A human suddenly appeared, causing a momentary start among the Shushan disciples. However, they reacted swiftly; one immediately stepped forward and politely inquired about the visitor's purpose.

The newcomer seemed quite young, looking no older than sixteen or seventeen. He had fair skin, short brown hair, and wore clothes that appeared rather old and considerably worn, though they were just barely clean.

"Guided by the Goddess, I have come seeking the Cloth that belongs to me!"

"What in the world?" The Shushan disciple found that although the young man spoke in an Eastern tongue, he couldn't grasp the meaning of his words. "What Goddess?"

He knew of the Cloths; the Shushan sect had produced quite a few, and they weren't exactly secret—they even had a shop selling them over at Tianji Gate. Some disciples there sought a set just for novelty. However, the Sect Master had decreed that unless a disciple reached a certain cultivation level or contributed significantly to the sect, they wouldn't receive one. Thus, while the Cloth wasn't rare in Shushan, it wasn't something handed out to just anyone who asked.

To hear this young man of unknown origin speak with such a demanding tone as if to request such a treasure shocked the disciple. As for the youth’s appearance, the disciple barely registered it. Shushan disciples were seasoned; they’d seen all sorts of people. Shushan had every kind of person—never mind Black or White, there was even a disciple standing nearby who wasn't entirely human!

In truth, as the young man spoke, his gaze occasionally darted toward the white bear a short distance away. The bear noticed the prolonged stare, turned its head, and even greeted him. This caused the youth to freeze for a moment before awkwardly returning the gesture.

Turning back, the young man raised his head and declared a name: "The great Goddess of War and Wisdom, Her Excellency Athena!"

"Oh!" The Shushan disciple glanced back at his fellow disciples, noting their headshakes, before saying to the youth, "We don't know her!"

"..."

Did that sound slightly blasphemous? But the youth recalled the Goddess’s specific instructions before his departure: "The place you are going is extremely distant, and not a realm governed by the Olympians. There, you may not even receive the blessings of the Olympian Gods... Therefore, this journey will be very difficult. Are you certain you wish to go?"

At the time, he had nodded firmly, resolving to be prepared for whatever might come. Thus, he didn't show excessive agitation now; instead, he carefully recalled the Goddess’s instructions and then inquired, "Please, is there a powerful deity here called Ye Wen?"

In Athena’s briefing, this man named Ye Wen was a mighty Eastern deity whose strength could rival that of the great Goddess herself. He had come here to find this deity to obtain a Cloth suitable for himself. He didn't understand why a Cloth needed to travel to the distant East to be found, but upon hearing that the Eastern deity possessed power capable of contending with the Goddess, he wondered if he could seek guidance from this Eastern deity—perhaps to become even stronger himself? He kept these thoughts to himself, unsure if such contemplation counted as sacrilege against the Goddess.

Upon hearing the name Ye Wen, the Shushan disciples finally understood that the youth was looking for their Sect Master. After observing the young man's appearance and inquiring about his origin, they finally knew how to proceed.

Naturally, some disciples went to inform those inside, while those remaining stayed to entertain him. They intended to invite him into the hall to rest, but the youth’s attention remained fixed on the white bear.

"That is our sect's Guardian Divine Beast, named White Hero!"

"Guardian... Divine Beast?"

The youth stumbled over the words slightly, but his pronunciation was impeccable. He muttered the phrase a few times, and soon it came without difficulty. Yet, understanding the meaning behind those words would likely require a more thorough explanation from someone else.

As the youth walked closer, wisps of mist began to rise from his body, resembling a night sky dotted with countless stars. The silver-white light intensified, radiating waves of biting cold. With every step he took, currents of chill seemed to emanate, startling the Shushan disciples.

"Is this person perhaps ill-intentioned?"

Though their individual strengths were limited, these disciples had sharp eyes. Especially with the constant guidance from the senior masters practicing in the training grounds, they could discern that the youth possessed considerable power. What surprised them most was that this young man had appeared like an ordinary person moments before, seemingly without any specific training, save for being much more robust than average. They hadn't expected him to hide such strength. Furthermore, this power was not unfamiliar to them; it was identical to the power called Cosmos used by the sect's two Guardian Divine Beasts!

Just as the youth approached White Hero within about ten meters, he suddenly sensed an intense, formidable Cosmos erupting from the massive form opposite him, one that even caused him a measure of dread.

White Hero was casually sweeping the ground, but the silver-white Cosmos billowing from his body was utterly unrestrained. The cold radiating from him began to suppress the youth’s own chill. As the burly foreleg holding the broom swung, ice crystals reflecting the sunlight perpetually rained down—a magnificent sight quite at odds with the creature's bulky physique.

Seeing this, the Shushan disciples immediately suppressed the urge to call for help. Instead, they gathered to observe, murmuring amongst themselves, "Oh, we're about to see some action!"

"I must admit, I've never actually seen Hero fight; I wonder how strong he really is."

"I think... he should be fine?"

"Hey, judging by that kid's aura, he must be strong. Can Hero handle it?"

"Should be no problem. Look, Hero is clearly dominating the aura contest!"

...

The disciples pointed and discussed the current situation. In the arena, the auras of the man and the bear grew increasingly intense, and correspondingly, the front courtyard of Shushan became drastically colder. Several disciples even had to circulate their internal energy just to resist the piercing cold. The ground, which had just been swept clean, was now covered in a smooth layer of solid ice. White Hero and the youth stood facing each other on it, continuously boosting their Cosmos.

And when their Cosmos reached their peak, White Hero moved!

A small, fluffy thing, emerging from nowhere, yawned widely, then turned to look at White Hero beside him before suddenly swinging its foreleg. The green Cosmos that exploded forth instantly swept away the profound coldness enveloping the space. Then, a massive azure dragon coiled upward into the sky, accompanied by a long streak of crimson blood tracing its ascent, lifting White Hero high above.

Suddenly deprived of his target, the youth was momentarily lost. But when he recovered, he stared at the creature standing there—a thing barely palm-sized, which, in that instant, projected a towering presence like a mountain. This was because the force unleashed when that little thing threw its punch was something he had never encountered. Snapping back to reality, the youth felt cold sweat drenching him.

These moments passed in a flash. In the brief span, White Hero spiraled down and crashed onto the ground. Then, he simply sat up, though his eyes were spinning in circles and his head wobbled. It seemed the consequence of that single blow was merely a bout of dizziness. Noticing this, the youth’s cold sweat increased. He knew for certain that if he had taken that strike, he wouldn't have been unharmed.

However, seeing the little creature yawning incessantly, he surmised that the punch hadn't even been delivered with full strength. He couldn't imagine the sound and fury if it had been unleashed completely.

At this moment, Garfield, who was on the opposite side, spotted the youth. He waved at him, then staggered toward the main hall, nimbly climbing onto the roof to sprawl out in the sunniest spot.

"..."

When Ye Wen emerged from the rear, he saw a brown-haired youth standing stiffly, his mouth agape—a perfect portrait of a simpleton if one more trickle of drool were added.

"Ahem!"

Announcing his presence to draw the youth's attention, Ye Wen asked once the young man’s gaze settled on him, "Did Athena send you?"

"Ah!" The youth finally remembered his objective. He sized up Ye Wen from head to toe, confirming he matched the description given by the Goddess Athena. He immediately bowed respectfully, though the deference was noticeably less than what he would show Athena. Fortunately, Ye Wen didn't mind these formalities.

"Roca, trainee Saint of the Sanctuary!" he introduced himself during the bow.

Ye Wen nodded, indicating he understood. What concerned him more was why Athena would send a probationary Saint now. Was it truly just for a Cloth? Logically, Hephaestus also possessed the ability to forge Cloths. Although Mount Olympus was currently facing a reshuffling of power, such a change shouldn't affect the God of Fire and Craftsmen. Moreover, in a certain sense, Hephaestus didn't look favorably upon Zeus, and seeing him deposed might not be a bad thing for the smith god.

So, if Athena wanted a Cloth, why not simply have Hephaestus manufacture one? The methods for making Cloths were broadly similar; there was no absolute requirement to obtain the corresponding blueprint to forge one. It would just necessitate more materials, and the resulting defense and power would be somewhat inferior!

Hephaestus should be able to discern this. The Pegasus Cloth that Ye Wen had Shushan fabricate according to the drawings was essentially a perfect piece, flawless and highly defensive. Although the Gold Cloths were supposed to be of a higher tier than the Bronze Cloths, the gap between Hephaestus's forged Gold Cloths and that Pegasus Cloth was nearly negligible. Hephaestus wasn't foolish, and the shrewd Athena surely grasped the key point: Shushan possessed superior technology or a more detailed forging methodology to create a more perfect Cloth.

"Athena, did she ask you to convey anything?"

Loka felt a flicker of dissatisfaction at Ye Wen's casual use of the revered Goddess's name. But he also understood that for someone capable of conversing with the Goddess as an equal, Ye Wen was free to address her as he wished.

"Her Excellency says that what you desire has come to pass, and the final battle is approaching. However, the prerequisite is stabilizing the front line against Heaven. For this, we require even stronger fighters!"

These were Athena's words to Loka, but Loka did not grasp the deeper meaning. The Goddess had not explained, only instructed him to report everything to Ye Wen verbatim.

Upon hearing this, Ye Wen instantly understood the implications: what he desired was Ares's demise... who had been Ye Wen’s greatest potential adversary when he first went to Mount Olympus. The final battle referred to the struggle between Athena and Zeus for the position of the Olympian King. Thanks to Ye Wen’s mediation, Lucifer would participate, significantly increasing Athena's leverage. Furthermore, Ye Wen had secretly reached certain agreements with Hades—matters unknown to Athena, but Ye Wen was certain that Zeus was doomed this time. Athena and Lucifer would fight him openly, while Hades had maneuvers waiting in the wings!

Originally, Athena's plan involved using Hades to neutralize Poseidon. But with Ye Wen's involvement, the situation changed dramatically. While Poseidon was powerful, his ambition for the throne was not as intense, meaning Poseidon wouldn't risk his life in this fight. Therefore, there was no need to waste the powerful combat strength of Hades. Ye Wen had secretly instructed Yuwen Tuo to appropriately restrain Poseidon. He didn't need to engage the Sea God in a fierce battle; merely holding him back long enough for Hades to gain time was sufficient!

These were the arrangements made during his secret meeting with Hades. After this battle, Athena would not necessarily secure the position of King of the Gods, because Hades would also be secretly communicating with Poseidon. If things went smoothly, Poseidon might even join the siege against Zeus. Afterward, Mount Olympus would enter a period of rotating leadership! The position of God King would no longer be someone's exclusive property but would be awarded for century-long terms. Ye Wen had simplified the election process and proposed it. Athena, having just orchestrated a patricidal conflict, clearly wouldn't garner overwhelming support, allowing Hades to logically assume the role of the new God King.

Ye Wen hadn't pushed things too far; since each term was limited to a century, and no more than two terms consecutively, it meant Athena still had a chance to become the God King. Thus, she wouldn't excessively trouble Ye Wen, perhaps only feeling a touch frustrated—this was Ye Wen’s mild form of revenge, unlikely to provoke her into risking everything against him.

Finally, the statement about needing stronger fighters most likely meant that to secure the lines between the Olympian and Heavenly forces during the decisive battle against Zeus, the current contingent of Saints would find the task difficult. Therefore, she needed stronger fighters—at the very least, someone capable of completely replacing the now fully grown Pegasus Saint.

When Athena clashed with Zeus, the Pegasus Saint, being Zeus's reincarnation, naturally could not remain on the front line fighting the 'birds' of Heaven; Zeus would likely use some method to recall that sliver of divine consciousness. The current combat power displayed by the Pegasus Saint remained critically important. After a series of battles, the Pegasus Saint's strength had reached a near-demigod level, yet he was still human. Perhaps such power meant little to the Gods, but the Pegasus Saint was responsible for the human front. The confrontation between deities had the new War God Kratos; the Pegasus Saint wasn't needed there. But that didn't mean the Pegasus Saint was dispensable. Someone who could unleash God-level combat power in a short burst posed a considerable threat. Losing him suddenly would significantly impact the war effort. Thus, before the final battle, Athena hoped to find a replacement.

However, all of this was secondary in Ye Wen's mind. While this issue was somewhat troublesome, it shouldn't be enough to leave the wise Goddess in a bind. Yet, even so, she sent someone to Shushan. The true reason was likely an attempt to curry favor with him. Because, as Athena calculated, even if she killed Zeus, she would likely be heavily wounded, leaving Mount Olympus vulnerable for a time but unable to disengage. If she could 'invite' Ye Wen to Mount Olympus for a 'visit' during that period, her concerns would vanish.

Having run through all possibilities in his mind, Ye Wen smiled and said, "I see. That's hardly a difficult matter!" Then, he waved toward Loka, "Come with me!"

He walked directly to the training ground behind him, stopped in the center, and beckoned to Loka: "Attack me with your strongest move! I need to see if you are truly worthy of receiving the Cloth!"

Loka had initially assumed Ye Wen was leading him to claim the Cloth, so this sudden demand surprised him. But facing someone as powerful as the Goddess, he felt he had no reason to hold back. Having accepted this, Loka banished his reservations and channeled the Cosmos within him once more. Since it was winter, the surrounding snow and cold air were drawn to his Cosmos, finally coalescing into a spherical mass of energy resembling crystal.

"Oh? A Cosmos of the Ice element!" He had sensed this energy from the rear earlier and thought White Hero's Cosmos had improved again; it turned out to be infused with the youth's power.

But just as Ye Wen prepared to test the limits of this youth's strength, his expression abruptly changed, and he turned to look toward the mountain gate. He felt it—a burst of intensely scorching, powerful energy erupting at the gate, seemingly a declaration of war directed at him.

.: Fell into a stupor yesterday and actually slept the entire day... RO