Chapter 93: Saintesses Assemble
–Ice Shield Palace, Wind Valley Defensive Line
Early morning. A thick gray fog blanketed the land, visibility reduced to less than ten meters.
Near the entrance to the Wind Valley, a young woman in an Ice Shield Palace uniform, her green hair styled in low twintails, was doing some strange exercises, seemingly her morning routine.
The Cold Court and Winter Floating Sky had withdrawn from the Wind Realm expedition due to their ongoing Saintess selections. The other lower-ranked factions didn’t dare to enter the Wind Realm.
Only three factions had accepted the agreement: the Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Concubine Palace, the Wrathful Saintess of the Ice Shield Palace, and the Blissful Saintess of the Water Wish Pavilion.
Luo Kuxin was pacing back and forth at the entrance to the Wind Valley, triggering the alarm bells intermittently, just to annoy the Storm Realm’s border patrol.
After waiting patiently for half an hour, a figure slowly emerged from the distant fog.
A blue-haired girl with teardrop eyes, her expression cold and indifferent, her Sea Concubine Palace uniform adorned with wave patterns that seemed to ripple and flow like living creatures.
Ah~~~ This aloof, elegant, and noble demeanor had captivated countless Spirit Masters in the Sea Region.
Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess!
“Did you bring the Swallow God?”
Luo Kuxin greeted her casually, like an old friend, her tone overly familiar.
Gong Lianyue nodded slightly, checking the Water Element’s life core once more, the black-haired girl imprisoned within the Crystal Chamber.
Weak and listless, He Daoqi sat in the corner of the Crystal Chamber, covered in special spirit artifacts that suppressed her spirit energy. Any attempt to use her powers would result in excruciating pain.
She had initially been worried about the Swallow God going berserk, but after Shui Qinghou had let her experience the sensation firsthand, Gong Lianyue was no longer concerned.
No human could withstand such torment. Even at one-tenth the intensity used on He Daoqi, she had almost collapsed.
Even if a Saint-rank spirit beast’s aura was world-shaking, it was useless if its master was incapacitated.
Having safely arrived at the Ice Shield Palace, Gong Lianyue and Luo Kuxin waited for the final Saintess.
To pass the time, she summoned the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower and began to stroke it gently.
However, the little fox was trembling uncontrollably, its face pale, its behavior unusual.
Strange, what was wrong with it…?
“Oh dear, is this little fox sick? Let me see!!”
The Wrathful Saintess’s eager voice startled Gong Lianyue.
“Chirp!!!!!”
The terrified little fox was snatched up by the green-haired girl. It thrashed and shrieked, but Gong Lianyue, although concerned, didn’t intervene.
It must have been traumatized by the multiple Saint-rank auras in the Wind Valley, developing a fear of this area. Playing with other spirit beasts would probably help it recover.
Held in the green-haired girl’s arms, the Cloud Dream Flower looked utterly helpless and terrified, trembling more violently than ever before.
A few seconds later, a glowing green vine emerged from the Wrathful Saintess’s mouth, its leaves swaying happily as it approached the little fox and began to lick it.
The nightmare wasn’t over. As the little fox’s pupils dilated in terror, a delicate pink cherry blossom materialized.
The blossom, with a shy yet alluring demeanor, floated over to the little fox and began rubbing itself against it.
The vine and the blossom, one on each side, fought over the little fox like a plush toy.
Amidst a sea of vibrant blossoms, a lone fox is lost in the soft grass. (This seems to be a play on a famous Chinese poem)
Beautiful poetry, a soaked fox. Covered in dew, its heart-shaped eyes losing focus, the little fox passively endured the plants’ affections.
“…”
“So it is popular among plant-type spirit beasts,” Gong Lianyue muttered.
Come to think of it, she had never sensed a Saint-rank aura from the Wrathful Saintess.
And she had contracted with another seemingly harmless plant-type spirit beast. Was this woman truly a Saint-rank Spirit Master, like the Swallow God?
Or was she, like herself, all show and no substance…? Wait, two spirit beasts?!
Suddenly noticing both the blossom and the vine, Gong Lianyue’s breath hitched, then she quickly realized something.
No, wait, their auras were similar. They seemed to be… the same entity—
She had been startled, thinking Luo Kuxin also had a Dual Soul Body!
It seemed the spirit beast had simply evolved, even growing separate petals. She almost hadn’t recognized it.
As Gong Lianyue’s heart calmed, she suddenly felt a gaze upon her. She and Luo Kuxin looked up simultaneously.
A veiled woman in a thick, padded coat, her long, shimmering silver hair cascading down her back, emerged from the fog.
The veil bore the image of praying hands, the unmistakable mark of the Water Wish Pavilion.
The Blissful Saintess, nameless, without a Saint-rank spirit beast, and largely ignored.
Her face hidden behind the veil, the silver-haired woman scanned the two of them.
“Gong Lianyue, Luo Kuxin?”
Hearing the arrogant question, Gong Lianyue remained expressionless, while Luo Kuxin simply grinned foolishly.
For some reason, this Blissful Saintess of the Water Wish Pavilion seemed to harbor a strange hostility towards them.
Wearing such thick clothes in the Sea Region… was she ill?
She was bundled in four or five layers of padding, as if trying to turn herself into a ball of fluff. Just how sensitive to the cold was she?
The atmosphere between the three of them was tense. The heavily dressed Blissful Saintess’s expression was grim.
Luo Kuxin, the Wrathful Saintess, was rumored to be a twisted individual.
It was said that after inheriting the Wrath title, she had imprisoned the other eleven Saintess Candidates in a dungeon for seven days and nights.
And then, she had them torture her, a way to vent their frustration and anger over losing the selection…
Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess, her teardrop makeup like an embodiment of the Sea God’s pity.
Initially hyped up by the Sea Concubine Palace, the other factions hadn’t taken her seriously. After all, who could have imagined those teardrops?
Her true power had been revealed in the Wind Valley, the invincible Swallow God captured, cementing her reputation.
“Gulp”
The Blissful Saintess swallowed nervously.
For the upcoming, perilous journey to the Wind Realm, these two women… were her teammates.
Chapter 94: The Tyrant Demon Seed
–Wind Valley
Rolling mountains stretched for hundreds of miles, fierce hurricanes raged, and the air swirled with chaotic spirit energy.
Within this windswept valley, where visibility was reduced to almost zero by the swirling dust and sand, three young women trudged forward, their figures slightly disheveled.
To avoid detection, they hadn’t summoned their spirit beasts, choosing to travel on foot.
After walking in silence for several hours, Luo Kuxin, leading the way, suddenly turned around.
“By the way, did you know the Cangsheng Palace suddenly backed out?”
“Huh?” Gong Lianyue paused, surprised.
“The Cangsheng Palace suddenly entered a state of full alert an hour ago. I heard they were attacked by a more powerful faction.”
“What? Isn’t the Cangsheng Palace under the protection of a legendary being? Would another faction dare to provoke a legendary being?”
Gong Lianyue was bewildered.
The Cangsheng Palace, protected by a legendary being… how could another faction dare to attack them?
Could this be related to what had happened in the Soul Prison Trial?
Surely not…
“Heh, who isn’t under the protection of a legendary being? That other faction must also have one. I could claim to be the Snow Monarch’s descendant!”
Hearing this, the veiled, silver-haired woman behind them winced. This Wrathful Saintess had no filter.
Using the Snow Monarch’s name in such a flippant manner… only someone from the Sea Region would dare.
“Legendary beings rarely interfere in such trivial matters unless it involves complete annihilation. Besides, the Cangsheng Palace’s legendary being is… special.”
“Special?”
“Yes, it is said that it fell in love with an ordinary human, not even a Spirit Master. After its beloved died, it chose to protect that world for a thousand years. It has nothing to do with the Cangsheng Palace.”
“I see!!” Gong Lianyue nodded, unconvinced. It sounded like a fabricated story.
She was more concerned about the Cangsheng Palace’s current situation, wondering if it was related to her revealing the silver-haired girl’s secret in the Soul Prison Trial.
“Wait, we entered five hours ago. How did you receive news from an hour ago?” The Blissful Saintess suddenly noticed the discrepancy.
“…”
Luo Kuxin simply glanced at her with disdain, as if her ignorance were a grave sin.
The Blissful Saintess winced, then continued with a forced smile, “We’ve been walking for so long. When will we arrive?”
“Soon, but I don’t know which gate to take.”
“What do you mean?”
“Based on the Ice Shield Palace’s years of experience at the front lines, and the information I extracted from those Wind Realm prisoners, there are three entrances to the Wind Valley from the Storm Realm.”
“We definitely can’t use the main gate. Although they won’t attack us if we’re discovered, it’s best to avoid any trouble.”
Gong Lianyue also knew the reason behind Luo Kuxin’s words.
Normally, if people from the Sea Region trespassed into the Wind Realm, they would be captured, stripped naked, and publicly humiliated.
But with the Wind Realm Overlord’s birthday approaching, they wouldn’t dare to act rashly. If they violated the agreement and harmed the Saintesses, the enraged Sea Region Alliance would retaliate, disrupting the celebration, and no one wanted to be responsible for that.
“Although I don’t know what to do, Miss Swallow God should know!!”
A few minutes later, the Water Element Commander regurgitated a listless, vacant-eyed, black-haired girl, who collapsed onto the ground.
Seeing the large, simple-minded Water Element Commander, Luo Kuxin discreetly took a few steps back.
Then, noticing the spirit artifacts and restraints covering He Daoqi, she exclaimed,
“Wow, I wouldn’t even dare to use that many~~~”
“Miss He, do you know which entrance we should take?” Ignoring Luo Kuxin’s dramatics, Gong Lianyue asked softly.
Entrance?
Hearing the question, He Daoqi’s dazed eyes slowly focused, and she looked around in surprise.
This was the Wind Valley. She was back in the Wind Valley?!
Her expression flickered between elation and hesitation, then settled into a calm resignation, her eyes dimming once more.
“It’s best to avoid the main gate. The Gray Citadel isn’t the only power in the Wind Realm. Other factions might try to disrupt the hostage exchange.”
“As long as you safely escort me back to the Gray Citadel, I will honor the agreement and ensure your safe passage out of the Wind Realm after the Hibernating Sun’s birthday celebration.”
“The right gate is an emergency passage. We can only use that one.”
“What about the left gate?” the Blissful Saintess asked curiously.
“Never use the left gate. That’s the territory of a Saint-rank spirit beast. Even Wind Realm Spirit Masters avoid it. It’s known as the Wind Realm Gatekeeper.”
The Wind Realm Gatekeeper!!!
Gong Lianyue, Luo Kuxin, and the Blissful Saintess exchanged glances. They had all heard of it.
It was said that the beast had once roamed the Storm Realm, slaughtering innocent humans, until it was subdued by Saint-rank Spirit Masters, its power suppressed, and sentenced to guard the Wind Valley.
Killing it would be a waste, but leaving it unchecked was also a problem. This was the only solution.
They had thought it was just a legend, but it was actually guarding the Wind Realm!
“I foolishly challenged it after I first reached the Dead Sea Stage. I almost died. When they rescued me, I was… barely recognizable.”
“A biological, offensive type, the Tyrant Demon Seed…”
Hearing He Daoqi’s chilling recollection, the three of them shuddered.
Luo Kuxin and He Daoqi had barely survived their encounters with the support-type Frost Snow Woman. They couldn’t imagine how powerful an offensive Saint-rank spirit beast would be.
Its ferocity and bloodlust far surpassed the Frost Snow Woman’s. It was a true force of nature.
However, with this invincible woman here, even a battle wouldn’t be a problem, right?
They all looked at the cold and indifferent, blue-haired girl—the Sorrowful Saintess.
Gong Lianyue was slightly puzzled. He Daoqi and Luo Kuxin had exchanged glances, as if plotting something.
After questioning He Daoqi about the Wind Realm a bit more, she had the Water Element Commander pick her up and swallow her again, a disturbingly grotesque sight.
“Alright, let’s head to the right gate!”
The three Saintesses chose to trust He Daoqi. If anything went wrong, they would kill her first.
Perhaps due to the approaching birthday celebration of the Wind Realm Overlord, there were far fewer Wind Realm Spirit Masters in the Wind Valley. They encountered no one along the way, smoothly reaching the edge of the valley.
They were about to enter the Storm Realm!
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