Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 124

[Vol. 6] Chapter 124: A Shocking Turn

As the waiter quickly walked away, the petite girl sitting across from the white-robed man chuckled softly. Her long black hair framed a delicate face, and her white robe made her presence serene yet commanding.

“What’s this? Even you can’t figure out the right direction anymore?”

The man in white shook his head calmly.

“Miss Violet, there’s no need to rush. The [Endless Wasteland Sea] isn’t a place one can simply visit at any time. Its circumstances are rather complicated. While the waiter might know little about it, in a place like this, filled with all sorts of people, there’s bound to be someone with relevant information. And once they realize that we’re interested in that location…”

He shifted his gaze to another corner of the tea house.

“They’ll almost certainly make a move.”

Sure enough, at a table roughly ten meters away, a group of seven or eight individuals had quietly risen from their seats and were striding purposefully toward them.

The group’s members, most with the distinctive ash-green hair characteristic of locals from the [Eastern Origin Mysterious Kingdom], wore matching uniforms, subtly blending formality with utility. Embroidered insignias adorned their shoulders and collars, indicating their affiliation with a local sect.

Murong Yun smiled faintly.

“You see? I wasn’t wrong.”

“You spoke loudly on purpose to draw their attention. Who are these people?”

This question didn’t come from the radiant girl across from him but from the one sitting beside her. This second girl, with shoulder-length black hair and fluffy silver cat ears protruding from her head, radiated a unique charm.

Her figure was balanced and proportionate, a vision of perfect symmetry. However, her attire, a simple bandeau and shorts, only covered the essentials. On her hands and feet, she wore peculiar claw-like gloves, appearing almost like cosplay. Yet her control over them was so precise that she could delicately lift the lid of a teacup without breaking a sweat.

The white cat she had previously cradled in her arms now sat on the table, nibbling daintily on salted beans from a dish. Its composed and graceful demeanor betrayed a strong spiritual essence, clearly no ordinary feline.

As for the cat-eared girl herself, despite the approaching group’s imposing demeanor, her expression wasn’t one of fear or concern. Instead, she looked almost baffled, her reaction a stark contrast to the silver-haired girl’s aloofness and the petite girl’s evident curiosity. Together, their distinct reactions painted a vivid tableau of personalities.

The man chuckled and offered an explanation.

“I don’t know them personally, but I can make a reasonable guess.”

“It’s no surprise that Miss Xiao Kong, having spent so much time in the mountains, might not be familiar with the way the world works these days. Unlike Western Origin Spirit Kingdom in the west, [Eastern Origin Mysterious Kingdom] is a place of countless sects flourishing side by side, the birthplace of over 80% of all sects in the world.”

“Even the nation’s primary authority, led by the [Eastern Origin Holy Sect], is essentially a vast alliance of dominant sects. Sect culture is deeply ingrained in this land, where strength, talent, and cultivation are held above all else. Sect rivalries for profit are common, and what they often compete for is…”

Before Murong Yun could finish, the group of eight had already approached. A tall, composed young man who appeared to be under twenty, the one leading them spoke up directly.

“You’re here to seek fortune in the [Endless Wasteland Sea] too?”

The young man was an imposing figure. With his handsome features, broad build, and rare heterochromatic eyes, he radiated an intimidating aura. Meeting his gaze could easily evoke unease and trepidation.

He focused his attention on the group’s only male member, who appeared to be the eldest among them.

“Are you their teacher or leader?”

“?”

Catching something from his tone, the black-haired girl subtly glanced toward the table the group had just vacated. There, indeed, sat a middle-aged man with green hair, seemingly in his forties. His attire resembled that of the younger group, though more refined and indicative of higher status within their sect. The man was calmly sipping tea, exuding an air of confidence.

Noticing her curious gaze, the green-haired man even smiled and nodded politely in acknowledgment, appearing quite amicable.

Seeing that none of the three girls had any intention of engaging with the young man leading the group, the white-robed elder sighed and shook his head slightly. Placing both hands flat on the table, he maintained a composed yet humble demeanor as he replied.

“How can we assist you?”

The young man with heterochromatic eyes, leading the opposing group, scrutinized the four with an assessing gaze. His attention lingered especially on Xiao Kong, her silver cat ears twitching atop her head, and the white cat that had stopped eating to curiously observe the newcomers. Then he grinned.

“If you’re aiming for the [Endless Wasteland Sea], you must know its rules. Judging by how you were inquiring about it just now, I’d wager you’re still unclear on the specific timing of this cycle’s opening…”

“How about this? Let’s have a little sparring match. Regardless of the outcome, I’ll share all the relevant details about the [Endless Wasteland Sea] with you. However, if you lose, you’ll agree to enter after us. We’ll seal it with a contract. How does that sound?”

Though it was clear Murong Yun had deliberately lured them over, he couldn’t help but twitch slightly at hearing these terms. A wry smile crept onto his face.

“Are you serious? This doesn’t seem like a fair arrangement between us.”

“Hahahahaha!”

The young man misunderstood Murong Yun’s words, laughing loudly as if he’d just heard a great joke. Turning to address the now-silent crowd of tea house patrons, who seemed more than eager to witness a good show, he declared in a booming voice.

“Everyone! I am Shangguan Hong, the chief disciple of the third generation of the [Shocking God Sect]. Today, on behalf of my sect’s eight disciples, I formally challenge these individuals to a sparring match! The rules will follow the Eastern Kingdom’s standard sect sparring format. No life-threatening injuries or crippling harm, and strictly friendly competition! Please witness this event and ensure it is fair and just!”

“Great!!!”

“Yeah, fight! Go all out!”

“[Shocking God Sect]? Anyone heard of them?”

“Who cares? The kid’s got guts. This is how it should be!”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement fueled by Shangguan Hong’s confidence and boldness.

Amid the enthusiastic voices, Shangguan Hong turned back to the four, his grin now carrying a hint of menace.

“Well then, surely you can trust our intentions now. We don’t intend to overwhelm you with numbers. Since you have three participants, excluding your teacher, we’ll also field just three. One-on-one, rotating matches until the last person stands. How does that sound?”

“……”

The white-robed elder had no words for the young man’s apparent certainty of victory. He seemed unsure how to respond to these self-assured disciples. However, the black-haired girl, who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, smiled and spoke up.

“Sure, why not? I was just getting bored anyway. Let’s play along with your little game. Actually, why not bring your teacher into the mix too? It might make things last a little longer. Otherwise, I’m afraid this will end way too quickly.”

The black-haired girl’s words were meant as a casual remark, but to the [Shocking God Sect] disciples, led by the young man with heterochromatic eyes, they were nothing short of a colossal insult. Yet instead of anger, Shangguan Hong broke into a laugh.

“Haha! Interesting! No one my age has ever dared to look down on me like this! Do you even know why our sect is called the [Shocking God Sect]?”

“Hmm?”

Shangguan Hong’s tone turned solemn.

“It’s because every disciple of our sect possesses talents that could astonish even gods and immortals. This isn’t an empty boast but the result of rigorous trials, endless refinement, and a nationwide selection of the finest.

“Forget people your age. Even across the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm], few would dare to claim they could take on all of us alone. So, where does your confidence come from?”

“Okay, Naruto background character. It seems we’re both pretty confident, aren’t we? Fine, fine, let’s go with your arrangements then.”

The black-haired girl smiled nonchalantly and stood up. She clenched her seemingly delicate, harmless fists, eliciting a soft “crack” sound, and then glanced toward the others.

While the two sides had been talking, or rather, ever since Shangguan Hong loudly issued his challenge. The tea house patrons had already taken the initiative to clear a path to the ground floor. Even the shopkeeper seemed well-prepared, sending staff to swiftly tidy up an open space near the outdoor terrace by the main road for the duel.

Clearly, this wasn’t the first time they had witnessed such an event.

“Just like I said, each side picks three people to take turns in one-on-one matches until no one is left standing. Does that work for you?”

The black-haired girl simply made an “OK” gesture and was the first to step forward.

“Let’s go. We wouldn’t want our tea to get cold.”