The Halloween Queen already had sufficient recognition of Su Mo's strength and wisdom. But she still couldn't completely trust his position.
Although she felt it was unnecessary, given the possible power of the mastermind, it wasn't impossible for them to send a Three-Digit powerhouse to act as a spy. And even if he had nothing to do with the pantheons, that didn't mean Su Mo was trustworthy. She didn't believe in the existence of a kind-hearted person who would antagonize the pantheons simply to help her.
Of course, Su Mo was not that kind of enthusiastic good person either.
"Two reasons," he said immediately, his tone open and honest.
"First, it's to help a friend at Shiroyasha's request. Although Shiroyasha and I are not too familiar, I expect that we will be together for a long time, so basic mutual assistance is necessary."
On this point, Su Mo was not lying. He was not generous enough to extend a helping hand to every group member, but Shiroyasha was indeed valuable enough for him to maintain this relationship. Even if it was just for the world of Little Garden that Shiroyasha represented.
From Su Mo's perspective, the starting point of maintaining a friendship was mostly based on benefits, so he said it very frankly.
But to Shiroyasha's ears, these words were rather touching.
"Friend..."
Although Su Mo had scammed her a little earlier and had inexplicably become the Lord of the Solar Spirits, upon closer inspection, Su Mo's purpose in coming to Little Garden was indeed to help her, and he had also helped analyze the matter of the Halloween Queen. As a group member he had known for less than half a day, Su Mo's actions were indeed very loyal.
Shiroyasha had a wide circle of acquaintances, but there were very few who could be called friends and who she could trust in the fight against the pantheons. Su Mo was one of them.
"That's right, a friend," Su Mo glanced at Shiroyasha, confirming his words, before turning to the Halloween Queen. "As for the second reason, it's because of my goal."
"Goal?"
Not only the Halloween Queen, but even Shiroyasha looked over curiously. Moved as she was, Shiroyasha also knew that Su Mo couldn't possibly keep helping her out of a sense of being moved. He must have his own ideas. She just didn't know why he was willing to get involved in this mess.
And to this, Su Mo had no intention of hiding anything.
"My goal is simple. To understand the form of power in this world, to master it completely, and to stand at the very peak."
"Now, I have already made some progress on the method of advancing to the Full Authority Domain. However, what I am most concerned about now is how to master the power of Tier 8, that is, the multiverse level. In the classification of Little Garden, this goal should be called a One-Digit."
As soon as these words were spoken, the two Celestial Spirit girls were stunned on the spot.
"O-One-Digit?"
Even someone as calm as the Halloween Queen couldn't help but doubt her own ears after hearing this goal. She had been mentally prepared when she asked this question. Even if Su Mo had said that he had a deep hatred for the pantheons and would give everything to be their enemy, she could have accepted it.
But for Su Mo to say he wanted to advance to a One-Digit... this was something the Halloween Queen truly found hard to accept.
"Su Mo, are you kidding me?!" Even Shiroyasha's tone was one of disbelief, looking at Su Mo with suspicion. "In Little Garden, the Two-Digit Full Authority Domain is already the de facto highest point. The only existing One-Digit is an unintelligent existence like the Wind of Decadence."
"Besides the Wind of Decadence, whether anyone else can advance to the One-Digit domain is already doubtful. And you're thinking of becoming a One-Digit... I'm not trying to discourage you, but even if you're a pure Solar Spirit, it's impossible for you to achieve this!"
Shiroyasha's gaze was sincere, her tone implicitly cautionary. Hearing her words, the Halloween Queen couldn't help but nod in agreement. It wasn't that they were underestimating Su Mo, but that the goal he had proposed was too outrageous.
If we take the Wind of Decadence as an example, a half-step One-Digit already had the power to destroy the entire infinite multiverse. If a complete One-Digit with its own will were to appear, wouldn't it have the authority to end everything in a single thought? How could such an existence appear so easily?
Hearing their questions, Su Mo shook his head.
"Since the Wind of Decadence can do it, it means that it is possible to advance to a One-Digit. Whether I can do it or not, now that I know of this possibility, how can I not try?" He didn't try to convince the two, nor did he have any intention of discussing with laymen whether it could be done. His firm attitude was enough to express his will.
"You're actually serious?" Shiroyasha exclaimed in amazement. She wanted to say something, but closed her mouth again. With the strength and wisdom Su Mo had shown, even if he couldn't reach a One-Digit, reaching a Two-Digit, the same as her in her prime, shouldn't be too difficult. At her level, she didn't seem to have the right to say too much.
"This is a very difficult goal..." the Halloween Queen sighed at first, then didn't say much, but asked, "But what does this have to do with the pantheons?"
She was not Shiroyasha. She was not stupid enough to be led astray by a few words. She still remembered the purpose of her inquiry, which was to confirm Su Mo's position.
"To master the path to a One-Digit, the existence of Little Garden itself is key. Any attempt to destroy or abandon Little Garden is an obstruction to my path," Su Mo explained patiently. "Unfortunately, it just so happens that if my speculation is correct, the pantheons who once attacked you may take even more drastic actions in the future, possibly even destroying the entire Little Garden."
"On this matter, Shiroyasha and I have the same position, which is why I am reaching out to you to confirm your attitude."
As he spoke, Su Mo imperceptibly reversed the leading role to himself and extended an invitation to the Halloween Queen.
"Halloween Queen, with your spiritual rank, no matter what the pantheons want to do, they will most likely not lay a hand on you in the end, at most just forcing you to cooperate."
"Compared to Shiroyasha, who loves Little Garden and is absolutely unwilling to compromise, and me, whose path is blocked, as long as you are willing to accept reality, there is no reason for you to be an enemy of the pantheons. In fact, as long as you state your conditions, the pantheons behind the scenes might even be willing to help you rebuild the Celtic pantheon and fulfill your duty and long-cherished wish."
"So, here it should be me who asks you, Halloween Queen: have you really decided to be an enemy of the pantheons, even if it means disregarding the future of the Celtic pantheon?"
The tables had turned. Now it was Su Mo's turn to test the Halloween Queen's resolve.
"Hey! That's no way to negotiate!" Hearing Su Mo's words, Shiroyasha couldn't help but tug on his sleeve, her eyes looking as if she found it ridiculous.
Who would voluntarily bring up the benefits the other side might offer when trying to persuade an ally! If the Queen felt that having the pantheons help rebuild the Celtic pantheon was more worthwhile and chose to side with them, wouldn't their persuasion be in vain?
Just as Shiroyasha was about to remind Su Mo to change his approach, thinking that this invitation was very unreliable... before she could even wait for Su Mo's reply, she heard the Halloween Queen's unhesitating and firm answer.
"Of course!"
"Huh?!" Shiroyasha was stunned. Such a decisive answer was not the Halloween Queen's style!
"Queen, don't you think it would be more worthwhile to use this opportunity to get help from the pantheons to rebuild the Celtic pantheon?" Since the Halloween Queen could gather her own pantheon in the form of a summons, wasn't the safest option for her to bargain with the pantheons? Anyway, as long as they didn't get involved with the Last Embryo of humanity, the Knights of Avalon themselves didn't really have a conflict with the pantheons.
However, hearing this, the Halloween Queen just sneered.
"Worthwhile? Shiroyasha, you still haven't grown up. You're just a naive child."
"Why are you suddenly scolding me? What did I do to you!" Shiroyasha said with some dissatisfaction.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not scolding you," the Halloween Queen shook her head and glanced at Su Mo beside her. "I'm just saying that a wise person never asks a woman why she makes such a decision, just like what Lord Su Mo is doing now."
At this point, the smile on the corner of her mouth became faintly sharp.
"As for the pantheons, it's not that I should be worried about being their enemy, but that they should be worried about why they provoked me."
"Although they were just human children, they were still subordinates I carefully cultivated... even if they were a little fragile, they were my things. And I hate it when people touch my things."
"So, the ones who should be feeling fear now are the masterminds hiding among the pantheons!"
"After this, they will understand a principle: don't provoke any lady, especially the petty type."
"Otherwise, once a grudge is formed, one of us will eventually die!"
The faint tone exuded an astonishing coldness, making one's hair stand on end.
"..."
Hearing the Halloween Queen's imposing words, Shiroyasha began to tremble a little. Was this woman who held a grudge really that scary?
It's over! She and the Halloween Queen had made enemies of each other no less than ten million times. Would she be put on a blacklist in the future, becoming the one the Halloween Queen most wanted to retaliate against?!