Currying Favor

The Ice Empress stopped struggling, a flicker of delight passing through her topaz eyes.

She looked at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who was nearly collapsing in terror, and gave a derisive snort. Her voice dripped with undisguised mockery.

"You worthless fool. Before the Snow Empress and one who wields the Ice God's Authority, your little escape trick is a joke."

Outside.

The Snow Empress looked at the figure kneeling in the snow, trembling under her pressure, unable even to raise her head. A trace of surprise flashed through her ice-blue eyes.

At her level, she could see through the padded coat to the truth beneath at a glance.

"You're a Soul Beast who took human form?"

The Snow Empress's cool voice carried a hint of unmistakable puzzlement.

It was exceedingly rare for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to choose Human Transformation.

Besides, as far as she knew, a transformed Soul Beast's first few Soul Rings would form on their own during its infancy. It had no need to hunt Soul Beasts, much less appear in the heart of the Far North to do so.

Yet the Ice Snow Queen had clearly identified this transformed Soul Beast's aura as the one left where the Ice Empress's presence had last vanished.

The Ice Snow Queen's gaze fell on Xiao Wu. Her azure eyes were still as water as she confirmed, "It's her aura."

The Snow Empress took a step forward and eased her pressure slightly, allowing Xiao Wu to catch her breath where she knelt. But her ice-blue eyes remained fixed on Xiao Wu, cold as the deepest Ice Abyss.

"Soul Beast, tell me."

The Snow Empress did not raise her voice, yet it bore an authority that reached straight into the soul, allowing neither doubt nor lies.

"Did you have anything