Zhang Ling's kick was instinctive, and thankfully, she hadn't used much force. Otherwise, if the girl had landed a full-power blow on Yuwen Tuo's stomach, even with his Gold Cloth protection, he would have been split in two instantly.

But even holding back as much as possible, the gap between them was simply too wide now. Zhang Ling stared at Yuwen Tuo, sputtering foam as he lay before her, feeling completely lost, as she had never encountered a situation like this before.

It made sense. Among the group on Mount Shu, those who often stayed close to Zhang Ling, even practicing martial arts together, seemed to be none weaker than her! Even the usually frivolous Tommy, when he got serious, was significantly stronger than her.

And the average Shu Mountain disciples weren't worthy of Zhang Ling’s instruction. Considering all these factors, this was why Yuwen Tuo ended up in this predicament.

Ye Wen walked over, briefly probing with his true qi, and then conveniently forced out some of the internal bruising before setting his slightly displaced organs back into place. Only then did he tell Zhang Ling, "It's nothing, he just needs a good night's sleep!" This was only possible because Yuwen Tuo's physical body was so extraordinary; otherwise, Ye Wen wouldn't have dared to say it! With injuries like these, anyone else would need at least a month of recuperation—forget sparring, even basic practice would be out of the question.

But Yuwen Tuo’s greatest asset was his physical constitution, so there was no need to worry excessively. Lifting his disciple casually, Ye Wen led Zhang Ling back to the palace where they were staying. Ever since hearing her master say everything was fine, Zhang Ling had relaxed. Sheathing her blade, she followed her master back.

However, halfway there, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, someone has been spying on us the entire time!" "Mm, ignore them!" If Zhang Ling could detect it, there was no way Ye Wen wouldn't notice. It was just that the visitor was Thanatos, who hadn't shown up in a long time. Ye Wen surmised that Thanatos, having received word of Zhang Ling's arrival, had come back to check the situation.

As for the recent exchange that exposed some of Zhang Ling's abilities, Ye Wen wasn't worried in the slightest—Zhang Ling always carried her blade with her, and she was accustomed to using it instantly to resolve problems. Thus, this ability was bound to be revealed sooner or later; there was no need to deliberately conceal it further.

Besides, Zhang Ling's true power lay fundamentally in her Ultimate Strength and the Seven-Colored Battle Aura she was currently cultivating, alongside the Great Universe Force she was constantly trying to comprehend—those were her real trump cards.

As for Zhang Ling's Great Universe Force, forget about Thanatos detecting it; even Ye Wen didn't know what kind of ability it was, as Zhang Ling had never used it.

However, Ye Wen had witnessed Zheng Ying's Great Universe Force. At that time, Cui Jun had even lent a hand when Zheng Ying triggered it; he wasn't sure if it was related, but the triggered ability perfectly matched his innate power—the Purple-Green Doushuai Fire, a flame rarely seen even in the Heavenly Realm.

It was just that Zheng Ying’s current strength couldn't unleash the full might of this flame. If he could truly master it, the Shu Mountain Sect wouldn't have to worry about a fire source for refining magical treasures in the future. Furthermore, this flame was immensely powerful in combat; anyone merely touched by it was doomed.

Emerging from the training arena and returning to their quarters, before Ye Wen could even set Yuwen Tuo down, he saw Athena—a woman who often gave him a headache—standing there.

"You're back rather early today!" As one of the main gods of Mount Olympus, Athena was fully aware of Ye Wen's daily routine, knowing he would go to the arena to instruct his disciple and only return at sunset.

She was surprised he was back barely past noon, but a glance down at Yuwen Tuo, still showing foam around his mouth, immediately explained the early return: "It seems you don't go easy on your own disciple!" News of what Ye Wen had been doing in the Aegean Sea over the past few days had long spread through various channels to certain parties, including the fact that Ye Wen had slaughtered thousands of Sea Clan soldiers, instantly killed the Sea Witch Siren with one move, and even fought the Sea Emperor Poseidon to a standstill, forcing him to retreat.

These incidents had caused quite a stir on Mount Olympus, especially the crucial context: all of it stemmed from the Sea Clan attempting to seize the Moon Goddess Artemis, and Ye Wen stepping forward to defend his woman, as Artemis's fiancé, to commit all those acts.

Initially, most Olympians found it hard to believe Ye Wen could accomplish such feats! It wasn't that they doubted his chivalry, but rather his capability. Even though he had once defeated Artemis in a single move under everyone’s watchful eyes.

But compared to the first point—slaughtering thousands of elite Sea Clan soldiers (although Artemis had eliminated a large portion herself, no one paid attention to that)—instantly killing the Sea Witch Siren, a figure that troubled countless gods, was unbelievable. Even the demigods of Mount Olympus dared not venture into Siren's territory, and if they absolutely had to pass through, they would choose detours for their routes; engaging with and forcing the Sea Emperor Poseidon to return without success was a completely different level.

If the first point was barely acceptable, the second and third events seemed utterly impossible to them—they must be fabricated rumors spread by certain individuals—though they were puzzled about the motive for spreading such rumors besides tarnishing the glory of the Olympian gods?

"This must be a conspiracy by that Easterner!" The consensus they finally reached was just that. Unfortunately, accurate news soon arrived from the Aegean Sea: the Sea Witch Siren had indeed been killed by Ye Wen, and Poseidon had returned to his underwater palace in a furious rage. Furthermore, the Sea Clan soldiers were undergoing some reorganization, seemingly to fill vacancies.

All signs indicated that the previous rumors were more than just talk. This man from the East, Ye Wen, had truly accomplished so much to protect his woman.

"What a real man!" Surprisingly, once they confirmed these events were true, the brawny figures of Mount Olympus unexpectedly developed a favorable impression of Ye Wen. Many would greet him proactively when they saw him, some even inviting him for drinks, much to Ye Wen's confusion, as he had no idea what was happening.

It wasn't until Shen Gongbao approached him to inquire that he learned the exploits he’d committed had spread throughout Olympus. He, who had been solely focused on teaching his disciple, was the last to know about the shifts on the mountain.

Athena was naturally aware of all this. When she saw Ye Wen today, she approached him with a playful smile: "I originally thought you disliked Artemis, but I guess I was mistaken!" In the eyes of this Goddess of Wisdom, if Ye Wen didn't hold affection for the Moon Goddess, it seemed unlikely he would undertake so many deeds for her sake. Moreover, almost everyone on Olympus now considered Artemis Ye Wen's private property, as his actions had branded the Moon Goddess with his mark. Even if he truly didn't intend it, and even if Artemis herself didn't acknowledge it, it was futile!

Zeus’s decree, followed by what transpired, had essentially put a final period on the matter: Artemis belongs to Ye Wen! That was it. No one dared to object, lest they weigh their own strength against Poseidon's and judge whether they could withstand the fury of someone as formidable as Ye Wen?

None of them believed Ye Wen’s temper would be as mild as that of Hephaestus (who, upon discovering his wife's affair with Ares, did nothing more than capture and publicly display them both, hoping this would curb Aphrodite’s behavior, only to find the Goddess of Beauty and Love simply giving up on decorum). Relying on such a slim probability was less viable than hoping to become stronger than Ye Wen himself.

Ye Wen covered his forehead, pinching his temples with his fingers: "Say whatever you want. You won't believe whatever I explain anyway!" Athena let out a light laugh. "Actually, I believe you!" With her wisdom, she could certainly grasp the key points. She had long observed that Ye Wen was passively drawn into these events. The circumstances forced Ye Wen to act; he was treated as an obstruction, so should he just stand there and wait to be killed? From Athena's observations over these days, this Eastern man was not an idiot.

Therefore, Ye Wen must have been forced to fight in self-defense, but because it coincided with this specific backdrop, some things became hard to articulate clearly.

The gods of Mount Olympus, in essence, possessed a romantic streak. Who would want to believe that something so romantic was actually rooted in cruel, cold fact? They preferred to believe what was presented on the surface; at least that appeared more romantic.

Truly calm individuals weren't absent, but they wouldn't voice their opinions. Athena, for instance, was the primary culprit behind how this situation developed.

Zeus, the King of the Gods, was the biggest accomplice. This current state of affairs might be exactly what he relished most; Zeus, who wished for things to become more interesting, certainly wouldn't speak up.

"Has Artemis not come looking for you recently?" Athena's smile grew brighter. "I didn't expect that woman to feel shy too!" In truth, Artemis hadn't appeared recently for two reasons: first, to adapt to the two weapons Ye Wen had gifted her, and second, to avoid implication! Since no explanation she offered was heard, she decided to offer none at all. As long as she maintained no interaction with Ye Wen, the issue would fade over time... Besides, Ye Wen would certainly leave Mount Olympus eventually; she only needed to endure for a while longer.

Artemis even took the drastic step of taking her chariot out for a hunt, telling no one her destination. She was confident that by the time she returned, the resulting storm would have subsided.

Ye Wen knew about this, not because he inquired, but because the gossipy Olympians rushed to inform him of Artemis’s whereabouts the moment they saw him.

As a result, Ye Wen was now somewhat afraid to roam around, spending his days either confined to his palace or at the arena teaching his disciple. This was because whenever he ran into a god, the conversation would inevitably drift toward the Moon Goddess within a few sentences.

Odysseus: "Hey, Ye Wen! Want to grab a drink? Let me tell you, Lady Artemis seems a bit down lately; you should spend more time with her... I thought I just saw her heading toward the forest!" Heracles: "Ha, we're going to have a strength contest, want to join? Oh, right, shouldn't you be looking for Lady Moon Goddess now? I think I saw her heading towards the Pantheon?" Achilles: "I just left Lady Moon Goddess’s quarters; she doesn't seem to be in a great mood. Be gentle when you go, maybe bringing a gift would be a good idea..."

Ye Wen: "..." As a result, he was too scared to move around, ultimately hiding obediently in his residence, but he couldn't hide from Athena showing up.

"Did you come here just to talk about these things?"

Ye Wen’s gaze subtly drifted backward. Whether it was an illusion or not, Zhang Ling actually adjusted her glasses with her hand, and as she did so, the utterly unremarkable lens seemed to flash.

"Of course not. I came to see you on official business!" Athena glanced at Yuwen Tuo, who was casually tossed aside by Ye Wen, then deliberately frowned: "Is the first Gold Saint among my first generation truly so vulnerable?"

Ye Wen didn't care: "You must understand, the enemies these Saints will face are merely human. Even if we teach them some special abilities, they are still human... If a human could easily withstand a strike from a god, wouldn't that make you worry even more?"

Athena, of course, realized this point; she had only said that deliberately just now. Seeing Ye Wen state the fact so bluntly, the Goddess of Wisdom showed a rare, slightly coquettish demeanor: "Can't you humor me a little? Am I not a beautiful woman?"

"Of course not!" Athena assumed Ye Wen was agreeing that she was a beautiful woman, but she hadn't expected the man’s next words, which nearly sent her into a rage.

"I don't go around flattering every woman..." The implication was clear: Ye Wen certainly wasn't going to flatter her, adding the next statement meant: You are not a woman worth flattering. As for her beauty? Who cared?

Athena’s temperament wasn't inherently good, nor was she overly magnanimous; she was even rather petty... She had once competed with Queen Hera and Aphrodite over who was more beautiful, even deliberately bribing the poor soul chosen as the judge. This showed the goddess placed significant importance on her own looks—perhaps the only one on Mount Olympus unconcerned with her appearance was Artemis?

Now, Ye Wen had disregarded her beauty right to her face, which infuriated her. However, she maintained a smiling facade, while secretly planning how to deal with this man and show him her power.

Unfortunately, this little scheme did not escape Ye Wen's notice. He then assumed the posture of a meditating monk, sat down, closed his eyes, and started playing dead.

"If there is nothing else, then I shall retire!" Knowing this woman intended to cause trouble, Ye Wen was unwilling to get further entangled with her. It was better to create distance first, but unfortunately, Athena wouldn't let him off so easily.

Her eyes darted, and Athena thought of a new approach: "Actually, I have arranged a new residence for you. You must find living on Mount Olympus uncomfortable, right?"

"Hmm?" This topic did pique Ye Wen's interest. He indeed felt unaccustomed here; after all, it was someone else's territory, and he had more reservations about his actions.

"The Sanctuary in the mortal world has begun preliminary construction, but it lacks someone to manage the first batch of Saints. Moreover, they require a teacher to instruct them in the Cosmo. You can’t possibly refuse this matter now, can you?"

Athena deliberately sat down in front of Ye Wen, then elegantly lifted one slender leg, crossing it over the other. Her soft, white feet, clad only in strapped high-heeled sandals, swayed gently before Ye Wen: "How about it? Suitable?"

Unfortunately, Ye Wen didn't even open his eyes, muttering a distracted "Ah," to brush her off. However, even without opening his eyes, he could sense Zhang Ling standing nearby, her glasses flashing again, followed by the motion of her hand reaching up to adjust them. This movement caused Ye Wen considerable internal conflict.

Seeing that Ye Wen wouldn't even look at her, Athena's temper flared. She stood up abruptly and tossed out, "In that case, prepare yourself! We leave tomorrow morning for the Sanctuary built for me by mortals. I will issue a divine oracle in advance to have those mortals receive you!" Ye Wen was more decisive than her: "No need. We can leave right now. I suspect your oracle has already been sent!" Staying on Mount Olympus, he estimated he would collapse first; it was better to go directly to the Sanctuary.

Athena didn't object, but she pointed at Ye Wen’s clothes: "However, you need to change your attire. This Eastern-style garment..." it might cause some misunderstanding! In a Sanctuary dedicated to the Olympian gods, wearing a long robe wasn't exactly appropriate.

Ye Wen considered it and agreed. Finally, he decided, "Just find any Gold Cloth for me!" In this situation, this was actually more in line with Athena’s requirements. If a god-like existence like Ye Wen was hidden among the Saints, the Sanctuary would almost certainly be victorious. Although it was just a game, Athena didn't want to lose.

"That's for the best!" Out of all her interactions with him here, this was the one thing that truly pleased the goddess: "Then, which one do you desire?"

Ye Wen stroked his chin in thought, then turned to Zhang Ling: "Master, which Saint Cloth do you think suits me?"

Zhang Ling tapped the frame of her glasses with a finger, then looked at Ye Wen and stated with firm conviction, "Taurus!"

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