Crossing towering mountains and vast rivers, Maier and his companions finally arrived in the mysterious East.
For some inexplicable reason, all the celestial beings of the East had suddenly vanished. The vast and prosperous Eastern lands became ownerless territory, teeming with rich natural energy. This attracted the covetous eyes of gods from other pantheons, and after the disappearance of the Eastern deities, numerous divine factions sent their forces to claim the land.
But this led to a nightmare. Every deity who ventured into the Eastern lands vanished without a trace. None ever returned. Among the missing were several principal gods of the second generation of the Greek pantheon.
In Greek mythology, the second-generation gods, led by Cronus as king and Rhea as queen, overthrew the first-generation rulers—Uranus, the God of the Sky, and Gaia, the Goddess of the Earth. These twelve deities, known as the Titans, included:
• Oceanus, God of the Waters
• Tethys, Goddess of the Sea
• Coeus, God of Intelligence
• Phoebe, Goddess of the Moon
• Hyperion, God of Light
• Theia, Goddess of Gold, Silver, and Jewels
• Cronus, the King of the Gods
• Rhea, the Queen of the Gods
• Crius, God of the Heavens
• Mnemosyne, Goddess of Memory
• Iapetus, God of Strength
• Themis, Goddess of Law, Justice, and Fate
Six of these Titans—Coeus, Phoebe, Hyperion, Theia, Mnemosyne, and Iapetus—were personally dispatched by Cronus to claim land in the East, only to disappear mysteriously. Their loss was so unsettling that Cronus and Rhea never dared to send anyone else to investigate.
This catastrophic event indirectly led to Maier's rebellion. Without these powerful Titans, Maier found the opportunity to ally with Zeus and overthrow Cronus.
Since then, no pantheon had dared to step foot into the Eastern lands, marking them as the Forbidden Zone of the Gods.
Now, after all these ages, Maier once again set foot on this beautiful yet perilous land—his former homeland.
As soon as they entered, both Maier and Asura sensed an intangible force sweeping over them. It was an unfathomable, elusive presence—perhaps scanning their purpose for coming or recognizing Maier as a native of this land. Unable to decipher the mystery, Maier chose not to dwell on it. After all, time erodes even the greatest of secrets.
The Lost Tribe of the Sanctuary
In the Pamir Plateau, Maier finally found the Jamil Tribe, the hidden descendants of the Sanctuary—an irreplaceable group.
Every member of the Jamil Tribe was born with immense psychokinetic power, and in every generation of Saints, there was always at least one Jamil among the Gold Saints. Some Jamil children even possessed psychic abilities surpassing most Bronze and Silver Saints.
But their true importance lay in their mastery of Cloth Restoration—a sacred art no outsider could ever learn.
This technique, akin to Amitabha's "Buddha's Eye", was a divine gift rather than a learned skill. Even among the Jamil people, only the most talented individuals could inherit this ability. Not even lesser deities, let alone mortals, could comprehend its secrets. Only gods of Maier's caliber could hope to grasp it.
Beyond mere repair, the Cloth Restoration technique also allowed the practitioner to relive the memories contained within the Cloths. This meant that a skilled Jamil craftsman could use the combat techniques of any Saint whose Cloth they had repaired—so long as their Cosmo was strong enough.
The previous master Mu Bai, though not a Gold Saint of the previous Holy War, could still wield the "Sekishiki Meikai Ha", the signature technique of the Cancer Saint.
Reunion with an Old Friend
Crossing a narrow stone bridge, Maier and his companions arrived at the entrance of a secluded valley.
"Welcome home, Lord Maier!"
Before Maier could announce himself, an elderly man—hunched with age but with eyes burning with fervent excitement—was already there to greet him, supported by a white-haired youth.
"Molkaba! It has been so many years… you've endured much."
Maier immediately recognized the old man. Stepping forward, he grasped Molkaba's hands and infused his body with life energy, using his Cosmo to alleviate the elder's frailty.
"Hundreds of thousands of years, Lord Maier… Ever since you were sealed away, I have waited day and night for your return. Now that I finally see you again, I can die in peace!" Tears streamed down Molkaba's face.
Behind him, the younger Jamil tribesmen were stunned. They had never seen their stern elder show any emotion before, let alone cry like a child.
Maier's Cosmo felt familiar to them, yet none of them recognized him. They could only guess at his identity.
"Don't say that, Molkaba. The Sanctuary is in ruins and needs rebuilding. I still need you to lead the Jamil Tribe and restore it." Maier smiled warmly.
"Lord Maier, you need not waste your power on me. You can see for yourself—I've prolonged my life through every possible means, just to see this day. My body is beyond saving." Molkaba chuckled, completely indifferent to his impending death.
The young Jamil Saints protested in unison.
"Elder, don't say such things!"
"You're still strong!"
"You still have so much to teach us!"
"See, Molkaba? Not just I, but your people need you too." Maier gestured to the gathering crowd.
"Haha… Lord Maier, it is my honor and duty to serve you. As long as I draw breath, I will give my all to the Sanctuary." Molkaba's voice was firm.
"And I will find a way to extend your life. So hold on."
"As you command, Lord Maier."
Maier chuckled. "Don't be so formal, Molkaba. You weren't always like this. I still remember when you used to ride on my shoulders and pee on my head."
"M-My Lord! Please don't say such things in front of the younger generation!" Molkaba's face turned red with embarrassment.
But his tribe was far too shocked to care about that.
They had always known Molkaba was ancient, but now they finally had confirmation—he had lived since the Age of Myth.
Even Asura was taken aback. "Who is he, Maier?"
Maier replied, "Molkaba is the son of Stein and Eve, and the grandson of Jatzuin."
"Stein and Eve? Wait—Jatzuin?" Asura was shocked.
"Yes. The Jatzuin—the first Aries Gold Saint. My first disciple."
"What!? That's impossible!"
Molkaba chuckled. "I mastered countless techniques—"Feigned Death," Buddhist Meditation, and others—to prolong my life. All to wait for Lord Maier."
"You recognized me?" Asura asked.
"Yes. Your Cosmo is still as volatile yet controlled as ever. Only now, it carries a trace of Buddhism."
Asura smirked. "Should I be flattered that you remember me, or frustrated that I was so easily recognized?"
Meanwhile, the Jamil youth could no longer contain their awe.
"The Elder is really from the Age of Myth!"
"And the grandson of the first Aries Gold Saint?"
"Then Lord Maier must be…"
Molkaba interrupted the commotion. "Come, Lord Maier, Lord Asura. Let's speak inside."
Maier nodded, following the elder into the village, stepping into a long-lost past.