Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 19

[Vol. 6] Chapter 19: Come, Hit Me

“Ah!”

With a loud, powerful cry echoing through the courtyard, a man named San Niu, the head of the ‘Hong Family Hammer Style’, was sent flying, both himself and his hammer, arcing through the air before crashing down in a heap, landing in a disheveled heap on the ground.

“Good fight,” came the calm voice of a middle-aged man in white, with gray hair and loose black pants, who had stepped forward. He steadied himself with his hands and turned back to his original position without showing any emotion.

The assistant official’s loud announcement rang out at this moment.

“Unqualified!”

Two guards carrying long staffs moved forward and helped the groaning, fallen man to his feet. Seeing the situation, San Niu could no longer deny his elimination and limped off, head hung low, disappointed.

This was hardly surprising…

Violet couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic as the large man hobbled past her, but she knew well that this San Niu had no reason to feel wronged. There was a clear gap in strength between him and the middle-aged man in white and black pants.

First, it had to be acknowledged that the man wasn’t weak.

Although his title of “Hong Family Hammer Style” was likely self-proclaimed. He was probably the only one in the family, or maybe had a couple of lackluster apprentices, the man’s strength and the weight of his iron hammer were undeniably real.

By the standards of another continent, this man would probably be considered a skilled fighter with a level equivalent to a Mithril-tier warrior, at least level 20 or higher. However, in comparison to the middle-aged man, his speed and strength were outclassed by more than 10 levels, likely reaching the Sky-tier, and perhaps even approaching Legendary status.

But the key point went beyond just raw strength.

From the brief clash between them, it was clear that the middle-aged man not only had a crushing physical advantage, but he also seemed to use a technique resembling martial arts from Earth, like deflecting a heavy blow with a light one or using the opponent’s strength against them.

The hammer strike, which San Niu had gathered all his strength to deliver, was effortlessly redirected by the middle-aged man, who used his bare hands to guide and counter the blow. The resulting collision of the two forces sent San Niu flying out, and the match was decided in an instant.

If this factor is taken into account, perhaps he could be considered a true legendary-level expert.

From Violet’s recent observations of the residents of this world, and by comparing the strength of individuals like Mr. Dead Soul, this man would already be classified as a rare and top-tier expert.

“…Seems a bit interesting.”

I hope I get to fight him someday.

Although dozens of people had entered the arena at once, the ten examiners took turns, and sometimes fought simultaneously, so there was no need for any rest. The next challenger was already stepping up as soon as the previous match was over.

As a result, the review process moved faster than Violet had anticipated.

In less than half an hour, most of the applicants had already been eliminated, with only a young man and woman, who looked like a couple, remaining.

To be honest, since this was just a test of the applicants’ combat abilities, it wasn’t necessary for them to actually defeat the obviously skilled examiners. Like the couple, as long as they could hold their ground for a few exchanges without showing signs of defeat, they would be accepted.

But clearly, most of the applicants here were just pretenders, beautiful on the outside but lacking substance on the inside. They couldn’t even manage that much.

Being eliminated early was probably a good thing. The [Tidal Deep Valley], from the sounds of it, was no pleasant place. Without real strength, going there was basically a death sentence.

Finally, it was Violet and the other two girls’ turn for evaluation.

Since they were the last to go, the five of them, including Violet, moved forward together at the assistant official’s signal. They spread out, and five more well-rested examiners approached to face them.

It seemed like they intended to wrap up the assessment in one go.

And it was quite a coincidence: the examiner who approached Violet was none other than the white-clad man who had previously defeated the head of the ‘Hong Family Hammer Style’ with a single move. Now, standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze, he exuded the aura of a martial arts master.

“Please, teach me.”

While others had already started fighting, Violet’s opponent seemed to take a different approach, perhaps because she was just a frail young girl. He even cupped his hands in a polite gesture, showing a demeanor that was gentle and courteous.

Violet took out the [Eternal Scepter of the World’s Heart] out of nowhere, thought for a moment, then decided to put it away, her curiosity growing.

“Are you a sect leader too? I noticed that everyone else introduced themselves before the fight, but you seem reluctant to speak. Are you from some secretive sect?”

“Clearly… you’re the strongest one among these people, right?”

Even though she complimented him, he simply smiled in a relaxed and indifferent manner, slightly shaking his head.

“I’m just a wandering carefree person, without any affiliation with any school or sect. All my martial arts skills are self-taught. You can call me Murong Yun.”

That’s an uncommon surname.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Violet mimicked his gesture, placing her hands behind her back and puffing out her small chest, which wasn’t much to speak of.

“Let’s go.”

“?”

This bold move seemed to stun Murong Yun for a moment.

After all, from the start of the assessment until now, all of his opponents had been those who actively attacked to seize the initiative. This posture, which wasn’t even a defensive stance and looked more like arrogance from someone guiding a junior, was something he hadn’t encountered before.

But in a duel, it’s all about skill, and there’s no such thing as letting someone win. Since it was clear that Violet hadn’t made the first move yet, and with the attention of the prefect, Wen Fu, and many others now focused on them, Murong Yun didn’t hesitate any longer. He assumed his stance, slightly bending his knees.

“Whoosh!”

A perfectly executed straight punch!

Perhaps considering that Violet was a woman, and this was just a sparring match, Murong Yun decided to be gentle. Instead of attacking her chest, he chose to target her shoulder.

After all, even the strongest of fighters would be greatly hindered if their arms were immobilized. With both arms rendered ineffective, much of their fighting ability would be lost, and the outcome would likely be decided.

Murong Yun had expected that, despite her delicate appearance, this young girl must have some combat experience, especially since she dared to participate in the Prefect’s recruitment, not to mention her strange attire and ability to move things without touching them…

But what he didn’t anticipate was that she didn’t dodge, didn’t flinch, and didn’t even raise her arm to block. She simply stood there, pretending to be ready, as he charged toward her and delivered a punch to her shoulder!

Could she possibly be a clueless girl who had wandered into the wrong place?

With that thought in mind, Murong Yun quickly restrained his strength. He aimed to strike with just enough force to make her arm feel sore and numb without injuring her bones or muscles. The punch landed lightly on the shoulder of the black-haired girl in the white robe.

This strike was known as [One-inch punch], a technique that Murong Yun was particularly skilled at.

If she were truly as clueless as he thought, someone without any combat ability who had merely wandered into the wrong place, this amount of force would certainly not harm the delicate girl who seemed as fragile as a flower…

But if she had hidden abilities, the power in his punch could trigger a second, more forceful surge, potentially turning the tables.

However, none of the scenarios Murong Yun anticipated occurred. He didn’t see her fall in response to the blow, nor did she pretend to falter and counterattack.

Instead, his perfectly calculated punch landed directly on the seemingly fragile shoulder of the black-haired girl with a soft “puff.”

Then, they both stood there, staring at each other.

After a long, awkward silence, the black-haired girl tilted her head in confusion and blurted out,

“What’s wrong? You skipped lunch?”