Jacob wasn’t surprised by Eliza’s rejection, given that he knew he would never easily acquire the Godly Faith Nectar that easily, especially considering its properties and importance to the Gods.
Nonetheless, Jacob could tell how reluctant Eliza was, and this was something he could exploit.
"Heh, making an enemy out of a God?" Jacob scoffed as his voice was riddled with mockery, "Let me ask this Holy King. Since you’re already standing at the pinnacle of the Legendary Plains, are you willing to remain at your current rank forever?
"After all, although we have thousands of years of lifespan, it is still limited unless you are willing to discard your origin and turn into a Dark Being and live on borrowed life. I don’t think the Holy King was such a narrow-minded person."
Eliza’s eyes turned icy as she glared at Jacob without hiding her rage, "You don’t need to worry about whether I can achieve the next rank or not. But going against a God is akin to a death sentence, even if I achieve Godhood, you have no idea what kind of entities you are thinking of rebelling against."
Jacob’s eyes flickered with contempt, "It seemed the Holy King still believed in empty promises of the Upper Plains more than the opportunity right in front of you. Even if you had a bright future, and you might have some connection with the Upper Plains, in the end, they can’t help you, can they?
"If you have such confidence in those beings who treat us like pawns and insects, what are you still doing in the Middle Plains and wasting away your talent and lifespan?
"Honestly, just think about it, how many Holy Kings before you have the same mindset, and how many of them were able to succeed? We both know we need an Ascension Permit to escape this cage, yet it’s almost impossible to acquire it. What are the Upper Plains doing about it, if I may ask?"
Eliza’s expression shifted subtly as Jacob’s words were salt on her wounds. If Eliza held resentment towards the Upper Plains about anything, it was precisely the Ascension Permit and even Whiteness, that god who had made a promise to help her, had long vanished.
Eliza had been searching for Whiteness traces but to no avail, and after what happened in the Path of Legend last time, she knew that unless she could track down that mysterious person who held the Legendary Master Key, no one would be able to acquire an Ascension Permit.
Yet, that enemy could elude her eyes, and to this day, she had no clue who that person was, and after Whiteness disappeared, her vague hope also died.
However, she was given another chance with a new task: tracking down another enemy, but even that wasn’t going well. Now, hearing Jacob’s curled yet true words, her belief in the Upper Plains was shaken.
’What if they still couldn’t help me ascend even if we track down that ’Cursed One’?’ Eliza thought as her heart sank.
If only she had known both the Cursed One and the person who had the Legendary Master Key were sitting right in front of her and now beguiling her, she would’ve died with shock.
Since Eliza hesitated in replying, Jacob knew she was almost on the verge of giving in.
He quickly added, "I know it’s difficult for you, Holy King, as going against your faith and a God is not something a mortal like us should even consider. But why are you afraid of a God when there’s a chance of becoming a God yourself right in front of you?
"As long as we can acquire the Divine Legacy of Faith, the path towards Godhood would be open for us, and you don’t need to work for others. You can be the master of yourself.
"I can tell you are not like those others who are willing to remain ordinary for your lifetime, and you have already achieved everything in this place. You no longer belonged here as you need a higher stage to show your true talent, and what could be more extraordinary than becoming a God yourself and competing against the very God you serve?!"
Eliza’s eyes trembled as Jacob’s words really moved her, and for the first time since her birth, her beliefs were thoroughly shaken.
Still, just as Jacob said, Eliza was a very ambitious woman, and she wasn’t easy to sway or deceive. Although Jacob has painted a paradise, in the end, it was nothing but empty talk.
After all, she wasn’t Jacob’s match, and that’s why if Jacob decided to backstab her after she went against the Cardinal Spirit Temple, she had no place to go back to.
"I won’t betray the Cardinal Spirit Temple." Eliza replied, but her expression was ambiguous this time as she continued, "However, if someone can manage to steal the Godly Faith Nectar right under God’s watchful eyes, it’s another matter entirely."
If Jacob had a face, he would be grinning wickedly at this moment since he knew Eliza was going to do precisely what he wanted her to.
"Quite an intriguing thought." Jacob impassively said, "But I’m still quite interested in listening to how ’someone’ can ’find’ the Godly Faith Nectar. After all, the Cardinal Spirit Temple would’ve stored it in some place where no one can locate it."
Eliza stoically replied, "It is indeed in a place where no one can reach, even a Quasi-Myth. In fact, it’s inside a secretive chamber built upon the foundation of the citadel, right under the Holy Justice Citadel.
"On top of that, the entrance that leads to this hidden underground area is located in my personal prayer hall, right under the statue of the Holy Justice God. Even if the ’thief’ managed to reach that location, only with the token of the Holy Pontiff can one gain access to it without altering the entire Holy Justice Citadel.
"Not to mention, a formation bestowed personally by the Upper Plains is protecting that place. So, anyone without that token won’t stand a chance if they dare to try to break into that area. I also wondered how that ’thief’ could possibly tackle that."
Eliza seemed to be having a general conversation, but if those believers of the temple had heard it, they would’ve already declared Eliza a traitor!