[Vol. 6] Chapter 223: The Fox Speaks
After a one-day pause due to an unexpected incident, the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony] grand finals resumed.
In the brief span of a day, the prophecy about [Destruction] had spread across the capital and its surrounding regions. It became the hottest topic of discussion, with people speculating and debating about its meaning.
But in truth, most people didn’t take the strange prophecy seriously.
After all, the Ancient Spirit Realm was flourishing, peaceful, and prosperous. If someone suddenly popped up and declared, “The world is about to end!” without any concrete evidence, it was no different from a doomsday preacher posting nonsense online back on Earth. Such claims were often dismissed as the ramblings of a fool.
The real issue lay in the timing and context of the incident.
During the highly anticipated [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], an explosion had rocked the city, sparking a massive fire and causing significant casualties.
At almost the same moment, all the projection screens broadcasting the competition were hijacked. Even though most people didn’t fully understand how this was done, it was enough to make them question the city’s security and the competence of the authorities.
Although the explosion in the western part of the city was officially attributed to a fuel leak at a workshop, with newspapers and experts pushing this narrative to boost its credibility, skepticism lingered. Many couldn’t ignore the far-fetched nature of the explanation, and conspiracy theories continued to swirl.
To control public opinion, the authorities needed an even bigger story to grab attention and divert people’s focus.
That very morning, a sensational headline appeared on the front pages of countless newspapers and magazines across Xingyuan City:
[Shocking! Relics of the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden Discovered in the Eastern Kingdom. Could [White Rainbow] Be the Last Disciple of the Holy Immortal?]
A cat-eared girl read the convoluted headline aloud with a mix of amusement and disbelief. She handed the newspaper to a black-haired girl who had just woken up, her expression growing more and more peculiar.
“This Saint of the Eastern Kingdom really knows how to stir things up. He even brought out the name of the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden to steal the spotlight. Are you really going to compete under this identity? Didn’t you say you hated trouble?”
Violet glanced briefly at the freshly printed paper before tossing it onto the bed. She stretched and yawned lazily.
“Heh~ Well, nothing beats a title like this for grabbing attention. And, in a way, I did inherit quite a bit from the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden, didn’t I?”
She pointed to the fox-shaped jade pendant hanging from her waist, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains, letting the warm morning sunlight flood the room. Glancing back with a smile, she said:
"Although I dislike trouble, that doesn’t mean I fear it. The Four Nations of the Ancient Spirit Realm are now at the forefront of fighting a global crisis, and the situation is urgent. Since that’s the case, helping out a little. Even if it’s inconvenient for me, it is no big deal. Besides, it seems Shangguan Qiuyue has a gift prepared for me~."
She glanced at the pendant again and continued:
"It’s about time. The situation is becoming clear, and those hidden in the shadows are making their moves one after another. Since I’ve already chosen a side, I might as well step into the spotlight with a proper identity. It’ll make things more convenient when I act. What, just because I’m supposedly the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden’s disciple, some people are going to target me? That would be perfect."
She held up her dainty fist, which seemed entirely non-threatening, flashing an innocent, toothy smile.
"In the end, when it comes to schemes and conspiracies, it all boils down to this little thing~."
"And for the upcoming matches…?"
"Don’t hold back. Let’s wrap things up quickly. If nothing unexpected happens, the final showdown will most likely be between the two of us. Let’s put on a good performance and boost morale for him. After all, I promised Shangguan Qiuyue a big fireworks display."
…………………………..
After her last victory against Hongyan, Violet had successfully advanced to the top 14. According to the tournament format, she would need to win three more matches to reach the final one-on-one battle.
For the priestess, who no longer intended to hide her strength, these matches were just a formality. However, they also served as the perfect opportunity to “prove her identity.” She needed to win and do so with skill, leaving no room for doubt.
Of course, Violet wouldn’t openly admit that the idea of being the "Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden’s disciple" was something she had coordinated with Shangguan Qiuyue. That would make it far too obvious. In truth, few people knew the specifics of how the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden fought, so all Violet had to do was put on a bit of a show, demonstrate her power, and let others fill in the blanks with their imaginations.
As for her opponents, they had already been carefully selected.
"Miss Violet, please don’t hold back. I want to see how far I am from a true powerhouse."
In the round of 14 to 7, the priestess Violet faced Shangguan Hong, the top disciple of the [Shocking God Sect]. He possessed rare dual pupils and was the strongest among the competitors, having reached the [Seeker of Immortality] level. A level no one else in the group had achieved.
As a side note, Shangguan Hong was actually a direct descendant of Shangguan Qiuyue, carrying the pure bloodline of the Four Saints.
After spending so much time in the competition, Violet had become quite familiar with him. Facing the heterochromia eyes man, who wore a solemn expression as if preparing for a life-or-death battle, Violet remained calm and composed, like a senior guiding a junior. She casually crooked her finger and said:
"Bring it on."
"Ha!!!"
With a thunderous roar, Shangguan Hong's already large frame expanded even further, growing to nearly three meters tall. His upper garments shredded instantly, revealing his chest, where a pattern of white beast bones pulsed like a living tattoo. It was as if it were his innate power.
In the audience, most of the chatter had been focused entirely on Miss White Rainbow (Violet), but now a portion of the crowd turned their attention to this spectacle.
On the large screen, now replaced with a far more expensive broadcasting method (different from the original [Heaven’s Eye]), the audience could clearly see the strange beast etched on Shangguan Hong's chest.
"Hey, look! Isn't that the Eastern Holy Beast, [Bai Ze]?"
"I thought tattooing Holy Beasts on your body was illegal? This Shangguan Hong has some guts!"
"Are you stupid? His surname is Shangguan. Can’t you guess his identity? That’s not some ordinary tattoo. It’s probably a 'sacred mark', a legendary blessing that lets him borrow power directly from the Holy Beast through his bloodline. I heard only a handful of people in the direct lineage can achieve this. That power far exceeds what ordinary people can handle. Most wouldn’t stand a chance against him…"
"But [White Rainbow] is the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden’s disciple! She’s been winning every match so easily. She should be able to handle him, right?"
"Who knows? If you ask me, a lot of those reports are just baseless hype to grab attention. [White Rainbow] herself has never admitted to such a thing. And I heard that anyone trying to investigate it was chased away by the Eastern Kingdom’s Saint. This match could go either way."
"Come on, what’s there to debate? Miss White Rainbow is unbeatable! She wouldn’t lose to someone who can’t even get onto the [Top 100 Rankings]!"
"Exactly, exactly! Miss White Rainbow is so soft and sweet. I’d love to have her kick me with her little feet, preferably without boots. Hehe, Miss White Rainbow, my beloved Miss White Rainbow~"
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