My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 203: Reaching the Summit

Miko went to the newly created pavilion next to the shrine abode with Gabriella and Jophiel.

It was a place built overnight to entertain the guests. This semi-permanent building was large and could accommodate a hundred people at once.

"We already have the pavilion hall and the gathering ground in the shrine’s backyard..." Miko muttered softly as she looked at the luxurious pavilion with many seats before her eyes. It was like they were going to hold a banquet.

"Mm, well... we had prepared the venue in the shrine’s backyard, but we thought about it. Everyone is unwilling to let random outsiders into our home." Gabriella explained the reason.

"Mm, we built this pavilion overnight because of that. We shall welcome the guests here, and they can leave their gifts here." Jophiel put her hands together, feeling quite satisfied with the impromptu pavilion she and her fellow disciples built last night.

"Oh~ that’s why you look sleepy. You only slept for an hour or two, right?" Miko gently pinched her disciples’ cheeks.

"O-ow-uch... pwease have a mewcy, mawster." Jophiel chuckled as she held her cheek and her master’s hand.

"E-eck! Why are you here?"

A lady’s surprised exclamation was heard from behind. Miko, Gabriella, and Jophiel immediately turned to the source of the sound and found Ranee, the spider lady, approaching with a sea eagle and snow owl flying by her side.

However, Sylvia, in the dark knight armor, was coincidentally walking around and ran into Ranee.

"Why are you so surprised, little spider? I was here long before you." Sylvia crossed her arms.

"!?" Ranee found the shrine priestess was nearby.

Thus, she hurried away from the Young Demon Lord to seek protection from the gentle, holy maiden. "My lady, the first batch of visitors have arrived at mountain foot. However, some are actually meditating to seek enlightenment in the middle of the paths and stairs."

"Is that so? Then, let them be. They can’t be bad people if they can get through the toori gates. Why don’t you relax a little and join us while we wait? It’s been a while since I played the flute."

Miko took out a silver-white flute from her storage pouch.

"With pleasure. It is my honour to listen to your masterpiece of musical art, my lady." Ranee’s eyes brightened.

Miko then invited everyone to enter the pavilion. She sat in the master’s seat and performed her art of winter-themed flute music.

The disciples and forest dwellers in the nearby area immediately approached the pavilion to enjoy the beautiful and holy melody of the shrine priestess’ performance.

Meanwhile, Mingyue and Meiying climbed the Sacred Mountain’s summit stairs.

With each step, they felt they gained a subtle insight into what they needed to achieve in their cultivation. It was not about achieving immortality and longevity but a hint of the true path they needed to take.

"They decided to meditate, huh..." Mingyue looked back and shook her head.

"I will continue to advance to the top. Miko is waiting for us. How about you?" Meiying made a decision and continued to move up.

"As much as I wanted to stay to seek some insight, we came for one destination. Let’s not delay any longer and continue to advance." Elder Li Mei nodded in agreement.

"Uh, we are the only one in our group? Uncle Jie is so unreliable. Let’s leave him behind, Yu’er. It’s his loss to skip the main course and focus on the side dishes." Mingyue stroked the little firebird on her shoulder.

"Chrip!" Yu’er responded in agreement.

After they passed a few steps, Meiying as the lead suddenly stopped.

Mingyue wanted to ask what had happened but closed her lips tightly. Three great demons stood before them, blocking the path.

The two demons were at the 10th Rank for sure because they didn’t hide their aura, and the last one was the 7th Rank demoness.

"Ancient night demons... so, you also come here." Meiying recognized two of the three demons. She became tense because of this encounter.

"Hm? No, I’m the Vampire Progenitor, not the ancient night demon. You can call me Lord Klaus or Sir Klaus, little girls. Fret not. We won’t cause you any harm. We’re just enjoying this Sacred Mountain’s scenery. If you can look at it, you will find several hints of divine secrets hidden within this mountain." Klaus waved his hand, trying to convey he was harmless.

"This... isn’t that obvious? The Supreme Goddess of Laws resides on this Sacred Sakura’s mountain." Elder Li Mei stood before Meiying. She gulped her saliva nervously.

She would surely die if she had to fight these great demons, but this was Sacred Sakura’s territory. No demons would dare to risk offending Sacred Sakura here.

"H-huh? Is that for real?" Klaus was stunned.

Abraham and Skyla were also surprised.

"Y-yeah... that’s what we know. The Temple of Law worshipped only one God, and her grace is here." Elder Li Mei hinted at the great demons to behave well.

"Is that so. Then, we must immediately go to the summit to meet Sacred Sakura’s core members. Apart from our Young Demon God, we might meet several other divinities. That’s really an eye-opener." Abraham stroked his beard. He then advanced further up the stairs.

"..." Skyla looked at those young human girls once, then followed her ancestor master.

"Very nice information, ladies. Well then, see you again at the summit." Klaus bid his farewell and then ran like a ghost to overtake Abraham. He had to ensure he was the first one to arrive.

"Hmm?" Abraham accelerated his walking speed and caught up with Klaus.

The two old demons overtook each other and soon could no longer be seen. Skyla was left behind, but she wasn’t in too much of a rush.

"Sigh..." Skyla sighed and touched her upper chest. Her heart was beating faster the closer she got to the summit. She was so nervous to meet her fiance again...

Even so, she had to face it. She also wished to meet him for some personal reasons.

"Elder, why did you tell those demons that?" Meiying lowered her hand from her sword’s hilt with some relief.

"What can we do? I thought they’d block the path and ensure we won’t reach the summit. That information is pretty easy to get because the Temple of Law doesn’t try to hide it." Elder Li Mei breathed a sigh of relief.

"This region is Sacred Sakura’s territory. Those old demons wouldn’t possibly do anything that might offend Sacred Sakura..." Mingyue muttered softly, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Since they can pass through those red gates, they have no malice against Sacred Sakura. Let’s go." Meiying nodded in agreement. She then retook the lead.

As they approached the summit, the beautiful melody of the flute was carried by the wind and reached their ears.

The sacred atmosphere immediately enveloped the surrounding environments. The rustling of the wind could not be heard even though the wind was there as if nature did not want to disturb the beautiful melody.

They took a moment of silence to appreciate the melody. Unfortunately, it lasted for only three minutes.

Meiying, Mingyue, and Elder Li Mei looked at each other before they hastened their steps to the summit.

When they passed the last toori gate, they saw a majestic large wall towering as high as a two-story building. A magnificent red gate was present as the only noticeable entrance. A beautiful calligraphy nameplate, "Sacred Sakura Shrine", was displayed above the gate.

The Sacred Sakura Tree stood firmly behind that wall, and the snow seemed to have no effect on it.

However, the entrance was still tightly closed, and that caused the newly arrived visitors perplexed.

*Swoosh*

A gentle breeze blew gently as if combing the girls’ long hair, who were still stunned looking at the shrine abode.

When they returned to their sense, they realized that the spiritual energy at the peak was far more abundant than the place they had passed before.

Every place in this Sacred Mountain possessed far more pure and pleasant spiritual energy than their exclusive cultivation chamber back at their respective sects. However, the summit was actually the authentic Immortal Residence!

"Mingyue, Meiying, here~"

The pleasant voice of a cheerful young girl came from the side. Like an irresistible call, the newly arrived visitors reflexively turned their heads to the side. They found a magnificent pavilion not far from where they were standing.

A gentle shrine maiden waved her hand at them, inviting them to come closer.

"Mi-Miko, Saintess Miko, have you recovered?" Meiying was the first to regain her composure. She came closer to say hello but was still concerned about Miko’s health and well-being.

"Mm, thank you for coming. Yes, I have recovered. After a few days, I will return to my peak condition. You took great trouble to visit me. It’s cold outside. Please come in. I will offer you a cup of warm tea." Miko invited her saintess friends to enter the pavilion.