Practice Yields True Knowledge
"Thank you, Zhongli. I'm not cold anymore!" Paimon grinned, speaking in a somewhat silly tone.
"It's good that you're not cold," Zhongli replied before closing his eyes to sense the location of Snow Empress.
Snow Empress was the strongest creature in the far north. All he needed to do was sense the most powerful energy fluctuation in that region.
After a moment, Zhongli opened his eyes and began walking in a certain direction.
Gu Yuena remained silent, quietly following beside Zhongli, while Paimon floated on his other side, admiring the snowy scenery as she flew.
As Paimon enjoyed the view, Gu Yuena glanced at her with a curious expression.
Such a martial soul was truly fascinating.
Snow Empress wasn't far from Zhongli and the others. After about half a day, they arrived at an ice palace.
A creature resembling a human but also akin to a snow spirit, standing about three meters tall, sat at the center of the palace. Beside her was a massive snow lotus.
This was Snow Empress. She looked similar to humans but was distinctly different.
First, her height, though her proportions were perfect and aesthetically pleasing, she stood at nearly three meters, a height no ordinary human could reach.
Second, her appearance, she had a human face, elven ears, and snowflake-like pupils.
Seeing the three arrive, Snow Empress trembled slightly, feeling bewildered.
Normally, even a level 99 human soul master couldn't approach her without her sensing them.
Yet these three had appeared right before her eyes before she could "detect" them.
This spoke of their power.
These three… were terrifying!
"Zhongli, are you here to make Snow Empress your soul spirit?" Gu Yuena asked. She was aware of Snow Empress's reputation.
Her strength ranked among the top three among soul beasts, and her age was close to 700,000 years.
Judging by Snow Empress's current state, it seemed she would struggle to survive the 700,000-year tribulation.
Beside her was a 100,000-year-old snow lotus. She was likely planning to consume it before attempting the tribulation.
"Exactly," Zhongli nodded, speaking as if Snow Empress were no stranger. "In her current state, she won't survive the 700,000-year tribulation."
"She plans to use this snow lotus to transform and restart her cultivation."
"If we hadn't come, her plan would have failed."
Hearing this, both Snow Empress and Gu Yuena were stunned. How did this person (Zhongli) know so much about her (Snow Empress)?
"Why wouldn't it succeed?" they both asked almost simultaneously.
Even Snow Empress momentarily forgot that these three were intruders.
"Because a level 9 soul engineer, guided by a certain deity, is on his way here with a level 9 soul tool called the God Sealing Platform."
"The God Sealing Platform can seal soul beast embryos," Zhongli stated bluntly.
Just as Snow Empress was about to transform, a level 9 soul engineer had developed the God Sealing Platform and happened to encounter her.
One coincidence might be just that, but too many coincidences suggest divine intervention.
As for who it was…
Tang San: Just say my name already!
"What?" Gu Yuena and Snow Empress were shocked, their pupils contracting in disbelief.
"For a soul beast to become a god is nearly impossible. Even if they transform into human form, their essence remains unchanged."
"Once a soul beast, always a soul beast."
"Thus, a powerful being like Snow Empress attempting to transform and restart her cultivation would never be accepted by certain deities."
Gu Yuena clenched her fists, a fierce light flashing in her eyes.
Zhongli hesitated, wanting to say more but holding back.
Compared to human deities, the one soul beasts should truly resent is the Dragon God!
Indeed, the reason the Douluo Continent evolved this way was due to the Dragon God's curse, not the human deities.
Humans had to hunt soul beasts to obtain soul rings and break their limits.
Soul beasts had to endure tribulations to break theirs.
Yet, no matter the soul beast or its talent, none could survive the divine tribulation!
The Heavenly Dream Iceworm was an exception. It was tied to the fate of the chosen one, and even after reaching a million years, it wasn't a god!
It merely had a million years of cultivation.
Divine power, divine consciousness, divine body, divine position, the Heavenly Dream Iceworm possessed none of these, making it just a shell with a million years of cultivation.
"Who are you, and why have you come here?" Snow Empress finally asked.
Zhongli's words sounded so convincing that, despite some doubts, Snow Empress didn't show them.
Hearing this, Gu Yuena stepped forward, releasing her aura, and said, "I am one of the Dragon God's avatars, the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, the ruler of all soul beasts."
Snow Empress was stunned, sensing Gu Yuena's aura and realizing she wasn't lying.
But… the ruler of all soul beasts?
The soul beasts of the far north didn't worship the Dragon God, nor his avatar, the Silver Dragon King. They worshipped the Ice God.
The Silver Dragon King's appearance wouldn't make Snow Empress kneel and submit.
"The Ice God is the sole deity of the far north. If the Silver Dragon King wishes to take over this region, please leave," Snow Empress stated without hesitation.
Gu Yuena was slightly disappointed but said nothing.
The far north had always been this way. Even Di Tian had come here but failed to conquer it.
"Hey, it's my turn, my turn!"
"Beautiful Snow Lady, I'm Paimon, Zhongli's martial soul!" Paimon, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, flew up to Snow Empress and said.
Then, pointing at Zhongli, she added, "His background is huge, but he won't let me say it!"
"Still, I can secretly tell you that Zhongli is just his human name!"
"In his homeland, humans call him the God of War, the God of Commerce, Rex Lapis, and the Geo Archon. His true name is Morax! He's a born deity, incredibly powerful, with no equal!"
Zhongli: "..."
She's spilled everything, and she calls that not saying anything?
"The Geo Archon Morax, also known as the oldest deity. Don't let Zhongli's calm demeanor fool you. He used to be really fierce…"
Before Paimon could finish, she disappeared.
Zhongli retracted his hand, his expression unchanged. "Kids like to joke. Don't take it seriously."
Gu Yuena and Snow Empress: Do you think we believe that?