Chapter 1159 - 537: Metamorphosis

Chapter 1159: Chapter 537: Metamorphosis

The Cold Winter Goddess Uphemia felt like she hadn’t quite woken up.

It was as if she awoke from an absurd dream, only to realize she was still dreaming.

Fulingya thanks me for letting her personally reward Herbert?

Eh?

Instead of the smug nod that would follow a sincere gratitude, a guilty feeling occupied her heart even more.

"Thank... thank me?"

Uphemia maintained the outward calm of an experienced elder, but deep inside, her emotions were like ice shards stirred by a blizzard.

What’s going on?

What is happening?

She knew too well how much jest accompanied her previous "encouragement," along with a vague notion she hadn’t fully explored.

Indeed, it was a reward Herbert would appreciate, but for Fulingya, it was quite a unique challenge.

Uphemia wasn’t exactly trying to force Fulingya into doing anything outrageous; her temperament wasn’t that mischievous.

She merely wanted to see how this overly rule-abiding and somewhat naive junior would react to such a "bold" suggestion.

Would she silently obey after shock? Or reject decisively in shameful anger?

Or... comply half-willingly in a mixture of astonishment and annoyance?

But Uphemia could be certain of one thing.

No matter the decision, it shouldn’t be this reaction!

At this moment, Fulingya not only wasn’t upset after being teased, but rather had a gaze as if she’d undergone a baptism, sincerely thanking Uphemia as her "considerate elder."

"I truly appreciate your help! With your support, I have completely transformed!"

Fulingya dared to bow, yet Uphemia dared not accept such respect!

This, this, this...

Is this right?

Right, yes, right, oh no, it isn’t right!

This child... what on earth did she interpret my words into?!

Uphemia felt she punched hard, only to hit a warm, soft cotton wall, leaving her dumbfounded as her punch rebounded.

I wasn’t implying anything deep!

I just... casually mentioned it!

However, the countless years of accumulated majesty and her elder "demeanor" made her keep a straight face, not exposing the chaos and embarrassment within to Fulingya.

Pretend.

Must act like nothing happened!

She quickly froze the guilt in the depths of her eyes, a wise, fitting smile emerging on her ice-sculpted face, as if Fulingya’s gratitude had been entirely anticipated.

"Hehe..."

Uphemia’s voice was steady and gentle, containing the unique tolerance and profundity of a kind elder: "Fulingya, your gain is not due to me but yourself."

"Indeed, rules are the cornerstone of Pantheon stability, but occasionally following your heart, not suppressing your thoughts, is the true Nature."

Although not knowing what Fulingya truly realized, uttering some vague, ambiguous rhetoric was easy.

Moreover, just by observing Fulingya’s lively gaze now, one could roughly guess what psychological transformation she underwent.

She was no longer that rigid.

In the eyes of the Cold Winter Goddess, Fulingya’s major flaw before was being overly rule-bound.

She valued rules too much, dutifully executing her role as "daughter of the Master of Nature," considering the Pantheon’s stability as the utmost goal.

As a deputy Pantheon Lord fulfilling duties, that’s sufficient.

But for a true Pantheon leader, it’s not enough.

Fulingya, the foolish child, had locked herself in an unchanging cage.

For a Pantheon, order that makes members dutifully comply is essential, greatly benefiting its growth and stability.

But order is not all.

At least, for the Natural Pantheon, order alone is far from enough.

The Natural Pantheon belongs to neither the Order Faction nor the Chaos Faction but lies in between.

Or rather, it is neither and both.

Inclusive and accepting, that is Nature.

Nature has calm, unchanging laws and sudden, unpredictable changes.

The forest nurtures its creatures but can also transform into a death trap for them.

The ocean provides resources to mortals but can also rise storms, engulfing innocent souls.

To give and to take, that is Nature.

Previously, Fulingya was too honest.

Lacking enough boldness, others couldn’t perceive any remarkable traits.

Thus, besides the Four Seasons Goddesses, other Natural Pantheon members chose to observe more, tacitly allowing the Earth Pantheon’s rebellious schemes due to discontent with her.

But when Fulingya unexpectedly appeared outside the God of Sand and Stone’s Divine Kingdom, eliminating the "Pantheon’s traitor" with the God of Martyrdom’s help, those members were immensely surprised.

They finally saw in Fulingya’s persona a familiar shadow—the Tree Man hiding anger under a gentle exterior.

The Master of Nature has never been a submissive, kind person, allowing every contemptuous individual to feel the "Kind Father’s caress."

To the Cold Winter Goddess, Fulingya finally seemed decent.

Was it something learned from Herbert?