Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 34

[Vol. 6] Chapter 34: The snake beast!

After briefly dealing with the bodies, suspected to have been killed by the [Yokai Controlling Sect]’s schemes, the group pressed on without stopping, pushing their pace to the limit.

Violet shared a brief explanation of the [Yokai Controlling Sect] with the others who were still in the dark. Both Murong Yun and the three disciples from Guiyuan Sect, including Du Zhe, seemed familiar with the infamously notorious sect. Upon learning the details, their expressions grew much grimmer.

Ultimately, the sect’s elaborate infiltration and ruthless elimination of fellow team members made their motives almost too obvious to ignore.

If their goal was truly to capture the Qilin, they would undoubtedly come prepared. To be honest, Violet was curious about how they intended to deal with such a clearly formidable holy beast.

However, considering Ling Feng’s earlier observation about the presence of a massive, but weakening, Yokai-Sealing formation in the area, the [Yokai Controlling Sect]’s confidence might very well be tied to this factor.

*Heh… things are bound to get lively,* Violet mused.

While they hastened forward, Murong Yun used some strange paper dolls to report the situation to the magistrate outside. Perhaps the authorities had already anticipated such developments.

Still, Violet doubted reinforcements from the outside could reach them faster than the [Yokai Controlling Sect]. But that wasn’t something a priestess like her needed to worry about. Perhaps Prefect Wen Fu and the others had a way to deploy some unexpected forces, or maybe the situation in the depths would remain unresolved for some time.

For now, Violet planned to wait and see.

An hour later, they arrived at their destination.

“It seems… we’re the first ones here,” Murong Yun remarked in a low voice as he surveyed the surroundings.

What lay before Violet and the others was a sheer cliffside within a canyon.

A canyon underground? It sounded impossible, but that was precisely what this strange landscape could only be described as.

The stone walls that formed the bizarre, labyrinthine underground structures of the [Tidal Deep Valley] seemed to converge here. Miraculously fused into a single formation, they created a narrow passage barely a few meters wide, stretching tens of meters in length.

It was a path too confined to bypass, no matter the detour.

On either side, the stone walls stretched upward into the pitch-black depths of the ravine’s ceiling. Without the torches held by the group, an ordinary person would likely see nothing in this oppressive darkness.

According to Murong Yun, while the ceiling contained hundreds of entrances of varying sizes that led to different spaces, all paths ultimately funneled into this narrow passageway for anyone wishing to delve deeper into the ravine. That was why the exploration teams had agreed to regroup here.

Murong Yun had originally discovered the holy beast Qilin in a spot along this very underground canyon. At the time, for reasons unknown, a hole about two or three meters wide had opened in the side of the stone wall halfway along the passage, allowing him to descend temporarily.

“……”

Standing at the canyon’s entrance, Violet gazed down the narrow walkway, where the faint outline of an exit loomed in the distance. Her eyes traced the sheer walls on either side, taking in the stark and confining scene.

As a deity, Violet had no difficulty piercing through the darkness with her vision. However, the so-called hole described by Murong Yun was nowhere to be seen. The passage was a singular, unbroken route.

In other words, if Murong Yun wasn’t lying, the [Tidal Stone] he mentioned must still be blocking the entrance to the hole. The miraculous phenomenon brought about by the [Seven Stars Alignment] had not yet repeated itself.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. If they couldn’t access the area, neither could certain others. At least here, everyone would remain on equal footing.

“Tap… tap…”

Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps began to reach Violet’s ears.

She turned her head, drawing the attention of the others. Though they didn’t possess her sharp perception, her sudden reaction prompted them to instinctively follow her gaze.

Roughly half a minute later, new figures emerged from the shadows, dimly illuminated by the light of the group’s torches.

One, two, three, nine… eleven.

A full team of eleven people arrived at the canyon’s entrance, led by a man dressed as a fortune-teller.

“Chengye…? Is that you, Chengye?! It’s great to see you safe. Did you encounter any attacks along the way?”

Murong Yun immediately recognized the man, his expression brightening as he enthusiastically greeted the fortune-teller-like figure.

“Haha… So it was Brother Yun who arrived first. Thank you for your concern. We did encounter some malicious entities, but overall, the journey was manageable. Hmm… and your team?”

The fortune-teller scanned Murong Yun’s group with a casual glance before offering a polite bow and leading his team forward to meet them.

“There were some minor complications, so we temporarily split up with part of the group. They can handle themselves. No need to worry, Brother Chengye.”

Wow, what a casually understated explanation!

But, honestly, it wasn’t wrong. They couldn’t exactly say there had been a heated argument and that a certain temperamental “princess” and her little follower had stormed off.

As for this fortune-teller leading the team, Violet had some impression of him as well.

Zhu Chengye was one of the ten experts initially selected during the recruitment assessment. Unlike Murong Yun, who was a martial artist, Zhu Chengye was more akin to Ling Feng and the Guiyuan Sect’s Du Zhe, specializing in mystical arts—essentially, a mage.

In short, with one specializing in martial arts and the other in mysticism, Murong Yun and Zhu Chengye were considered the strongest of the ten selected candidates.

Among the notable figures Violet had encountered so far, aside from Ling Feng and the [Yin-Yang Division] Captain Qin Xuan from Yangyuan County, Zhu Chengye’s ability was probably the most advanced. Though not yet at the [Seeker of Immortality] realm, he was close.

Murong Yun and Zhu Chengye seemed to share a close friendship. After reuniting, the two quickly huddled together for a hushed discussion.

Even though their voices were low, Violet could still make out mentions of “Xu Lian,” “Black Mamba Venom,” and “Yokai Controlling Sect.” Zhu Chengye’s expression gradually turned more solemn as the conversation progressed.

Afterward, the group waited for another half-hour, during which two more teams arrived. Both had suffered some losses at the hands of malevolent entities but were still mostly intact. Together, they now totaled over thirty people.

After that, no more teams arrived at the rendezvous point. Although they had mentally prepared for this possibility, Murong Yun, Zhu Chengye, and the other two team leaders clearly looked grim.

The ten teams had set out separately, but the distances to this meeting spot were essentially the same for all. The fact that none of them have arrived yet, it’s clear something is wrong.

Just like Xu Lian’s group, those teams… likely wouldn’t make it here ever again.

The team leaders held a brief discussion and appeared to reach a decision.

“We can’t wait any longer. Let’s head into the canyon now and find a way to open the entrance blocked by the [Tidal Stone]…”

However, before the white-robed leader could finish his sentence, an urgent cry suddenly pierced through the dimly lit space illuminated by the torches.

“Snakes! There are snakes!!”

“Hiss… hiss…”

The chilling sound of hissing, accompanied by the sharp clinking of drawn weapons, grew steadily louder around them.

Murong Yun acted decisively, throwing his torch forward without hesitation. The orange-red glow illuminated at least a dozen pitch-black figures slithering along the ground, their bodies blending almost seamlessly with the similarly colored terrain.

“Everyone, be careful! It’s Black Mambas, don’t let them bite you!”

As the leader’s warning echoed, Violet scanned the surroundings, her gaze sharp.

They’re finally making their move…

Thanks to her keen vision, Violet saw more clearly than anyone else. The Black Mambas weren’t just crawling along the ground. From the ceiling of this underground space to the hollow walls and crevices around them, similar creatures were emerging and slithering toward their group.

And yet, aside from an earlier faint, concealed presence, Violet hadn’t sensed such a large number of living beings nearby before.

Even now, she couldn’t.

This was likely a technique she had never seen before, something unique to the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. It was similar to a summoning spell, akin to creating soldiers from scattered beans.

So, this is what they call [Yokai arts], huh…? Like Murong Yun’s [Heaven-Opening Palm], this is quite an intriguing ability.