Snow Empress: I Am Willing to Offer Everything I Have

Snow Empress's originally resolute attitude nearly completely crumbled at that moment.

There was no helping it. She was absolutely certain that aura from earlier had been a God Trial, and an already-bound one at that!

This proved that the Youth before her was a Deity's heir who had already gained a Deity's recognition and was almost certain to become a god in the future!

Snow Empress's expression turned complicated. Given the current situation, when she reconsidered the Youth's earlier words...

A solution to the Heavenly Tribulation, a promise to protect the Extreme North... without a doubt, the Youth standing before her was most likely not boasting. He truly had a way.

Snow Empress lightly pressed her lips together. A trace of conflict flashed across her exquisite, peerlessly beautiful face. She opened her mouth, intending to agree to Ming's so-called transaction from earlier,

but when she thought of her previous attitude, she simply could not bring herself to say it.

She had been disdainful one moment, then solemn the next... Even she found such fickleness somewhat ugly. But... if it could protect the Extreme North and Bing'er...

Snow Empress's thoughts shifted, and the resolve in her heart had already wavered. Just as she was about to speak, Kong Ming'an abruptly changed the subject and spread his hands.

"Alright, I've already laid out all my bargaining chips. Now, let me see yours."

"..."

Snow Empress, who had been about to speak, was left speechless once again.

My... bargaining chips?

That was right, this was a transaction... But what did she have? Or rather, what could she offer him?

Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, things that could strengthen one's power? The Extreme North did have some, but would he truly care for them?

Helping him and becoming support on his path to godhood? But with the two powerful figures beside him, did he really need her as support?

Moreover, she was a Soul Beast, and currently his prisoner. By the thinking of ordinary Soul Masters, killing her and obtaining her Soul Ring and Spirit Bone would be the most proper choice, wouldn't it?

A trace of desolation flashed through Snow Empress's eyes.

The thing she yearned for was clearly right before her, yet she had no chips with which to buy it...

The atmosphere fell silent. Yet a faint smile flickered through Kong Ming'an's eyes as he feigned confusion and asked, "What? You don't have any bargaining chips?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed through Snow Empress's eyes. The indifference from before had vanished from her gaze. She awkwardly turned her eyes aside, her voice becoming softer.

"...Mm."

"But you're very satisfied with my bargaining chips, and you want all of them?"

Snow Empress pressed her lips together and nodded again. "...Mm."

"Then I have an idea." Kong Ming'an smiled. "Perhaps we can complete part of the transaction."

"Part... of the transaction?" Snow Empress was somewhat confused.

"It's very simple." Kong Ming'an explained, "Before I successfully inherit the Divine Seat, you can temporarily remain by my side.

"On one hand, you'll serve as my guard and ensure my safety. On the other, you'll cooperate with my observations and assist with my research.

"As your bargaining chips for the above, I'll place my own chips on the other side of the scale. In other words, you may ask me to do one thing for you.

"For example, resolve your Heavenly Tribulation, or the Ice Empress's Heavenly Tribulation, or make a future promise to protect the Extreme North... Any of those are acceptable. As long as I can do it, I can agree to it.

"Of course, something like a promise to protect the Extreme North would be worth more than your bargaining chips, so in addition to your basic chips, I'll collect some extra things from you. For example, Soul Power samples of your Extreme Ice Snow, blood, hair, bodily tissue, and so on. I'll collect some at intervals to offset the value.

"That is the so-called partial transaction. What does Snow Empress think?"

Snow Empress fell silent for a moment, considering Ming's words.

Honestly, the proposal from the Youth before her did not sound excessive. In some ways, it even preserved a great deal of her autonomy and dignity.

Being a guard and a research sample was far better than becoming a Soul Ring or Spirit Bone. Furthermore, the promise of a future Deity was beyond measure in value, and she could still choose...

But what exactly should she choose? Whether she lived or died did not matter much to her, but she could not stop worrying about the Extreme North and the Ice Empress.

The Ice Empress had damaged her foundation while undergoing her 300,000-Year Heavenly Tribulation. She would certainly be unable to survive her 400,000-Year Heavenly Tribulation, and that tribulation would arrive within a century. When that time came, the Ice Empress would most likely die beneath the Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, a way to overcome it was urgently needed.

But if a future Deity with an endless lifespan promised to protect the Extreme North, might the Extreme North perhaps gain eternal peace?

Snow Empress fell completely silent.

Behind Ming, the two super old men quietly observed her, unconsciously exchanging glances. At that moment, both well-traveled powerhouses wore expressions that were difficult to describe.

"Mr. Kong truly taught him well..."

Electrolux could not help but sigh.

He had always thought Ming possessed extraordinary talent in research. After all, Ming's various whimsical ideas always enlightened him at certain moments.

But as for Ming's eloquence... In any case, Electrolux certainly could not do something like this.

Kong Deming's mouth twitched slightly, his tone complicated.

"I didn't teach him any of this. That kid simply has good comprehension..."

Actually, he had not finished what he wanted to say.

He could fleece someone empty-handed and still make them feel they had profited greatly... Judging by how skillfully his grandson fooled people, and how young he was despite already being so good at it...

His instincts told him that he probably did not need to worry about the Kong Family bloodline... But perhaps he ought to worry about his grandson's safety instead?

Kong Deming shook his head and sighed, already making up his mind.

Mm... When they returned, he would make a few more Level 9 Defensive Soul Tools for the kid to carry around, lest he get chopped to death one day.

Time slowly passed.

Before Ming, Snow Empress pondered for a long while. Light shifted within those Ice Blue eyes. Finally, she raised her head and looked at Kong Ming'an.

"Human... I am willing to make the transaction."

Her voice remained cool and detached, yet it held less of the icy distance that kept others away and more sincerity. After a slight pause, she continued, though this time, her voice carried a touch more difficulty.

"But... aside from the promise to protect the Extreme North, I want more."

"More?"

Kong Ming'an frowned slightly... Unlike his old man, that political creature who had spent years in the upper ranks of Sun Moon and held the ingrained belief that "verbal promises are bullshit,"

Ming did not treat promises as mere words. If Snow Empress agreed to the transaction, then in the future... even now, he would begin making arrangements to protect the Extreme North. He was absolutely not making empty promises.

Relatively speaking, the value Snow Empress would offer was not a loss for her; she would even profit greatly. This was already his sincerity.

But... more?

He was not some fool. Transactions without limits and without equivalence were not his habit.

"What do you want? And what else can you offer?"

Kong Ming'an's tone turned somewhat serious. He had always been rigorous when it came to "fair transactions."

Snow Empress seemed to sense Ming's seriousness as well. An inexplicable pressure descended upon her, but she still did not give up.

Her Ice Blue eyes flickered slightly. Snow Empress met Kong Ming'an's gaze directly, her tone earnest yet somewhat uneasy.

"I want the Ice Empress to survive her 400,000-Year Heavenly Tribulation. As for the price..."

Snow Empress took a deep breath. She gently raised one hand and placed it over her chest. Nothing but resolve remained in her eyes.

"I am willing to offer everything I have—my body, my soul, my power, or anything else. Everything I possess will serve as bargaining chips."