Chapter 37: Sealing the Evil God Eris

The Arrow of Gold was infused with a vast cosmos powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth, and the constellation of Sagittarius faintly appeared along the shaft. Clearly, Sisyphus had staked everything on this one shot—his entire being poured into this single arrow.

As the golden arrow swept forth, it conjured a violent storm around them, and the radiance of Sagittarius illuminated the entire forest. The brilliance was like that of the sun itself, making all else pale in comparison.

In that instant, Feng Zhe felt the overwhelming power of the arrow, held his breath, and watched in silence. When the golden arrow struck the enormous flower bud of the plant, the ensuing explosion made the ground tremble and sent a rain of vegetation tumbling down.

“It’s destroyed!”

Feng Zhe exhaled in relief; indeed, Sisyphus was worthy of being the mightiest Saint of Sagittarius.

Upon seeing the flower bud fall, the Evil Saints fought with a frenzy born of desperation, attacking Tong Hu and Regulus with reckless abandon, as if this were their last stand at the end of days.

Suddenly, from the fallen bud emerged a breathtakingly beautiful maiden. She was dressed in a deep violet gown, and across her immaculate face shimmered a power belonging only to the gods.

“Damn it! Just a moment too late!” Sisyphus cursed, nocked another arrow, and released a second golden shaft.

Again, the arrow carried a cataclysmic force, but this time, just as its tip touched the maiden’s nose, it quivered and halted, as if encountering a tremendous resistance.

The maiden’s violet eyes opened slightly, and the golden arrow abruptly spun around, hurtling back toward Sisyphus at breakneck speed.

Blood spattered as the arrow struck Sisyphus in the shoulder.

Without hesitation, not even a furrow crossing his brow, Sisyphus tore the arrow free, nocked it again, and aimed once more at the girl who stood like a goddess.

“Any affront to the gods must be paid for in blood!” came the cry.

“Long live Lady Eris!”

Many of the Evil Saints who had fallen to the ground now stared at Eris with wild, fervent devotion in their eyes. This faith was like a tonic, making the power of the evil goddess even greater—she stood before them, truly divine.

Sisyphus’s gaze was more resolute than ever, the arrow tip unwavering as he poured all his cosmos into the golden shaft.

At that moment, Tong Hu, Regulus, and Feng Zhe all stepped to his side. Together, the three of them infused their cosmos into the golden arrow; with the strength of four, Sisyphus’s cosmos shone with an overwhelming brilliance.

“Foolish mortals!” Eris regarded the four Saints with utter disdain, as if they were nothing but insects.

The moment the golden arrow was loosed, heaven and earth changed color, the sun and moon lost their light, and a power far beyond the Seventh Sense burst forth—enough to make even the gods tremble.

Eris raised her hands, and a shield of divine power surrounded her, locking her tightly within its protection.

The golden arrow, carrying infinite might, struck the shield. The force was immense, and the arrow accelerated relentlessly. Eris’s expression grew increasingly grim as cracks began to spread across her shield.

With a thunderous crash, the shield shattered, and the arrow pierced Eris directly in the chest.

“We did it!” Feng Zhe exclaimed in triumph as he watched Eris fall, but Sisyphus only grew more grave.

Sure enough, as Eris tumbled from the sky, a golden apple appeared in her hand.

Her hair streaming, Eris raised the golden apple high above her head, and a bizarre scene unfolded.

Every Evil Saint present seemed to fall under a spell, frozen where they stood—even the battle with Tong Hu ceased.

As the golden apple radiated its light, their lives began to wither away rapidly.

That glowing sphere, brimming with life force, drifted to Eris and was absorbed into the golden arrow lodged in her chest.

The arrow’s destructive power was being neutralized by the life force drawn from the golden apple.

By now, Sisyphus was spent—his body exhausted from wielding the golden arrow so many times. With Eris recovering, their fates seemed grim.

Feng Zhe surveyed the scene: Sisyphus was depleted, and Regulus and Tong Hu, having overused their cosmos, were likewise drained.

“It’s up to me now!”

Without time to hesitate, Feng Zhe leapt into action.

Sacrifice!

Divine Blood Seal!

As Feng Zhe soared into the air, a talisman drawn with Athena’s blood appeared in his hand.

With the emergence of the blood seal, the tide turned instantly.

The gentle yet vast cosmos emanating from the seal made Eris’s face change dramatically.

Bathed in the goddess’s radiance, Sisyphus rose to his feet.

“Athena!”

Those with faith, when faced with such warmth and kindness, could unleash a cosmos unimaginable in its power.

Tong Hu and Regulus stood as well, and the three channeled their cosmos into the golden arrow once more.

The arrow shattered the life force of the golden apple and bored deeper into Eris’s core.

The Athena’s blood seal, driven by Feng Zhe’s fury, collided with the golden arrow.

Eris could endure no more. She fell into agonized wailing, her body shriveling rapidly like a deflated husk.

Then, as if shedding a garment, Eris slipped out of her own body, her soul emerging.

“I’ll take you all with me!” she screamed.

Now a spirit, Eris charged straight for Feng Zhe, who was closest.

“She means to possess me?!”

Feng Zhe’s heart raced as the chilling realization struck him, but before he could react, Eris’s soul had already invaded his body.

Within the Altar Cloth, a sacred flame suddenly blazed to life. The divine fire in Feng Zhe’s cosmos also ignited; the two flames, inner and outer, mirrored each other.

“What? The Sacred Fire of Olympus!”

“No!” Eris tried to escape but found herself blocked by a round mirror she could not penetrate, even with her divine power.

[Chime! Important choice detected!]

[Option one: Spend 5,000 faith points to seal Eris inside the golden apple…]

[Option two: Spend 20,000 faith points to refine Eris—outcome unknown!]

Feng Zhe was stunned. Was faith really so powerful?

If he refined a god, would he become one?

He quickly set aside the thought. In the world of Saints, gods were those who had attained the Ninth Sense; even in death, as long as their soul survived, they would one day return.

Still, Feng Zhe’s curiosity was piqued. After a moment’s thought, he chose the second option.

[Warning: This refinement is preliminary only and will incur the hostility of the Olympian gods. It is recommended you reach the Eighth Sense before proceeding…]

Seeing the blood-red warning, Feng Zhe immediately chose the first option instead.

He understood the wisdom of heeding good advice.

Thus, the evil goddess Eris was sealed within the golden apple…