Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 58

[Vol. 6] Chapter 58: What Kind of Mountain Is Cangyun Mountain?

“Cangyun Mountain?”

That night, in the temporary camp set up by the Spirit Guards, Ling Feng’s face showed surprise after listening to the priestess’s explanation.

“Are you sure it’s Cangyun Mountain? But Cangyun Mountain is… no, no, no. If it’s the Spirit Maiden, it’s indeed possible she could form an alliance with Cangyun Mountain. But what exactly does she intend to do by leveraging their power? And why wouldn’t she negotiate directly with our own nation?”

Unlike Ling Feng, who had fallen deep into thought, Murong Yun, sitting on the other side, seemed a bit nostalgic. He shook his head slightly upon hearing the name.

“I didn’t expect it. After all this back and forth, we’ve ended up returning to that place. It seems like destiny, unavoidable and inescapable.”

The priestess’s head was filled with confusion, as if three question marks were hovering above her.

“What’s going on? Why does it feel like I’m the only one completely out of the loop here? So, what exactly is Cangyun Mountain?!”

“Hehe… Cangyun Mountain is quite an extraordinary place. It’s known as the number one peculiar mountain in the [Ancient Spirit Realm], and it’s said to be the former dwelling place of the most ancient dragon, the world’s guardian, the [Ancestral Dragon].”

“Look, here’s a map of the [Ancient Spirit Realm] drawn by predecessors.”

Ling Feng pulled a scroll from her sleeve and spread it out in front of the gathered group.

At first glance, Murong Yun’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Incredible! To think there’s a world map with such high precision! It’s as if the cartographer personally traveled across every mountain and river, capturing every detail with their own hand. Miss Ling Feng, you truly keep your talents well-hidden!”

“Now’s not the time to be marveling at that…”

With a resigned shake of her head, the grey-haired girl ignored the intense gaze of the seasoned adventurer. She pointed her slender fingers at four distinct, irregularly shaped areas on the map, representing the southeast, northwest, and central regions, and began to explain.

“These are the four nations of the [Ancient Spirit Realm], including our own, Western Origin Spirit Kingdom. The [Ancient Spirit Realm] is surrounded by seas on all sides, with a clearly defined total area. As such, the territories of each nation are precisely demarcated, and their overall sizes are roughly equivalent, encompassing almost the entirety of this continent.”

“However, there is a small portion, less than ten percent of the land, that has not been brought under the rule of the four nations due to various reasons. Among these, the most symbolic and iconic region is right here.”

Ling Feng’s delicate finger landed on a small area at the center of the map, bordered by all four nations.

“Cangyun Mountain. The most magnificent and highest mountain in the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. It is said to be the birthplace of countless sacred beasts, including the [Ancestral Dragon] and the [Qilin], hiding secrets of unimaginable magnitude.”

“Indeed.”

A middle-aged man in white nodded and added, “A few years ago, I answered the call of the Peach Blossom Saint to join other powerful individuals in a campaign to eliminate the legendary fierce beast [Taotie], which was on the brink of revival. We entered the secret realm via Cangyun Mountain. Though it’s not officially listed among the ten most dangerous places in the [Ancient Spirit Realm], if one truly delves into its depths, the risks likely surpass any of those ten.”

“Uh… um…”

Miss Bai’er raised her hand hesitantly, her voice a bit timid.

“Weren’t we supposed to be looking for the Western Origin Spirit Maiden? How did the topic suddenly shift to Cangyun Mountain?”

Ling Feng smiled wryly and shook her head but quickly explained to her loyal guard.

“Bai’er, the Spirit Maiden is no longer in Yangyuan County.”

“With such a major incident occurring, if Yangyuan’s Prefect, Wen Fu, catches wind of it, he will undoubtedly instruct the [Yin-Yang Division] to deploy the [Heaven’s Eye] to investigate. Whether the Spirit Maiden was coerced into leaving or, as Violet suspects, intentionally evaded the crowds with a separate plan, it’s impossible for her to remain in this area, waiting for the [Yin-Yang Division] to track her down.”

“The Spirit Guard Army’s extensive search of the mountain today yielded no results, which to some extent has already proven this point.”

“In that case, if we want to find the Spirit Maiden’s whereabouts, our perspective can no longer be limited to this small Yangyuan County. With the arrival of a chaotic era, a series of intricate schemes and plots are unfolding one after another. If we continue to think with conventional logic, we’ll only be led into a trap.”

“Eh… Is… is that so?”

Ling Feng nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful once again.

“This matter is likely more complicated than it appears. The circumstances surrounding the current Spirit Maiden are already highly unusual, and to encounter such turbulent times only adds to the unpredictability of the situation…”

“Oh, come on, why overthink and trouble yourself? There’s such a clear clue right in front of us. Just go check it out, and we’ll know.”

Hearing the priestess’s casual reassurance, Ling Feng couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head.

“Violet, you’re so carefree. Cangyun Mountain is not like the [Tidal Deep Valley]. Even you might not be able to navigate it with ease.”

“But you’re right, when the soldiers come, we block them. When the water comes, we dam it. Since there’s nothing pressing at the moment, the cleanup can be left to the Spirit Guard Army and Wen Fu. It’s time to leave here and venture somewhere farther away.”

With both women agreeing, Bai’er, who always followed Ling Feng’s lead, naturally had no objections. The group turned their attention to the white-robed middle-aged man who had accompanied them from the [Tidal Deep Valley] and had collaborated with them multiple times.

“What are Mr. Murong’s plans next?”

Having listened quietly until now, Murong Yun nodded slightly and replied.

“I am a wanderer by nature, traveling from place to place with no fixed home,” Murong Yun began.

“Initially, I had planned to rest briefly in Yangyuan City after resolving the matter of the [Tidal Deep Valley] before continuing my explorations. However, given the recent events…”

“Cangyun Mountain… It holds a deep significance for me as well. Perhaps this is fate. To truly dispel my inner demons, I must face it directly.”

The white-robed middle-aged man clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.

“If the three of you don’t mind the company of a rough wanderer like me, I, Murong Yun, would be honored to travel with you for a time. I may not be able to offer full protection, but at the very least, I can handle some minor threats. What do you think?”

Ling Feng smiled warmly. “That would be ideal. What does Violet think?”

“I don’t mind at all,” Violet replied nonchalantly.

“Great. Then we’ll temporarily travel together as a group of four. However, Cangyun Mountain is several thousand miles from Yangyuan County, and the journey will be long. We’ll need to plan our route carefully.”

The gray-haired girl pointed at the map before them, tracing a curved path with her finger.

“First, we’ll head east from here…”

……………………………

A few days later.

In the eastern part of Yangyuan County.

Lifting the sun-shading veil of her hat, the gray-haired girl surveyed her surroundings. She gazed at the wide river stretching to the horizon and the numerous ships of varying sizes traversing the water. With a slight nod, she seemed satisfied with the scene before her.

“This is the place,” Ling Feng announced. “From here, we’ll take a ship along the Kaiyuan River, the largest canal in the Western Kingdom. Following the waterway will lead us directly to Xiangshou County in the easternmost part of our country, where we can begin our ascent of Cangyun Mountain.”

Among the group of four, the only man without his face covered by a veil nodded in agreement and casually remarked, “Ling Feng, you seem to be exceptionally familiar with the geography of Spirit Kingdom, the division of counties and states, the routes, and the rivers. Have you traveled extensively before?”

The girl hesitated slightly, her expression turning somewhat awkward.

“Ahem, no… to be honest, this is actually my first time seeing this landscape in person. I’m not familiar with the specifics of boarding passenger ships either. The reason I know so much is… because I’ve read about it in books.”

Worried that her explanation might cause confusion, Ling Feng quickly patted the shoulder of the short-haired girl beside her.

“But don’t worry! Bai’er has traveled the world for years and is very experienced with these things. She’ll definitely handle it… right?”

The young guard simply rolled her eyes.

“Milady, you know I’ve spent most of my life in the mountains. After that old man brought me down to participate in the [Four Saints’ Immortal Selection Ceremony], I went straight to work for the [Yin-Yang Division] in the capital. So, I’ve only been on a passenger ship a handful of times.”

“……”

The master and her guard exchanged glances, then instinctively turned toward the black-haired girl, who was still glancing around curiously. Realizing she was now the center of attention, the latter waved her hands frantically.

“Why are you looking at me? Aren’t you all supposed to be the experienced ones?”

*Sigh…*

Watching the three supposedly reliable “seasoned experts” bicker among themselves, Murong Yun let out a long, heavy sigh, his face a picture of resignation.

“Ladies, please, leave these trivial matters to me.”