Summoners: One Golden Term per Level

Shen Fei understood that although the birth of children was partly Zeus’s nature, ultimately it was to consolidate his position as the Divine King.

"Hey, then why doesn’t Hephaestus have the qualification to become the Divine King?"

Shen Fei suddenly noticed Athena skipped over Hephaestus, who is also Zeus’s offspring and one of the Twelve Main Gods.

"He was borne by the Celestial Empress alone, and has nothing to do with the Divine King," Athena explained briefly, "I won’t elaborate further.

This is also why Hephaestus garnered the Divine King’s appreciation, even allowing him to watch over Aphrodite."

"Unfortunately, Aphrodite’s methods are incomparable to those of Hephaestus."

Athena did not elaborate, seemingly unwilling to extend the conversation further.

"If that’s the case, how can you have Artemis acquire the [Moon] Divine Authority?"

Shen Fei’s question hit the mark: since the divine authority is in Zeus’s grasp, Athena’s claim of letting Artemis acquire the [Moon] divine authority

was simply absurd.

"As long as Selene makes the Divine King feel threatened.

Just like Helius back then, Helius’s son disrupted the sun’s course, seen as a challenge to the Divine King’s authority.

Helius was stripped of the Sun God position, which was granted to Apollo, who also possessed the [Sun] rank."

Athena spoke calmly.

Shen Fei thought Athena likely had long planned this part, "Since you already have a plan, why not speak directly to Artemis?"

"In the Divine King’s heart, Hermes is most loyal, and Artemis is most favored. Correspondingly, Artemis may not agree if she needs to utilize the Divine King."

Athena continued, "But if she is threatened by Ares, she would retaliate."

"And then there’s you. Originally, Artemis Temple burning was embedded in the ’birth of Alexander’ fate."

"But since you accepted Artemis’s divine trial, the threads of fate have become disorderly. Though fate cannot be defied, it can be balanced or delayed."

Athena continued, "If you wish to prevent Artemis Temple from burning, besides Artemis becoming the Moon God, you must have the strength to counter Ares.

At Alexander’s birth, you confront Ares, while Artemis guards Alexander."

"I fight Ares?"

Shen Fei had a puzzled look.

This seemed bizarre; though Ares lost to Athena, in this ’Ancient Greece’ setting,

Ares, after all, holds the [War] divine authority, and few among the new generation of gods could defeat him.

"Yes."

Athena nodded and continued, "I know you can’t do it if you were merely human.

Even if you passed Artemis’s trial, you’d only reach Tier Nine, which is a Demigod."

"But if you are the Son of Titan, it becomes uncertain. With enough divine trials, you can become a true god."

Athena: "Originally, my plan was to further weaken Ares’s [War] divine authority, but unexpectedly you, an existence beyond fate, came."

Shen Fei was curious; it seems these divine spirits indeed regarded him as a Titan, a child of Old Gods, which explained Apollo’s kindness in helping him complete the first task.

And so did Athena, which is why she helped this time.

"If you succeed, Ares might directly lose his [War] divine authority."

Shen Fei wasn’t tempted by Athena’s idea of Ares losing [War] divine authority.

He had no significant vendetta against Ares, nor was there a divine competition. The only conflict was to prevent Artemis Temple from burning.

So he asked directly, "What help can you provide me, goddess?"

"Though I cannot act directly, I can tell you how to deal with Scylla and Charybdis. And provide corresponding support!"

"And help you extend the trial, allowing you to genuinely have the strength to counter Ares!"

Athena continued.

Shen Fei nodded slightly, finding that talking with the God of Wisdom was straightforward.

A simple exchange of benefits, essentially Athena wanting to completely remove Ares’s [War] divine authority.

Though Athena said no one could touch the divine authority without Zeus’s control,

Athena certainly didn’t disclose everything, otherwise, how would she ensure Ares utterly lost [War] divine authority?

Furthermore,

What exactly was Athena’s plan to make Artemis the Moon God, and how did Alexander relate to the battle for [War] divine authority?

And the Divine King’s curse.

Honestly, if this ’Ancient Greece’ were merely created by the Blue Star Heavenly Dao, it would be too intricate.

This even made Shen Fei suspect that Blue Star Heavenly Dao might have recreated events from the ’Age of Gods’ or events in five Divine Dynasties for him.

But none concerned him; his ultimate goal was to attain strength to confront Ares.

This was simple enough!

Athena folded her hands over her chest and said, "In the name of the God of Wisdom, God of War, I bestow upon this warrior the trial from the divine spirits."

"Athena’s shield will bestow the power of protection!"

"Artemis’s Golden-Horned Deer will grant him extraordinary speed!"

"Calypso’s love will grant him impervious magic power!"

"Scylla’s death will grant him control over the ocean’s power!"

With Athena’s words, several forces descended into Shen Fei’s body.

Before Shen Fei’s eyes flashed a mission prompt, originally titled ’Artemis’s Trial’.

Now it directly shifted into ’Path of the Divine Spirits’.

And it was no longer a sequential task, but parallel tasks that he could accomplish for rewards.

This maneuver alone showed that Athena was indeed more powerful than Artemis, conducting Shen Fei’s arrangements with a plan.

And the tasks were relatively straightforward.

After all, they aimed to enhance Shen Fei’s strength, not to hinder him from becoming a divine spirit like Hercules was obstructed.

Like Artemis’s Golden-Horned Deer and Athena’s shield, they were easily attainable, so the trial wasn’t a main storyline for Shen Fei.

"This artifact shall impart you with the power of protection."

Athena had just finished assigning the trial when she directly handed her shield to Shen Fei.

In the next moment.

A surge of power emanated from the shield, flooding into Shen Fei’s body, making him feel capable of easily wielding the shield, ready to unleash its power within.

The salted bean was no longer salty.