Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 139

[Vol. 6] Chapter 139: The Spirit Fox Pendant

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Wow, so you really managed to find this, huh? Looks like we’re quite destined to cross paths. Since that’s the case, let me give you a few more reminders!

This pendant is called the [Spirit Fox Pendant], a symbol of my status. It’s also a magical artifact with many wonderful properties that can benefit its wearer in numerous ways.

I sealed it here because I was about to embark on a long journey and was worried I might accidentally lose it out there. If I had successfully returned, I would’ve come here myself to retrieve it.

However, if some adventurous soul has found it before me, it likely means I didn’t make it back in time… or at all. If that’s the case, consider this little trinket yours. At least it won’t go to waste.

Of course, if you feel this item is too troublesome or risky to keep, you can follow my earlier suggestion and take it to Spirit Veil Immortal Island to hand it over. They’ll probably reward you quite handsomely for it.

That’s it, little one. It seems we’re connected by fate. Keep striving forward, and this time, it’s really goodbye~

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“[Spirit Fox Pendant]…”

Violet didn’t share the letter with the others but gently placed the handwritten note from the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] back into the wooden box. Her gaze then lingered on the white fox-shaped pendant at the bottom of the box.

Running her fingers over its smooth surface, she touched its texture. Despite being made of jade, it wasn’t cold to the touch. Instead, it carried a faint warmth that reminded her of the protective jade charms Hen crafted with her own hands.

“[Information Detection]”

A series of small messages immediately appeared before the black-haired girl’s eyes:

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[Spirit Fox Pendant]

[Grade: Semi-Divine Artifact]

[Originally crafted by the [Supreme Sacred Fox God] “???????” and gifted to the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] “????” as a symbol of their bond. It represented their deep friendship and the Shrine Maiden’s esteemed position within the Spirit Veil Tribe. Over millennia of refinement and enhancement by the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden], it has evolved into a powerful artifact with numerous mystical abilities.]

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A gift from the [Supreme Sacred Fox God] to the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden]…

Even though this [Spirit Fox Pendant] only represents status, it has reached the level of a semi-divine artifact. While this might be the result of millennia of refinement and accumulated heritage, it still speaks volumes about the immense power of both the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] and the [Supreme Sacred Fox God].

The black-haired girl shook her head with a wry smile.

This “small gift” was indeed a bit too extravagant. A semi-divine artifact of this caliber would be hard to come by even in the entire Ancient Spirit Realm, outside of special organizations like Spirit Veil Island. At least, that was the case for the other continent she was familiar with.

“Oh? Is this the [Spirit Fox Pendant]? But how could the [Spirit Fox Pendant] appear in a place like this… Wait, could it be that this place is…!”

Xiao Kong’s soft murmurs, filled with surprise and other complex emotions, broke Violet’s train of thought. She turned back to see the cat-eared girl quickly masking her astonishment and delight, though her expression still held traces of complexity.

This reaction wasn’t unexpected.

As someone from the era of the [Ancestral Dragon], Xiao Kong must have known the famous [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden]. Recognizing the pendant, an emblem of her identity, wasn’t surprising at all. In fact, it wasn’t far-fetched to assume that Xiao Kong might have deeper thoughts or connections about it…

Violet shook her head, choosing not to delve into that line of thinking. Instead, she retrieved another fox-shaped pendant from her backpack. This one, while similar in design, lacked the overwhelming presence of the [Spirit Fox Pendant]. It served purely as a symbol of status.

Holding both pendants in her palms, she compared them carefully.

They were indeed very similar, differing only in small, subtle details.

The second pendant was something she had received long ago in Sacred Star City. It had been forced into her hands by a Spirit Veil Tribesman who introduced himself as Ming Lan. If she remembered correctly, it was called the [Divine Fox Pendant].

With only a one-word difference in their names and such a striking resemblance in appearance, it was impossible not to see a connection between the two.

According to Ming Lan, the [Divine Fox Pendant] represented an exceptionally prestigious status within the Spirit Veil Tribe and its affiliated organizations.

It seemed that its significance might be similar to the [Spirit Fox Pendant].

In other words, the [Divine Fox Pendant] might have been crafted by the Spirit Veil Tribe as a replacement after the original [Spirit Fox Pendant] was lost. Alternatively, it could represent a high-ranking status within the clan. Still prestigious, though not quite at the level of the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] herself.

While Violet quietly sorted through these possibilities in her mind, she didn’t let the others wait too long. After a brief moment of thought, she returned the [Divine Fox Pendant] to her backpack but deliberately fastened the [Spirit Fox Pendant] to the clasp on the side of her robe, the [Feather Robe Graria].

This action naturally drew Murong Yun’s curiosity.

“Miss Violet, what exactly is the [Spirit Fox Pendant]? Why was it hidden in such a secretive place? To be honest, the name itself is hard not to associate with…”

“Oh, it’s just a little gift left by the tomb’s builder for whoever came across it. No point in letting it go to waste. As for the details of what it does, I’m still figuring that out myself. Let’s hold onto it for now and deal with it later.”

“……”

Hen shook her head, clearly unimpressed with Violet’s evasive answer. After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but speak up.

“Violet… do you know what this fox pendant truly represents?”

Violet nodded slightly. Then, after giving Xiao Kong a final meaningful glance, she chose not to dwell on the topic any further. Instead, she placed the wooden box into her backpack, brushed off her hands, and stood up.

“All right, there’s nothing else of value here. Let’s prepare to head deeper into the tomb.”

The ceremonial hall wasn’t large, with only two noticeable entrances: one at the front and one at the back. These openings framed the central circular stone and the stone tablet, effectively guarding them in the middle of the space. Beyond the path they had taken, a winding route mixed in with countless false branches, there was only one other exit. A solitary small door at the rear. Naturally, this door led deeper into the tomb.

From this point onward, true dangers were likely to appear. However, Violet couldn’t predict their exact nature or source, so she could only proceed cautiously and adapt to whatever came.

Leaving the ceremonial hall, the four of them continued forward through the only available entrance.

This path had no new branches but was markedly different from the earlier ones. It sloped downward, leading them gradually out of the mountain and into an underground level. This made sense, on the surface, this was a burial site, and if you were going to stage such a thing, you might as well go all out.

As they descended further, the passageway quickly became more labyrinthine. This time, though, it wasn’t because of deliberate tricks by a certain priestess. As Murong Yun had mentioned earlier, large tombs were often constructed in the style of palaces, with intricate, interconnected sections. For anyone unfamiliar with the layout, it would feel indistinguishable from a maze.

Compared to the previous network of confusing false paths, however, this section at least had some logical structure. Under the guidance of the silver-haired girl, they managed to avoid wandering aimlessly.

Hmm… not bad. It almost looks like the real deal.

If Violet hadn’t already known the true purpose of this tomb, she might have believed it genuinely commemorated some long-forgotten historical figure. Somehow, [Dawn] seemed remarkably meticulous about certain things…

As she mentally criticized the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden]’s peculiar habits, Violet remained alert, carefully observing her surroundings.

After all, their group wasn’t the only presence moving inside the tomb.

“Stop. There’s something up ahead,” she said abruptly.