In the Name of Empress-Chapter 567 - 342: Unimpeded Path to Ascension to Divinity (Part 2)

Chapter 567: Chapter 342: Unimpeded Path to Ascension to Divinity (Part 2)

Angelina resolutely shook her head, "I’m very clumsy and can’t manage too much. You’ve always been nurturing my political, diplomatic, and military abilities, but I’m far inferior to Roland. If I can’t focus, I’m afraid I’ll achieve nothing."

Sofia stared into Angelina’s eyes, with a piercing gaze; usually, Angelina wouldn’t dare look straight at her, but this time she was particularly stubborn, meeting her gaze without yielding, showing her determination.

The cold wind passed between them, lifting the ends of Angelina’s hair.

Her pale face was already covered in sweat, and her clothes were soaked through, showing the immense pressure she was under.

This was the first time in ten years of following Sofia that she had defied the Empress’s arrangement.

If it were half a year ago, if the Empress had arranged for her to marry Roland, she would have only considered what dress to wear at the wedding, without any other thoughts.

But now, she could not do it.

That sword strike was too beautiful, too dazzling to the point of taking her breath away, making her life different ever since. Mortal enjoyments could no longer move her in the slightest.

If she couldn’t replicate Sofia’s peerless strike, she wouldn’t die in peace.

Defying Sofia’s arrangement gave her a faint sense of guilt, but she truly could not do it.

Rather than reluctantly agreeing, she would rather face the Empress’s direct wrath.

Sofia walked to Angelina, reached into her pocket but recalled she never carried a handkerchief, so she had to wipe the sweat from Angelina’s forehead with her sleeve.

"Seeing how nervous you are, it seems working by my side is indeed not easy."

Sofia said, slightly self-deprecating.

Angelina didn’t dare to respond; it’s inappropriate to continue talking when the leader criticizes themselves.

At times like this, you just need to listen.

Sofia pondered for a moment, who knows what she was thinking, Angelina felt a bit uneasy, but she gritted her teeth and persisted.

She was not lying.

That sword, which seemed capable of cleaving the entire world, not only split a huge fissure on the Peak of White Mountain but also cleaved the old era from the new epoch and killed the drifting Angelina.

Her life now had an unshakable goal.

Sofia acknowledged her persistence and calmly said, "Angelina, I have chosen a more difficult and distant path, leaving the star path to the Frosty Winter Goddess open for you. Are you interested?"

Angelina’s pupils shrank suddenly; she could hardly believe her eyes.

She instinctively thought Sofia was testing her, after all, the whole world knew Sofia was best at manipulating ice, was the dominator of the extreme cold, and the most suitable star path for ascension to divinity was Frosty Winter.

Nobody would be mad enough to want to compete with Sofia on this path.

Her chance to qualify for the Divine Domain was very high. Yet she voluntarily gave up the easiest path to ascension.

This was beyond comprehension, and it scared Angelina. She quickly knelt to plead but was held by Sofia and couldn’t kneel.

"Angelina, do you want to become the Frosty Winter Goddess?"

Sofia’s gaze was gentle, her voice full of temptation.

Although she’s currently only Tier Four, and Angelina is only Tier Six, there wasn’t the slightest doubt in her tone, as simple as eating or drinking.

Angelina was infected by her confidence, her eyes welled up and she nodded firmly.

In the instant of lowering her head, tears condensed into ice and fell to the ground.

Sofia’s voice sounded again, "Angelina, the further a seeker progresses on the Frosty Winter star path, the further they are from mortal emotions. Have you thought it through?"

"I will never regret it!" Angelina’s gaze was firm as if pledging allegiance.

"Good, follow me. I’ll first share the cultivation insights before the Holy Sanctuary with you, and then help you reforged the Bright Blue Fury."

Angelina was the person Sofia trusted the most, and she naturally knew the origin of Bright Blue Fury.

The ice attribute divine artifact perfectly matched the seeker of Frosty Winter star path.

Although this divine artifact was blown apart, leaving only the hilt, it was not a problem; the divine artifact’s core was in the hilt, and the blade could be repaired.

...

Winter Palace.

Roland inspected and received this renowned palace accompanied by Sahalin.

This palace, along with Sussex Empire’s Sheffield Palace, Jin Yuan Kingdom’s West Palace, Tirol Kingdom’s Hot Spring Palace, and Prudon Kingdom’s Triumph Palace, was known as the five great palaces of Rodinia.

Among these five palaces, the West Palace and Winter Palace were the largest in scale, with the highest value in art collections.

Roland’s current wealth and status were nothing like the past when he had to celebrate buying a house with one hundred pounds on Belphar Street as a youth.

If Sofia gave him an estate, he wouldn’t care at all, but this was the Winter Palace.

This was a top treasure trove with tens of thousands of art treasures. How could Roland not be tempted?

Thinking of these parasites daring to put their dirty hands in his pocket, Roland’s intent to kill grew stronger.

Sahalin toured Roland around, and before leaving, he lowered his voice, "The Winter Palace’s Chief Steward Barov is the late Empress Dowager’s cousin, and the Empress Dowager was one of the few who treated Her Majesty well in the court."

"The list of Winter Palace’s collections should have a backup in the Imperial Archives. I’ll go there later to find it for you."

"No need."

Roland said calmly, "If Barov doesn’t even have the ability to remove the list, how dare he make a move on the Winter Palace? He’s simply confident that Sofia wouldn’t punish him for this matter, which is why he’s so rampant."

Sahalin frowned slightly; Roland calling Her Majesty the Empress by name somewhat violated the etiquette of a subject, but considering Roland’s identity was more like a guest, not a Rurik, he had to feign ignorance.