Chapter 9: Persuading Tong Hu

In an instant, the aura around Tonghu erupted, sending out a violent storm so fierce that Wang Hu and Zilong could not open their eyes. Yellow light radiated outward from within, beams gathering around Tonghu, clearly indicating he was on the verge of fury.

The overwhelming pressure forced Feng Zhe to retreat step by step. Just then, the Cloth Box behind him burst forth with a dazzling white light, and the Altar Cloth soared into the sky. After the brilliant flash, the Altar Cloth disassembled and then clad itself upon Feng Zhe.

The powerful brilliance of a Silver Saint immediately resisted Tonghu's aura and even seemed, faintly, to suppress him. Wang Hu and Zilong, utterly bewildered, narrowed their eyes, never having imagined that Feng Zhe could stand toe to toe with Tonghu.

Only Feng Zhe understood that, under Athena’s bestowed feigned death technique, the Tonghu before him possessed, at best, the early stage of the seventh sense—perhaps only the peak of the sixth.

Tonghu gazed at the Altar Cloth before him, especially at the sacred fire burning within the round mirror, and suddenly burst into hearty laughter. That laughter swept away the tension between them.

In an instant, the light faded, and Tonghu reverted to an old man with purple skin, not in the least resembling a Saint.

“Young Altar Saint, come with me!”

With that, Tonghu slowly walked away, Feng Zhe following him in his sacred armor, while Wang Hu and Zilong wisely chose not to accompany them.

It was only upon reaching the waterfall that Tonghu sat down, his gaze deep as he looked upon the Lushan Falls. Many thoughts surged through his mind, yet he did not know where to begin.

“Where is my old friend now?” Naturally, Tonghu referred to Pope Shion. As the only two remaining Gold Saints from the last Holy War, their bond left him deeply sorrowful.

“Pope Shion's body is preserved in the Ice Hall of the Star Tower.”

“Ice coffin? Was it made by Camus?”

Feng Zhe nodded. This was not really a secret, though it could not be spoken of openly.

Tonghu muttered, “Gemini, Cancer, Aquarius, Capricorn, Pisces, and with Scorpio, Taurus, and Virgo standing aside, eight of the Twelve Temples have already fallen. Yet, he alone is qualified to inherit the Pope’s position!”

“Elder Tonghu, the Holy War is upon us. We cannot withstand a civil war now.”

Feng Zhe’s words made Tonghu look into the depths of the waterfall, his eyes filled with conflict.

Feng Zhe continued, “I know your hopes are with the Goddess and her loyal Saints. But can you truly bear to unleash a civil war before the Holy War?”

“Gemini is not suited...”

“Do you know, elder, that Pope Shion once appointed two candidates for the Papacy?”

Tonghu grunted, “Of course. One was Aiolos, and the other was him.”

“Yes. Aiolos is dead. The survivor is the Pope by right. Do you have another choice?”

Tonghu closed his eyes, carefully considering the other Gold Saints. Each had their flaws; truly, he was the most suitable to become Pope.

“Elder Tonghu, you survived the last Holy War. I needn't tell you the strength of the Gold Saints then, do I?”

Tonghu’s cloudy eyes flashed. He glanced at Feng Zhe and replied, “The last Holy War’s brutality is beyond your imagination.”

“As the last survivor of that war, you are now the strongest Saint in Sanctuary, surpassing even Pope Sage and Altar Elder Baili, are you not?”

Tonghu’s eyes glinted gold, and the waterfall’s flow halted for a moment before resuming.

With a sigh, he said, “Of course not!”

Though both survivors of the Holy War, Tonghu had sat beneath Lushan Falls for 243 years, yet still felt far inferior to his mentor, Baili.

“If Shion were still alive, he would surely…”

“Pope Shion’s body was already on the verge of collapse. My teacher merely delivered the final blow.”

Did Tonghu not understand this? He simply did not wish to accept it.

“You seem to have convinced me, but it’s not enough…”

“I have a way to merge my teacher’s two personalities into one!”

At these words, Tonghu’s clouded eyes shone with sharp intelligence.

“Is that true?”

Hope flickered in Tonghu’s gaze.

Feng Zhe smiled, fully aware of Tonghu’s concerns—he would never allow the Pope to be possessed by evil; that was the bottom line. As for who became Pope, he did not truly mind.

“My teacher developed an evil persona largely because of his obsession with the Papal seat. Of course, to achieve true integration, a certain divine artifact is needed. Besides the Goddess, only you can wield it!”

Athena possessed a most vital artifact: the Athena Cloth, the sacred armor of the Goddess herself, of immeasurable value.

This secret had been guarded by Popes for generations. Now, with Pope Shion gone, the sole remaining keeper of this knowledge was the last survivor of the Holy War—Tonghu.

“I cannot entrust it to you!” Tonghu refused flatly, brooking no argument.

Feng Zhe saw this and said, “I don’t need the whole thing—just to use Athena’s Shield briefly!”

Tonghu regarded the young Altar Saint before him, as if all Sanctuary’s secrets were known to him. This only deepened his curiosity, and he asked, “It seems you know many of Sanctuary’s secrets.”

Athena’s Shield could dispel evil, but to wield a divine artifact, one must possess godly blood.

As it happened, Tonghu, survivor of the last Holy War, still possessed some.

“If you can truly restore him to reason, I will allow it.”

Feng Zhe was overjoyed. With the elder's tacit approval, many plans could now move forward.

“But don’t rejoice too soon. Even if he becomes Pope, getting along with the Goddess will be a headache.”

During the Saga Crisis, Saga had tried to assassinate the Goddess, only to be thwarted by Aiolos, who entrusted her to Mitsumasa Kido’s care.

Now, as the Goddess neared adulthood, the peace in Sanctuary might not last much longer.

“I have a way to resolve this!”

Tonghu laughed heartily and tossed a bottle to Feng Zhe from his robes.

Feng Zhe gazed at the exquisitely crafted bottle; though sealed, he could feel its immense power.

Within it, there was a warm cosmos.

“This is… divine blood?!”

Feng Zhe instantly realized this was his true goal—divine blood.

Tonghu nodded, smiling. “You are entirely different from any Saint I have met…”

Feng Zhe smiled slightly and said, “With Elder Tonghu guarding Sanctuary, we are sure to win this Holy War!”

Tonghu smiled, his eyes reflecting a complicated emotion.

Suddenly, Feng Zhe seemed to recall something and said, “Elder Tonghu, I know how you can master the ultimate justice!”

“What? What did you say?!”

Tonghu’s eyes widened in shock, as if he could not believe what he had just heard.