"Generally speaking, there are two ways to achieve godhood.
"First, and the simplest way, is to inherit a predecessor's Divine Position. This method usually requires the recognition of a god, or possessing a certain quality, which can then trigger the God Trials.
"After passing the God Trials, one can directly inherit the Divine Position and become a god.
"Second, collect faith, forge a Divine Position, and become a god. This method is very difficult and requires a vast amount of time and energy to accomplish.
"And I intend to use the faith of the entire Extreme North to forge a Divine Position for myself!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes were earnest, his words carrying a deep confidence.
In reality, there are several other ways to achieve godhood.
For example, sharing a Divine Position to become a god—for specific details, one could refer to his own 'good' father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Beyond that, there is the path of relying entirely on one's own power to forcibly forge a Divine Position.
And outside of those, there is an unconfirmed method of becoming a god: relying on a Divine Artifact!
The chronicles of the God Realm record that before Tang San, several others on the Douluo Continent achieved godhood.
For instance, a certain first-generation Angel God who left the God Realm long ago to travel the universe.
According to records, during the era of the first Angel God, there was a holy sword harboring infinite power.
The Angel God of that time was just an ordinary human. To gain power, she pulled out this sword of strength, but simultaneously released the evil and disease sealed within it, causing the mortal world to become a living hell.
To atone for her mistake, the first Angel began to slay the world's evil and disease.
(PS: This segment is described in Qian Renxue's seventh trial. Whether it's from the original novel or the anime, I don't know—I found it while researching and used it directly.)
However, whether that first Angel God's method relied on that Divine Artifact, or on gathering faith by slaying evil and disease, or perhaps both, Huo Yuhao could not be certain.
But this did not stop Huo Yuhao from trying to obtain faith.
It was also a safety measure.
The Snow Emperor dazed for a moment. Looking at the youth before her, her first thought was that he was being boastful, but on second thought, she felt he had a point.
He possessed a Divine Artifact that only a god should have, and according to Bing'er... inside this youth's body, there wasn't just that Divine Artifact, but also a ring he called the 'Seed of Emotion.' Furthermore, there was even an existence of an extremely high level, suspected to be a god.
Adding these factors together, the youth's claim that he could achieve godhood seemed to become a matter of course.
The Snow Emperor was somewhat silent—or rather, she was somewhat moved.
Her wish was simple: to protect the creatures of the Extreme North and ensure the Extreme North remained undisturbed by the outside world.
But unfortunately, she couldn't hold on much longer.
Tens of thousands of years ago, she thought that even if she were gone, Bing'er would still be there. Although Bing'er was proud, she wouldn't sit idly by while the Extreme North was encroached upon. Even if she herself were gone, Bing'er would definitely stand up to protect the Extreme North!
However, unfortunately, Bing'er damaged her Origin while breaking through the 300,000-year Heavenly Tribulation and definitely could not break through the 400,000-year tribulation.
As for herself, the 700,000-year hurdle was one she likely wouldn't pass...
In a thousand years at most, the entire Extreme North would end up with no one to protect it.
Originally, she had been struggling with whether to take a gamble—to use the 100,000-year Snow Lotus she accidentally found to undergo human transformation and re-cultivate, attempting to reach that Divine Position to gain the power to protect the Extreme North.
But now...
She seemed to have another choice.
The Snow Emperor looked at the youth before her, sensing an aura from him that was similar to hers, yet somewhat different.
Her body instinctively made her want to be close to him, but her reason stopped that thought.
She closed her eyes, and the information Bing'er had just told her along with the youth's words naturally appeared in her mind. After a long while, the Snow Emperor slowly opened her eyes and looked seriously at the youth:
"Can you promise that after you become a god, you will protect the entire Extreme North?"
"I promise," Huo Yuhao answered without hesitation.
—This was something I already owed you all.
The Snow Emperor's ice-blue eyes stared at Huo Yuhao, seemingly looking through his eyes to see into his heart. After a moment, she reached a conclusion.
—No falsehood.
The youth was not lying; instead, it was a sincere promise.
Perhaps due to their similar constitutions, the Snow Emperor could even feel the sincerity in Huo Yuhao's heart.
The Snow Emperor's gaze relaxed slightly, as if she had made a decision. She spoke:
"What do I need to do? Or... what do you need me to do? Become your Soul Spirit?"
The Ice Emperor on the side: "???"
The green-haired petite girl stared at the Snow Emperor with wide eyes, her face full of disbelief.
"Snow Emperor... you believe him just like that?" the Ice Emperor asked hesitantly.
"Why not?" the Snow Emperor looked at the Ice Emperor with a gentle gaze, then looked back at Huo Yuhao.
"You know me... you know me very well. In fact, you give me a feeling as if we have known each other for a very, very long time.
"So... I guess you should know my situation, right?"
Huo Yuhao was silent, then nodded.
He knew that what the Snow Emperor wanted to talk about was her 700,000-year Heavenly Tribulation.
"So, I have no choice. I either gamble on you, or I gamble on myself," the Snow Emperor said softly.
For the sake of the creatures of the Extreme North, she was willing to pay any price. Now that a new choice had appeared before her, how could she just give up?
"There is still an indescribable sense of familiarity about you... it makes me instinctively want to trust you.
"So... even if you are to fail me.
"Do not fail the millions of lives in the Extreme North, okay?"
The Snow Emperor's voice was very soft. Faced with that mysterious sense of familiarity from Huo Yuhao and the intimacy brought by their similar constitutions, she unconsciously spoke to him as an equal.
Huo Yuhao looked at the Snow Emperor. He knew her obsession, but what had he done in his previous life...
Self-reproach and guilt.
Emotions welled up bit by bit, making Huo Yuhao feel a strange discomfort. Remaining silent, he made his vow—his own promise.
"Whether I become a god or not, I will protect the Extreme North, giving it a peaceful life, free from outside interference."
The Eye of Destiny appeared once again as a witness. At this moment, threads of destiny connected Huo Yuhao and the Snow Emperor.
This was a contract at the level of destiny, a contract using everything in one's future as collateral to prove sincerity and determination.
The Snow Emperor's eyes widened slightly.
After the threads of destiny connected her and Huo Yuhao, the contract of destiny gave her the specific contents of the pact, letting her know the weight of this promise.
The Snow Emperor looked at Huo Yuhao, her eyes flickering slightly. Something in her heart was touched. After a long time, she looked at Huo Yuhao, her words gentle yet solemn:
"Thank you..."