Chapter 115: The Portrait of the Sorrowful Saintess
It had been three days since Gong Lianyue entered Gray Shadow Mountain. News of her contracting the Silverblade Fox in the Gray Valley had spread rapidly, reaching not only the other members of Gray Shadow Mountain but even the other Nine Citadels.
Among the Saintesses of the Ten Citadels, all subsidiary forces of the Gray Citadel, almost all possessed mid-rank spirit beasts. High-rank Spirit Masters were incredibly rare.
The current Saintess of Gray Shadow Mountain was also a mid-rank Spirit Master, and the arrival of the newcomer Shui Qingyue posed a significant threat to her position.
–Within Gray Shadow Mountain, on the peak where the Saintess resided, the surrounding mountains formed a natural barrier, concealing a small palace within.
The dark and gloomy palace resembled a tomb, filled with shadowy figures and radiating a sinister aura.
At the far end of the palace, a woman in a revealing, side-boob-baring outfit sat on a white bone throne, her pale, slender legs crossed, her black-painted nails adding to her alluring appearance.
Her curvaceous figure, a sight that could make one’s nose bleed, was entwined with flowing black hair, like tendrils threatening to drag one into a bottomless abyss.
Even more unsettling was the shadowy figure clinging to the back of her neck, radiating a sinister, bloody aura.
Kneeling at the black-haired woman’s feet, a maid, her expression a mix of reverence and fear, asked cautiously, “Saintess, shouldn’t we do something about Shui Qingyue? She has contracted with a high-rank spirit beast.”
“Heh, she’s just a newly awakened recruit. Not worth our attention. My target is the Sea Region Saintess!!!” the black-haired Saintess sneered.
She had hidden the fact that she possessed a high-rank spirit beast for years, planning to reveal it during the legendary being’s birthday celebration, shocking everyone and gaining fame throughout the Storm Realm.
Now, with the stage set and her opponent chosen, a mere Silverblade Fox was nothing. It couldn’t possibly disrupt her plan!
She had heard that the Wrathful Saintess of the Ice Shield Palace had single-handedly entered the Storm Realm, only to be chased by the Windchaser Emperor, fleeing in disgrace. A laughable sight.
The black-haired Saintess gently stroked the portrait before her, a drawing of a cute but unremarkable green-haired girl, who looked like an ordinary young lady from the mortal world, lacking any distinctive features, a stark contrast to her own intimidating presence.
Luo Kuxin, the Wrathful Saintess of the Ice Shield Palace, and her Misty Heart Lotus…
What Saint-rank Spirit Master? Just a name!!
The Wrathful Saintess’s battle record was pathetic. She wasn’t her target. The black-haired woman’s gaze shifted to another portrait on the table, a drawing of a beautiful, melancholic white-haired woman.
This white-haired woman, her eyes vacant, seemed blind. Xue Beihan, the Desireless Saintess of the Winter Floating Sky.
Besides her lack of five senses, the Winter Floating Sky had revealed no other information about her, a woman shrouded in mystery.
If she came, she would consider challenging her…
The black-haired Saintess’s gaze moved to the final portrait on the table.
If this woman appeared, the entire Storm Realm would be in an uproar.
Whoever defeated her would become the undisputed leader of both realms!
A woman with flowing azure hair like ocean waves, her eyes and makeup in the shape of falling teardrops. Even just a portrait evoked a sense of awe, as if she were a divine creation.
Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Concubine Palace, a woman practically on par with a god!
At the Dawn and Dusk Stage, she had defeated both the Dead Sea Stage Frost Snow Woman and the Swallow God, demonstrating unmatched Saint-rank combat power, her name echoing throughout both realms.
The Swallow God, the strongest of the new generation in the Storm Realm, had been defeated, her pride and reputation shattered, reduced to a plaything, a story that had spread throughout the Wind Realm, causing millions of her spirit master fans to wail in despair, as if they had lost their wives.
This woman would definitely come to the Storm Realm. No… perhaps she was already here!
This portrait was the latest version. Someone, during the chaotic Saint-rank battle in the Wind Valley, had managed to capture a glimpse of the Sorrowful Saintess and perfectly recreate her appearance.
A torrent of water rising towards the sky, her blue hair swirling, facing the Frost Snow Woman and the Swallow God, two Saint-ranks, her eyes filled with sorrow and pity.
This was the true form of the Sorrowful Saintess…
Just looking at this portrait made the black-haired Saintess’s heart pound with excitement. If she defeated this woman during the legendary being’s birthday celebration, she would become the undisputed leader of the Storm Realm’s new generation!
How could a mere sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan? How could someone who had only contracted with a Silverblade Fox understand her grand ambition to challenge a Saint-rank?
“Someone, make a million copies of the Sea Region Saintess’s portrait and distribute them! If anyone sees her within Gray Shadow Mountain’s territory, inform me immediately!!!”
Watching the maid relay her orders, the black-haired Saintess’s heart pounded with anticipation.
This was just a prelude to the main event. Let everyone familiarize themselves with these Sea Region Saintesses. It would make her victory even more impactful!
Chapter 116: Provoking the Saintess
Most of the thousands of novice trial missions were basic Spirit Master training tasks.
Even without preparation, Gong Lianyue could achieve a ninety percent score. After all, she was a Saintess. She hadn’t reached her current position without some skill.
The only task that posed a challenge was the one requiring her to find a medicinal herb. Her supply of Clear Soul Grass was a Sea Region specialty, and everything else she possessed also carried the distinct aura of the sea.
If she tried to pass those off as local herbs, she would immediately be exposed as a Sea Region spy.
Therefore, to complete this task, she had to personally gather herbs in the Storm Realm.
–Gray Shadow Mountain, Herb Gathering Area
A group of girls in Gray Shadow Mountain uniforms gathered at the entrance to the herb gathering area, waiting in line expectantly.
Entering the herb gathering area required a fee of one spirit crystal per 24 hours, and any herbs collected belonged to the individual. Although it was usually impossible to even recoup half the cost, countless hopeful girls still ventured in, dreaming of finding a miracle cure.
Among them was the cold and aloof, silver-haired Shui Qingyue, her arrogant demeanor suggesting she considered the surrounding Spirit Masters to be nothing more than lowly, penniless village girls.
The already arrogant and wicked girl had become even more insufferable after contracting a high-rank spirit beast!
As an incredibly rare high-rank Spirit Master in Gray Shadow Mountain, Shui Qingyue had reason to be arrogant. Even the current Saintess didn’t have a high-rank spirit beast. No one could control her.
The silver-haired girl haughtily surveyed her surroundings. No one dared to meet her gaze, their eyes darting away, afraid of provoking her.
Her arrogant gaze suddenly stopped, drawn to a figure at the front of the line.
A woman in a black robe, a white bone marking on her forehead, stood there with an air of authority, handing out flyers.
Every Spirit Master who received a flyer smiled politely, a hint of respect in their eyes, as if they had no choice but to accept it.
Gong Lianyue’s interest was piqued. Just who was this woman…?
The flyer acceptance rate was one hundred percent. That was practically on par with a beautiful girl in a bikini handing them out!
“Please take a flyer.”
The black-robed woman approached the silver-haired girl, holding out a flyer with an air of unquestionable authority.
Gong Lianyue took it, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at the portrait on the flyer.
What the hell was this…?
The woman in the portrait had long, sea-blue hair, wore a Sea Concubine Palace uniform, and had six teardrop beauty marks on her face, her eyes also shaped like falling teardrops.
It looked… kind of like her, except the hair in the portrait was standing straight up!
Rip!
Mortified, Gong Lianyue tore the flyer to shreds.
Hearing the sound, the black-robed woman turned, a strange expression on her face, the surrounding onlookers also staring in disbelief.
The portrait in the silver-haired girl’s hand was now a pile of confetti, scattered on the ground like fallen petals.
“…”
“…”
“Shui Qingyue, what is the meaning of this?” After a long silence, the black-robed woman asked, her eyes narrowing.
Any Gray Shadow Mountain Spirit Master should recognize the bone marking on her forehead as a symbol of the Saintess’s authority and wouldn’t dare to refuse her.
Even those dissatisfied with the Saintess wouldn’t be foolish enough to openly defy her in public.
Although she had heard of Shui Qingyue’s arrogance, she hadn’t expected this girl, not even a Spirit Master, to openly provoke the Saintess’s authority. Such audacity, riding on the coattails of a senior instructor.
Then, something unexpected happened.
With the frantic movements of a teenager trying to hide their embarrassing past, Gong Lianyue snatched the remaining flyers from the black-robed woman and tore them all to shreds, another shower of confetti raining down.
Someone in the crowd let out an excited whoop.
The newcomer Shui Qingyue, less than a month into her probationary period, was provoking the current Saintess’s authority!
“Are you challenging the Saintess?” the black-robed woman’s face twisted in anger.
“Do you want to be sent to the spirit crystal mines for the rest of your life?” Gong Lianyue asked, her eyes narrowing, her tone threatening.
The black-robed woman’s breath hitched, a look of panic flashing across her face.
She hadn’t expected such blatant defiance, escalating the conflict so quickly.
If the Saintess and the senior instructors clashed, Shui Qingyue, with her high-rank spirit beast, would emerge unscathed, while she herself might actually be sent to the mines…
“Fine, you just wait!”
With a parting threat, the black-robed woman turned and hurried away, her panic evident.
The onlookers stared at the arrogant silver-haired girl in awe.
Such an arrogant girl, with her high-rank spirit beast, looking down on everyone, her pride and arrogance exceeding all limits, even scaring off the Saintess’s subordinate.
But for Gong Lianyue, having her portrait circulated and gawked at was far more humiliating.
This Gray Shadow Mountain Saintess dared to distribute her portrait, slandering her hairstyle! The Sorrowful Saintess wasn’t some Super Saiyan! She would get her revenge sooner or later!!!
Soon, it was her turn to enter the herb gathering area. The silver-haired girl walked in, her expression unchanged.
Gray Shadow Mountain, Herb Gathering Area
A vast, desolate landscape, not a single blade of grass in sight.
Being so close to the entrance, the area had been picked clean over the years. Finding even a single herb would require a three-hour trek.
“Gray Shadow Mountain, truly a desolate place…”
Gong Lianyue was slightly disappointed. The lack of herbs near the entrance gave the area a bleak, depressing feel.
The herbs growing near the entrance were obviously not valuable. Couldn’t they at least restrict the members from gathering within a hundred meters?
They had no sense of presentation. No wonder they were ranked so low among the Ten Citadels!
After casually disparaging Gray Shadow Mountain, the girl began walking aimlessly towards the inner regions of the herb gathering area.
With spirit beasts forbidden and a three-hour walk just to find a single blade of grass, it was practically impossible to recoup the entry fee.
Twenty-four hours cost one spirit crystal, and the journey itself would consume half of that…
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