Chapter 220: This Really Isn't Cheating, Right?

Seeming to have sensed Jialing's gaze, Su Nian turned his head to look back at Jialing, returning a smile.

To express that he already knew, and there was no need to worry.

After Jialing saw Su Nian's smile, the worry in her heart lessened slightly, and she could be considered to have breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's just, why is this Four-Digit Exceptional so difficult?"

Jialing sighed helplessly, looking at the back of the Asura whose figure was gradually disappearing.

"This final step is just too hard to cross."

She had been stuck at the Four-digit Legendary position for several hundred years, and her 【Flash Heat Authority】 had also sublimated to the limit; she was only one step away from becoming 【Flash Heat Power】.

But it was precisely this step that had stuck her for a full several hundred years; the Sun Wheel Golden Wing Flame was very helpful when assisting her in developing her Flash Heat Authority, but it had no way to help with the step from Authority to Power.

This final step could only be crossed by herself.

It was just that this step had stuck who knows how many heroes and geniuses.

If not for this, when dealing with Ouroboros, she could have completely played a significant role by Su Nian's side.

And there would be no guys who dared to come and provoke Arcadia; a situation like the one with Ares would have been impossible.

And at this moment, as the focus of the crowd's gaze.

Athena had a kind expression, a smile on the corners of her mouth, and with her head tilted slightly, she said into Su Nian's ear.

"It looks like you seem to have been targeted by Ouroboros; do you want me to step in and help?"

However, this posture of whispering appeared overly intimate to others.

In the eyes of others, this was Athena completely kissing Su Nian's cheek.

"How could that be? How could Goddess Athena possibly kiss him?"

"Let go of me, I want to perish together with that guy who defiled Lady Athena!"

"There's absolutely no one holding you, okay..."

The crowd instantly became clamorous, and along with it, Su Nian's mood became unpleasant.

Kissing, my foot!

This was clearly just Athena whispering in his ear; it was Athena seducing a pure youth like him.

And just at this moment, Algol revealed a sly smile, as if she had discovered a perfect opportunity to disgust Athena.

She suddenly, following suit, kissed Su Nian's cheek, directly causing Su Nian's face to truly collide with Athena's lips.

This wave... was a real kiss, even if it was only on the cheek.

Su Nian froze for a moment, his gaze faintly sluggish.

Feeling the gazes from the countless male and female gods around him that were jealous to the point of madness.

Su Nian's mouth twitched slightly, and he turned his head to look at Algol.

No, what kind of madness are you pulling? Is it that you think I'm not eye-catching enough?

However, Algol's face was full of smugness, and she transmitted her voice.

"How was this surprise? How did Athena's lips feel?"

"Very soft... wait, no, why are you asking this?"

Feeling the faint pressure on his left hand, Su Nian quickly reacted and hurriedly changed his phrasing.

Damn, I forgot Athena was still standing by his side.

Looking at Athena's face, which still carried a gentle smile, but in reality, her entire body had tensed up.

Su Nian really couldn't and didn't dare to say anything; he was afraid that if he said anything more, Athena's expression would change in the blink of an eye.

But even so, Su Nian had to say in his heart that Algol did a good job.

Who told you to shamelessly follow along? Since you've latched on, then leave something behind before you go.

"Tch, coward. You don't even dare to describe how it felt."

Algol clicked her tongue, not very happy.

Wait... what's up with Athena's attitude? Eh... could it be, was that just now the first kiss of that ugly woman Athena?

Almost forgot, that ugly woman is a Virgin Goddess; first kisses and such must still be there.

Oh ho~~ Instantly, Algol became excited; what could be happier than being able to see Athena's ugly state?

That would be that this ugly state was caused by her personally; Algol hadn't expected that a light push from her would cause such great damage to Athena.

"Ugly woman, you're flustered; this time it's a great victory for Little Algol!!"

Algol said with a sneer, if one ignored Athena's increasingly strained smile.

Feeling the increasingly dangerous sensation coming from beside him, Su Nian could only shake Algol's hand to remind her not to go too far.

Don't let it be that by the time Ouroboros arrives, they end up fighting with Athena first.

That would make things completely blown out of proportion.

Sure enough, no matter when it is, one cannot relax the supervision of Algol.

The only thing to be glad about now is that Athena seems to still be able to control her emotions.

After the initial panic, Athena quickly calmed down, and even her previously tensed body became much more natural.

It's just that the more it was like this, the more Su Nian worried.

Athena is definitely already thinking of ways to deal with Algol.

Just hope it won't affect me, Su Nian sighed helplessly in his heart.

"How about it, do you need my help?"

A faint smile appeared on the corners of Athena's mouth, as if she didn't care much about the accident just now.

Instead, she resumed the topic she intended to discuss with Su Nian; as for Algol?

Sorry, what does her communication with Su Nian have to do with a familiar or pet like Algol?

Besides, why should she care about the words of a former loser?

Feeling Athena re-establish a new communication channel and proactively block the connection between Su Nian and her previous channel.

Su Nian's left eyelid couldn't help but twitch; he could only mourn for Algol for three seconds.

At the same time, he hoped Athena wouldn't hold this account against him.

Athena seemed to see through Su Nian's worry and spoke with a light chuckle.

"Rest assured, this is a grudge between me and Algol; it will not involve you."

Without even a first warning, Su Nian breathed a sigh of relief, thanking the best shield, Little Algol, for drawing all the fire.

It seemed Athena truly did not intend to dwell on this matter.

"However, I find Algol's Avatar quite interesting. Is this some kind of latest Avatar technology?"

Athena asked Su Nian casually, in a very flat tone, as if they were just making small talk.

Heh, still trying to break out of prison through an Avatar and restore her original appearance?

You are thinking too wishfully.

Athena sneered in her heart.

She intended to block the last path for Algol to break out of prison. Want to come out? Then come out in the appearance of an ugly Magic Beast.

But this Avatar of Algol is indeed interesting; while maintaining Four-digit combat power, she can still maintain her original appearance.

Let's see if she adds a few more seals after cracking this Avatar technology.

"This is Algol's Heroic Spirit Avatar, created through Merit and faith."

Su Nian did not hide it and revealed the truth about this Avatar of Algol.

Of course, the fact was that Su Nian had forged the Demon Star on his wrist into a Pseudo-Heroic Throne; Algol was a Heroic Spirit sitting on the Heroic Throne inside, and the Avatar manifested was a Servant summoned through Su Nian's magic power.

And the strength and Noble Phantasm of the Servant depended on the magic power provided by Su Nian and the power provided by Algol.

"Interesting, so it is a Heroic Spirit from the Norse side?"

Athena murmured a few words and said nothing more. With her wisdom, these clues alone were enough to create a seal targeting Algol.

Su Nian could only silently mourn for Algol.

"However, Goddess Athena, help is unnecessary; the current offensive of Ouroboros is still within my control."

Su Nian suddenly said, effectively rejecting Athena's intention to provide help.

Right now, the only target he needed to pay attention to within Ouroboros was that former strategist of the Third Union who called himself the "Prophet," Mithra.

But was Ouroboros overestimating him a bit too much?

To deal with a mere Four-digit Elite like him, surely there was no need for that top-tier God King known as the Son of God Avatar, Mithra, to take action?

But even so, Su Nian was not the least bit cowardly; as long as he was in the lower levels, it was absolutely impossible for him to have any problems.

Unless the other party was truly unreasonable and insisted on playing dirty.

But this was the home turf of Little Garden Central and the Decadent Wind; in a sense, Su Nian's relationship with Little Garden Central was much closer than Black Rabbit's.

Black Rabbit only had her ears connected to Little Garden Central, while Little Garden Central had its eyes on Su Nian.

Daring to play dirty under the nose of Little Garden Central? Thank you, Decadent Wind, come out and get to work.

If you have the ability, let's compare, who is more shameless than whom?

Want to flip the chessboard and smash people? Then I'll place a stone on the board that you can't move, is that okay?

The only thing Su Nian regretted was that he could not yet be the guy who flipped the chessboard.

He could only rely on the rule-makers and the referee, increasing the execution of the rules.

This really isn't playing dirty at all, right?

"That works too."

Athena sighed and said with some regret; she had hoped Su Nian would owe her a favor to bring Su Nian and her closer.

If she couldn't provide help in a time of need, adding flowers to the brocade shouldn't affect anything, right?

After carefully combing through Su Nian's growth trajectory, Athena discovered something surprising.

That was that Su Nian's growth trajectory was extremely similar to a certain Queen; both were Boundary-type ability users, and both appeared when they encountered danger and were about to decline.

It was just that the Halloween Queen was summoned by the Celtic Divine Group, while Su Nian was secretly cultivated by Canary.

And the Halloween Queen was born in the upper levels, while Su Nian was in the lower levels.

Which meant Su Nian had the full ability to become the Halloween Queen of the lower levels, becoming a behemoth force like the Greek God Group of the lower levels.

Of course, the premise was that Su Nian could withstand the pressure from other God Groups, but yesterday Zeus told her a very interesting piece of intelligence.

The Baiye King had a match with the World King, just recently.

Then the implication of this was very interesting.

The Baiye King was about to use Arcadia as a piece, preparing to enter the game of Little Garden.

It was no wonder Su Nian would refuse her invitation; following the Baiye King had much more prospects than following her.

For the Greek God Group, this might not be an opportunity.

If this opportunity was seized, the Greek God Group could fully rise in Arcadia, and when the Baiye King entered the game, they could take advantage of the turbulent situation to earn huge benefits.

There was even a slight possibility of forming an alliance with the Baiye King.

"However, I think there is one thing you will definitely need."

Athena's mouth curled slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"What thing?"

Su Nian looked at Athena with some surprise, showing an interested expression.

"May I ask, do you need a blessing from the Goddess of Victory?"

Athena smiled slightly, tilted her head, and whispered in Su Nian's ear.

It was just like that time when Algol caused trouble before.

Except this time it was no longer an accident; Athena had actively planted a kiss on Su Nian's ear.

"Please accept the blessing of the Goddess of Victory."

Su Nian was completely stunned, and it seemed as if even the banquet hall fell silent for a moment.

"Hey, hey, hey, Mata, I didn't see that wrong, did I?"

Uesugi Kenshin, who had lowered her presence, nudged Mata, who was holding a camera and taking pictures on the side, with her elbow and asked in disbelief.

"Did Athena really kiss him of her own accord?"

They were aware of Algol's previous disturbance, but that was just a small accident, and it was already good enough that Athena had laughed it off.

But now, what the hell was the situation with her actively kissing him?

And beside her, the white-haired, brown-skinned Earth Mother Mata hadn't reacted either, her mouth agape in shock.

"You didn't see it wrong, Athena really did kiss him."

"Oh my~~, it's a pity that I actually forgot to take a photo at such an important moment."

Mata said with some regret, but she soon seemed to think of an idea.

"Hey, Uesugi, what do you think if I Photoshop one? The effect should be about the same, right?"

Uesugi Kenshin remained silent, answering nothing, and simply moved a little further away from Mata without a sound.

Mata, Athena's gaze has swept over here... well, you damn paparazzi, I'll remind you in my heart, consider it a warning.

Watching the shocked reactions of the crowd at the banquet, Athena did not express any attitude; she just quietly held Su Nian's arm on the side, smiling gently and intellectually.

In her view, sunk costs never play any role; since something has already been lost, there is no need to care too much about it.

It is better to use this to gain more benefits; this is the most effective utilization, rather than wasting sunk costs.

It was just a kiss, after all, and it wasn't a kiss on the lips, nor was it her first kiss, so giving it was fine.

But then again, since it was just a simple kiss on the cheek, it shouldn't count as having lost her first kiss, right?

Athena thought, feeling somewhat uncertain.

As for what use the blessing she gave had, it was probably to increase Su Nian's luck, allowing everything Su Nian did to lead toward the direction of victory.

There was also the fact that it contained a portion of her power, which could help Su Nian in an emergency.

(End of chapter)