My Goddess is Good at Pretending

'Ely, I'm sorry. You still don't know the outside world's cruelty, but this elder sister will protect you and prevent the harm.' Yuuki spoke to herself and then crushed several pieces of crystal ice in her palm.

That old villain would have countless advantages to inflict harm and put Ely at a disadvantage. Therefore, she had to ensure the old villain suffered much misery, not just from Ely's punishment.

"Hmm?" Ely glanced at Yuuki with a curious gaze, but Yuuki only replied with a faint smile.

She glanced back as she felt the spiritual punishment talisman she had put in those evildoers secretly had taken effect.

Those people would suffer a tremendous headache when they dared to think badly of her, her people, or fox-kin. The pain got worse as the malice got thicker.

"We're going straight back to the Sacred Sakura Holy Land, right?" Yuuki couldn't wait to visit Ely's house.

"Mm, yes, that's the plan. But what do you think, my disciples? Do you want to continue your treasure hunt? We still have two more days." Ely needed to return two days before the appointed time, but her three disciples might have other plans.

"We have accumulated enough treasure and resources, master. However, we can't include the war loot later in the same accumulative points. Everyone will be jealous and pressure us if we do." Uriel handed several magical storage pouches to her master.

"Un, give everything to master. We have already guaranteed our position in the top ten ranks." Jophiel nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes. Let's go back and have a party!" Remiel raised her hand high excitedly.

"Mm, alright. I'll put them in our shrine's treasury. Guardian of Dream also needs many injections of items or materials soon." Ely happily accepted the storage pouches.

"Master, can we visit the Sacred Mountain's beast gathering area? They just gathered a lot of food stocks for the winter, and they hope to open a harvest party with you." Uriel just remembered about her promise to a particular sea eagle.

"Hmm, they also go hunting when we do our treasure hunt. Well, they are good and well-mannered forest dwellers. As the landlady, I gladly will satisfy their request." Ely put her hand to her upper chest with a graceful movement.

She was the landlady of Sacred Mountain, and the inhabitants were her law-abiding forest dwellers. It was natural for her to treat them kindly.

The wind spirit covered thousands of kilometers in just a few hours, and Ely's group returned to the Sacred Mountain at sunrise.

The docile beasts and demons were present at their gathering site. They were still busy stocking up on their winter food.

When they spotted the shrine priestess, they were shocked because she was still disguised as a legendary nine-tailed shadow fox.

It was easy to tell the difference because she only added a pair of fox ears and nine fluffy tails, but her fragrance and aura remained the same. Nevertheless, she was so gorgeous in that appearance. Several beasts couldn't help but be mesmerized by the shrine priestess' new appearance.

However, they soon noticed the presence of a foreign creature behind the shrine priestess. Next to the three Apostles, an authentic legendary nine-tailed fox was there!

One of the mysterious experts who once turned the Northern Realm upside down.

A pair of golden foxy eyes, fur as white as snow, aura as cold as ice, an ethereal cold beauty with an attractive body.

That was unmistakable because, according to rumors, one of the mysterious experts was the legendary nine-tailed snow fox. The characteristics were so well-matched.

"Why did an authentic nine-tailed fox come with the shrine priestess?"

"Is she the rumored one? Her cultivation realm is so profound. I can't measure it!"

"Could it be that she came because of the shrine priestess' disguise?"

"Legendary creatures can sense each other, and she is attracted by our shrine priestess because she thought our shrine priestess was one of her kin?"

"Then, what should we do? She is the embodiment of a walking disaster!"

The beasts panicked. However, it sounded different to Ely's ears because those beasts spoke the language of animals.

"Rawr?" "Squawk!" "Oink, oink?" "Rawr, roar, rarr!" "Kui, kui!"

"Why did they suddenly become noisy?" Ely pointed at the beasts as she found it was strange.

"Ahaha, it's nothing, master. They're just excited to see you." Remiel gave an awkward laugh. She then excused herself and slapped some senses at those stupid beasts.

"..." Yuuki just closed her eyes and followed Ely's pace. She knew what those beasts were discussing, but she didn't care.

A few moments later, Ely arrived at the beast gathering area. She decided to help a bit but had to inspect the cold storage room first.

She built one of the forest infrastructures for Sacred Mountain's inhabitants four years ago.

"Mister Penguin, the cold storage is well maintained under your management. The food stocks for the inhabitants can last a long time, thanks to you." Ely observed the piles of meat, fruit, and vegetable stocks inside the giant refrigerator room.

"Quack!" Mister Penguin puffed out his chest proudly. His ice skill preserved the food stay in good condition.

It was his job and duty, and he received praise from the shrine priestess. It was a great honor for him.

"I heard you will have a harvest party but haven't finished preparing anything yet. Do you want me to give you a helping hand? There's no party without food, right?" Ely glanced at the nearby giant sea eagle.

"Squawk!" The sea eagle nodded several times passionately.

"Then, you all need to help out. No food for the lazy ones. Alright, move, move, finish the party preparations before noon." Ely gave her command.

"Rawr!"

The beasts and demons immediately followed the shrine priestess's instructions.

It didn't take long to prepare the food for the harvest party since more than two hundred beasts and demons did as the shrine priestess instructed.

Ely joined the party momentarily, then excused herself as she needed to return to her humble abode.

"Please continue with your feast. Elder Yuuki and I need to go to the shrine abode." Ely waved her hand to her disciples and the nearby beasts.

Jophiel made eye contact with her sisters for a short communication. She immediately took some food and snacks, then rushed to follow her master. "Ah, I will come with you, master."

"That's not necessary. You can enjoy your time at the harvest party."

"No, I insist. Please allow me to come along."

"Alright."

Ely then went to the top of the mountain with Yuuki and Jophiel.

"..." The nearby beasts were still well-behaved.

When the shrine priestess left quite a distance from the vicinity, they returned to their wild nature in enjoying their feast. Some even transformed into their humanoid beast form, dancing and singing.

"O-ooh, this is what we've been waiting for!"

"The shrine priestess' specialty. Her God-tier herbs and spices combined with high-quality ingredients fresh from our hunting results."

"All hail shrine priestess!"

"Oh, oh! Delicious, delicious. Finally, some good fcking food."

"Long live Lady Miko! Lady Miko, long live!"

"Argh, my power soars high to the sky!"

"This kind of sensation! I will break through to the next rank soon! Aoo!"

The beasts and demons shouted out as they regained some various enlightenment. Some of them broke through on the spot.

The majority of them were those at 5th Rank or below. For those who are at 6th or above, they were currently gathering at a designated table.

They had already enjoyed several delicacies, but this time, they would devour the meat from the 7th Rank monster.

"Gulp..." The sea eagle gulped his saliva. He was sure he would ascend to the 8th Rank, but his tribulation might be tough.

He was the strongest among the forest dwellers, but he knew breaking through to Form Synthesis Realm came with great risk. His life would turn to dust if he failed to ascend to his enlightened state.

"Just go for it. For those below 7th Rank who dare to take the risk, only take a little meat because the energy surge is too much for us." Remiel took two slices of 7th Rank meat, then returned to her seat. She gave one to Uriel.

"Alright then. Go with me for those who dare to break through, whether it's the minor stage or a realm." The sea eagle took one serving, then ate it with great determination.

*Boom!*

His spiritual energy exploded and soared high into space. He felt the pleasure and enchantment of the rich heavenly taste from the universe of juicy, delicious meat.

At that moment, the recollection of memories from his life when he had just hatched from an egg to become a mature sea eagle flashed by. His life was difficult, but he managed to survive.

He could see two creatures that resembled him staring at him. They sat at a round table as if they were discussing something, then agreed on a decision.

Yes, the dao he chose four years ago, along with most of his comrades, was the path of food.

The battle, killing, meditation, and the other usual method was just side dish. He would devour like gluttony and seek the top-tier delicious food to break through.

The top-tier ingredient and raw meat alone were no longer enough. However, with the shrine priestess' spices and her helping hand, everything was possible.

The food she cooked was equivalent to the unparalleled nourishment cooked by the Chef Goddess. The path to immortality would be easier with her guidance and enlightenment.

The sea eagle's profound obsession and motivation in the dao of food did not invite the heavenly thunder. He managed to break through to the 8th Rank just like that.

His brothers and sisters soon followed suit. They broke through several minor realms, and some ascended in rank.

After that, they clamored for their newly acquired power and celebrated their breakthrough with great fanfare.

Our path to immortality is not as simple as they are. Uriel scratched her head. She only managed to break through a minor realm, but that was because of last week's practice, not because of the food.

"Un, Remi is the same rank as you, fifth sister." Remiel was feeling pleased. She was a proud wolf-kin and managed to catch up with her senior sister.

"Let's follow our master. Those beasts will be busy until late at night." Uriel got up from her seat and walked away.

Remiel raised her hand in farewell to the nearby beasts and demons, and they sent her off with great satisfaction.

The guardian beasts of the Sacred Mountain had once again become even more powerful and ferocious.