Chapter 21: The Profound Bond Between Master and Disciple in the Palace of Aquarius

The frozen Camus did not emerge; he did not even change his posture, as if he truly had been frozen solid.

Feng Zhe coughed lightly and spoke, “Camus, I’m here this time for the Crystal Saint.”

There was no response.

Camus remained silent, unmoving.

“I want to unify the private guards and personally send people to train them, so that they may possess strength beyond that of Bronze Saints.”

Private guards were private not merely because the number of Cloths was limited, but fundamentally because they lacked the strength to become Saints, not even the lowest-ranking Bronze Saints.

Of course, there were strong individuals among the private guards; for instance, the Crystal Saint likely had power surpassing that of the Bronzes.

Still, Camus did not move, his silence causing Feng Zhe’s expression to darken.

He was, after all, the acting Pope. Camus’s lack of respect was one thing, but to receive not even the slightest response when discussing his own disciple was simply intolerable.

Yet, if the other would not speak, there was nothing Feng Zhe could do.

He chuckled softly and said, “I have heard that for a Saint of the Aquarius Temple to comprehend the ultimate freezing technique, a sacrificial duel between master and disciple is required—a final confrontation.”

“Even Krest, who survived two Holy Wars, could not escape this curse-like legacy of Aquarius.”

“I wonder, to what extent does the current Aquarius Saint retain the shadow of his predecessor?”

Suddenly, Camus’s eyes moved within the icy coffin, and he glanced at Feng Zhe.

Perhaps unsatisfied with the reaction, Feng Zhe continued, “It’s a pity Krest’s Thought Form was not passed down; even if you freeze yourself into an ice block, I fear you still won’t achieve it!”

Crack!

A fissure appeared in the ice coffin, and then with a boom, the entire coffin shattered into fragments.

“You know about the Thought Form?!”

Camus’s icy face showed no emotion, as if he were a machine devoid of feeling.

Feng Zhe laughed and said directly, “Not only do I know of the Thought Form, I am also aware of the Diamond Dust Zero Light—a technique no less profound than the Aurora Execution.”

An Aquarius who cannot wield the Thought Form is not a truly outstanding Gold Saint.

As one of the few fully inherited Saints in the Sanctuary, Aquarius is undoubtedly a pillar of strength.

Feng Zhe had no desire to lose such a top-tier Gold Saint.

Camus now regarded Feng Zhe as if trying to see through him.

But with Feng Zhe masked, it was impossible to discern his expression.

Camus asked, “How should I train?”

“Krest was able to create a doppelganger-like Thought Form with a single thought because his Cosmo was vast. Ultimately, I believe the Thought Form is an application of freezing energy.”

“It is the result of quantitative change leading to qualitative change—something not too difficult for a master of ice like yourself to understand.”

Camus nodded at this. When water drops below zero, it freezes; this is quantitative change leading to qualitative change.

Similarly, when freezing energy passes absolute zero, it should reach a deeper transformation; the Thought Form is likely such an application.

Camus immediately understood. His own strength was only mid-to-upper among the Gold Saints; to induce such a change, he was still far from sufficient.

“Rather than focusing on freezing energy, it is more practical to train your Cosmo and develop the Diamond Dust Zero Light.”

The Diamond Dust Zero Light combines the Diamond Dust Fist with the power of light, instantly refracting countless snowflake-shaped shockwaves, forming a net-like attack similar to the Plasma Light Speed Fist.

This technique is both offensive and defensive, and can reflect attacks back via light, making one nearly invincible.

After pondering for a moment, Camus found Feng Zhe’s words to be absolutely correct as a path of training.

The ice within his heart seemed to thaw a little, and he said, “I will give it serious consideration.”

“And what about the Crystal Saint?”

“As he is now the Pope’s private guard, he is no longer an apprentice of Aquarius. He has nothing to do with me anymore.”

With that, Camus turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Feng Zhe quickly understood. The Crystal Saint was a warm-hearted young man, passionate and caring.

This was evident from the way he trained Hyoga and Elzak. He raised both disciples excellently, both as Saints and as individuals.

Such an outstanding Saint, knowing that a Cygnus Cloth lay beneath the eternal ice cap, did not claim it for himself, but left it for his disciple.

With his strength, it would have been all too easy to become a Bronze Saint.

More puzzling was that he became one of the Pope’s private guards; in the Sanctuary, private guards ranked even below the foot soldiers, who at least were part of the official army, while private guards were only slightly above trainees.

Afterward, he accepted the mission to Siberia and did not return to the Sanctuary for ten years.

When something is out of the ordinary, there must be a reason.

The only explanation was that he was avoiding something.

The Crystal Saint was evading the fate of Aquarius—the predestined duel between master and disciple.

Feng Zhe did not know whether Camus understood the Crystal Saint’s intentions, but he was certain that Camus must be deeply disappointed.

He had no time for their sentimental drama. Feng Zhe asked, “Camus, when you crafted the ice coffin for the Pope, what did you trade with Saga?”

Camus, who had already left, suddenly stopped.

He did not answer, but Feng Zhe suddenly realized, “Was it really worth it for your disciple?”

Camus shook his head. “Rather than watching endless conflict, it is better to focus on inheritance. No matter what happens, the legacy will always survive.”

Whether Saga or Athena won, Aquarius would always remain aloof and unscathed.

This was Camus’s wisdom, and also why, when the five young Saints fought through the Twelve Temples and Hyoga appeared, Camus had to die.

Only with Camus’s death could Hyoga succeed him as the new Aquarius Saint and earn Athena’s full trust.

Camus departed, and with his departure, Feng Zhe’s long-held doubts were finally resolved.

...

“Your Holiness, Sir Mu of Aries requests an audience!”

A servant knelt before Feng Zhe, who immediately frowned.

Sir Mu was not easy to deal with; his intelligence was unrivaled in the Sanctuary.

Since becoming acting Pope, Feng Zhe had not seen Mu. His sudden appearance now could only mean something unusual was afoot.

“I understand.”

Truly, there was not a moment’s peace. Feng Zhe descended and made his way to the Aries Temple.

As the first temple of the Sanctuary, this place was originally the true battlefield; now, it was scarred and battered, as if it had weathered a great war.

“Honorable Acting Pope!”

Sir Mu was learned and courteous, his blood stirred by scenes of battle, and, more importantly, as a Gold Saint himself, his strength even surpassed his close friend Aiolia—a fact that truly surprised Feng Zhe.

“What brings you out, Sir Mu?”

Upon entering the Aries Temple, Feng Zhe saw Mu smiling at him.