Chapter 501: Chapter 9 Can You Keep Up with My Speed?
A Cultivator from the Central Plains at the Enlightened Realm had visited the Southern Border, and his popularity far exceeded Lin Yun’s imagination.
Not only the Black Wind Fort and White Wind Stronghold, even the neutral Priests had started to woo them.
However, Lin Yun, looking at the petite Priest dressed in a large black and white robe, always had an inexplicable sense of strangeness, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
The black and white clothes made him think of Impermanence, and the petite figure reminded him of Wu Xin.
This kind of reasoning was not rigorous, Impermanence is associated with black and white colors, but black and white colors do not equate to Impermanence, Wu Xin is of small stature, but not every small person is Wu Xin.
It was probably because both had exerted pressure on Lin Yun; they were too high in the hierarchy of power, not someone Lin Yun could contend with.
Seeing that Lin Yun seemed curious about the High Priest, Lin Yu transmitted to him, "The High Priest holds a unique position in the Southern Border. The ancients said, ’In affairs of the state, only the Priest and the soldier are essential.’ The High Priest who manages the sacrifices has always been in control of the Southern Border, but with the rise of the Black Wind Tribe and White Wind Tribe, the High Priest gradually lost her power..."
This background information was what Lin Yu and Flower Fairy had investigated previously when they stole the Oblivion Gu Worm.
At that time, they didn’t have the strength to sweep through the Southern Border at will; they could only lurk carefully, disguised, and infiltrate the strongholds to gather intelligence. The situation in the Southern Border was incidentally found out.
Only three parties possessed the Oblivion Gu Worm: the Divine Temple, Black Wind Fort, and White Wind Stronghold.
The rise of the Black Wind Tribe and White Wind Tribe posed a challenge to the status of the High Priest.
The situation in the Southern Border was roughly the same as in the north, with a High Priest and a Grand Shaman responsible for managing sacrifices, and the people in both places held a sufficient reverence for Divine Spirits.
But on the grassland, the Grand Shaman was the absolute ruler; even upon the death of a Grand Shaman, the new Grand Shaman still wielded absolute authority.
By contrast, life wasn’t so easy for the High Priest of the Southern Border; nominally, she remained the core figure of the entire Southern Border, but she had no people under her command. The strongholds of the Black Phoenix Tribe and White Wind Tribe would only follow their own Leader’s orders, not those of the High Priest.
The Divine Temple only managed sacrifices and occasionally acted as a mediator to settle disputes between the two tribes.
After all, everyone descended from the same ancestors; it wasn’t too good to completely annihilate each other.
The High Priest acted as the best third party to maintain stability in the situation. The Black Wind Tribe might be dominant, but they couldn’t confront the High Priest together with the White Wind Tribe head-on; the Divine Temple still possessed some strength, albeit being the weakest link.
"...Perhaps the High Priest is also seeking a way to break the impasse, thus inviting us. If the other strongholds don’t have a better solution, we might gain something by going to the Divine Temple," said Lin Yu as she transmitted to Lin Yun about the situation in the Southern Border while responding to the High Priest.
"Rest assured, High Priest, we are here with sincerity and good intentions, and have no intention to meddle in your internal affairs. Since the High Priest has invited us, it would be disrespectful to decline," she continued.
Watching Lin Yu being invited away by the High Priest, Hei Feng and Bai Jing felt somewhat reluctant, but this was a result that both sides could accept. If Lin Yu went with the other party, they would be even more uneasy; compared to that, the Divine Temple seemed less threatening.
The Divine Temple depended solely on the High Priest and didn’t have enough people underneath.
Population was the lifeblood; the High Priest could only serve as a symbol. Even if she enlisted Lin Yu’s help, it was unlikely she could bring about any major changes.
Even with absolute force, the High Priest wouldn’t possibly join forces with Lin Yu to eradicate everyone from the Black Wind Fort and White Wind Stronghold. Without believers, what would be the point of the Divine Temple desiring such a Southern Border?
Thus, there were no more objections from anyone.
However, Bai Jing still kept a watchful eye, saying, "The two of you have come from afar and are unfamiliar with the region, and since the High Priest is elderly, she might not be able to take full care of you. It would be better if this little sister accompanied you, to lend a hand in case of poisonous insects and miasma along the way."
Bai Jing’s intention was not purely for hospitality; with Lin Yu’s Cultivation Level, what need was there to fear poisonous insects and miasma?
She simply wanted to create an opportunity for Bai Gan and Lin Yun to connect and improve their rapport.
Lin Yu, catching onto their intentions, also considered that if the Divine Temple was without solutions, the White Wind Stronghold could at least serve as an alternative option.
In any case, there was no need to cut off this path.
Lin Yu smiled politely and said, "In that case, thank you for your trouble."
Seeing that the White Phoenix Tribe had sent someone, Hei Feng was naturally unwilling to show weakness.
She said to Gao Qing, "You will represent our Black Wind Fort and accompany the honored guest to the Divine Temple!"
When it comes to physique, the women of our Black Wind Tribe are not lacking either!
Lin Yu: "..."
Very well, I will remember the people from both of your villages.
Lin Yu’s smile was warm, but she still let Gao Qing and Bai Gan join the team.
The High Priest summoned a Fierce Tiger, which was her mount.
Lin Yun still found her a bit strange, so he took the initiative to strike up a conversation, asking, "May I ask how to address you?"
Logically, Lin Yun should call her ’senior,’ but since he had previously claimed he and Lin Yu were husband and wife, referring to her as ’senior’ now would lower Lin Yu’s rank. Therefore, he could only dispense with the formalities.
"A name is just a form of address—just call me High Priest."
The aged voice refused to reveal her name to Lin Yun, and he did not press further, but the odd feeling in his heart grew stronger.
The group left Bajiao Village and hurried toward the direction of the Divine Temple.
No sooner had they descended the hill where Bajiao Village was located than the High Priest said, "Since your honored husband has been seriously poisoned, we should not delay. You should be able to keep up with Big Cat’s pace, right?"
Lin Yu nodded, and the High Priest patted the tiger beneath her, named Big Cat, which was also a Spirit Beast.
Seeing Big Cat being ridden, Lin Yu suddenly felt a bit displeased.
A tiger belongs in the forests and mountains and, even if it serves a master, it should be for battle, not for riding—that is not the way of a Fierce Tiger!
Suppressing these feelings of dissatisfaction, Lin Yu commenced Sword Flight, taking Lin Yun up into the sky and following closely behind.
To say she could keep up with the High Priest’s speed was an understatement—if she put in a bit more effort, the High Priest’s tiger wouldn’t even be able to see the luminescence of her sword flight.
Gao Qing and Bai Gan were both dumbfounded.
They had not expected the High Priest to have such a trick up her sleeve, seemingly concerned about Lin Yun’s condition but actually intending to shake them off with speed.
The two women exchanged glances, both understanding one thing.
It didn’t matter if they were left behind; what was important was not to be outdistanced by the other party.
Pursue!
However, neither of them had the means for Sword Flight and could only take out their own tools for travel.
That’s right, their mode of travel relied on their two legs.
With a cold snort, Gao Qing used a Bouncing Gu Worm on herself, which made her as light as a swallow, able to leap high and far.
With one jump, Gao Qing caused a significant stir. Bai Gan’s gaze turned solemn as she looked down at herself.
Defeating this opponent was going to be quite difficult!
