I Don't Believe You, Ghost

"What? You want to learn magic and combat skills from me?"

In the Temple of Heat, Meslamtaea, the goddess Ereshkigal looked at the snake coiled on the quilt, helping to cool it down, and the writing tablet it held with its tail, its expression full of surprise.

"Mmm-hmm!"

Lin Xian immediately nodded, his head affectionately nuzzling against the back of his owner's hand, showing his obedience and tameness.

Recently, the ancient snake had come to a conclusion.

To return to the surface and preach for the Primordial Mother Goddess Tiamat, to clear her name, the first preparation needed was a basic ability to protect himself!

Mesopotamia was facing an unprecedented crisis, with a complex web of forces including the tide of demonic beasts, the alliance of the Three Goddesses, and the human city resistance.

If he foolishly rushed in, he would easily become an appetizer for the "cruel."

Currently, he was the only remaining link between Mother Goddess Tiamat and the world of Mesopotamia.

If he didn't want to crash and burn, he had to act cautiously and prepare thoroughly.

But then again, this was the worst of times, but also the best of times.

The crisis of the Three Goddesses' alliance and the tide of demonic beasts also offered Lin Xian an opportunity to fish in troubled waters and secretly rehabilitate the goddess Tiamat.

Getting back to the point, a melon is eaten bite by bite, and a road is walked step by step.

To achieve his great goal, he currently needed to learn how to protect himself first.

However, to his pet's request, the owner merely gently stroked his head and responded with full confidence.

"Little one, with me here, the Underworld is safe."

I don't believe you! That face that always fails at critical moments is completely unconvincing!

Safe? In history, the Underworld was even overturned by Tiamat when she came ashore, and you almost couldn't even save yourself!

Lin Xian flicked his tongue, muttering to himself.

Of course, to avoid being stewed into snake soup, he didn't dare to speak the truth. His protruding tail coiled around the stone stylus and wrote a line of text with a rustling sound.

"But I still want to become stronger!"

Lin Xian paused, lifting his head. His small snake face was full of seriousness.

"I won't let Lady Ereshkigal lose to that malevolent goddess in the sky because of me!"

Huh? I'll lose?

No! No! When did I ever lose to Ishtar!

The Underworld Goddess heard such absurd talk and was furious, like a Persian cat with its fur standing on end.

"I won last time! Didn't I capture her when she intruded into the Underworld and teach her a good lesson?!"

The ancient snake hesitated for a moment, then shamefully revealed the writing tablet.

"That was because Ishtar didn't bring her Divine Bull Gugalanna last time..."

"If that kind of broken divine beast descended, even if you had the authority to control the Underworld, you would definitely lose..."

Ereshkigal gave a cold, sinister laugh and was about to refute this fallacy thoroughly.

However, upon hearing the name "Gugalanna," the goddess's full rage was choked back. In the end, she stiffened her jade neck and let out a dry, muffled hum.

"Well, what's so proud about relying on a mere beast? Besides, this isn't even her exclusive private property."

"Losing is losing. Only foolish and arrogant people make excuses for themselves!"

The goddess did not directly answer the question of victory or defeat. She then narrowed her eyes and smiled, squeezing out a malicious inquiry from between her teeth.

"Now, who said these things?"

"The latest batch of souls that poured into the Underworld... some of them were discussing..."

"Hmm, it seems it initially spread from the vicinity of a few ranches attacked by demonic beasts..."

The vocabulary used by a certain troublesome entity had a vague directional implication.

And in Babylonian mythology, Ishtar, who possessed the authority of the heavens, and Ereshkigal, who controlled the underworld, were unified yet opposing twin deities.

The two had harbored grievances since the birth of the Mesopotamian world, and could be considered a pair of old rivals who couldn't stand each other.

"Beast disaster? Ranches? I knew it!"

"That spoiled crazy woman, has she still not learned her lesson even when descending?"

"What's so great about being able to command Gugalanna! It's not your own strength!"

Ereshkigal's teeth gnashed, and her words were filled with a trace of unwillingness and jealousy.

Those ranchers had not had an easy time lately, having to guard against the invasion of demonic beasts and also endure Ishtar's plunder.

Even if the news spread from the ranches, the severely affected ranch owners would wish for a force that could punish that wicked goddess, so why would they speak well of her!

Therefore, this kind of rhetoric was most likely uttered by her old rival Ishtar, who, after defeating the demonic beasts, carelessly boasted in front of the ranchers to show off her might!

Such behavior was entirely in line with that person's character, and she was definitely slandering her!

The Underworld Goddess, who had deep grievances with Ishtar, naturally completed her own mental fabrication, pieced together the chain of evidence, and pinned the blame on her old rival.

Lin Xian caught a glimpse of his owner's displeased expression and secretly curled his lips, feeling the same joy as drinking sour plum soup on a sweltering summer day.

Ever since he arrived in this hellhole called divine-era Mesopotamia, he'd been taking the fall for everything. Finally, he had a chance to screw someone else over.

As for whether his owner would investigate on his own, Lin Xian wasn't worried.

He'd been stirring up trouble everywhere during this time, not only gathering intelligence from the surface world through various spirits but also mentioning Ereshkigal and Ishtar, intentionally or unintentionally.

With little else for entertainment, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of certain special existences and ranking them had always been a topic that sparked heated debate among people.

These rumors, with everyone adding their own two cents, were impossible to trace back to their origin.

Of course, driving a wedge between the goddess sisters Ishtar and Ereshkigal wasn't his true objective.

"Lady Ereshkigal, are all the gods in the Three Goddess Alliance this wicked?"

"Why would the guardians of Sumer abandon us?"

The ancient serpent asked with a bewildered expression, filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Don't lump me in with her, Ishtar isn't..."

Ereshkigal, in her anger, spoke instinctively. As she reached a certain point in her sentence, a heart-stopping golden pattern appeared on the goddess's chest, embedding itself into her flesh.

At the same time, the sound of thunder and storms faintly echoed from above, making his owner's face turn pale as he quickly shut his mouth.

Only after the hidden power gradually dissipated did Ereshkigal loosen her grip on the gun's cylinder, her knuckles tight, and let out a sigh of relief.

After calming her emotions, Ereshkigal looked down at her pet, who was collapsed into a heap under the suppression of divine power due to their contract. She picked him up with a hint of apology and whispered softly.

"In short, there are other hidden reasons behind the Three Goddess Alliance, and they cannot be simply defined by good or evil. You'll understand these things in the future."

Lin Xian nodded seriously, a flicker of apprehension flashing deep within his serpentine pupils.

The adventure he just experienced had revealed two important pieces of information.

First, although history had taken a detour, the Sky Goddess Ishtar was not a member of the Three Goddess Alliance.

This equally untransparent crazy woman was still protecting the pastures and the Sumerians by hunting demonic beasts in her own disruptive way.

Of course, this came at a price.

For a goddess to demand payment through plunder, preventing humans from becoming dependent, wasn't a feat of wisdom or benevolence to boast about.

Second, the outcome Lin Xian had feared the most had still occurred.

The Earth Goddess Ereshkigal, in contrast to Ishtar, had become one of the pillars of the Three Goddess Alliance.

Moreover, this contract of mutual non-betrayal seemed even more stringent and meticulous this time.

Just by revealing some peripheral secrets of the Three Goddess Alliance, Ereshkigal had almost suffered divine punishment!

"Oh right, you mentioned wanting to get stronger just now?"

As the ancient serpent was lost in thought, Ereshkigal, who intentionally skirted the topic, blinked her eyes and made a stiff transition.