ID: Mysterious Woman (White)
Gender: Female
Level: 91
Profession: Fairy
Equipment: ...
A semi-transparent character profile appeared before Jiang Liu, and as he looked at the data displayed, a flicker of surprise crossed his heart.
Of course, Jiang Liu's gaze was primarily focused on the level, 91? That should be the realm of a Quasi-Saint, right? Although it was just entering the Quasi-Saint Realm, it was still terrifyingly strong!
Keep in mind, not even Guanyin Bodhisattva and the various Buddhas of the Western Spirit Mountain could achieve the level of a Quasi-Saint.
This mysterious figure was actually a level 91 Quasi-Saint!?
"A level 91 Quasi-Saint, huh? That means she's not a Saint, right!?" After looking at the level of this mysterious figure, Jiang Liu quietly pondered.
Originally, the owner of the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Jiang Liu remembered that in the legends of Primordial myths, it always belonged to the treasure of Goddess Nvwa. Therefore, Jiang Liu had always suspected that the mysterious woman behind this might be Nvwa.
After all, from the follow-up, Sun Wukong and Goddess Nvwa also had an intricate relationship, so it was completely plausible for Goddess Nvwa to step in and provide some assistance to Sun Wukong, right?
However, seeing this level 91, Jiang Liu knew this figure was not Goddess Nvwa, nor could she possibly be a split incarnation like Supreme Elder Lord's Three-Corpse Severance.
After all, in the legends of Primordial times, Goddess Nvwa attained saintliness through the Merit Path, not by Three-Corpse Severance.
Unless everything about this world is different from the Primordial Legends he knew.
She was not Goddess Nvwa, as Goddess Nvwa's level would surely exceed 100, nor could it be Guanyin, as Guanyin's level could not reach the Quasi-Saint Realm.
Then, who could this mysterious female figure be?
After briefly reflecting in his heart, Jiang Liu understood.
Originally, he suspected Goddess Nvwa because of the Map of Mountains and Rivers, suspected Guanyin Bodhisattva because Guanyin orchestrated the Journey to the West, and of course, he also suspected Empress.
For helping Fairy Zixia advance her cultivation level and transforming her aptitude were all things owned by the Empress.
"Eh? Wait a minute? What's going on?"
After eliminating Goddess Nvwa and Guanyin Bodhisattva from consideration, Jiang Liu was nearly certain that the mysterious silhouette before him must be the Empress. However, the mission he had undertaken was still incomplete?
Was his guess wrong? Or did he need to formally reveal the Empress's identity to complete it?
"Holy Monk Xuanzang, is that it? Since you said I should come personally to retrieve it, I'm already here. Holy Monk Xuanzang, please take out the Map of Mountains and Rivers and give it back to me!"
As Jiang Liu was silently contemplating his own problem, the mysterious silhouette saw Jiang Liu's dazed expression and couldn't help but speak up to urge him, pulling his thoughts back to the present.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were on Jiang Liu.
He had personally promised earlier that he would hand over the map once the owner came. Now that the person was here, he wouldn't go back on his word, would he?
"Amitabha, naturally..." Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Liu muttered a Buddhist mantra and nodded, signaling Sun Wukong with a look to hand over the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
Upon receiving Jiang Liu's signal, Sun Wukong grinned, looking extremely happy.
Indeed, his master and the other monks of the Buddhist sect were not the same; he was a man of his promises, true to his word, no matter how much he liked the map!
Overjoyed at heart, Sun Wukong took out the Map of Mountains and Rivers, and without hesitation, threw it towards the black figure.
The black figure raised her hand and easily caught the Map of Mountains and Rivers in her grasp.
With the Map of Mountains and Rivers in hand, she naturally knew it was undoubtedly the genuine map.
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Yet, having it returned so easily was somewhat surprising to her.
She thought she was quite familiar with the Buddhist sect's true colors since the Primordial Era, often using the phrase "This item has a predestined affinity with our sect," before attempting to seize it by force.
A treasure that fell into the hands of the Buddhist sect? It was almost impossible to get it back.
Therefore, having learned that her Map of Mountains and Rivers had fallen into the hands of the Westward Pilgrims, and that Zixia failed to retrieve it, she had prepared herself to personally take it back.
But who would have thought that upon her arrival, they would so readily return the item? That didn't seem like something someone from the Buddhist sect would do at all.
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"Phew, indeed, the trustworthiness of Holy Monk Xuanzang is dependable!" Seeing Jiang Liu return the item to the other party, Fairy Zixia also breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
If the Holy Monk had refused to return it, she would have been in a really difficult position being caught in the middle.
"Not bad, Little Monk, you are indeed beyond my expectations!" She wasn't particularly fond of people from the Buddhist Sect, but having obtained the Map of Mountains and Rivers, the black figure showed a surprised expression and addressed Jiang Liu, with their perception of him improving significantly for the moment.
"Thank you for your compliment, Empress!" Hearing the words of the black figure, Jiang Liu had a thought and then brought his palms together in respect, bowing as he spoke.
"Empress!? Master, you know who she is!?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Sun Wukong and the others looked at Jiang Liu in astonishment.
The master had specifically said to let this mysterious figure ask for the Map of Mountains and Rivers before handing it over to understand the identity of the person; this much everyone knew.
However, they had just met and only exchanged a few words. How could the master already know her identity?
"It's still the familiar formula, the same familiar taste..." In the midst of their astonishment, Zhu Bajie suddenly looked towards Jiang Liu with a realization, feeling that this indeed made sense.
When he first met the master, by just a few words, the master accurately deduced his identity, leaving Zhu Bajie in awe of his wisdom and deductive abilities.
Now, with just a few words, he had deduced the identity of this mysterious shadow; it seemed totally plausible, didn't it?
"How does Holy Monk Xuanzang know!?" On the other hand, it was Fairy Zixia who was even more amazed, looking at Jiang Liu with immense curiosity.
Not to mention Sun Wukong and the rest who were staring at Jiang Liu in surprise, the mysterious woman was even more shocked after hearing his words.
"You Little Monk, you know my identity?" Because she was a silhouette, it was impossible to see the woman's eyes, but judging from her voice, Jiang Liu felt that she must be looking at him with surprise.
"Correct, I have guessed a thing or two!" Jiang Liu nodded and replied.
"Oh? Interesting, I thought I never revealed any information about myself. How did you figure out my identity?" The shadow's curiosity piqued further, pressing Jiang Liu for an answer.
"Hehehe, my master is none other than 'Holmes Xuanzang.' If there are even the slightest clues, he can connect the dots and deduce everything he wants to know!"
Before Jiang Liu could reply, Zhu Bajie, considering himself the master's number one follower, jumped in to boast on Jiang Liu's behalf.
"Holmes? What kind of title is that? It sounds so strange!" The mysterious shadow was puzzled upon hearing Jiang Liu's title.
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Titles like Sun Wukong's 'Great Sage Equalling Heaven' or 'Monkey King' are self-explanatory and convey their meaning clearly.
But, Holmes?
Each character on its own was recognizable, but put together, it was utterly baffling.
"My master said, 'Holmes' means exceedingly intelligent!" Not finding it odd that the shadow didn't understand what 'Holmes' meant, Zhu Bajie gleefully explained with a look of pride.
"Exceedingly intelligent, eh?" The shadow murmured to herself upon hearing Zhu Bajie's answer.
Indeed, using the word intelligent to describe Xuanzang seemed quite fitting?
Setting aside everything else, just the games like Mahjong, Fight the Landlord, and Legends of the Three Kingdoms that have become all the rage in the Three Realms and Six Paths – weren't they all invented by Xuanzang? Without a brilliant mind, who could have invented these diversions?
"Now I am curious to know, since you claim to have guessed my identity, why don't you say who I am?" After a brief silence, the mysterious shadow dropped the riddles and directly inquired of Jiang Liu.
If he guessed incorrectly, there was no harm in letting him say it out loud, right? After all, a wrong guess was just that, wrong.
If he had indeed guessed correctly, then, since it was already figured out, it was meaningless for her to keep hiding.
Furthermore, he addressed her as "Empress" right from the start, which suggested he truly might have guessed correctly?
"Xuanzang pays respect to the Empress!" Since she addressed the matter directly, Jiang Liu no longer played coy and once again bowed to the shadow, revealing her identity without hesitation.
"What!? The Empress!?" Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, everyone was startled, looking incredulously at the black figure – she was the Empress!?
"No wonder! No wonder!" Realizing that the shadow was none other than the Empress, Fairy Zixia suddenly understood.
It seemed as if many things now made sense in retrospect.
The Empress!?
As for Sun Wukong and his two brothers, they were even more astounded.
They did not doubt Jiang Liu's words, but the identity of the Empress left them astonished. Why would it be the Empress? Why would she do this?
While everyone gazed in wonder, the color of the figure's black shadow rapidly faded away.
And then, she revealed her true face...
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