My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 182: The Last Sacred Ritual Ceremony

On a winter morning at Sacred Mountain, the landscape was draped in a pristine layer of snow, creating a picturesque scene that seemed untouched by time.

The first light of dawn gradually painted the sky with soft golden hues, casting a gentle glow over the snow-covered trees and slopes. The air was bitingly cold yet carried an atmosphere of sanctity that demanded a hushed reverence.

The forested slopes were a tapestry of shadows and light, where delicate patterns of frost adorned every leaf and branch. The hush of morning stillness was occasionally interrupted by the distant calls of birds or the gentle rustling of small creatures moving beneath the snow.

As Ely walked down the path, the snow underfoot offered a soft and muffled cushion, creating a sense of walking on sacred clouds. The trails she left behind held a palpable aura resonating with the abundance of spiritual energy.

Occasional glimpses of hidden mini shrines and stone formations peeked out from behind snow-laden branches, inviting contemplation and introspection. The silence of the morning seemed to amplify the sense of connection to the spiritual energy that enveloped the mountain.

From the summit, the panoramic view was breathtaking. The sun, now fully risen, painted the scene in warm hues of gold and orange as if bestowing its blessing upon the land. The quiet tinkling of falling snowflakes added a soft melody to the atmosphere, creating a harmony between the spiritual and the natural.

On this sacred winter morning, time felt suspended, and the connection to something greater seemed palpable. It was a moment when the landscape’s beauty intertwined with the mountain’s spiritual significance, creating an experience that transcended the ordinary and touched the soul.

Ely enjoyed every peaceful moment with a tender smile on her face. It had been one month since her last sacred ritual ceremony and twenty-nine days since the Heavenly Demon Inheritor was defeated.

This afternoon, she would unseal her Goddess Master. It had been five years since she came to this world, and her mother would return to her side soon.

She went into a seclusion routine for almost a month, hardly involving herself in other matters. Even though her stats had yet to meet the requirements, the numbers were already so close. Also, she still possessed the stat booster skill and item.

No significant turmoil was going on out there, or instead, nobody told her any details regarding the outside world’s matters as they didn’t want to disturb her peace of mind.

Her disciples were reliable and handled all matters without disturbing her cultivation. Regardless, they also used their time mainly to practice diligently, anticipating another encounter with a big evil.

’Maybe, in one or two months, my core disciples will ascend to 7th Rank. It’s about time they upgrade their weapons and treasures. I also need to grant them a new S Rank weapon or artifact. When my mother returns, she probably can reward them with some gifts too~’ Ely muttered softly in her mind.

A white bird flapped its wings and flew away in the distance, guiding its children to fly somewhere.

Seeing that, Ely could recall something that had crossed her mind some time ago.

’What will happen if my mother takes me to the upper world or another world? I can’t possibly refuse that, but what about my disciples and friends? Are they willing to come with me? What if my mother only wants me to go with her?’

The thought troubled her, but she still couldn’t figure out any solution.

"Is there something bothering you? You look pleased and relieved, but there is a subtle concern on your face." Zi Xuan looked curiously at Ely’s lovely face.

Today was the end of their closed-door cultivation session. She recovered some of her divine power, left with Ely so early in the morning and took a little stroll outside the shrine abode.

She accompanied Ely while enjoying the serene atmosphere and ethereal scenery at Sacred Mountain. It might be like a pleasant little stroll, but she knew Ely had to check the paths to the sacred ground for the monthly sacred ritual ceremony.

They were currently standing next to the shrine abode, watching the sunrise. However, she felt Ely’s train of thought was somewhere else.

"Hmm-mm... A fleeting thought crossed my mind, and I wondered if it was necessary. Sometimes, the baby bird will go with their mother, but there are times when the baby bird will fly alone in the vast sky." Ely shook her head and turned around, walking back to the shrine abode.

The air was invigoratingly chilly, causing each breath to materialize in delicate clouds. Ely then invited her junior priestess back to the shrine abode to enjoy a cup of hot tea.

"???" Zi Xuan just nodded and followed Ely from behind, trying to comprehend what Ely had just said.

"Welcome back. May I know where did you go, master?" Gabriella welcomed her master with some relief. She was just about to go out to look for her master.

"Mm, I’m back. It’s just a little stroll. We need to exercise a bit after our closed-door cultivation. Anyway, has everyone returned?" Ely glanced at Zi Xuan and then changed the topic of conversation.

"Everyone has returned since last night." Gabriella stood aside and accompanied her master into the shrine abode from the side.

"My closed-door cultivation has ended. Has everything been fine in the past month?" Ely asked casually.

"!!!" Gabriella gulped down her saliva with a bit of nervousness.

The last time her master announced the end of closed-door cultivation, the big evil arrival was already around the corner. Not to mention, her master once said more than five God-level existences descended to the mortal worlds.

Because her master’s seclusion ended, Gabriella reported the recent events in the past month without worry.

Everything was still going well, and the world was still pretty peaceful.

"..." Ely felt something was wrong, but she didn’t know where.

Whenever she had dinner with her disciples, she occasionally asked if everything was okay, and they always responded kindly. It was just light conversation, and she didn’t continue actively asking questions... but everything was fine, they said.

Gabriella also reported a similar thing again. Either there wasn’t any major event worth mentioning, or the Guardian of Dream handled everything flawlessly.

As for Gabriella’s report, it was just like a schedule of events for the disciples instead.

Almost all the disciples were busy with their own training agendas. They went to hone their skills in the past month.

The only major event was Sylvia’s conquest adventure. Sylvia joined the ancient demons, and they managed to corner the demons of the Demon Realm a week ago.

After a fierce battle that lasted an entire week, many devils and influential powerhouses of the Demon Realm signed the peace treaty under the supervision of the three holy lands.

Several holy lands wished to join the peace overseers alongside Sacred Sakura, similar to Blood Moon and Frozen Cloud. However, nobody could give permission as they would need to wait for approval from Sacred Sakura’s higher-ups.

"Hmm~ everyone has done well. Would you like to join us for some hot tea?" Ely appreciated everyone’s efforts.

Since they didn’t want her to know about the other matters, everything was still okay. Her grimoire was also showing no emergencies lately. Thus, she could rest assured.

"With pleasure!" Gabriella accepted the offer with pleasure.

---

Several people came and joined the morning tea party a few moments later.

Because it was the day their master would carry out the monthly sacred ritual ceremony, all disciples conducted no activities other than securing the Sacred Mountain and its surroundings.

The forest dwellers would also secure the surrounding territory from any disturbance. That was why the Sacred Mountain became so still and quiet as the sun rose higher.

At past noon, everyone went to their respective outposts.

"Beautiful..." Jophiel was about to say something to compliment her master’s captivating appearance. Yet, no words would do the justice to describe it. Nevertheless, the word just came out of her mouth reflexively.

Her master was beautiful as ever, and those additional accessories made the sacred shrine priestess’ vibe ascend to another level of beauty.

However, she felt somewhat restless for some reason, as if something was about to happen soon.

"What’s wrong, Jophi-chan?" Ely asked softly. She did wear more accessories for this sacred ritual ceremony. Nevertheless, she didn’t know why Jophiel stared at her intensely.

"No, it’s nothing, master. We will perfectly secure this sacred event. You can rest assured." Jophiel shook her head. She then burned her master’s current beauty into her memory.

"Hmm-mm. I’m counting on you." Ely gave Jophiel a gentle head pat.

She never asked her disciples or anyone to protect her in the sacred ritual ceremony. Still, they insisted on guarding the surrounding area for it. It had been several years since then.

Yuuki, Sylvia, Evelyn, Kirara, and Zi Xuan excused themselves. They would escort Ely and ensure Ely’s safety from the shadows.

Sakura waved her hand, and Ely responded by raising her hand in farewell before set off to descend the Sacred Mountain alone.

The sound of jingle bells accompanied her every step. Ely was filled with so much excitement and anticipation. It was not only for her but also for her Goddess Master. She would unseal her mother back to her side soon. This occasion might become the last sacred ritual ceremony.