In the middle of autumn, under the starry night sky, a colorful star fell into a Northern Realm's mountain region. It obliterated everything within tens of kilometers radius.
Strangely, not a single noise could be heard. Almost everyone on the continent witnessed the devastating earthquake and super bright light explosion. It was as if doomsday had arrived.
The night was more dazzling than the day, giving the impression the sun was falling and ending all life. However, it only lasted for a few minutes.
Many major forces from various renowned backgrounds were mobilized to investigate what happened. Yet, everyone was shocked to find the Northern Realm's mountain region intact, as if that night's catastrophe was just an illusion.
It could be a treasure from heaven or a calamity from outer space. No one could even tell the exact location where the star fell.
The locals were also perplexed about what was happening in their territory. However, that didn't mean they would permit the others to invade under the pretext of investigation.
The battle broke out, and heavy casualties fell within that deadly week until some influential experts intervened and complicated things.
Ultimately, the major forces from other regions were chased away and inevitably returned empty-handed.
That night's phenomenon was known as the Heavenly Star Fall. Two years had passed since then, and no one could unravel the mystery.
A girl in unique and stylized clothing inspired by the colors of a shrine priestess traditional outfit was reading a book at the humble abode on a peak of one of the mountains in the Northern Realm's mountain region.
Неr fеаturеѕ роѕѕеѕѕеd а сеrtаіn ѕhееn unlіkе аnу оthеr jade-like beauty. Неr gentle, angelic bеаutіful fасе аnd wеll body рrороrtіоnѕ, еvеrуthіng wаѕ реrfесtlу bаlаnсеd, аѕ іf ѕhе wаѕ а wоrk оf аrt, the God's masterpiece.
Her long midnight-black hair glistened with a purplish hue under the sunlight, caressed by the gentle breeze. A big red ribbon tied like a butterfly adorned her hair as an accessory. Her flawless white skin seemed to glow under the warm sunlight. She curved her sweet cherry lips into a smile.
"Heavenly Star Fall, huh..." The shrine priestess closed the book and hugged it while looking up at the brilliant autumn sky. Her purplish-blue colored eyes sparkled with curiosity.
A few moments later, she put the book onto her lap. Rather than calling it a book, it looked more like a grimoire. Silver was the base cover material, but the artistic cover and frame were made of gold with two small wing ornaments on the open side. A symbol resembling a praying little angel adorned the cover's center.
She opened her grimoire to check the quest she had just completed this morning.
[Build the shrine's defensive wall using silver ash granite][Reward: Home Super Defense+] [Complete]
[The agent of the White Realm is satisfied with your diligence]
"Hmm-mm~ It took more than a month of hard work. Thankfully, the kind spirits gave a helping hand. This place will be much safer now, and I can sleep peacefully tonight." The shrine priestess felt satisfied by the quest giver's comment. She then flipped through a few pages to check the mission list.
[Conquer the ancient heavenly tomb in the secret realm of the extreme north][Reward: Heavenly Legacy]
"That's impossible, right? That kind of place is beyond dangerous for me."
[Tame the black fire dragon in the Dark Hell Vulcano in the Demon Realm][Reward: Powerful pet]
"Uhh, that looks like suicide. I am a mortal shrine priestess, and what can I do with a powerful dragon in the distant land?"
[Purify a desperate cursed creature on the Sacred Mountain][Reward: Reliable subordinate]
...(read more)
The shrine priestess checked other missions by sliding her grimoire's paper page like a screen. However, she came back to the third top mission because she thought a particular quest suited her capabilities the best.
"..." The shrine priestess pondered for a moment as if considering something. She then made up her mind and chose to take that quest. "Now, this looks like a proper job to me. A mission to purify a lost ghost, right?"
The shrine priestess went to prepare for her mountain exploration to purify a lost ghost. She put all necessary equipment in her secret storage pouch, then brought her Gohei... her reliable wooden wand to cleanse, bless, or exorcise anything.
She clasped her hands in prayer in front of a six-winged Goddess statue within the shrine before leaving.
"Um?" The shrine priestess glanced back because she felt someone was watching her, but she could see no one there.
The powerful deity, He-Dao, had left a year ago and never came to visit again. He helped her a lot that year, but she became the only human on this mountain since then.
There was only a garden of colorful flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees. The Sacred Sakura she planted eighteen months ago was also there, next to the shrine, swaying slightly in the wind. However, the sakura tree seemed to send her off.
The shrine priestess smiled and waved her hand in farewell. She locked the entrance gate and headed down the mountain, humming a cheerful song. She no longer had to worry about any intruders. The three-meter tall and one-meter thick, sturdy defensive wall would do the job perfectly.
The shrine priestess explored the Sacred Mountain like she was in her backyard. Unfortunately, after several hours of gruelling exploration, she still couldn't find her mission's objective. She was already tired from walking, but no ghost trace was found.
"It's almost dusk, and I can't find it. The mission is merely information. I have explored the entire Sacred Mountain... am I out of luck?" The shrine priestess muttered as she glanced left and right.
She could find a few docile beasts and poor demons, but no corrupted ghost could be found anywhere. The nature spirits didn't even see any strange creatures nearby.
Because she was unlucky, she decided to perform her monthly ritual to the sacred being beneath the mountain. The secret ground where no one but she could enter. The place where the greatest mystery about Heavenly Star Fall was buried.
"Has the shrine priestess left yet?"
"Oh, hell, yeah. The mountain guardian's aura is beyond scary."
"Tch, I can trample upon the masses of people, but that human girl is... her aura scares me."
"This mountain is extremely rich in top-tier quality qi. Living here can greatly boost my cultivation, which no other place can offer. It's better to behave when encountering her and living here all my life, rawr!"
"The shrine priestess seems to be looking for something, right? Is it about that silver ash stone again? Shouldn't we help her again, and then we can expect a reward later?"
"Honorable lady seems to be looking for a creature like a corrupted ghost around here."
"Ghosts to exorcise? So, it's just a routine patrol. They stand no chance to approach this Sacred Mountain."
"But, those damned elemental spirits monopolize the opportunity for two months! Her house defensive wall is done, and we must snatch our luck tomorrow!"
"Yeah, this is our chance to overthrow those elemental spirits."
"Hum."
The so-called docile beasts and poor demons came out of the bushes when the shrine priestess could no longer be seen.
Actually, their first meeting with the shrine priestess was so abysmal. They mistook her for prey, but they got beaten in return. After several exchanges, they could only behave well before the shrine priestess.
Nobody could overpower the shrine priestess. Everything that dared to come closer to the mountain guardian with malice would be suppressed to mortal level, without exception, and beaten up with no mercy using the holy wooden rod. No one dared to blatantly challenge the shrine priestess' authority since then unless they had a death wish.
The beasts and demons of the Sacred Mountain were so well-behaved in front of the shrine priestess. However, the priestess didn't know their true intentions were something profound. They would look for every opportunity to expect some gifts.