Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 171

[Vol. 6] Chapter 171: Hidden Cards

After the recent close call, the [Shocking God Sect] group, having traversed the ruin for quite some time, decided to take a brief break. They used the moment to rest, observe their surroundings, and discuss the situation.

“Look around,” one of the senior disciples said, gesturing at the nearby ruins while the group, except for two disciples on guard duty, gathered to eat some dry rations.

“The damage to these buildings is far worse than what we saw earlier. This isn’t from a single catastrophic event. It’s likely the result of those black cracks appearing repeatedly over the years, slowly eroding the foundations until everything collapsed.”

“Also, have you noticed something else?” he continued. “At some point, the weeds and shrubs around us began to disappear not because they were destroyed, but because they never grew here in the first place. This environment might no longer support plant life. And if it’s unfit for plants, it’s probably dangerous for humans too.”

“Everyone, pay attention to your physical condition. If you feel anything unusual, speak up immediately. Don’t try to tough it out,” he warned.

The young girl he had just saved earlier, a pure-looking disciple named Shen Xue, hugged her knees, looking worried. She had once lost her presence in a past event alongside Yanzi and Shangguan Yao, and her demeanor now reflected lingering unease.

“But Senior Brother,” Shen Xue asked softly, “what can we do if we don’t push forward? Ruins like this can only be exited by meeting specific conditions. The enemies behind us won’t stop chasing us, and we’re stuck in a situation where we have no choice but to move forward.”

Sensing her anxiety, Yanzi, the braided-haired girl close to Shen Xue, gently patted her shoulder and smiled.

“What’s this? Is the great Miss Shen Xue regretting her decision? Didn’t you confidently declare that the [Endless Wasteland Sea] was just an overhyped legend and couldn’t do anything to someone as blessed by fortune as you?”

She then raised her voice in a mockingly high-pitched tone, mimicking Shen Xue’s earlier words.

“Fortune! Come into my hands already!”

Shen Xue’s face instantly turned bright red, her embarrassment obvious. She chased at Yanzi playfully, half-laughing and half-complaining as the group’s tense atmosphere lightened just a little.

“Ugh, Yanzi, you’re so annoying! I was just trying to cheer everyone up…” Shen Xue pouted, though her tone carried more exasperation than anger. “And I’m not actually scared. It’s just that there’s so much here that’s beyond comprehension. It’s so bizarre it leaves me feeling a little lost.”

“Back then, Teacher Mu said the [Endless Wasteland Sea] was a place where survival was a one-in-ten-thousand chance, and even we might not make it out alive. I didn’t really believe it at the time, but now it feels like he didn’t exaggerate at all. Out of all the people we’ve encountered so far, I doubt many will make it out of this ruin alive. Let alone talk about the so-called opportunity tied to the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden]…”

“……”

The group fell silent, as if they shared Shen Xue’s sentiment. Even among these prodigies, who were handpicked as the best of the best, there was no denying their youth. While battles and life-or-death struggles with human opponents might have been something they could handle, this surreal and suffocating “battle royale” was testing their limits in ways they had never encountered before.

Only Yanzi, with the calm of someone who had lived through two lifetimes, maintained her composure. She didn’t seem anxious. Instead, she appeared to be quietly observing and contemplating something about their surroundings.

Clap. Clap.

Noticing the group’s growing unease, their leader, Teacher Mu, clapped his hands lightly to draw their attention. His face carried a warm smile, though his tone was laced with seriousness.

“‘A general’s success is built upon countless bones,’ and so it is with the path of cultivation. While our sect does not encourage using others as stepping stones, it’s undeniable that the road of cultivation is full of thorns and danger. A single misstep could cost your life. That is why true strength is so rare in this world.”

His expression grew more solemn as he continued.

“Young ones, cultivating your mind is the foundation of all cultivation. If you cannot overcome the demons of your heart, then no matter how extraordinary your talent, it will amount to nothing. The sect sends every new disciple to this [Endless Wasteland Sea] for one reason, to teach them an essential truth.”

Mu Ze’s gaze swept over them as he spoke with conviction.

“The path of defying the heavens is like this ruin. Once you step onto it, there is no turning back. You must move forward, or you will perish.”

“……”

The so-called prodigies exchanged uncertain glances, their earlier bravado replaced by quiet contemplation. None of them spoke.

“Take some time to think carefully now. The [Heaven-Opening Sect] ruins are merciless, treating all things as mere grass dogs. If you cannot solidify your will and beliefs, you too will be eliminated… Yanzi, come with me.”

“Yes, Teacher Mu.”

Leaving the temporary camp set up by the [Shocking God Sect], Mu Ze and the braided-haired girl, Yanzi, walked side by side. They stopped near the ruins of a building, close enough to still see the others but far enough to muffle most sounds.

Mu Ze, a senior figure in the sect who appeared to be in his thirties, turned to face Yanzi. His calm gaze met her equally composed black eyes.

“Yanzi, you’ve been acting a bit different lately.”

“…Teacher Mu, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Mu Ze smiled faintly but didn’t press the matter. Instead, he shifted the conversation.

“Do you know what this place is? I mean, this ruin.”

Yanzi frowned slightly, staying silent for a moment before responding with a question of her own.

“Does Teacher Mu know?”

“Yes.”

The teacher, with his distinctive ash-blue hair tied into a short bundle, nodded. His demeanor was unlike the authoritative stance he took with other disciples. Instead, he spoke with an almost peer-like casualness.

“I didn’t expect to see this sight again, especially in the [Endless Wasteland Sea]. Time flies, over a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye.”

“No wonder the [Heaven-Opening Sect], along with its ruins, vanished entirely after that fateful night. Only a massive crater was left behind. It seems someone used extraordinary means to relocate it entirely into the [Endless Wasteland Sea], turning it into one of its many ruins…”

“Teacher Mu, are you familiar with the [Heaven-Opening Sect]?”

“No, not really. I only crossed paths with them a few times. But back then, this place was at its peak. One sect with two [Eternal Life] realm elders. Even the renowned [Five Great Sects] of the nation were overshadowed.”

“So… they were the true [Ferrymen], the ones entrusted with the legacy left by the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] herself. No wonder the [Heaven-Opening Palm] technique is so incredibly powerful.”

Yanzi’s expression remained calm, her delicate face showing no trace of surprise. She gave a faint nod, neither confirming nor denying Mu Ze’s observation.

“Teacher Mu, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There’s no need to circle around. We don’t have time to waste.”

Mu Ze gazed deeply at the braided-haired girl for a long moment before sighing softly and nodding. Finally, he voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.

“Yanzi, what is the relationship between Miss Violet and the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden]?”

“……”

Yanzi didn’t answer immediately. Mu Ze seemed to have expected her silence and continued with his reasoning.

“That tomb site in the [Wangxi Basin]. Shangguan Hong and the others only went there because you insisted. We all know you possess a remarkable divination ability, and you’ve always been methodical, calm, and reliable. It was because of this trust in your foresight that Shangguan Hong followed your recommendation to explore the tomb.”

“But in the end, [Shocking God Sect] lost three disciples in that operation, including you. It was only thanks to Miss Violet’s intervention that things didn’t end in total disaster. Frankly, the entire situation seems highly unusual.”

“You told Shangguan Hong that the tomb would provide some critical opportunity, yet the expedition yielded no tangible benefits for the sect. I’ve thought about this a great deal, wondering why you insisted on entering the tomb and what your true goal was.”

“What did [Shocking God Sect] , or rather what did you gain from that costly action?”

Mu Ze’s tone grew sharper, his gaze unwavering.

“There’s only one conclusion I can draw. You gained a connection.”