Ye Wen paused his action. "I just wanted to wake you up. Is your mind clear now?" Her eyes, which were nearly swirling like stylized insect coils, still hadn't recovered, yet her mouth didn't miss a beat: "My mind has always been perfectly clear!" Ye Wen held deep reservations about this claim, but he didn't have the time to argue over such trivialities. After stopping his shaking, he placed Mino directly in front of him. Mino, who had been so violently jostled that she almost vomited, didn't have the right to refuse—she obediently sat down before Ye Wen.

Unfortunately, the girl had no sense of restraint whatsoever. "As expected, muscle-heads are the worst. Not only are they not handsome, but they also resort to violence against someone as delicate as me..."

"Are you done yet?" Ye Wen felt as if he could see massive ideograms of the character for 'anger' forming on his forehead. He had an urge to send this creature straight into dust with a single punch, just to see if her cursed Immortal Body could withstand his full-force strike.

Thankfully, this girl named Mino wasn't completely foolish. Seeing the fist nearly as large as her face, even though she knew about her Immortal Body, she knew being battered by it would be anything but comfortable.

I'm not some trashy bone that enjoys being beaten! she thought to herself, closing her mouth tightly and straightening her back, knees pressed together, sitting perfectly before Ye Wen. However, her bright, lively eyes continued to dart about; she was likely plotting some mischief.

Ye Wen couldn't be bothered to say anything more to her. As long as she would honestly tell him what he wanted to know, that was enough. As for what schemes the girl was hatching, he truly didn't want to dwell on it. "You Specters of Hades... you were all ordinary people before, right?" Unsure how to begin, Ye Wen decided to probe based on their identity as Specters. According to the original setting, Specters were ordinary people before their awakening; only after awakening did they participate in battles as Specters.

But who knew how Hades of this world would operate? After all, he had only explained the broad strokes and not the specifics of execution. Ye Wen hadn't asked the main Gods how they planned to proceed, as he didn't want to interfere too much; that might give these proud deities the feeling of being manipulated in the palm of Ye Wen’s hand—and that wouldn't do.

"How is that possible?"

Mino immediately negated Ye Wen's guess the moment she spoke. But only after speaking did she realize that these words shouldn't have been spoken to a Gold Saint! After all, in a sense, the Gold Saints were the sworn enemies of the Specters, yet here they were, sitting together chatting?

Damn it, this isn't Old Sheep and Dohko reminiscing! she secretly cursed herself while simultaneously preening in self-praise: It's only because my reaction was so fast! I answered immediately! If I entered a quiz competition, I'd be the guaranteed champion!

Ye Wen, unaware of what the girl was thinking, looked on, focusing instead on the word of negation: "Not ordinary people? Then are you residents of the Underworld? But what residents does the Underworld have?" After much thought, only one possibility surfaced: "You mean... you were all the deceased?" That seemed the most plausible answer. The Underworld lacked for nothing except the dead. Therefore, selecting Specters with powerful souls from among the dead spirits in the Underworld perfectly fit the style of Hades, the Lord of the Dead.

Furthermore, if the deceased became Specters, they would gain a chance at rebirth. They would naturally be grateful to Hades for granting them this new life, making their loyalty far more assured than those chosen from ordinary humans.

This also seemed to explain this girl’s origin!

The world of the Immortals—or the Divine Realm, as it was known in the West—was not entirely disconnected from Earth. And the closest link wasn't the world they currently inhabited, but rather the subsidiary space resembling a small world that symbolized the deceased—that place had a far tighter connection to Earth than this current world.

When Earthlings died, it was possible for their souls to arrive in the Underworld or Hell of this world, and then reincarnate here. This explained why Wuzhen, after reaching Nirvana through strict seclusion, was reborn here. Even if it was due to his deep practice of Buddhism, if the two worlds had no connection, he couldn't have transferred across.

In fact, Ye Wen's guess was spot on. After Mino died in her previous life, her soul did not enter the cycle of reincarnation on Earth; instead, she was inexplicably drawn to the Underworld of this world. However, Hades’ Underworld rarely allowed the deceased to reincarnate; they were usually arranged in certain places for an almost endless slumber.

It was only recently, when Hades needed to select Specters, that most of these slumbering spirits were awakened and told they had an exceptional opportunity. If chosen, they would receive a second life and eternally serve Lord Hades. To avoid future trouble, this promise meant that this same group would participate in every Holy War. After all, for the King of the Dead who oversaw the deceased, even if they fell in battle, their souls could be preserved, awaiting the next resurrection.

Mino was the standout talent among the awakened spirits. Of course, she must have had some unique fortuitous encounter—it was almost inevitable. Otherwise, how could an ordinary girl emerge victorious in such a treacherous environment, even becoming one of the Three Judges?

Seeing that Ye Wen had guessed the truth, Mino didn't deny it. Instead, she expressed surprise: "Oh? So you're quite clever too? Seeing your bulk, I thought you were just a blockhead!"

"..."

Ye Wen extended his right hand, his open palm raised high. His visibly trembling arm showed the immense willpower required to stop himself from swinging it.

At virtually the same instant, the girl opposite dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead against the backs of her hands: "I was wrong, O Great Taurus!" When Ekaterina and returned with the food they had found, they witnessed this very scene.

In their minds, two completely different conclusions formed instantly.

Ekaterina: Uncle Bull actually made that Specter kowtow and admit defeat? Uncle Bull is still as omnipotent as ever!

Nice: Gold Saint Lord actually made a Specter kowtow and admit fault? Gold Saint Lord truly lives up to his title as the strongest Gold Saint of the Sanctuary, Athena’s divine messenger! He must have enlightened the Specter with the Goddess’s radiance—truly... deeply admirable!

The two of them glanced, then withdrew their gaze, setting up a nearby campfire and beginning to smoke and roast the prepared food, while Ye Wen continued to question Mino.

"What's the deal with your Immortal Body?" Ye Wen had a theory, but it seemed a bit far-fetched, as achieving that feat wasn't easy.

Mino proudly tilted her chin up; it was clear the Immortal Body was a point of great pride for her. "Have you ever heard of the River Styx?"

"The River Styx..." Ye Wen muttered inwardly, So, this girl's immortality is indeed connected to that thing. But he couldn't fathom it—that was something from the true Underworld. Logically, this 'Pseudo-Underworld,' constructed purely for a game, shouldn't possess such an item.

Moreover, that demigod on Mount Olympus only managed to soak in the waters of the Styx with the help of his mother. If an ordinary person rashly jumped into the river, there was only one outcome: being dragged down by the endless vengeful spirits in the river and never escaping.

However, regardless of how this girl managed to soak in the Styx without any adverse effects, this fact made Ye Wen understand one thing: this girl didn't possess true immortality; rather, her body was nearly impervious to harm. If one truly wished to kill her, Ye Wen had plenty of methods. Besides relying on overwhelming power to crush her physically, spiritual attacks like the Six Paths of Reincarnation and techniques that directly targeted the soul could inflict fatal damage.

"I see..." Ye Wen paused. "Although I'm not very familiar with Cancer's techniques, I can still execute them. If you don't want to suffer, you'd better behave from now on and stop causing any more strange incidents!"

Mino flinched, her expression showing genuine shock.

She couldn't help being surprised. She hadn't expected that by merely mentioning the River Styx, the Taurus opposite her would immediately see through her weakness. Referencing Cancer's techniques clearly meant he knew how to invoke attacks that targeted the soul—Cancer's ultimate moves almost all directly attacked the enemy's spirit.

Mino generally paid little heed to most of the twelve Gold Saints, reserving significant caution only for Cancer and Virgo, with Cancer ranked first. She never anticipated that before even encountering Cancer, whose abilities were almost a natural counter to her current body, she would run into an even more monstrous Taurus—one who knew the ultimate moves of Libra and Aries, and somehow even the bizarre techniques of that dead crab, Cancer?

If she knew that Ye Wen also understood Virgo's Six Paths of Reincarnation, she might completely break down, lamenting her terrible luck for failing to check the calendar before going out and running into such an enemy.

The questioning was mostly done, and Ekaterina and Nice had finished preparing the food, handing it over to Ye Wen. Ye Wen casually passed a rabbit leg to Mino, and the group sat quietly, consuming their respective meals.

Ye Wen didn't actually require sustenance, but to avoid appearing too peculiar, he ate a small amount. Even so, after finishing, Mino scornfully remarked, "Such a huge guy only eats this little? Less than I did! I don't know how you built those muscles. Are they fake?"

"..." That comment actually made Ye Wen feel a bit awkward. Although his muscles were genuine, they were summoned through arcane arts. In his true form, he didn't possess such exaggerated height and intimidating musculature. The original Ye Wen had an average build; wearing long robes, he even carried a slight scholarly air. Or, to put it less kindly, he looked a bit frail...

He remained silent, letting the girl guess whatever she wanted. Unfortunately, seeing his silence, Mino immediately unleashed the words she'd been holding back: "Say, why do you follow the orders of that woman Athena? You should know she means you no good. To her, you are merely pieces on a game board..."

Her words provoked a fierce reaction from Pegasus. The young Bronze Saint, Athena's foremost gossip hound, nearly erupted into the Eighth Sense and unleashed an attack that would stun even a Gold Saint.

Fortunately, both Ekaterina and Ye Wen stopped him simultaneously. However, Ye Wen noticed Ekaterina's expression had also soured—not out of displeasure with Mino's remarks, but rather with a look of confusion. He suddenly realized that if Mino continued speaking like this, the Holy War might not even have started before the Sanctuary fell into chaos.

Glancing around and confirming he was safe, Mino resumed her verbal assault! "Look, you're supposedly the ultimate power of the Sanctuary, the strongest warriors, yet that woman sends you to a place completely controlled by the enemy to die! Has she never considered that such actions could lead to unnecessary casualties among her Gold Saints?"

"That’s not true... Actually, she doesn't..." Wait, what are you doing? Stop grabbing my collar!"

"I have something to discuss with you privately!" Ye Wen instantly grabbed the tattered part of Mino's damaged Cloth, lifting her into the air. Mino, still in a seated position relative to the ground, was carried by Ye Wen as he strode into the nearby darkness, under the astonished gazes of Ekaterina and Nice.

He dared not let Mino continue speaking. The girl was waging a propaganda war! If he allowed her to keep spouting nonsense, the Gold Saints might genuinely be incited to rebellion. After all, this was the very first Holy War; the Saints’ loyalty to Athena wasn't absolute yet, and Athena's recent actions were indeed strange enough to invite misinterpretation.

It was fortunate that the companions at that moment were the fanatically devoted Pegasus and Ekaterina, who was inexplicably drawn into this Holy War. Had it been a different Saint, one who developed dissatisfaction with the Goddess due to these words and defected to the Specter Army, the consequences would have been disastrous. Not that such an event couldn't happen, but it absolutely shouldn't happen during the first Holy War, as the negative impact would be too severe.

It seems I need to clarify a few things with this girl! At the very least, I cannot allow her to continue acting so recklessly.

Confirming that he was out of sight and earshot of Ekaterina and Nice, Ye Wen released his grip. Mino fell cleanly and sharply to the ground.

"Ouch! That hurts, you brute!" Falling sideways, Mino adopted a pained expression, supporting herself with one hand while placing the other on her cheek. "It seems I couldn't escape this fate after all. Oh well, he is my beloved Gold Grasshopper!"

Ye Wen was becoming somewhat immune to Mino’s antics. Ignoring her self-muttering and her dramatic posture of grim acceptance—eyes closed, chin held high, chest puffed out—he directly removed his helmet, revealing the face hidden beneath.

Half-b-e-a-s-t...

"Would you mind opening your eyes?" Looking at Mino, who was still striking a pose with her eyes tightly shut, Ye Wen felt utterly helpless.

"Don't be rude! I am a lady, after all..." Despite her words, her actions betrayed her. She instantly snapped her eyes open, looking utterly expectant. Her eyes, nearly glowing green, scanned Ye Wen's body, but all she saw was the fully armored Gold Cloth.

Finally, her gaze drifted to Ye Wen's face. Under the moonlight, Mino finally saw Ye Wen's true appearance clearly, and she froze, unable to recover for a long moment.

"Impossible?"

"What's impossible about it?" To test her, Ye Wen deliberately spoke in Chinese. The moment he did, the girl opposite him was utterly stunned into silence.

After another long pause...

"So, the original Taurus was an Easterner?" Mino suddenly sprang up, examining Ye Wen from top to bottom. Her whispered words also switched to Chinese: "I never expected to hear my mother tongue! It sounds so familiar! By the way, where is your hometown from?"

"..."

Ye Wen was completely resigned to this girl's erratic nature. Hadn't she realized the ear thing yet?

Just as he thought that, Mino, who had been circling him, stopped abruptly. She stared at him suspiciously for a while, then suddenly asked in an uncertain tone, "You... you aren't also..."

"You finally realized it?"

Ye Wen felt like he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. This girl was truly a headache.

"Huh? I didn't think I’d run into someone from the 'Transmigration' clan, and a Goddess fan no less! Watch how I eliminate this filthy existence..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Mino was slammed to the ground by a heavy punch. "Listen to people finish their sentences!"

Coughing lightly, Ye Wen asked, "You always thought you arrived in the world of Saint Seiya, right?" Mino, looking utterly aggrieved, nodded tearfully while mumbling quietly about how it wasn't her lack of effort, but the enemy being too strong.

Ye Wen suppressed the urge to throw another punch and directly stated the fact that shocked Mino: "Actually, this isn't the so-called world of Saint Seiya. This is the Divine Realm, the world where the Olympian Gods reside... Of course, that's the land beneath our feet. Further west is under Heaven's jurisdiction. In the East, it falls under the management of the Celestial Court. By our customs, this world is also called the Immortal Realm..."

"Huh?" Mino's mouth gaped wide. She now understood the implication of Ye Wen's words!

……………………

A book recommendation: Mad Movie Pioneer Q Assist 8

We are no longer simply choosing movies we like to watch; we can choose the favorite character from that movie and follow his perspective tightly. Whether he is eating, chatting, or drinking tea in everyday life, or rising through the ranks and fighting battles in extraordinary times, we can empathize with him and experience a wondrous journey together.

I only know that when that day comes, the mundane concept of 'movie' will drive the entire world into a frenzy!