Walking into the depths of the dense forest, Maierin arrived before a dilapidated temple, sensing the cosmos within.
"As expected of the most favored constellation among the eighty-eight," Maierin smiled as he stepped inside. There, beneath a Buddha statue, sat a golden-haired boy in a meditative posture, enveloped in golden radiance, his cosmos resonating with sacred Sanskrit chants.
"From the seventh sage of the Compassionate One, the supreme path of the virtuous is expounded; eternally adrift in the river of life and death, the World-Honored One now delivers the people. The revered Kāśyapa and the sacred assembly, the wise Ānanda, and the boundless listeners; the Tathāgata's relics are offered in worship, from the land of Kuśinagara to Magadha…"
"This is the Ekottara Āgama. No doubt, he is the reincarnation of the Buddha," Maierin mused. "The previous Virgo Gold Saint, Asmita, was known as the man closest to godhood. He achieved the Eighth Sense in his normal state without Athena's blood. Though I never met him, he must have been just like this child—a reincarnation of the Buddha."
The Virgo Gold Saint represents the human trait of Buddha-nature, which encompasses wisdom and virtue—also known as Tathāgata-garbha, Awakening Nature, or the potential for enlightenment. According to the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, all beings possess Buddha-nature, though it remains obscured by afflictions. Once those afflictions are severed, Buddha-nature manifests. Some Mahāyāna scriptures affirm that all beings have the potential to attain enlightenment.
Likewise, Buddha-nature can be equated with cosmos—if all beings possess Buddha-nature, then all beings possess cosmos. Thus, the Virgo Gold Saint represents humanity's cosmos, symbolizing its infinite potential.
Maierin did not disturb the meditating boy and instead waited quietly. After a long while, the boy retracted his cosmos, opening eyes as brilliant as the stars. He knelt on one knee and saluted Maierin.
"Shaka greets Lord Maierin."
"You knew I was coming?"
"Yes. From the moment of my birth, I have known my mission."
"Good. You will follow me from now on."
"As you command."
Maierin said no more, nor did he plan to send Shaka to the Sanctuary just yet. Though only ten years old and without formal training in the Sanctuary, Shaka—empowered by his Buddha reincarnation—had already awakened the Seventh Sense. All he needed was the Virgo Gold Cloth, and he would officially become the new Virgo Gold Saint.
As for whether the Cloth would acknowledge him? Ridiculous. The prayer beads in Shaka's hand were the Virgo Gold Saint's sacred artifact, Demonic-Suppressing Prayer Beads. They had already fused with him completely—if the artifact recognized him, would the Gold Cloth reject him?
Shaka did not question why Maierin had yet to take him to the Sanctuary. Instead, he silently stood behind Maierin, awaiting further instructions.
At the Sanctuary, the Virgo Temple erupted with dazzling golden light. The chest containing the Virgo Gold Cloth trembled violently before dissolving into golden radiance. Then, like a shooting star, it soared into the sky and vanished into the horizon.
"The Virgo Gold Saint has returned," someone murmured.
"It must be Lord Maierin."
In the Pope's chamber, Shion and Ares watched the golden meteor streak across the sky.
"Another Gold Saint has been born," Aiolos remarked.
"And it's Virgo. Heh, looks like we have to keep improving," Saga added. He and Aiolos were the first Saints of their generation. In terms of experience, they were already senior warriors—being surpassed by juniors would be embarrassing.
"I won't lose to any of you! I will surpass my brother and Lord Saga one day!" Aiolia declared, eyes ablaze with determination.
"I'd like to meet this new Gold Saint and see if he's stronger than me," Kanon said eagerly, clenching his fists.
Elsewhere, the disturbance at the Sanctuary alarmed Peggy and Howard, who hurriedly found Steve to ask what had happened.
"A new Saint has likely awakened outside the Sanctuary," Steve speculated. His cosmos had yet to reach the Sixth Sense, so his perception was limited. But the outburst from the Virgo Temple, filled with joy as if reuniting with a long-lost kin, was something he clearly felt.
"Damn it! Someone got ahead of me! I swear, when I find out who it is, I'll teach them a lesson!" Deathmask cursed. He had promised Maierin that he would become a Gold Saint and give the doubters a taste of his Crab's Claw.
Among the children Maierin had brought back and the current trainees, Deathmask could already guess who would inherit the Gold Cloths. Most were personally chosen by Maierin.
He was the first among them to be discovered by Maierin. Determined to be the first to don a Gold Cloth, he now felt nothing but frustration at being overtaken.
"Hahaha, don't be so anxious, Deathmask," Steve laughed. "That was the Virgo Gold Cloth. Your Cancer Cloth is still here. Let's work hard together and become true Saints."
"Wh-who wants to work hard with you?!" Deathmask turned his head away, his face red with embarrassment.
Steve merely chuckled. After spending time with Deathmask, he had come to understand the boy's personality—just a stubborn and prideful kid. Instead of being offended, he found it rather endearing.
Not just Deathmask—Milo, Shura, Aphrodite, and many other trainees had all bonded with Steve, who had become like an older brother figure in the Sanctuary.
In India, golden light descended. The Virgo Cloth floated before Shaka and opened itself. The Cloth then separated into its components, covering Shaka's body seamlessly.
"Congratulations, Shaka." Though Maierin had expected this outcome, he still offered his congratulations.
"Thank you, my lord." Shaka responded with a serene smile, showing no particular excitement. To him, this result was inevitable. With a mere thought, the Virgo Cloth reassembled into the form of a meditative maiden and returned to its chest, which Shaka slung onto his back.
"Let's move on. You'll stay with me for now," Maierin stated.
There was a simple reason for keeping Shaka by his side—no one in the Sanctuary could guide him. Throughout history, Virgo Saints were the most mysterious among the Twelve Gold Saints. They spent most of their time meditating in the Virgo Temple, rarely making appearances. Without a predecessor's teachings, there was no one to instruct him.
Maierin also wanted Shaka to break free from this tradition—to see the vast, colorful world, to interact with others, and to prevent his rational Buddha-nature from overwhelming his human emotions.
As the saying goes, "Heaven's way is merciless, but humans have feelings." Maierin never understood why some cultivators in his past life's novels sought the "Path of Emotionlessness." They trained and trained until they erased themselves—what was the point of reaching the peak if, in the end, they stood alone?
Maierin preferred a different path—one where, when he stood at the summit, he had family and friends by his side, sharing the view of the world beneath them.
He wished the same for Shaka—to climb toward greatness together with him, the Sanctuary, and newfound companions.
Maierin and Shaka continued their journey. Along the way, they encountered an old friend—one whose survival surprised and delighted Maierin.
"You're alive after all, Asura."
"You survived, so of course I had to live and wait for your return."
Maierin embraced the elder warmly. This man was none other than the last Asura King of the mythological age.