An encounter

"Aren't you one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North? Surely you have some way to catch a few hundred-thousand-year soul beasts for me."

After Mu Feng spoke, the Snow Empress gave no response for a long while, leaving him puzzled.

"Are you still there?"

There was still no response.

The Snow Empress had fallen silent. She had never imagined this human soul master would give up on her so easily. The only reason she had been willing to speak with him today was that she had sensed the aura of divine power from him.

Perhaps relying on this human to become a god would be easier than cultivating on her own. She had intended to bargain back and forth with Mu Feng to secure better terms for herself, but his attitude had ended her plan before it even began.

"Hello?"

"Don't you want me to become your soul spirit anymore?"

Mu Feng asked in apparent confusion, "Didn't you just refuse?"

Mu Feng looked honest and guileless on the surface, but his mind was already racing with calculations. He understood that the Snow Empress was probably willing to communicate with him because of the aura of divine power Elder Yi had mentioned. At this point, however, her help would merely be a welcome bonus, no longer the necessity it had once been.

Mu Feng had easily seen through her attempt to play hard to get, and he had no intention of playing along. Otherwise, agreeing to all her conditions would only leave him bound by restrictions of his own making.

The Snow Empress fell silent again. By bringing up the subject once more, she had meant to give Mu Feng an opening to continue their discussion, but he had shut it down outright, as though he could