âI know Iâm not, but that doesnât mean Iâll give up!â
Joanna had made her decision; there was no more hesitation in her eyes. She stood in front of Su Ping like a glowing war goddess.
âAnna, do you realize youâre betraying all of us by doing this?â
The ice-cold Avril slowly rose too. The aura she had been concealing began to spread out, lowering the temperature of the entire temple as if it were winter time. Even space and time seemed to freeze.
âYou know me; I never betray my friends or partners. Thatâs also the reason why Iâve defeated so many enemies all this time!
âItâs all because I trust the warriors who fight by my side; Iâm willing to give my back to them. At the same time, they also trust my every order, even if it means death!â
Joannaâs eyes were cold, and her spear was dazzling. âSu Ping has come here for the sole purpose of seeking knowledge; he would have helped us even if you didnât say anything. The fastest way for us to return to the Archean Divinity is that you do your best helping him. And yet, you chose to give him the most stupid treatment.
âThe real traitor isnât me here, but all of you. Itâs your pride and prejudice!â
All three Superior Gods had gloomy expressions after her claims. Shivalello looked at Joanna thoughtfully, and then glanced at Su Ping.
âMr. Su, to be honest, weâre unwilling to become your enemies. I hope you can forgive us if youâre uncomfortable with our attitude today. Weâre sincerely hoping to discuss the matter with you. Whatever you need, just tell us; weâll try our best to satisfy you.â
Su Ping was silent for a moment.
Joanna also looked at Su Ping; she actually hoped that Su Ping would choose to stay, but her rationality stopped her from forcing him to make any decision.
Su Pingâs expression made her realize his attitude; she could not help but heave a deep sigh.
âThereâs nothing to discuss,â said Su Ping unhurriedly.
Shivalello squinted grimly, like a lion holding back its fury. Both Eborr and Avril looked awful too; they didnât expect the human to be as adamant, not wanting to grant any leeway.? How can a mere human being be this bold?
Su Ping withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, âLetâs go.â
Joanna heaved a sigh in her heart, and then nodded.
She gave a disappointed look at the three gods in the temple. How could they not understand that the situation had never been about making a deal? Su Ping was not there to haggle for benefits with them; he had gone there seeking knowledge as a friend.
The latter had considered it his responsibility to help them return to the Archean Divinity. She and Su Ping were friends, and he was offering a helping hand as a friend, without asking for anything in return!
That was friendship!
It wasnât a deal!
The three gods had contorted faces as they saw how Su Ping and Joanna were truly trying to leave. Shivalello took a deep breath and slowly rose. âNeither of you is leaving this place without our permission!â
Joannaâs expression changed. She exclaimed furiously, âHave you really considered the consequences?â
âHe might never return if we let him go today; weâve been trapped here for too many years. This is our territory; heâs not going anywhere, unless his bigshot backer shows up!â
Eborrâs eyes were cold. His body, as noble as the sun, emanated an exuberant power; it was as if he were a burning furnace.
Shivalello and Avril didnât say anything, but both of them gazed at Su Ping. They only feared the ominous presence protecting Su Ping, not Su Ping himself; otherwise, they would have killed him long before.
Su Ping turned around and glanced at them; his eyes were calm and fearless, even while the Superior God trio was releasing a daunting aura.
He only spared the gods a quick glance and then looked away; there was pity, regret, and scorn in his eyes.
While ignoring them, Su Ping looked at Joanna and said softly, âAre you really going to take my side?â
Joanna was stunned for a moment. He saw Su Pingâs casual and familiar expression, and soon calmed down to say, âOf course, youâre my boss!â
âYour bossâŠâ Su Ping chuckled and then said, âIâve finally met you in person. Are you willing to have your original self sign a contract with me?â
Joanna was surprised.
She had been as vigilant and distrustful as the three Superior Gods when she signed the contract with Su Ping in the beginning.
However, she decided to take her chances in order to return to the Archean Divinity.
The time they had spent together was just the blink of an eye in her long life; still, it had never been as easy and comfortable in the past. She was getting to know Su Ping better and better.
He had fulfilled his promise and took her to the Archean Divinity. Adding the things they experienced there, she had full understanding of the man.
Her life would be restrained by Su Ping and the store once she signed the contract.
Would Su Ping harm her?
Joanna put on a smile. She said, almost spontaneously, âYes, of course!â
âHave you lost your mind?â
The three Superior Gods were wide-eyed after hearing Joannaâs bold answer.
Their current contract had merely been signed with her reincarnation. Her original self couldnât enter Su Pingâs mysterious store, which was the bigshotâs territory.
They thought that Joannaâs past decision had been a shrewd one. And yet, she was at the moment willing to sign the contract with her original self. If the contract was exactly what as she had described, wouldnât her life be under the humanâs control?
âHave you been brainwashed by this human? Or did his protector tell you something? Didnât you say youâve never met?â asked Eborr in shock and fury.
âThis is absurd!â
Avril was similarly infuriated. She realized that the smile on Joannaâs face was sincere, as if Su Ping had asked for her hand in marriage, not the so-called contract. Also, to think that Joanna would answer so readily, as if she didnât even need to think about it!
Would the iron goddess of war ever fall in love?
Avril didnât think so. Even if she could, she would never fall in love with a lowly human!
Indeed. Other than gods, all the other races were inferior species in their eyes. It was just as humans made no difference between the smartest gorilla, a bull or a horse.
âJoanna, take a good look. Heâs a human being!â
Coldness was emitted from Shivalelloâs eyes. He had frozen time and space; only Su Ping was absolutely still at the moment inside the temple. The latter had already grasped the path of space and time, but he was oblivious to the fact that he was frozen.
âYouâre willing to give your life to a human being? To serve him and work as his subordinate?â Shivalello found Joannaâs actions ludicrous, a disgrace to all gods.
They understood Joanna when she allowed her reincarnation to work for Su Ping as a way to enter the Archean Divinity⊠But her original self was different!
âItâs true that not all races are equal.â
Joanna stared at the three Superior Gods with brilliance in her eyes. âBut itâs different if they are your partners!â
That was what Su Ping would often say to her when he trained pets.
She repeated what he said to them.
The three Superior Gods were stunned.
Things are different when theyâre your partners?
The silent Heather was startled for a moment because of that answer. Her eyes glittered as she looked at the currently frozen Su Ping.
This human⊠To have changed the proud goddess of war to such a degreeâŠ
Of the four Superior Gods, Heather knew Joanna the best as they were the closest; she knew full well that Joanna wouldnât have said anything like that in the past.
They were pure-blood gods, birthed by nature. They were so noble that even the powerful and ancient dragons were just mounts in their eyes.
All their partners and friends were from their own race; all the other races were beasts to be enslaved.
âYouâre acting more and more unlike a god!â Eborr couldnât help but yell in disdain and disappointment, âAs expected of a mid-ranked god. Your bloodline is inferior and corrupted!â
The four Superior Gods were high-ranked gods. They had been able to reach that state in such a barren land because of their noble bloodline.
Even though Joanna had a shocking talent, it was extremely difficult for her to become a Superior God, given the restrictions of her mid-ranked god bloodline.
Some mid-ranked gods did become Superior Gods or even go beyond. However, none of them were as strong as the Ancestral Gods, who were true giants.
Therefore, they couldnât pass down their powers via their bloodline.
Even if an expert rose in their families, the bloodline would only be slightly optimized; it wouldnât be a great improvement. If no more unusual geniuses were born in the family, their bloodlines would eventually decline until they became low-ranked gods. In the end, they couldnât even guarantee their bloodâs purity!
By then, they would no longer be called gods. They would be known as subgods, who were seen as a disgrace to all gods.
It would be different if someone became a high-ranked god. Their high rank would always remain, as long as their Ancestral God didnât perish. That was why the high-ranked gods were always powerful and condescending..