Chapter 61: Traversing Once More, A Parallel World

As a Saint who has awakened the Seventh Sense, the light-speed punch is considered the foundation of all techniques. Yet, owing to the unique secrets embedded within each Cloth, every Saint's light-speed punch is distinct. Feng Zhe's Cloth does not enhance his power as much as the Capricorn Gold Cloth does, but being one of the four special Silver Cloths, his light-speed punch carries the sacred fire, giving it an incendiary effect.

Thus, when Feng Zhe became serious and his cosmos ignited, the constellation of the Altar appeared, and he shouted aloud.

Sacred Fire Light-Speed Punch!

Countless flames intertwined within the light-speed punch, weaving a dense net that swept forward.

“No matter what kind of light-speed punch you wield, before my Sacred Sword, it will freeze and shatter!” came the retort.

Sacred Sword!

Capricorn Shura unleashed his Sacred Sword once more, and at the moment the blade descended, it collided with the Sacred Fire Light-Speed Punch, erupting in a dazzling burst of light.

The net formed by the light-speed punches was severed with a single stroke of the Sacred Sword.

Just as Shura’s lips curled into a smile, a burning sensation flared in his lower abdomen. Looking down, he realized he’d been struck by a punch.

Pain followed swiftly, forcing Shura to clutch his abdomen in shock. “How did you manage that?”

“The same technique can never be used twice against a Saint!” Feng Zhe replied lightly, though the truth was far more complex.

This law of ineffectiveness stems from the extraordinary vision, perception, and reaction speed of the Saints. The stronger the Saint, the sharper his senses. Upon awakening the Seventh Sense, one can perceive every flaw from a godlike vantage.

Conversely, the openings in an attack diminish as the Saint grows stronger, almost disappearing entirely.

When both sides have awakened the Seventh Sense, flaws and perception reach their utmost limit. This is why battles between Gold Saints often devolve into endless duels.

But when the difference in strength is vast, this law loses its power.

“I underestimated you,” Shura admitted, realizing that the Altar Saint before him was no ordinary Silver Saint, but one with the strength of a Gold Saint.

Shura grew solemn, raised his arms again, and swung down.

Sacred Sword!

This time, the Sacred Sword was entirely different. Not only his arms, but even his legs could unleash sword strikes.

The concentrated sword light emanating from the Sword Saint enveloped Feng Zhe completely—no matter which way he tried to escape, the dense sword light would slice him in two.

Sacrifice!

Infernal Azure Flame!

The altar constellation appeared once more, mysterious flames ignited upon the sacred altar, and flames capable of incinerating all things flared around Feng Zhe.

This was the altar’s ultimate secret—Infernal Azure Flame!

Now, no matter how much sword light, it would all be consumed by these flames.

At this moment, they were locked in a protracted struggle...

Would the Sacred Sword, through the flames, break the sacred fire and deliver a fatal blow to Feng Zhe, or would its own force rebound, shattering the sword and defeating Capricorn Shura?

The outcome would hinge on the power of their cosmos...

Neither showed the slightest sign of retreat; both burned their cosmos to the fullest, the radiance engulfing the entire Capricorn Palace.

At the crucial moment, Deathmask appeared near the Capricorn Palace.

His eyes glowed blood-red, wild and deranged.

“I’ll kill you! I’ll eradicate everything!”

Suddenly, thick fog surged around the palace, enshrouding Feng Zhe and Shura in their battle.

“This is... tangible Deathly Aura!”

Feng Zhe instantly recognized the fog as countless fragments of souls forming the Deathly Aura.

But, pouring all his strength into his battle, Feng Zhe had no energy left to resist.

A nearly madman screamed aloud.

Deathly Aura Underworld Surge!

In an instant, the Deathly Aura converged upon the Altar Cloth, igniting as if set alight.

A tremendous explosion erupted.

The Altar Cloth was blown to pieces.

Soon after, the Sacred Sword pierced through the flames, slicing Feng Zhe’s body into countless fragments—dead beyond all hope.

“Have I died again?”

“To think I awakened the Seventh Sense only to be slain by two Gold Saints... What a damn shame...”

Suddenly, a pattern resembling an hourglass appeared before Feng Zhe.

“This is... the God of Time, Chronos?”

Feng Zhe’s severed body began to reverse in time...

Like assembling building blocks, he rapidly returned to his original form, the Altar restored as well.

Just as Feng Zhe was lost in confusion, a wave of dizziness overtook him and he slipped into unconsciousness.

...

Parallel Universe

Twentieth Century

“Brother...”

“Your Holiness...”

In a haze, he heard the voice of a sweet, gentle girl and another, unmistakably male.

Feng Zhe jolted awake, sitting up abruptly.

He exclaimed, “Miss Saori?”

Indeed, before him was the sweet, gentle girl he had not seen for a long time—Miss Saori.

“Brother, what are you saying? I’m Saori!” The girl’s voice was near tears, and as she gripped Feng Zhe’s hand, her touch was feeble... and sweaty.

“Saori?”

Though her appearance was identical to Miss Saori, even the cosmos she inadvertently revealed matched Athena’s exactly.

Clearly, this girl was Athena’s reincarnation.

“His Holiness fought fiercely with Minos of the Heavenly Star and suffered a head injury—it seems he’s lost his memory!” At this moment, Feng Zhe noticed the Gold Saint beside him.

He exclaimed again, “You are... Avenir!”

Correct, this Gold Saint before him was Aries Avenir.

“Your Holiness, are you feeling better?” Avenir smiled, then looked to Saori. “My Lady Athena, it seems His Holiness is recovering better than expected.”

“But Brother’s cosmos seems so weak now...” Saori began to cry again, looking even more fragile.

Feng Zhe’s mind was thrown into chaos. He asked, “What year is it now?”

“It’s the twentieth century, Brother... You’re really not well...” Saori’s reply made Feng Zhe feel as though he’d plunged into a freezing abyss.

The twentieth century—connecting this with the presence of Avenir, Feng Zhe now understood where he was.

He was in Avenir’s timeline. Most crucially, in this Holy War, Sanctuary was defeated, and both the Pope and Athena were beheaded.

It was due to this defeat that Avenir traveled to the Holy War five hundred years prior, leaving the Aries Cloth in that era.

But now...

He was the Pope of Sanctuary, and before him, Saori was Athena.

His fate, then, was to be the beheaded Pope...

Sweat poured down Feng Zhe’s face, and his body trembled involuntarily, whether from terror or rage he could not tell.

“Brother’s sick again—sometimes hot, sometimes cold, and now he’s trembling...” Saori touched his face, tears welling in her eyes...