Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 32

[Vol. 6] Chapter 32: Disintegration!

“Phew, that was close. Is everyone alright?”

For Murong Yun, a martial arts master with deep internal energy, the level of running they had done was not much of a burden. After escaping the range of the bone demons, he quickly turned his gaze back toward the others.

Violet, Ling Feng, and Bai’er, the three women, were naturally unaffected. The three men from Guiyuan Sect, led by Du Zhe, were also quite capable, showing no signs of fatigue. But as they looked back at the dense forest of bones still twisting and writhing in resentment, they couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of fear.

The only one who seemed truly affected was Yuan Zhi, the pale-faced girl who had just been set down by Yuan Hong. She limped angrily up to Murong Yun, and surprisingly, raised her hand as if to slap him!

“Ouch!”

Unfortunately for her, Murong Yun was not foolish. With a casual move, he raised his palm and blocked the slap, causing the delicate girl to wince in pain.

“Miss Yuan, what is the meaning of this?”

Murong Yun’s calm attitude seemed to ignite Yuan Zhi’s fury. It appeared that she could no longer hold back her anger and finally dropped her pretense, shouting loudly in outrage!

“Preposterous! Truly preposterous! You want to rebel?! How dare you strike back, you lowborn! Do you not believe that with a single word, I could have your entire family executed?!”

“……”

Yuan Zhi’s words seemed to strike a nerve with Murong Yun, as his previously indifferent expression gradually darkened, and the atmosphere of the scene immediately shifted.

“Yuan… So that’s it. I see. Then, Sir, might I ask what crime I have committed to deserve the annihilation of my entire family?”

But Yuan Zhi, clearly unaware of the tension in the air and the subtle shift in Murong Yun’s words, continued to pour fuel on the fire.

“What crime have I committed? You abandoned me and the others just now, almost getting me killed. This is attempted murder!”

“Uh, Xiao Zhi, don’t be like this, Mr. Murong’s decision…”

Seeing the situation escalating, Yuan Hong, ignoring the multiple deep cuts on his body from the bone demons, quickly stepped forward to try to mediate. However, Yuan Zhi forcefully swatted him away with a backhand.

“Shut up!”

Murong Yun truly had a good temper. After a brief lapse in composure, he quickly regained his calm and didn’t show excessive anger or concern. He simply shook his head and replied indifferently.

“Miss Yuan, whether you’re a royal family member or a saint’s daughter, we are here to explore a secret realm, not for a leisurely outing.”

“I’ve repeatedly emphasized the dangers within the [Tidal Deep Valley], and since you’ve insisted on joining, you have accepted the role of an explorer. We’re all risking our lives here, so there is no distinction of status or nobility, let alone sacrificing one person to save another.”

“If you’ve been injured in battle, that’s one thing. But you?”

“Slow to react, weak-willed, crying over minor injuries, not only failing to show your own value but needing others to protect you. When it’s over, instead of reflecting or expressing gratitude, you complain about your teammates, shirk responsibility, and shout… May I ask, what exactly is your purpose here?”

“You… you… you! Are you mocking my worthlessness?! Preposterous!!! Preposterous!!! My father never…!”

At this moment, the impatient voice of the young disciple from Guiyuan Sect, Du Zhe, came through.

“I say, are you done yet? I don’t know where this young lady came from, but we don’t have the time to play house games with you. If you can walk, then walk. If you can’t, then let’s part ways right here. Take your loyal dog and hurry back to the surface, alright?”

Oh? This guy… actually said something reasonable for once.

Good, I’ll give you one point.

To be fair, although Du Zhe has a short temper and is a bit stubborn and self-centered, he does have some genuine skill and practical experience.

His reaction speed and the way he handled his companions just now were quite commendable. If it weren’t for the array he and his two fellow disciples activated to suppress the demonic energy in the area, the number of bone claws the group would have had to face during the escape from the [Undead Bone Demons] would likely have tripled.

If that had happened, relying solely on Yuan Hong probably wouldn’t have been enough to protect the burden and successfully escape.

Though he has some flaws, he can still be considered a qualified teammate. At least for now, he doesn’t seem to have any intention of betraying the group. It seems like he’s here to achieve something, probably aiming for recognition and accomplishments with the Qilin. In any case, he’s far more useful than Yuan Zhi, who’s just a dead weight.

“You… what kind of attitude is that?!”

It was clear that Yuan Zhi was the type of spoiled young lady who didn’t understand hardship. Though it was hard to understand why she came here in the first place or what the Yuan family name meant, it didn’t matter. No matter how high her status, even if she were the Saint of the Western Origin Spirit Kingdom, it wouldn’t help her here.

Seeing everyone making their positions clear, Violet and the other two girls didn’t add to the trouble but instead kept a detached attitude, as if it had nothing to do with them. Yuan Zhi was so angry that her delicate body trembled.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll remember this humiliation! Just wait, all of you!!!”

“Yuan Hong, let’s go!”

“Huh? Xiao Zhi, but this is… ah, wait…!”

The awkward young man holding the staff hurriedly tried to stop her, but Yuan Zhi had already hobbled off on her own, heading towards another exit of the underground lake. In his rush, he could only bitterly apologize to the others and quickly chased after her.

“Shouting… what a nonsensical fool.”

Du Zhe clicked his tongue in disdain, completely ignoring the man and woman, while Murong Yun furrowed his brows slightly but chose to simply watch them leave without saying anything to stop them.

As he had said, in a dangerous place like the [Tidal Deep Valley], where risks could emerge at any moment, it was better to part ways with teammates who were already harboring grudges from the beginning and would only slow the group down, and instead proceed with their own strength.

Although Murong Yun was good-natured, he wasn’t someone who could be easily bullied.

Only Violet, nudging Ling Feng who was also frowning at the two people’s backs, quietly said.

“Hey, are you sure this is fine? Aren’t you from the [Yin-Yang Division]? That person seems to have an extraordinary background. If that person dies down here and people find out you didn’t do anything, will they deduct your pay?”

Not sure what she was thinking, Ling Feng could only shake his head helplessly.

“It’s fine, they won’t run into any trouble. We just need to focus on moving forward.”

“Is that so~”

Not hearing the quiet conversation between the two women, Murong Yun glanced at the remaining six members of the team, exhaled softly, and said in a deep voice.

“Alright, let’s rest for a bit and then prepare to continue. Although we had to take a detour to avoid the [Undead Bone Demons], this place is still recorded in the atlas. We can just make a slight adjustment to the route.”

After everything that had just happened, Du Zhe now understood that Murong Yun’s earlier warning wasn’t an exaggeration. As the saying goes, “A wise man knows when to yield,” and at this crucial moment, he certainly wasn’t going to oppose Murong Yun again. He simply nodded, returned to sit with his two fellow disciples from Guiyuan Sect, and began to meditate and recover his energy.

The group rested briefly, and Murong Yun found a protruding rock to sit on, taking out a dry biscuit from his bag and slowly chewing it as he drank some water.

With nothing else to do, and not needing rest, Violet walked over to the middle-aged man in white and curiously asked.

“By the way, Murong Yun, didn’t you previously warn us not to eat anything down here casually, in case poisonous insects or evil creatures invade our bodies… Is this space special in some way?”

Martial artists tend to have a large appetite, and after swallowing nearly half of the dry biscuit in an instant, Murong Yun took a sip of water and smiled as he nodded.

“Senior Violet, good eye. I’ve been to the [Tidal Deep Valley] multiple times. Though this place is fraught with danger, there are a few spots that, for some unknown reason, are free from any demonic or evil forces. They are relatively safe resting points.”

He spread out the atlas scroll beside him and pointed to a few scattered green-marked areas on the map.

“Please look, Senior, this is where we currently are. This underground lake is quite unique. Despite being in a place filled with dark energy, the water here is surprisingly clean and hasn’t been tainted by any malevolent force.”

Murong Yun touched the rocks beside him.

“See, these rocks are dry, indicating that for most of the time, they don’t connect with the underground water from the outside. The strength of the evil energy wandering around here is also much weaker than that outside.”

“I suspect that inside the lake, there may be some kind of treasure, spiritual plant, or Yokai rich in yang energy, which is keeping the surrounding environment under control, making this area relatively safe and comfortable, allowing life forms to rest. How exactly this formation came to be, I’m not sure.”

“Mm…”

The young woman glanced again at the tranquil surface of the lake in the distance.

Though there was no light here, many plants resembling glowing moss grew on the walls and ceiling of the cave. Their gentle light kept the underground lake from being pitch dark, giving it an ethereal, almost mystical quality.

As a result, the torches they carried seemed somewhat unnecessary.

“You just said you ‘suspect’… Does that mean you don’t know exactly what’s inside? Haven’t you investigated it thoroughly before?”