her fate had been manipulated by Tang San to join Huo Yuhao's "family," essentially playing a diminished, dependent role.
In many ways, Dai Yao's current offer wasn't much different from Tang San's plan. However, Dai Yao was motivated by love rather than fate, seeking to elevate Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu rather than using Snow Empress merely to fulfill destiny. He felt justified in offering this opportunity to her as a mutually beneficial one.
"Calm down, Snow Empress," he said, clearing his throat in an attempt to ease the tension. "Perhaps my offer was misunderstood. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, not a one-sided demand."
Hearing this, Snow Empress's hostility lessened a little. She was interested in hearing what he meant by "mutually beneficial."
Sensing her shift, Dai Yao continued, "What I'm offering is not just an ordinary sacrifice; I am inviting you to become my wife's eternal protector. Once I ascend to godhood, I would resurrect you and grant you eternal life."
"With this choice, you could avoid the brutal tribulations, bypass the risk of reincarnation, and avoid the uncertainty of taking human form."
"If you don't believe me, I'm willing to swear an oath to ensure I honor this agreement. It benefits us both—what do you say, Snow Empress?"
The icy blade in Snow Empress's hand trembled, her killing intent dissipating.
While his offer was tempting, her pride resisted. Though Dai Yao presented this as an equal exchange, her role was clearly that of a servant, not an ally. She had her dignity, and she wasn't sure she could accept being subservient to a god's wife.
Even so, she couldn't ignore that becoming a god's eternal protector would grant her endless life and freedom from the deadly divine tribulations. Yet, her pride still rebelled at the thought.
"I appreciate your offer," she said, the sword in her hand disappearing. "But I must decline."
Even addressing a divine inheritor, Snow Empress could only soften her words so much. Ordinarily, her answer would have been an unyielding "no."
Dai Yao's eyebrow twitched slightly. Hiding within the Hanhai Qiankun Shield, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu felt a wave of disappointment. The loss of a hundred-thousand-year spirit was a massive blow, yet their concern for Dai Yao's safety quickly outweighed it. What if Snow Empress decided to attack him?
"She refused, as expected," Dai Yao mused.
Snow Empress's pride was unmatched, and if not for her spirit form being shattered during her transformation into human form, she would never have submitted as a spirit.
Since returning from Sea God Island, Dai Yao had felt a shift in his mindset. Once, he lived cautiously, navigating the intricate networks of power in the Heaven Dou and Spirit Empire, haunted by the constant threat of annihilation.
After ascending in strength, his perspective broadened. Where once he saw rivals and threats, he now saw mere obstacles, with the exception of Tang San.
Thus, he felt little regret over Snow Empress's refusal. If it was meant to be, it would be; if not, he could accept it.
"Since you've declined, I respect your choice," he replied smoothly. "However, while you may not find my offer suitable, many other soul beasts would see it as a rare opportunity. Perhaps you could recommend someone else?"
Snow Empress froze, startled.
Though she'd refused to abandon her dignity for an immortal life as a god's protector, many other soul beasts would gladly seize such a chance. The path of a soul beast was brutally difficult. Even the rare ones who reached the hundred-thousand-year mark faced a treacherous tribulation, often with a grim outcome.
For other soul beasts, an immortal life—even one bound to a god—would be a dream come true.
Images of Ice Empress flashed through Snow Empress's mind. Snow Empress knew Ice Empress wouldn't survive her upcoming tribulation; the protector role would offer her the best chance of survival.
"I may know of a suitable candidate," she said, her voice wavering slightly.
"Oh? Who?" Dai Yao feigned surprise.
"Ice Empress."
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