Chapter 79: The Weeping Star, Barendaine

Radiance erupted from the Sagittarius Temple as Seiya, clad in the golden armor of Sagittarius, soared into the sky. Before countless watching eyes, he shone like a brilliant star—magnificent beyond compare. Seiya, flamboyant as ever, swept across the arena, spun dramatically, and landed before the gates of the Gemini Temple.

"Lady Athena, Your Holiness!"

Even as Seiya knelt, he could barely contain his joy, his manner as flamboyant as his heart was jubilant.

Feng Zhe stepped forward and addressed the two newly anointed Gold Saints, "Gaining the approval of the sacred armor is only the beginning. You must continue your training. Only by awakening the Seventh Sense can you truly wield the power of the armor; otherwise, you will be enslaved by it. Remember this well!"

"Yes, Your Holiness!"

Seiya and Ikki replied in unison, their voices brimming with vigor.

Athena offered a few words of encouragement, then dismissed the assembled Gold Saints.

She turned to Feng Zhe, smiled gently, and said, "Brother, you should try your luck at the Cancer Temple. Perhaps you’ll find unexpected rewards."

"Oh?"

Feng Zhe glanced at Athena, instantly realizing she had deliberately left the Cancer Gold Cloth untouched until now.

He pondered for a moment, nodded, and, in a flash, appeared at the entrance to the Cancer Temple.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, the entire temple transformed. Hands emerged ceaselessly from the ground, waving as if to drag him into an endless abyss.

A ghost drifted past Feng Zhe’s ear, sending a chill down his spine.

Hmph!

With a cold snort, Feng Zhe summoned a burst of flame, instantly eliciting anguished cries from countless spirits as the illusion dissolved.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, Feng Zhe found himself standing atop the Slope of Yomi.

He had visited this place many times, each experience leaving him awestruck. After all, this was where one confronted death directly—the path all souls must walk to reach their final destination.

Feng Zhe wandered back and forth along the Slope of Yomi, soon realizing that no matter how he walked, he could not escape. What’s more, he had arrived in the flesh—not merely as a soul.

"It seems the only way out is to obtain the Cancer Gold Cloth!"

Clearly, this was the Cancer Temple’s trial for him. Without the armor, escape was impossible.

Having understood this, Feng Zhe didn’t rush, but began to explore the area.

Outside the Cancer Temple, Athena waited anxiously, much like a lover awaiting her beloved.

Seiya and Ikki stood at her sides, guarding her.

Yet their expressions differed: Seiya was full of anticipation, while Ikki glanced nervously around, clearly unsettled.

…

Meanwhile,

Feng Zhe reached the end of the Slope of Yomi, where a colossal pit led down into endless darkness.

Once a soul arrived here, it was cast into the abyss, never to return.

La la la la…

"Come closer…"

A melodious voice drifted up from the depths, whispering seductively, urging Feng Zhe to step into the pit.

"Who’s there?!"

Feng Zhe retreated several steps, his face alert, unmoved by the invitation.

"To remain unaffected by my singing, you must be the Underworld Lord’s brother, boy!"

A black, bird-like armor soared from the pit; its wearer regarded Feng Zhe with disdain.

"You’re Balendain, the Star of the Crying Sky? A subordinate of Radamanthys?"

In this era, Radamanthys of the Fierce Star had long fallen, and his subordinates had dispersed, their power diminished.

"So, you know something of the Underworld Army. Let me tell you—soon, I will become one of the Three Giants and command all who once served Lord Radamanthys."

Balendain’s pride shone as brightly as a crowing rooster.

Feng Zhe smiled and asked, "Why are you here?"

"This is part of the Underworld, after all. And besides, I have this…"

He pointed, and a glowing orb floated from the abyss.

Upon closer inspection, Feng Zhe saw that it was the Cancer Gold Cloth!

"What? The Cancer Gold Cloth is in your possession?!"

Balendain grinned, "How about a deal?"

A Specter seeking to bargain with a Saint—his ambitions must be considerable.

Feng Zhe was curious and asked, "Let’s hear it."

"I’ll give you the Cancer Gold Cloth, and you give me a small vial of Athena’s blood. What do you say?"

Feng Zhe’s expression darkened instantly.

"What’s your true aim?"

"That’s for me to know. All you need to do is hand over Athena’s blood."

"You’re delusional!"

That a Specter dared covet Athena’s blood enraged Feng Zhe.

"If you refuse, I’ve no choice but to take it myself."

Balendain eyed Feng Zhe and continued, "But first, I’ll have to send you into the Underworld."

Sweet Chocolate!

Countless Harpy birds erupted from the pit, blackening the sky with suffocating oppression.

These Harpies moved with astonishing speed, swiftly enveloping Feng Zhe in a black cloud.

Immediately, this dark mist began to drain his life force; any being before the Harpies would be sucked dry, left as a shriveled corpse.

"Let yourself fall into the abyss, cradled by my gentle embrace!"

Balendain had no intention of draining Feng Zhe completely, but meant to push him into the endless pit. The Harpies, while leeching his life force, pressed him toward the edge.

Just as Feng Zhe was about to fall into the abyss, a fiery glow burst forth from within the black mist.

His cosmos exploded, scattering countless Harpies like bombs.

Burn, sacred flame!

He hurled a fireball; Balendain, caught off guard, was instantly engulfed, burning like a scorched bird.

"This is… the sacred flame! No!!"

Balendain, now charred, collapsed to the ground.

Then, with a blow at the speed of light, Feng Zhe finished off the Underworld’s black bird.

"Boy, though I’ve lost, our Underworld will surely triumph. I’ll be watching from below for the spectacle to come, ha ha…"

Even in death, Balendain remained unabashedly arrogant.

The next moment, the Cancer Gold Cloth appeared before Feng Zhe.

With a triumphant shout, he donned the golden armor, feeling the surge of a powerful cosmos—the amplification granted by the armor.

"Something’s wrong—Athena is in danger!"

Suddenly, Feng Zhe recalled Balendain’s final words. The Specters had not come alone!

Feng Zhe raced anxiously back from the Slope of Yomi, only to witness a scene that left him utterly shocked.