Chapter 331: The Douluo God Realm Era Part XXI: Confessions
Perhaps because she was at the end of her rope, the world consciousness (inhabiting Snow Empress) dropped her usual reserved attitude and shot Ye Wen a hard glare.
"Why are you so fierce? Didn't I already apologize?"
Ye Wen was caught off guard by this reaction. This was supposed to be a serious confrontation, and here she was, acting like a shy girl pouting over a minor scolding. He wondered if he was really witnessing the essence of the world consciousness…or was this just Snow Empress acting out?
Snow Empress took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling in an attempt to regain composure, then steadied herself. Her typical icy demeanor returned, and her tone became formal once again.
"Let me explain everything from the beginning," she said.
Ye Wen immediately noticed the shift this wasn't simply Snow Empress speaking now; it seemed that the primary consciousness was taking control of the conversation. He listened intently, curious about the story behind the world consciousness.
Snow Empress explained that after Ye Wen ascended to the God Realm, she returned to the northern lands to continue safeguarding her territory as usual. But everything changed when Ye Wen returned to Douluo and destroyed the Old God Realm.
"For the first time in my life," Snow Empress explained, "I could sense Douluo's consciousness with unprecedented clarity. As the only naturally intelligent being on this world, my alignment with the world's core was nearly perfect."
Snow Empress went on to say that, at first, she wasn't fully aware of this new presence. She only felt an unusual power growing within her, a resonance she hadn't felt before. Eventually, she realized that the world consciousness had awakened and that it was hiding inside her.
Snow Empress sighed, her tone shifting slightly. "The world consciousness…was afraid of you. Afraid of the power you'd gained since your return. Your strength was far beyond what it had calculated when it first fell into slumber. So rather than reach out to reconnect, it concealed itself in me."
The pieces began to fall into place for Ye Wen. He had searched Douluo from end to end, even investigating the spatial and rule bound dimensions that only divine beings could perceive, but he'd found no trace of the consciousness he sought. Now he knew why. The consciousness had hidden itself within Snow Empress, terrified of him.
Ye Wen tried not to let his irritation show, but the revelation still pricked at his pride. Did he truly appear that dangerous? With a hand on his chin, he replied with some sarcasm, "Afraid of me? I see. So, it thought I'd be a threat? Couldn't you have reassured it, Snow Empress? Do I strike you as someone who'd harm the world consciousness?"
Snow Empress shook her head, her calm tone returning. "I tried, my lord. But the world consciousness has an intense distrust of others, especially after the Dragon God's rebellion left it with psychological scars. No matter how I tried to convince it, my words fell on deaf ears."
Ye Wen nodded thoughtfully. This behavior was undoubtedly abnormal for a being that should be as ancient as the world itself. Snow Empress's hesitant behavior earlier acting like an immature soul suddenly made more sense.
Pondering the consciousness's origins, Ye Wen guessed it must have been "born" during the primal soul beast era, back when even intelligent creatures had a simplistic sense of the world. If it had been betrayed by the Dragon God back then, it would make sense that it'd never learned to fully trust anyone again, let alone someone as powerful as himself.
"Snow Empress," he said, switching topics, "given the consciousness is within you, doesn't its absence from the world cause harm? After all, you've been engaged in expeditions outside Douluo for quite some time."
Snow Empress hesitated, as if internally consulting with the consciousness. He observed her closely and noticed another shift in her demeanor the consciousness itself was speaking directly to him through her.
"You're asking if my absence has harmed the world?" She gave him a reluctant glare. "I haven't left it completely unguarded. I've only hidden in deeper layers, enough that even you couldn't detect me. Besides, isn't it similar to how you deities operate with avatars?"
The answer, though blunt, was true enough. Ye Wen nodded, satisfied with the explanation, and turned silent. He was weighing the complexities of his relationship with this consciousness. It was one thing to protect the world as a foster parent; it was another thing entirely to coexist with its original "spirit," especially one so fearful and untrusting.
He remained lost in thought, frowning, until Snow Empress's impatient voice cut through his musings.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?"
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