Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 17

[Vol. 6] Chapter 17: Omens of Blessings and Calamities

After some casual conversation, the satisfied waiter who managed to bring up the topic and earn a tip quickly left, leaving Violet and the other two women staring at each other, thoughtful after hearing the information.

“So, what is this Holy Beast, the Qilin? Have you ever heard of it?”

Miss Ling Feng was still deep in thought, but Bai’er, sitting beside her, immediately nodded and said,

“How could people from outside the realm not know about the Holy Beast, the Qilin? It’s a household legend in the [Ancient Spirit Realm]! The Four Holy Beasts and the Four Saints, they are both partners and, in some sense, master and disciple. Back in the day, when the Four Saints pacified the chaotic world, half the credit belonged to the steadfast support of the Four Holy Beasts.”

“That’s right… Bai Ze of the East, Xuan Niao of the South, Pixiu of the North, and our Western Origin Spirit Kingdom’s holy beast, the Qilin, together are known as the Four Holy Beasts.” [1]

Ling Feng continued, her jade-like fingers gently caressing the ceramic rim of her teacup. She gazed at the slightly rippling tea inside, seemingly lost in thought.

“Legend has it that the Four Holy Beasts possess extraordinary powers capable of moving mountains, calming seas, and transforming decay into miracles. The bloodline that the Four Saints inherited from the first generation originates from the blessings granted by the Holy Beasts.”

“Not only has the Spirit Veil Immortal Island descended early, but now the Holy Beast Qilin has ended its thousand-year slumber and reappeared… If this is true, Yangyuan City might soon face further calamities.”

“Hmm? Why do you say that?”

The priestess seemed confused.

“Isn’t the Holy Beast Qilin a symbol of good fortune? Why does it seem to be a bad omen now?”

Ling Feng let out a soft sigh, her gaze distant.

“Blessings and calamities are intertwined. The Qilin does indeed symbolize good fortune, but precisely because of that, its appearance always attracts strife as people compete for this opportunity. It is said that, weary of this trouble, it chose to retreat alongside the Western Saint after their mission was accomplished.”

“The Qilin would never reappear without reason. Its presence must signify that something is about to happen or has already occurred. The [Tidal Deep Valley]… Could it be…?”

At this point, the young woman abruptly fell silent. Alongside Violet and Bai’er, who had also sensed something unusual, she turned her gaze toward the window, where a vast cloud of dust was gradually rising in the distance.

“Make way! Clear the path! Quickly, clear the way!”

Hundreds of riders, wearing fancy, colorful outfits and armed with long swords, galloped along the main road. Their horses were strong and fast, sending clouds of dust flying into the air. Pedestrians quickly scattered to avoid them, too intimidated by their overbearing behavior to voice any complaints.

Only after the riders disappeared into the distance did the crowd regroup, murmuring as they pointed toward the dissipating cloud of dust. Their expressions, however, showed less anger and more confusion.

That same perplexity appeared on Ling Feng and Bai’er’s faces as well.

“Milady, those riders…?”

“Yes, the gray silk uniform, feathered cloaks, phoenix-adorned belts, and qilin-patterned boots. There’s no mistaking it. They are the [Spirit Guards].”

Ling Feng withdrew her gaze from the window, her expression tinged with surprise.

“The [Spirit Guards]… Why are they appearing near Yangyuan City at this time?”

Following her usual practice of asking questions when something was unclear, Violet promptly spoke up.

“Are the Spirit Guards you’re talking about the elite unit assigned to protect the Western Origin Spirit Maiden? I’ve heard the [Spirit Maiden] is currently on a sacred tour. If the Spirit Guards are here, wouldn’t that mean…”

“Absolutely not.”

Perhaps thinking her denial sounded overly abrupt, Ling Feng paused before elaborating further.

“The Spirit Maiden’s route for the tour was decided long ago and cannot be drastically altered on a whim. The experts under the [Yin-Yang Division] have already cleared her path in advance. At this moment, she should be at least a thousand miles away from Yangyuan City. How could she possibly appear here?”

Since Violet had been forthright about her identity as an outsider from beyond this realm, during their days of travel together, Violet had already learned from Ling Feng and Bai’er that they were affiliated with the [Yin-Yang Division] of Western Origin Spirit Kingdom. However, their exact ranks remained undisclosed.

Since Miss Ling Feng, clearly a significant figure within the [Yin-Yang Division], had made such a statement, the priestess did not argue. She merely nodded, waiting quietly for her to continue.

As expected, after a brief moment of thought, Ling Feng spoke again.

“Yangyuan City does lie along the route of the Spirit Maiden’s tour. Perhaps news of the Qilin’s appearance reached the Spirit Maiden, prompting her to send the Spirit Guards ahead to investigate. However, the main Spirit Guard forces and the Spirit Maiden herself should still be several days away from arriving in this area.”

Bai’er, who was equally knowledgeable about these matters, nodded in agreement.

“That’s the most likely explanation.”

With the topic concluded, Ling Feng turned her gaze to the priestess seated across from her.

“Miss Violet, may I ask what your plans are from here on?”

“Me?”

The black-haired girl rested her chin on one hand, pondering lazily.

Truth be told, Violet had initially planned to quickly gather information about Spirit Veil Immortal Island’s whereabouts and head straight there to meet with Hen, figure out her situation, and uncover the full story before deciding her next steps.

But according to Ling Feng and Bai’er, the island’s movements were unpredictable, and it would only reveal itself months later. Rushing to act now seemed rather pointless.

Perhaps… this delay was part of Hen’s plan, giving her an opportunity to better understand this continent.

With that thought, the girl replied,

“What else can I do? I’ll just wander around the [Ancient Spirit Realm] to kill some time until your so-called [Four Saints’ Immortal Selection Ceremony] takes place. Either way, I’ll definitely get onto the Immortal Island. A few months might be a bit long, but I can wait.”

“……”

As if anticipating this response, Ling Feng and Bai’er exchanged a glance before Ling Feng spoke up with an invitation.

“If that’s the case, the two of us happen to be traveling through various regions. Though I am not particularly skilled, I would be honored to act as your guide. What do you think?”

“A guide, huh…”

The other party’s intentions were clear and straightforward, with no attempt to hide them.

On one hand, as Ling Feng mentioned, she wanted to extend her hospitality and offer guidance to Violet, who was unfamiliar with the area. On the other hand, it was also a way to supervise, or perhaps even monitor this enigmatic outsider.

If Violet had been an ordinary traveler, it might not have mattered. But her strength had been undeniable during the confrontation with the [Hidden Fog], one of the Seven Heavenly Demon Lords. A powerful and unpredictable outsider like her naturally drew Ling Feng’s attention, especially as a prominent figure of the Western Origin Spirit Kingdom. Keeping Violet within her sights was a precautionary measure.

That said, it didn’t particularly bother Violet. As long as this priestess wasn’t secretly scheming or insincere, their companionship would simply be mutually beneficial.

“Alright, as a reward for providing information, I’ll tag along with you until Spirit Veil Immortal Island reveals itself. If circumstances change, we can go our separate ways without any hard feelings. Sound fair?”

“Miss Violet, you really are straightforward. It’s settled then~!”

Seeing the black-haired girl extend a pale, delicate hand, Ling Feng smiled slightly, recognizing it as a symbolic gesture. She raised her arm in response.

After a brief handshake, Violet’s hand, soft and slender as if boneless, seemed to emit a faint glow that quickly vanished. She withdrew her hand, her expression now more relaxed and casual.

“Alright, now that we’ve decided to travel together, stop calling me ‘Miss Violet.’ We’re clearly the same age, so no need for formalities. So, where to next? Are we heading straight to Yangyuan City?”

Unaware of certain subtle actions during the handshake, Ling Feng smiled as she withdrew her own hand. Her expression turned thoughtful as she nodded.

“Let’s first meet Wen Fu, the Prefect of Yangyuan City. The priority is to confirm the source of the news about the Qilin. If even a tea house waiter knows so much, this matter… may already be causing a stir throughout Yangyuan County.”

Note:
[1]
If we refer to the original reference, the 4 Holy Beasts are as follows:
Dragon in the East, the Qilin in the West, the Turtle in the North, and the Phoenix in the South.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Holy_Beasts

However, here the creatures are:
(Bai Ze): Traditionally known as a wise mythical creature with the ability to understand all languages and the nature of all things. It’s often depicted as a white ox with a human face.
(Xuan Niao): Often translated as the “Black Bird,” it’s closely associated with the legendary Empress Nüwa and the creation of humanity.
(Pixiu): A mythical creature in Chinese folklore, often depicted as a winged lion with a dragon’s head. It is known for its ability to attract wealth and ward off evil spirits.
(Qilin): A benevolent mythical creature, often depicted as a cross between a dragon, a lion, and a deer. It symbolizes good luck, prosperity, and longevity.
So this is not a mistranslation… Perhaps the author intentionally made it slightly different.