Chapter 278: The Nanjō Family’s Former Divine Child! Ksitigarbha Statue Entrance Opens, Hozoin-ryu’s “god-given Treasure”
Under Nanjo Emi’s gaze, the monk’s marble-like sculpted body was covered in grotesquely hideous wounds, with thick, mercury-like blood dripping from them.
“Sorry for dirtying your office, Benefactor Nanjo.”
Huijue breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sheepishly: “It’s nothing, just this poor monk’s lack of skill in technique, getting scratched a few times by a Great Demon in the Eternal World.”
The monk shook his head: “Mere superficial wounds, Benefactor Nanjo need not worry too much.”
Nanjo Emi naturally couldn’t just ignore it.
She thoughtfully glanced at the glowing Ksitigarbha Statue in Huijue’s arms, which was radiating dense Wish Power, and raised a finger.
Basic healing spells bloomed profusely across Huijue’s body, smoothing out those true superficial wounds, but several deep wounds exposing bone remained.
“My amateur healing spells indeed aren’t very effective.”
Nanjo Emi tapped her finger again.
Thus, the Onmyoji specialized in healing-side Onmyōdō still remaining in the Special Affairs Office Building suddenly saw text formed from condensed Spiritual Energy before their eyes.
After doing what she could, Nanjo Emi asked in bewilderment,
“If nothing’s wrong… what did Master Huijue go to the Eternal World for? A being nearly like a ‘Buddha’ going there, those Great Demons would love to skin you alive, pull out your tendons, and simmer you for forty-nine days to refine you into a pot of great medicine.”
Huijue was about to speak, but he looked around and didn’t see the figure he wanted to meet, so he asked,
“By the way, where is Benefactor Shangshan?”
“This poor monk came this time to personally return this Ksitigarbha Statue to Benefactor Shangshan’s hands.”
Huijue said calmly: “This is the agreement this poor monk made personally with him, delayed due to personal reasons.”
Nanjo Emi showed an “as expected” expression and lightly closed her eyes: “He was just breaking through, I’ll call him out.”
Hearing this answer, Huijue immediately understood the reason for the Spiritual Energy anomaly across most of Arakawa Ward earlier, and all those dense, overt and covert gazes.
Such massive Spiritual Energy fluctuation…
Surprise flashed in Huijue’s eyes.
Just over a dozen days apart, and Benefactor Shangshan’s progress was this great?
“Then Great Officer Nanjo, does this poor monk need to…”
Nanjo Emi unusually interrupted Huijue: “Master need not trouble yourself, just receive treatment here.”
She said flatly: “As for those insignificant rats, just glancing at them is enough.”
“If any fool really wants to stretch out their claws, they won’t be able to retract them for the rest of their life.”
Huijue gazed at Nanjo Emi, who had raised her index finger, for a moment, then clasped his hands together and sat cross-legged directly in the small pool of blood.
“Excellent.”
…
“Ryuji, looks like we’re not very welcome by the locals.”
Tokugawa Motoyasu chuckled, gazing toward the Special Affairs Office Building in Arakawa Ward.
Tokugawa Ryuji, standing behind the old man like a dutiful bodyguard, didn’t reply.
He placed his hand on the hilt, his face grave as he sensed the Spiritual Energy fluctuations between Heaven and Earth, and felt the thought he had sent out being severed and crushed without resistance.
And it wasn’t just his—hundreds and thousands of thoughts from different directions, different strengths, different influences.
All eliminated in that instant.
Nanjo Emi, indeed lives up to her reputation.
Earlier rumors said she broke through to Ghost God after the Tide, but now looking again, where does she seem like it?
If true, her progress speed defies all reason…
But after pausing his thoughts for a moment, Tokugawa Ryuji felt such progress was only natural.
After all, she was the Nanjo Family’s once-in-a-millennium treasure; if she could be measured by the mortals’ experience-forged rules and frames, that would be the abnormal thing.
Silently, Tokugawa Ryuji glanced with his peripheral vision at the cane on the ground.
Truly facing off against Nanjo Emi would be one of the worst outcomes.
…
Before this, on a rooftop somewhere in Shinjuku Ward.
“Little Kai, what are you suddenly coming up to the rooftop for?”
“Shh—Saito bro, don’t speak.”
After the boy spoke, Saito Ryuichi, who had just caught up, said no more and quietly waited to see what answer the boy could come up with.
Takizawa Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He gathered and compressed all his Spirit and attention into a single line, extending toward Arakawa Ward via the flow of Spiritual Energy between Heaven and Earth.
His precise sense of Spiritual Energy flow made this ultra-long-distance perception a reality for Takizawa Kai.
But soon, he let out a heavy grunt, his highly condensed Spirit, Energy, and Vitality suddenly dispersing, unable to control the surrounding Spiritual Energy, his face pale as he collapsed to the ground,
“Ugh!”
“Little Kai!”
Saito Ryuichi rushed forward in one stride and supported the dazed Takizawa Kai.
The silent Minamoto Shizuka oddly rubbed the hilt of Hotarumaru with her thumb—she hadn’t sensed any anomaly around them.
“It’s… Nanjo Emi.”
After a dozen seconds, Takizawa Kai suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of terror in them as he panted heavily: “The one who caused the large-scale Spiritual Power Fluctuation in Arakawa Ward just now was her…”
“The one who severed my perception line in the time I couldn’t react was also her!”
“So Little Kai, you came up to the rooftop because you sensed something happening in Arakawa Ward…”
Saito Ryuichi was first enlightened, then covered his forehead with a sigh: “Since it’s something so far away, just ignore it. Look, now you’ll need a whole day to recover, and the Elimination Tournament is right around the corner.”
“It’s not like that…”
Takizawa Kai shook his head weakly: “I sensed many people doing it first, so I wanted to investigate, but in the blink of an eye, all the peepers failed.”
Saito Ryuichi was stunned, hearing Takizawa Kai murmur,
“Also an Onmyo Major Official, how is she this strong?”
The experiences of the weak converge, the lives of the strong are splendidly varied.
Heaven knows how Nanjo Emi became this powerful.
Minamoto Shizuka grumbled inwardly.
“Onmyo Major Official?” Saito Ryuichi shook his head directly, “Little Kai, you’re wrong.”
The current head of the Saito Family said: “Nanjo Emi is that Nanjo Family’s ‘Child of God’, and even among past generations of Children of God, she’s an unprecedented existence.
It would be a problem if she weren’t strong.”
Child of God…?
Minamoto Shizuka’s expression shifted slightly, subconsciously gripping the hilt tightly.
—At the same time, after countless thoughts and gazes from various places in Tokyo’s District 23 were simultaneously cut off.
The name “Nanjo Emi” once again entered many people’s sights, following that photo at the dawn of the new era.
…
“Sister Nanjo, you called me for… Master Huijue?”
The moment Shangshan Che entered the office, he smelled an intensely thick bloody scent that oddly carried an unusual fresh fragrance.
The smell of blood and fragrance mixed indistinguishably, seeming particularly strange.
Seeing Huijue being arduously treated by Onmyoji, Shangshan Che first glanced at the Ksitigarbha Statue in his arms, then met the mildly smiling Huijue’s gaze.
“Benefactor Shangshan, finally meeting you.”
The monk smiled and handed over the extremely familiar Ksitigarbha Statue: “Huijue here, returning the Ksitigarbha Statue to Benefactor you.”
Seeing Shangshan Che take the Ksitigarbha Statue with both hands and inspect it back and forth, his hesitant expression, Huijue continued smiling,
“This poor monk said, as long as I’m alive, Benefactor your Ksitigarbha Statue won’t suffer the slightest damage… This poor monk did it.”
“As for those glowing Sanskrit characters on it, this poor monk luckily obtained a secret method in the main temple, which can continue to reduce the Wish Power inside, also making it easier for Benefactor Shangshan later.
This poor monk’s wounds were obtained entering the Eternal World to sever ties with Master, not much related to Benefactor you.”
“Master…”
Shangshan Che suddenly had too many words he wanted to say and ask, but in the end they all converged into four simple words,
“My deepest thanks.”
Huijue’s wounds reaching the White Bone were rolling with healing flesh buds, looking extremely horrific, yet he continued explaining with unchanged expression,
“But while the Sanskrit characters are still flickering, it means the Wish Power is continuously being reduced; when they dim completely, Benefactor Shangshan can probe with Thought.”
Shangshan Che nodded: “I understand.”
He rubbed the back of the Ksitigarbha Statue with his fingertip, carefully and solemnly tucking it into his bosom.
“Two-Foot Adult… I’ll rescue you out intact from inside.”
“I guarantee it.”
Shangshan Che said silently and calmly.
After finishing the “main matter” about the Ksitigarbha Statue, the atmosphere around Huijue clearly relaxed a bit.
The monk carefully examined Shangshan Che’s body and couldn’t help clapping in praise, ignoring even the reopening of some minor wounds,
“In just a few days, Benefactor Shangshan’s strength has advanced so tremendously.”
The earlier sensed Spiritual Power changes were mere “hearsay”; only seeing Shangshan Che in person did Huijue truly realize this boy’s earth-shaking transformation.
The current Benefactor Shangshan might even be able to spar with him and retreat unscathed.
Shangshan Che used Thought to make a Flame Seed float out: “The Seed Battle’s Elimination Tournament is coming soon, naturally need more preparation.”
“In this poor monk’s view, if others haven’t progressed much without unexpected changes, the Seed Battle’s Champion is already obvious.”
Huijue winked at him.
“Don’t overhype me and set up a Flag, Master.” Shangshan Che immediately planted a reverse Flag for himself, “Holding fifth place is victory.”
“But speaking of surprises…”
Huijue paused, looking at Nanjo Emi.
The latter immediately understood and had the Onmyoji withdraw, then waved to set up multiple anti-peeping Barriers.
After deliberately waiting a moment, Huijue spoke gravely,
“This poor monk heard that the once-in-a-generation genius of Hozoin-ryu, called【God-Given Treasure】 by disciples and the current Hōshu, might come to Tokyo in a few days, likely related to the Seed Battle.”
“As for whether this one will participate in the Seed Battle, this poor monk doesn’t know.” Huijue said solemnly, “In any case, Benefactor please be extra vigilant.”
Once-in-a-generation genius might come to the Eastern Region Seed Battle?
Shangshan Che was a bit puzzled—generally, those in the super-genius category had long become Ghost Gods or were of the previous generation ineligible to participate.
Like Tokugawa Ryuji, or Minamoto Shizuka’s Elder Sister, and most schools’ chief disciples and Onmyoji Families’ first-in-line heirs.
Nanjo Emi saw his confusion and explained while staring at her mobile phone,
“Because this rumored martial arts, Hozoin-ryu ‘God-Given Treasure’ had just turned ten when the First Wave came last month.”
“Ten years old?”
Shangshan Che blinked and let out an ah.
A ten-year-old kid probably hasn’t even hit puberty, bones not grown yet—can they even grip Hozoin-ryu’s Cross Spear?
Thinks everyone is Tokugawa Yugoro?
No, it really might be possible…
After all, “Hozoin-ryu” is a world-renowned Spear Technique school.
Its status among Spear Technique schools is almost like “New Shadow School” in Sword Technique schools; even Shangshan Che knew it clearly.
Hozoin-ryu Spear Technique is the pinnacle of Spear Technique.
Founded by “Hozoin Indei” of the Edo Period, famed for wielding the Cross Spear.
The Cross Spear adds crescent-shaped side blades to the Plain Spear’s spearhead, enabling multiple complex attack methods.
“Thrust becomes Long Spear, slash becomes Naginata, hook becomes Kama”—that’s Hozoin-ryu’s Cross Spear.
Not long after obtaining Plain Spear Technique, Shangshan Che had considered switching to Hozoin-ryu.
Unfortunately, Hozoin-ryu is somewhat like a temple, with strict rules; he had no connections there.
Later, Shangshan Che learned more and more techniques, his 24 hours a day not enough, so the matter was shelved until now.
So the so-called martial arts Spear Technique “God-Given Treasure” is very likely not hype, but real.
Hozoin-ryu can’t afford to lose that face.
Existing at ten, or even younger, a prodigy nearing Ghost God level.
If born five hundred years ago in the Sengoku Period, even Kamizumi Nobutsuna would have a worthy opponent; born ten years earlier, his name would resound in the Mortal Realm like Minamoto Shizuka’s.
Unfortunately, Hozoin-ryu’s genius lay dormant until now, just about to emerge.
So he is destined not to be remembered.
Shangshan Che, who had been beheaded in his youth by the young Kamizumi Nobutsuna, rubbed his itching hands, murmuring inwardly with faint anticipation,
“Now, I’m a bit looking forward to the day I meet this ‘God-Given Treasure’.”
…
One day, accurately half a day later.
On the rooftop, bathing in moonlight with Lili Zi, spiritedly discussing the optimal sequence for subsequent acupoint openings in Life River Breathing Technique, Shangshan Che paused.
“Uh… Lili Zi, wait a moment.”
Shangshan Che carefully took out the small Ksitigarbha Statue from his bosom, blocking the silver moonlight spilling from the sky with his hand.
He narrowed his eyes again.
And discovered that the Sanskrit characters originally faintly glowing on the Ksitigarbha Statue’s surface had now completely dimmed.
This meant the Ksitigarbha Statue’s entrance had been opened!
