Inside Ophiuchus Palace, the green poisonous mist had completely dissipated, leaving only shattered bluestone slabs on the ground, indicating the intensity of the battle that had just taken place.
Li Yu watched Asclepius walk to the palace entrance before slowly turning around and placing his hand on the Ophiuchus Gold Cloth, which floated silently before him.
The moment his fingertips touched the Cloth, a cold metallic sensation spread, and lines of light-blue attribute panels popped up before his eyes.
[Divine Artifact: Ophiuchus Gold Cloth]
[Forged from Orichalcum, Gamanium, and Stardust mixed with divine blood, it amplifies Cosmo by 300% and negates 95% of physical and energy attacks!]
[Durability: Ten Million]
[Wearing Requirements: Requires a Cosmo awakened to the Eighth Sense or higher, and the wearer is limited to Asclepius!]
[Repair Ability: Possesses an inherent energy cycle, allowing minor damage to heal instantly and severe damage to fully recover three times daily!]
[The Ophiuchus Scepter grants the wielder the power of healing and poison!]
[Trait: Indestructible!]
[Summoning Ability: This Cloth possesses the ability to summon the ancient beast Python!]
[Evaluation: The exclusive Gold Cloth forged by Hephaestus, the God of Fire, for Asclepius. It is the most defensive of all Gold Cloths!]
[Note: This Cloth is currently in a very special state and is about to vanish into the river of history. Countdown... 100...]
Li Yu's lips curved slightly, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. His judgment was indeed correct.
The durability and defense of this Ophiuchus Cloth far surpassed ordinary Gold Cloths, and its indestructible special effect was truly heaven-defying.
Even if the powers of healing and poison were incompatible with his ice-elemental Cosmo, occasionally using them for defense or to summon Python would still be a tremendous help.
Especially upon seeing the prompt about it vanishing into the river of history, Li Yu was convinced that his idea of keeping the Ophiuchus Cloth was correct.
Such a heaven-defying Gold Cloth should not be allowed to disappear into the past.
Asclepius, you're likely going back to the Underworld to lie dormant. It's better for this Cloth to be with me than to fall into oblivion with you.
Li Yu raised his hand and pressed it virtually towards the ground. Four ice walls rose, enclosing him and the Cloth in the center.
Golden energy flowed on the surface of the ice walls, capable of isolating all detection. The ice walls constructed from Absolute Zero also allowed him to safely convert the Cloth into a Reincarnation Space item.
After completing all this, Li Yu took out a transparent essence crystal from his item space.
This crystal emitted a multicolored glow, with stars seemingly flowing within it. It was the crucial item he had used earlier to remove the restrictions on the Sagittarius Cloth.
With a gentle push, the essence crystal slowly merged into the Ophiuchus Cloth from its chest area. The snake-like patterns on the Cloth's surface instantly lit up, and a light golden glow intertwined with the multicolored light of the crystal.
The words "limited to Asclepius" after the wearing requirements gradually blurred.
Outside the palace, Asclepius's white hair fluttered in the wind, and his dark green eyes gazed towards the distant human world.
The golden glow of the setting sun spilled over the foot of the holy mountain, and wisps of cooking smoke rose from farmers' homes, intertwining with the evening clouds to paint a serene and peaceful picture.
Yet, he had no mind to appreciate this beauty. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his heart was filled with vexation.
Since a moment ago, the thousand-year-old spiritual connection between him and the Ophiuchus Cloth had been weakening, as if something was forcefully severing his bond with the Cloth.
Memories from ancient times surged into his mind. Back then, he was suppressed by Athena for his rebellion, and Ophiuchus was demoted from a Gold Saint to a Silver Saint, with Ophiuchus Palace removed from the Twelve Gold Palaces.
He and his exclusive Cloth had vanished together into the river of history.
Now, having finally seen the light of day again, he had believed that with his and the Gold Cloth's power, he could exact revenge and fulfill his desires.
He never expected to be defeated by Li Yu, a mere mortal, and even had to temporarily abandon the Cloth for his future escape from Tartarus Prison.
"Now, even the Cloth is leaving me?"
Asclepius clenched his fists, his knuckles white, his nails digging deeply into his palms.
He repeatedly wanted to turn around, break through the ice walls, and reclaim the Cloth, but reason ultimately triumphed over impulse.
Even if he snatched back the Cloth now, he was about to be summoned back by the power of the Underworld.
The Cloth would ultimately slumber underground with him. It was better to leave it to Li Yu, so this divine artifact would not completely disappear.
Although he didn't know how Li Yu managed it, it seemed Li Yu indeed had a way to completely sever the Cloth's connection to him.
"Li Yu, I hope you don't disappoint it..."
Inside the ice walls, the Ophiuchus Cloth had already had its connection to Asclepius erased by the essence crystal. Li Yu put it into his item space, looking at the two Gold Cloths standing side by side, filled with a sense of accomplishment.
If I gather all thirteen Gold Cloths, will I get the title of Gold Cloth Master?
Time slowly passed, and Asclepius's agitated emotions gradually calmed down.
Beneath his feet, black Dark Qi had ignited at some point, and the underworld flames gradually consumed his body.
He knew his time had come. The call of Tartarus Prison was growing stronger, and he was about to return to that dark and sunless hell, to endure endless torment and suffering.
Asclepius sighed silently and turned to look back at Ophiuchus Palace.
At some unknown point, the ice walls had melted, and Li Yu was slowly rising. The Ophiuchus Gold Cloth had long since disappeared.
"Remember your promise!"
Asclepius gazed at Li Yu, his voice deep and solemn. Li Yu was his last hope.
Li Yu's gaze flickered, and he nodded.
"Don't worry. If all goes well, the day you break free won't be far off."
As his words fell, Asclepius's figure burned intensely, finally turning into black dust and completely dissipating in the wind.
At the same time, the entire Ophiuchus Palace began to tremble violently. Huge cracks appeared in the ground, the palace's domes collapsed one after another, and it eventually slowly sank into the earth, leaving only a flat, empty space, as if Ophiuchus Palace had never existed.
Li Yu stood in place, his gaze profound as he looked towards the foot of the Sanctuary mountain, where Saori Kido, guarded by Mu, slept so peacefully in the ice coffin.
Asclepius's experience made him realize that the Sanctuary was far more complex than he had imagined.
He had perused countless Sanctuary texts for information about Tartarus Prison but had never seen a single word. Only Athena likely knew such inside information.
Li Yu looked up at the Zodiac Temple torches on the mountaintop. Only three flames remained, their flickering embers potentially extinguishing at any moment.
Currently, the Bronze Five still had three Palaces left to clear, or four Palaces if counting Pope Saga... Time was already running out. Even so, Li Yu had no intention of interfering.
He had dealt with Ophiuchus Palace. If the Bronze Five truly couldn't clear the Twelve Gold Palaces within the allotted time, then it was Saori Kido's fate... In comparison, he was more concerned about what choice Hyoga would make later in Aquarius Palace.
Li Yu's figure gradually disappeared on the Sanctuary mountaintop.
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