Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 25

[Vol. 6] Chapter 25: Oh No, There Are Fools

Although it was already late at night, the secondary courtyard was far from silent.

Night patrol guards formed teams, carrying lanterns as they roamed back and forth in groups of three to five. The soft clinking of armor and the occasional melodic chirping of insects hidden among the shadows of trees added a rhythmic vitality to the night.

This world closely resembled the ancient Eastern societies recorded in previous Earth’s history.

Walking along the intricately designed pavilions and corridors, the priestess found herself once again marveling at the scenery of the night.

Apart from the unique language and script, the architectural style, mannerisms, clothing, etiquette, and titles seemed to merge millennia of Eastern culture into one. After some peculiar processing, it resulted in the unique culture that existed today.

It was said that a thousand years ago, during the primordial period of the [Ancient Spirit Realm], the land was quite different from its present state. It was a society shaped by a distinct civilization, but that civilization was destroyed during the chaotic age of demons and monsters. Only after the Four Saints subdued the chaos did a new era of enlightenment begin, eventually evolving into the thriving Four Nations culture of today.

For this reason, Violet had often speculated whether the legendary First Four Saints might have origins similar to those of Minchen and others, sharing a comparable background.

Her decision to join the quest to find the Qilin was partly to see if this endeavor could lead her to uncover more about the hidden history of this civilization.

After all, the close connection between the Four Holy Beasts and the Four Saints was widely known.

Of course, that was a matter for later.

The residence provided by Yangyuan City for the recruits seemed to have been a government guesthouse, capable of accommodating at least a thousand people. The vast complex of buildings combined public and private spaces seamlessly yet distinctly, using the structure of the front and rear courtyards.

Currently, apart from Violet and the other two women, many other extraordinary individuals who had answered the recruitment call had also been arranged by the City Prefect to stay in various parts of the residence, making the place quite lively.

For example, several hundred meters away from Violet, there were three or four ninja-like figures hanging upside down on a rooftop, seemingly engaged in some sort of specialized nighttime training.

From a distant quiet chamber, even in the middle of the night, the sharp, rhythmic clanging of metalworking could be heard.

While it was undeniably curious, the priestess couldn’t be bothered to investigate.

Among the motley crew of strange individuals gathered in Yangyuan County from all corners of the land, Violet could see that Wen Fu, their host, didn’t place much trust in them, including her group of three. They were merely treated as temporary allies, or to put it bluntly, as hired muscle and expendable pawns.

Only those who demonstrated extraordinary strength, like her, received any special attention or consideration.

After all, the interests tied to the Western Holy Beast, the Qilin, were far too immense. According to some untraceable rumors, drinking the Qilin’s blood could elevate a person ability, while its bones could forge unparalleled divine weapons. Even its scales, hide, and fur were treasures worth fortunes.

And if one were to earn the Qilin’s recognition and receive its teachings and blessings, they might even become the next Western Saint of the [Ancient Spirit Realm].

It was clear that some among this gathering harbored ulterior motives.

Both the recruiting party, led by Wen Fu, and individuals like Violet, Ling Feng, and Bai’er were fully aware of this.

From their earlier discussions, it was evident that the Prefect’s decision to bring in the [Yin-Yang Division]’s overseer was a precautionary move. By sharing certain information, he had extended a gesture of goodwill, but it also served as a test and warning, subtly intimidating them by using the Western Origin Spirit Maiden as a representative of the Western Kingdom.

Violet understood all of this but chose not to expose it or dwell on it.

Suddenly, her gaze shifted, and she leapt over the wooden railings on either side, landing lightly in the courtyard.

Although she wasn’t doing anything particularly secretive, the priestess intentionally avoided the patrolling guards. Stepping carefully over the neatly paved stones of the secondary courtyard, she moved silently in the shadows.

Initially, she had only intended to wander around aimlessly, but unexpectedly, she stumbled upon something unusual.

It was a faint… metallic scent.

The smell was of raw meat, and there was also a hint of blood.

The other party’s method was remarkably meticulous, or perhaps they used some special technique to conceal it. The scent of blood was so faint it was almost imperceptible, completely masked by the fresh aroma of grass, plants, and blooming flowers that filled the courtyard.

Unfortunately for them, this camouflage only worked on “ordinary people.”

Forget her dragon girl who wasn’t here, Violet herself, with the heightened senses of a divine being far surpassing those of ordinary creatures, could easily pinpoint the faint anomaly at close range.

However, as she tracked the scent halfway, the priestess noticed another figure that surprised her.

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

Silently approaching like a phantom, Violet sneaked up behind a short-haired girl who was hiding behind a tree and nervously peeking out. With a playful intent, Violet suddenly reached out and patted the unsuspecting girl on the back.

“Wait!”

A flash of cold light, sudden and soundless. A sword strike came at her in an instant!

Yet, the priestess was unfazed. She calmly raised two slender, jade-like fingers and effortlessly pinched the blade mid-air, stopping it completely in its tracks. The sword could go no further.

A hint of helplessness appeared on her face.

“No need to be so tense… it’s just me.”

“Violet?”

Only then did Bai’er, who had been facing forward with her sword reflexively extended at an impossible angle, finally turn around. Her expression, initially tense as if confronting a mortal threat, relaxed slightly, returning to her usual carefree and cheerful demeanor. She muttered in a soft voice:

“Honestly… don’t scare people like that! When did you even sneak up on me? For a moment there, I thought I was done for.”

“Who even announces an attack beforehand…? So, can you take the sword away from my neck now?”

“Ah, sorry, sorry…”

Embarrassed, Bai’er stuck out her tongue before quickly sheathing her sword. She glanced at Violet’s hand, which had effortlessly caught the blade moments earlier, then turned her gaze toward a shaded area not far away. In a hushed tone, she asked again,

“So, why are you out here in the middle of the night?”

“Didn’t I just ask you that same question?”

Violet shook her head with a mix of amusement and exasperation but still offered a simple explanation.

“I couldn’t sleep. I figured I’d take a walk, but then I sensed something strange over here and decided to check it out.”

“I see.”

Bai’er nodded, slightly surprised.

“Impressive perception, I thought I was the only one who noticed something odd over here.”

“Enough with the flattery… So, what’s going on?”

“Look over there.”

Following Bai’er’s pointing finger, Violet peered past the tree trunk toward the area ahead.

What came into view was a small, indistinct black mass, no more than a few dozen centimeters in diameter. It writhed continuously just outside a cluster of bushes, resembling a fuzzy ball of fur, though its true nature was unclear.

Yet the faint metallic scent of blood was unmistakably emanating from the bush that housed this strange creature.

“…What is that?”

Still focused on the peculiar movements of the shadowy figure, Bai’er spoke softly without turning her head.

“Senior Violet, you know about [Yokai], don’t you?”

The black-haired girl nodded.

In the [Ancient Spirit Realm], what they referred to as [Yokai] were essentially spirits that had gained sentience, unique powers, and higher intelligence. Similar to the magical creatures of the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains.

Of course, it wasn’t limited to spirits. Insects, butterflies, plants, and even lifeless things like rocks could transform into [Yokai] in this world.

According to local beliefs, as long as something existed in a place where the essence of the sun and moon frequently shone upon it, and over centuries, millennia, or even longer, it continually absorbed this energy, or if it resided near spiritual veins or springs, soaking in their essence. Ordinary objects could awaken, gaining intelligence and transforming into the unique beings known as [Yokai].

They were, in essence, natural creatures born of heaven and earth.

From this perspective, [Yokai] could be considered the true indigenous lifeforms of the [Ancient Spirit Realm].

[Yokai] were distinct from [Evil Spirits]. The former were tangible living beings, while the latter were shapeless malevolent thoughts, sometimes manifesting physically and other times existing only as energy clusters. [Evil Spirits] were a purer form of malice and resentment.

On the other hand, [Yokai] were far more intelligent and complex, capable of discerning advantages and risks, and even forming alliances with humans.

Thus, [Yokai] were not categorized as absolute enemies by the Four Nations. Typically, they coexisted with humans without interfering in each other’s affairs.

Most [Yokai] avoided human cities, living instead in deep mountains, remote forests, desolate countryside, or other places rarely visited by humans. However, some claimed territories for themselves, pretended to be deities, or even attacked travelers for their own gain, making them a highly diverse group of beings.

“Oh… so this is what a [Yokai] is?”

After understanding their nature, Violet quickly discerned what the fuzzy ball was.

The creature had hidden its head in the bush, leaving its fluffy backside exposed for all to see.