Snow Empress: When Will You Test Me?

Snow Empress's logic was actually very simple. Since her Soul Power felt harmonious with the Youth's, then...

Perhaps the Youth was like her, a Heavenly Snow Woman—a Soul Beast born of heaven and earth. As for why he now looked human... perhaps it was because a Soul Beast could take human form.

When Kong Ming'an heard Snow Empress's strange reasoning, he did not know how to respond. Still, he had guessed that this was due to the special nature of his Martial Soul.

It took Kong Ming'an quite some effort to explain to Snow Empress that he truly was human; his Martial Soul was simply unusual.

Snow Empress offered no comment. Her Ice Blue eyes still held an uncertain, half-believing look.

Clearly, Snow Empress had not fully believed Ming's explanation. However, she ultimately nodded slowly and accepted it for the time being.

With that little interlude over, a contract drafted by Kong Ming'an himself using the original contract provided by Electrolux slowly descended before Snow Empress.

Snow Empress blinked, her gaze falling upon the contract before her.

The terms of the contract were very clear and consisted mainly of two parts. The first, and most important, was Kong Ming'an's promise to protect the Extreme North in the future.

In return, she would need to serve as Kong Ming'an's guard from then on, eliminating any and all beings that might threaten his safety.

At the same time, she would serve as Kong Ming'an's observation subject and provide samples... She did not quite understand this part, but Ming explained that she merely needed to sit quietly while he sat beside her. It sounded rather simple.

There was no issue with the most important part of the contract, but Snow Empress did not relax. Instead, she continued reading, turning to the equally important supplementary clauses.

This part of the contract was somewhat more complicated.

Simply put, she needed to submit information on all the Soul Skill Modules she possessed, regularly provide samples of Soul Power, blood, and other bodily tissues, and offer assistance whenever Kong Ming'an requested it.

All of this was entirely voluntary, and she retained the right to refuse. However, as long as she did any of those things, her contributions would be recorded and converted into specific "value" points.

Once that value accumulated to a certain amount, Kong Ming'an would fulfill her request and help Ice Empress survive the Heavenly Tribulation.

According to Kong Ming'an, this meant she would become his employee, and those points of value were equivalent to wages.

By a rough calculation, even if she received only the lowest pay without any commissions or bonuses, she would need to "work" for only around ten years before Ming would help Ice Empress survive the Heavenly Tribulation.

To her, ten years were but the flick of a finger. It was completely acceptable.

She carefully "read" the contract condensed from Spiritual Power, reviewing it over and over again. A trace of complexity flashed across her delicate face.

These terms were far more lenient than she had expected... The other party could have drafted a much harsher contract, even hidden traps within it.

But...

There seemed to be none?

She raised her eyes toward Kong Ming'an, a faint, barely perceptible confusion in her voice.

"Are you really not one of my kind?"

"I really am not..."

Kong Ming'an sounded slightly helpless.

Snow Empress stared at him in silence for a moment. A faint glimmer flickered in her Ice Blue eyes as she looked at the contract, then at Kong Ming'an. With some suspicion, she suddenly asked softly,

"Really?"

"...Really."

This time, Kong Ming'an sounded more earnest.

Snow Empress said nothing, but she still could not stop herself from doubting.

According to her logic, if he was not one of her kind, was there any need for him to treat her so fairly?

If he was human, should he not kill her for her Soul Ring and Spirit Bone? Even if not, would it not be normal to find a way to enslave her? Why be so fair?

Her ingrained impression of humans influenced Snow Empress, yet as she looked at Ming, a thought inexplicably arose in her heart: Perhaps he is different from other humans.

She pursed her lips. Though she felt somewhat conflicted, she inexplicably missed Ice Empress.

If Ice Empress had been with her now, they could at least have discussed it together, rather than leaving her to think through everything alone...

Shaking her head, Snow Empress ultimately decided not to dwell on the issue for now. In the future, she would always remain by his side. There would be time to find out.

Eventually, she would see his true self.

She extended a hand. A thread of Extreme Ice Snow Soul Power containing the aura of her soul gathered at her fingertip, and she gently left her name upon the contract before her.

At once, the contract took effect, blooming with dazzling golden light before splitting into two streams of radiance that entered Kong Ming'an's and Snow Empress's bodies respectively.

Snow Empress sensed it briefly and could clearly feel that some kind of connection had been established between her and Kong Ming'an. At the same time, the contents of the contract became clearer than ever.

Almost instinctively, Snow Empress let out a breath of relief.

At this moment, one of the two matters she cared about most had already been resolved. As for the other, she only needed to work hard!

Beside her, Kong Ming'an watched Snow Empress's eyes ignite with fighting spirit, her entire demeanor brimming with motivation. He nodded slightly, a trace of barely noticeable satisfaction appearing in his gaze.

If he wanted his employees to work wholeheartedly for him, he naturally had to motivate them. For example, paying out half the bonus in advance was exceptionally effective.

A while later, after confirming there was nothing left for them to do, Kong Deming and Electrolux departed one after the other, leaving the Laboratory to Kong Ming'an and Snow Empress.

With Snow Empress, someone comparable to a Limit Douluo, serving as his guard, Ming's safety could practically be assured. The two of them could finally enter seclusion without worry.

Meanwhile, Snow Empress had also recovered somewhat from the weakened state she had been in after breaking free from the God Sealing Platform's seal.

In the Original Work, Snow Empress had been sealed within the God Sealing Platform for a long time. In the end, only after Huo Yuhao forcibly shattered its outer shell did she finally break free of the seal and see the light of day again.

However, Snow Empress's strength had declined severely in that situation. She could not even deal with Du Busi, a level ninety-eight Super Douluo, and could only resort to self-destruction.

But Snow Empress was clearly different now. She had not been sealed within the God Sealing Platform for long, nor had she forcibly broken the seal from within. Kong Ming'an had released her from the outside.

Under such circumstances, Snow Empress had not suffered much loss in strength. Though she was still not at her peak, she only needed a little time to recover the rest.

Snow Empress slowly exhaled and adjusted her state. Then she stood up and directly entered "work" mode.

Her Ice Blue eyes lifted slightly and naturally met Ming's gaze. With a hint of impatience, she spoke.

"Didn't you say you wanted to test me? When will you start?"