as he followed behind her, Jiang Chen couldn't help but look toward the temple. Though he had felt her presence before, now that he was truly going to meet the Goddess of Wisdom, and future Goddess of Earth, face to face, he couldn't help but feel a touch of nervousness. After all, no matter how strong he had become now, he still couldn't compare to her.
Amidst his nervousness, the two quickly flew past the Sacred Mountain and arrived at Athena's Temple.
"Come in."
Just as they landed, a gentle voice echoed from within the temple. Jiang Chen took a deep breath to steady himself and stepped inside.
Compared to its future counterpart, the Athena Temple was undoubtedly brighter and more magnificent.
A huge crimson carpet extended from deep within the hall, lined on both sides with vibrant flowers and fluttering tiny fairies, giving the entire space an incredibly serene and welcoming aura.
Following the path of the red carpet, Jiang Chen walked forward,
And for the first time, he laid eyes on the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena.
Athena possessed a noble and graceful beauty. She wore a helmet that shimmered with radiant light, a gorgeous silk gown, and held in her hand a golden staff. Her appearance exuded wisdom and majesty, evoking a feeling of thoughtfulness and clarity. Her eyes reflected keen intellect and decisive will.
At that moment, her gentle gaze fell upon Jiang Chen, accompanied by a calm and faint smile.
"Lady Athena!" As her gaze settled on him, Jiang Chen immediately bowed in respect.
"There's no need for formality. You must be a Spiritual God too, am I right?" Athena's soft voice rang out and the words caused Jiang Chen's brows to tighten slightly.
"No need to be nervous. This world has many Spiritual Gods. I do not reject them. And besides... you belong to my Sanctuary, do you not?" Her warm tone eased Jiang Chen's heart somewhat.
"Lady Athena... may I ask why you summoned me?" Jiang Chen took a deep breath and asked, still somewhat uncertain.
"It's like this, Hades seems to have encountered some trouble. Father has asked me to assist him, but I'm currently unable to leave. So, I would like you to go in my place."
Athena paused slightly before speaking.
"Hades...?" Jiang Chen's expression changed.
"Yes. Would you be willing?" Athena nodded slightly, her gaze focused on him.
"I follow your will, Lady Athena." Jiang Chen bowed again, showing no intention of refusing.
"Good. Then I'll entrust it to you. As thanks... let me give you this." Athena nodded and, as if remembering something, waved her hand lightly.
In the next moment, a single drop of blood flew from her location and landed directly onto Jiang Chen's Golden Sacred Cloth.
"This is...?"
Feeling the immense power contained in that single drop of blood, Jiang Chen's pupils couldn't help but contract again.
"Comprehend it well. This drop of blood may be enough to trigger another evolution in your Cloth." Athena's voice was still calm and warm.
"Many thanks, Lady Athena." Jiang Chen bowed deeply again in gratitude.
Athena waved her hand gently, and Jiang Chen quietly took his leave from Athena's Temple.
Once he reappeared outside, his heart was still subtly surging.
"Hades, huh... Damn. So Athena is actually working together with Hades right now?"
But it was only a brief ripple in his thoughts. Jiang Chen quickly calmed his mind.
After all, this era was not the same as the one in the future. Anything could happen.
More than that, what now captured his attention most… was that drop of Athena's blood.
Unlike the golden one she gave him before,
This time,
It was blood-red.
Strangely enough, this blood-red drop of divine blood did not fall short in power compared to the previous golden blood, instead, it contained an even stronger divine essence.
Clearly, the two originated from different types of power.
But more important than the color,
Was what this drop of blood represented.
"Looks like the Ophiuchus Gold Cloth might also be able to evolve!"
Murmuring to himself, Jiang Chen couldn't help but think of the God Cloths from the world of the Saints.
In the original manga, God Cloths appeared only when drenched in the blood of the Goddess and empowered by Cosmo reaching infinite magnitude (Eighth Sense).
They were the final form of a Saint's Cloth, an almost mythical evolution, and the closest combat garments to those of a god.
In the canon story, not only the five Bronze Saints, but also the twelve Gold Saints, all eventually gained their own God Cloths.
Compared to ordinary Sacred Clothes, the God Cloths' power was, without question, the true way humans could match the power of Spiritual Gods.
The Bronze Five, wearing God Cloths, had defeated not only two secondary gods, but ultimately triumphed over the King of Hell, Hades himself.
If Jiang Chen's Ophiuchus Gold Cloth could undergo the same transformation...
Then his power would certainly rise far beyond its current tier.
Of course, Jiang Chen also understood that awakening a God Cloth wasn't so simple. The Goddess's blood was only a prerequisite, not the final condition.
One still needed a Cosmo of infinite magnitude, which meant reaching the peak of the Eighth Sense; only then could one hope to truly awaken the God Cloth.
And as of now, Jiang Chen was still a distance away from that point. Shaking his head, he put those thoughts away for now.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chen returned home, packed a few things,
And then went to find Melchaba.
"Asclepius, you're leaving?" Melchaba asked in surprise.
"Yes. I need to make a trip to the Underworld Realm. I don't know how long I'll be gone… For now, I'll leave this power with you. It should be able to heal most injuries within Sanctuary." Jiang Chen nodded slightly and handed him the staff.
"I understand. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Sanctuary." Melchaba also nodded solemnly.
After bidding her farewell, Jiang Chen also went to see Jamil and expressed his gratitude.
It wasn't until evening fell, that Jiang Chen followed a subtle intuition and crossed over dimensions.
In an instant, he stepped out of the world of the living, and into the realm of the dead.
"Splash, "
Illusory waters flowed and in the skies above, one after another, rivers of the Underworld Realm wove across the heavens.
A deathly aura seeped through every corner, and it was as if this aura was trying to drag one's soul into the abyss.
Upon the massive, flowing rivers, ferrymen's boats floated quietly.
Along the shores, bright red otherworldly flowers, Higanbana (red spider lilies), bloomed in silence.
Countless souls drifted across the world.
This was,
The Underworld Realm.
Starting from the Acheron River, it branched out into the Eight Hells, the Three Valleys, and the Ten Trenches, forming four massive circles.
Every section was unimaginably vast, filled with boundless darkness and endless despair.
And only those who had awakened the Eighth Sense,
Could enter here.
(End of Chapter)
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