Chapter 67: The Suspicious Aphnora

Chapter 67: The Suspicious Aphnora

The long years had allowed Aphnora to witness many gods.

Some were cruel and bloodthirsty; some were sinister and inscrutable; others were perverse and terrifying—and then there were those who were outright mad.

But a god like Yu Sheng'an, with his ever-grinning face and glib tongue, was truly something she had never encountered before.

"I need an explanation now. Don’t try to dodge the question or change the subject!" Aphnora stared at Yu Sheng'an, her tone grave and her voice icy.

"Alright, go ahead," Yu Sheng'an replied, taking a slight breath and wiping the smile off his face.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to drain the mana pool? If Beast God Bruhman suddenly loses his mind, Duofei City could be destroyed in an instant!"

"This is just a small domain. Even if Bruhman goes berserk, he wouldn’t be able to unleash much of his power here."

"He commands countless shaman priests!"

"He has shaman priests, but does that mean I’m left with nothing?"

"Then you should have at least discussed it with me! Acting unilaterally like this—do you even see me as your ally?"

Yu Sheng'an’s pupils contracted slightly as he finally realized the true source of Aphnora’s fury.

A dried-up mana pool?

That was just an excuse.

Having lived for centuries and mastered the God of Magic’s arcane arts, how could she not have considered such an extreme scenario?

As for Yu Sheng'an secretly enriching himself and covertly expanding his Believers?

Hah. Duofei City, built over a hundred years, was safeguarded openly by the Magic Tower and covertly by the Divine Palace. No matter how many users Yu Sheng'an recruited, they would never withstand a single decree of prohibition.

At worst, Aphnora could purge Duofei City entirely, erasing all traces of the internet from its roots.

Moreover, the beginner zones of [Conquest of Subdomains], the puppet manufacturing pools, and the mana supply pools all lay within Aphnora’s truth's reach.

In other words, the more users he recruited, the more leverage he handed over to her.

Whether mortal or divine, no one willingly relinquishes the benefits they’ve seized.

A falling-out would only result in mutual destruction.

Thus, what truly angered Aphnora was Yu Sheng'an’s unilateral decision-making.

Yu Sheng'an had to admit—he had indeed acted autocratically.

The Dofi domain had been discovered and initially developed by Aphnora. Without her spatial coordinates and the construction of the beginner zones, his [Conquest of Subdomains] would have been nothing but a castle in the air.

Of course, he could now cut Aphnora out and proceed alone, as he already possessed the coordinates to the Dofi domain.

The Keville Empire’s apprentice mage examinations were also about to be held there.

With the might of the Keville Empire, he couldn’t promise much, but erecting a Magic Tower under the watchful eyes of the Beast God—or even Aphnora—would be effortless.

After all, this was merely a small domain with a power ceiling at the demigod level.

Once the Magic Tower was established, rebuilding the beginner zones, puppet manufacturing pools, and mana supply pools would only be a matter of time.

"I’m sorry! I truly didn’t consider your feelings. You must understand—those of us in high positions are prone to arrogance and unilateral actions. This was my mistake, and I apologize."

Yu Sheng'an bowed his head in admission of fault.

To discard an ally and make a new enemy over such a trivial domain would be utterly foolish and reveal a petty mindset.

If a simple apology could mend the rift between allies, it would be a bargain.

Aphnora froze at his words.

To her surprise, Yu Sheng'an, who had been so unreasonable just moments ago, now apologized so readily, without a shred of the dignity befitting a divine spark.

This struck her as utterly absurd.

No one knew the turmoil in her heart. When she saw the rapidly spreading Fourth Calamity and the Believers of Duofei City embracing the internet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had invited a wolf into her home.

A twinge of regret even surfaced.

But without powerful external aid, her strength alone could hardly defend the Dofi domain—let alone Duofei City.

The day the mana pool ran dry would be the day Duofei City crumbled.

Of course, she could also trade the coordinates of the Dofi domain to other gods in exchange for benefits while throwing the entire domain into chaos.

Amid the ensuing free-for-all, Duofei City might play both sides and maintain its rule for a long time.

But then, what difference would there be between Duofei City and Vias?

Such was the sorrow of wielding a weak divine spark.

Seemingly lofty, yet in truth, struggling to survive in the cracks, at the mercy of others.

But the Internet God didn’t seem like a weak divine spark, did he?

After all, even now, his true depths remained completely hidden. With just her magic, he had created the Fourth Calamity, a force of limitless potential.

So why bother apologizing?

As her thoughts raced, Aphnora suddenly understood everything.

He’s placating me!

He’s buying time!

The mages of Kuwail were about to arrive to construct the Magic Tower. Once his Magic Tower was complete, his Fourth Calamity would no longer be restrained by her.

At this critical moment, what did a humble apology cost him?

Realizing this, the fury that had driven Aphnora here dissipated, replaced by a deep, bitter sorrow.

The domain she had painstakingly sought for centuries was now being handed to another on a silver platter. Even if it was an ally’s doing, the injustice of it gnawed at her!

Why must fate be so relentless?

No matter how she struggled, she only sank deeper into despair!

"I want half of Duofei City’s Source Essence. In exchange, I’ll maintain the operation of the beginner’s village here—though mana consumption will remain at current levels."

Convinced she had seen through everything, Aphnora ultimately chose compromise and negotiation.

"Hm?"

Yu Sheng'an was taken aback by Aphnora’s sudden shift in attitude.

Had his apology actually worked?

Little did he know that his casual mention of constructing the Magic Tower had, in a way, already intimidated Aphnora.

In the end, it all came down to her disadvantaged position.

Her anger only underscored her powerlessness.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have resorted to questioning—she would have simply cut him off, forcing him to come begging!

"No problem!"

Yu Sheng'an agreed readily.

Seeing him so decisive, Aphnora grew even more certain he was placating her.

No doubt, the moment his Magic Tower was complete, he would cast aside the pretense.

With that thought, a wild idea surfaced in Aphnora’s heart.

If… if he truly dared to break their alliance, she would drag him down with her—even if it meant abandoning the Dofi domain.

"By the way, since we're talking about Source Essence, there's no time like the present. Why don't we discuss the music platform today as well?" Yu Sheng'an said.

"Very well, let's hear your thoughts."

Aphnora calmly walked to the window, gazing at the vast expanse of Duofei City, a trace of reluctance flickering deep in her clear, watery eyes.

She had let go. Now, she wanted to see how this silver-tongued man would disguise his ambition beneath his eloquent words.

"As I mentioned before, it's simple. We open a music section on my internet. The Source Essence consumed by users while listening to songs will be split fifty-fifty between us," Yu Sheng'an said.

"Since your internet already supports voice calls, your divine spark must already involve some authority over sound. In that case, you shouldn’t need to collaborate with me."

Aphnora turned her head, smiling faintly at Yu Sheng'an, a hint of mockery curling at the corners of her lips.

"You're right. Theoretically, I could indeed create a music section, but the authority I wield isn’t the music authority."

"You want my divine music?"

"Yes," Yu Sheng'an admitted openly.

"The Music Godhood is in my hands. How do you plan to open a music section on your internet?"

"Simple. You condense a virtual divine spark and give it to me."

Aphnora's pupils constricted sharply.

Then, unable to suppress the absurdity and derision in her heart, she burst into laughter!