Chapter 180: You, Me

【You are…】

The girl appearing before Miss Vilyric was not unfamiliar to her.

Her luxurious witch priestess dress of red and white, the snow-white fox ears and long hair that were clearly different from a human’s, and even that déjà vu-like aura and attitude felt so familiar, making it hard to contain the surprise in her heart.

【…Ming Xi?】

【Oh? I thought you would call me Spiritual Fox Priestess, after all, not many in the world know my true name~】

【Are you really Ming Xi?】

The embodiment of the Priestess frowned slightly.

Even though the white-haired, fox-eared girl felt exceptionally familiar, it was evident she was not a physical entity, as there are basically no real objects within the 【Abyss】. Even Miss Vilyric could only construct an embodiment with her divine consciousness to enter, so this Ming Xi could not possibly be the actual Spiritual Fox Priestess.

Perhaps it was like her own divine consciousness embodiment or some more mysterious form of existence, but that was not the point.

The key was that the other party was not wearing the nearly iconic【Mask of the God Fox】, and her face did not clearly appear; she just looked like a blurry phantom, difficult to glimpse her true appearance.

Thus, Miss Vilyric actually couldn’t determine if she was the Spiritual Fox Priestess, or if the consciousness left behind by the Spiritual Fox Priestess could be some particularly special sealed evil demon, intentionally disguised to gain trust for nefarious purposes.

Just like when the【Nameless】deceived those in the Black Scale Army.

【Why are you here?】

Seemingly perceiving the Priestess’s suspicion and wariness, the fox-eared girl, who seemed to be the Spiritual Fox Priestess, let out a sly laugh.

【Why can’t I be here?】

【Tsk… Where is your mask?】

【Of course, it’s where it should be~】

Miss Vilyric was at a loss for words.

【Hey, did you come out just to bicker with me and spout nonsense?】

【Huh? Isn’t it you who wanted to verify my identity this way? Why are you blaming me now?】

【…】

Watching the charming yet mysterious white fox girl before her, Miss Vilyric let out a small sigh.

【Fine… I now believe you are the real Spiritual Fox Priestess. This mischievous and cheeky demeanor isn’t something that can just be easily mimicked.】

As if struck, Miss White Fox immediately raised her hand to cover her cherry lips.

【Oh wow, how rude! What do you mean by mischievous and asking for a beating? Is it better to sulk all day like those old folks?】

【…I actually don’t disagree with your viewpoint. Alright, alright, it feels like this will go on forever… Let’s get to the point. Why did Ming Xi leave you here?】

The person before her was undoubtedly not the real Spiritual Fox Priestess.

If Miss Vilyric was correct, she should be a fragment of consciousness carrying part of Ming Xi’s memories and powers, or it could be described as a split body or an embodiment.

In fact, Miss Vilyric had witnessed a similar situation long ago, during her time in the Kingdom of Azure, in the Sky City’s temple. At that time, self-identifying as the God of Sky, Minerva—actually an Archangel under the Earth Mother Goddess—also left part of her consciousness in her homeland while her main body embarked on the Twilight War and had long since fallen.

This practice of splitting one’s soul would cause a certain degree of weakening and even loss of some memories, but the benefit was that even if the main body perished, the split could still exist for a long time, handling some fallback deployments. While this didn’t necessarily mean Ming Xi was dead, it definitely indicated a lot of things.

The Priestess’s slightly unclear mouth twitched, seemingly dissatisfied with Miss Vilyric’s unnecessary question.

【So foolish! Do you think the Abyss can be constructed easily? Without divine-level power as the core, how could it trap so many filthy things? If I weren’t afraid that the Ancient Spirit Realm would be completely slaughtered by that guy’s minions, I wouldn’t bother doing this.】

【Is that so…】

That indeed sounded reasonable.

In other words, the Spiritual Fox Priestess left this segment of divine consciousness carrying power and memories not as some mysterious scheme or preemptive maneuver anticipating Miss Vilyric’s appearance, but merely coincidentally encountering her.

Anyone else capable of the same would likely meet her here too.

Hmm… If I were to put it in the words of those guys outside, it would be referred to as the so-called opportunity of this virtual realm. It seems the legacy of the Spiritual Fox Priestess is indeed hidden here.

Just that the access requirements were a bit high.

【So, you are the core power maintaining this Abyss’s existence? Because I eliminated all the Feather of Destruction that were imprisoned, it manifested, is that right?】

【That’s half correct, but actually, from the moment you entered the Endless Ruins Sea, I sensed your aura, quietly watching the situation outside. I know your name now, it’s Vilyric, right~ Say, Vilyric, have you ever thought about one thing? Why did this abandoned place of the Open Heaven Gate just happen to activate when you arrived?】

“Ming Xi” laughed delightedly. Though her face remained unclear, that strange familiarity akin to looking in a mirror grew stronger in Miss Vilyric’s heart.

【…Are you the one secretly manipulating all this?】

【What? Silly! It’s because you came!】

Gazing at the deeply furrowed brows of the black-haired girl, “Ming Xi” didn’t hide her meaning and laughed plainly.

【What? You still haven’t realized? Or are you just unwilling to admit it?】

【Vilyric, you are Ming Xi, the one known to the world as the Spiritual Fox Priestess, “my” main body, oh, this virtual realm… was opened for you, wasn’t it?】

【Though I only hold a small portion of Ming Xi’s memories and am unclear about the exact sequence of events, and why it has become like this, that unique aura and power of the Spiritual Fox Priestess on you is something I absolutely can’t mistake.】

The white fox girl pointed at her fuzzy face, delivering the final blow.

【Don’t forget, I am your split body. The part of me that’s missing is currently hidden somewhere within you, isn’t it? Do you think it’s just a coincidence, coincidences piled upon coincidences? Hahaha, that’s laughable~】

【Alright, alright, don’t be so serious~ I’m just a little split body that knows nothing. If I accidentally interfered with your plan, please don’t hold it against me~ But that said, Vilyric, I truly have something I want to give you.】

She raised her delicate wrist, and the Flower of the Other Shore danced lightly in her palm, emanating an aura of unfathomable mystery.

【Consider it a gift, a gift prepared for you by the Spiritual Fox Priestess herself.】

   

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