Chapter 330: The Douluo God Realm Era Part XX: Revelation
"Greetings, my lord." Snow Empress straightened herself gracefully and offered Ye Wen a formal salute.
Though he was used to Snow Empress's formal manner, Ye Wen couldn't shake an odd sense of unease. She, usually engaged in her preferred expansion battles, rarely came to him without reason. Besides, he hadn't done anything recently that would impact her or be of particular concern.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, an awkward silence filled the air. Snow Empress remained standing, her gaze fixed on him, cool and calm, as if unaffected by the tension. The longer this continued, the more restless Ye Wen felt.
"Shall we talk inside?" he suggested, breaking the silence with a casual tone.
Snow Empress nodded, gliding along behind him as they made their way into Ye Wen's study. There, silence settled over them once again, and Ye Wen found himself scratching his head in mild embarrassment. Was his introverted nature making this encounter difficult, or was there something deeper behind her unusual visit?
With a cough, he adjusted his tone to hide his awkwardness. "Snow Empress, is there something specific you needed to discuss?"
She nodded again but didn't speak, only watching him intently. Exasperated, Ye Wen had no choice but to let the silence stretch on. However, he decided to take it as a challenge. If she insisted on this drawn out staring game, he would endure. After all, he had plenty of patience, and besides, there was something oddly amusing about seeing her struggle with whatever emotion she seemed intent on hiding.
In time, Ye Wen realized that prolonged existence might indeed bring out unusual inclinations in the divine; his long lived perspective had shifted his sense of entertainment. He was now slightly amused by the thought of seeing Snow Empress, usually so cold and controlled, reveal a vulnerable side.
After what felt like an eternity, Snow Empress finally looked down, her cheeks tinged pink, and muttered softly, "My lord… could you stop building the Divine Realm?"
Ye Wen's expression hardened at once, his gaze drilling into her with newfound intensity. He hadn't expected her request, and it only added to the sense that something was deeply amiss.
"That's… unusual," he replied slowly, his tone sharper now. "The construction of the Divine Realm is essential to Douluo Star's development. Why would you want me to stop?"
Snow Empress hesitated, her lips parting as if to answer, but she faltered, seemingly unable to speak.
Seeing her reluctance, Ye Wen's suspicions only grew, and he made a swift decision. He summoned his power in an instant, enveloping the room in an airtight, cubic barrier.
"Perfect Cube!" he commanded, sealing both himself and Snow Empress within.
Caught off guard, Snow Empress tensed and readied herself for battle. However, her initial alarm gave way to a look of confusion, not understanding why Ye Wen would suddenly use such a powerful technique. She'd heard of this formidable ability, known as Ye Wen's absolute lockdown skill, which not only blocked all physical attacks but also prevented any energy or information from entering or leaving the space.
Ye Wen didn't waste time with any further pleasantries. "It's been a while, has it not… Douluo's world consciousness?"
Snow Empress's face went pale, her calm demeanor shattered in an instant.
After a pause, she regained some composure, her voice colder as she replied, "Yes, I am Douluo's consciousness. But why have you locked us here? We are not enemies. And if you remember, it was I who granted you your initial martial soul. Are you suggesting you might turn against me, as the Dragon God did?"
Instead of replying immediately, Ye Wen studied her, searching for any sign of her true intentions. Snow Empress bore his scrutiny without flinching, waiting for his response with a steely calm.
Finally, he spoke. "We are certainly not enemies. In fact, I'm grateful. You gave me the opportunity to live again and granted me the chance for a fulfilling life." His voice softened briefly, and she seemed to relax a little, reassured by his words.
But Ye Wen's eyes hardened once more. "I do have questions, though, Snow Empress. Your connection to this world and to Snow Empress herself is much like Yue Na and Na'er's two souls sharing the same origin, am I correct?"
Snow Empress's lips tightened in confirmation, though she didn't speak.
"This brings me to my real question," he continued. "Why have you remained hidden all this time? What have you been plotting in the shadows?" He took a step forward, his eyes unwavering. "In here, you have no secrets. So, tell me why have you concealed yourself from me?"
At these words, Snow Empress's icy demeanor cracked, and a strange look crossed her face. Slowly, as if surrendering to a heavy burden, she slumped into a nearby chair, her normally composed posture giving way to defeat.
"I'm… sorry," she whispered, her voice unusually soft and filled with regret.
Ye Wen blinked, hardly believing what he was hearing. "Excuse me?"
"I said I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice now clearer but also tinged with something unfamiliar vulnerability. Her gaze met his, and he saw the gleam of unshed tears in her usually steely eyes, a stark contrast to her usual frigid composure.
Caught off guard, Ye Wen hesitated before responding, uncomfortable with her sudden change in demeanor.
"What for?" he demanded, his voice firm. "All this time, you've been hiding from me. You'd better have a good explanation for why. I won't accept a simple apology for something like this."
The threat in his tone was unmistakable. He had waited too long to let this pass without answers.
Friends can now purchase any novel with a 25% discount. This promotion ends on October 7th.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10