Chapter 226: The Whereabouts of Yamata no Orochi
Calm, calm.
Careful and thorough consideration.
Natsuba Genryū, with his numerous emotions surging, his killing intent within his body had gone slightly out of control, triggering his old injuries.
The pain from his old injuries, however, had made his brain gradually calm down.
Since the news had reached him layer by layer…
It meant that this news could not possibly be false. Once he knew that false news had been transmitted, it would undoubtedly be a capital punishment.
In other words, the destruction of the Kujō family by Summer Harvest Mountain was a real thing.
As for how the Kujō family’s god had been killed by Summer Harvest Mountain, this was unknown.
Natsuba Genryū could only guess at several possibilities.
One was that something had happened to the Kujō family’s god, or that it had fallen into a slumber in a seriously injured state a thousand years ago.
And Summer Harvest Mountain had a number of A-ranks, and with the price of using some divine artifact, they had completely killed the Kujō family’s god.
The second was that Summer Harvest Mountain was hidden very deep. They were not some new force at all, but also belonged to a god’s force.
Their god was even more powerful than the Kujō family’s, and had killed it.
As for the crimson vertical pupil that had appeared at the Kujō family, it was from a god. The Master of Summer Harvest Mountain and the god were of the same bloodline, so it was normal to have similar abilities.
Of course, Natsuba Genryū had many other guesses, but the possibility of those guesses was minimal. These two were the most likely.
And the appearance of a god, and even the ability to act on its own, Natsuba Genryū had also anticipated.
During this period, with the perception of the ten-fist sword, he could feel that the Natsuba family’s god, Susanoo’s consciousness had also begun to fall into a hazy state of half-sleep, half-wake.
And was gradually reviving.
The supernatural power in the air had also greatly increased.
And with the Natsuba family’s intelligence network, he had collected a lot of news about the strange movements of the gods in the forces that possessed gods.
However, those who had made strange movements were all existences in the middle level of the gods.
And were probably the first batch to be completely revived.
Susanoo was a peak god, so it had not yet shown any strange movements in the world, but had only transmitted some to him through the ten-fist sword.
From this point, he guessed that the god of Summer Harvest Mountain, to be able to act so early, her strength was probably not that great.
She was by no means a match for Susanoo.
A peak god, even a thousand years ago, was a unique existence.
Even if the second possibility occurred, the god of Summer Harvest Mountain would by no means be able to come to the Natsuba main residence and act wild. Once in the Natsuba main residence, if a direct descendant was seriously injured…
A half-asleep Susanoo would surely revive most of its divine will to fight and kill.
The Kujō family had been annihilated because their god was too weak.
Analyzing from this aspect, it meant that as long as he was in the Natsuba main residence, even if Summer Harvest Mountain had the power of a god, she could not move him an inch.
There was no need to worry. As long as he maintained a calm mind, it was fine.
Thinking of this, the killing intent that had been boiling in Natsuba Genryū’s heart completely calmed down. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
However, the disappearance of the Kujō family…
Meant that he had one less force to join forces with against Summer Harvest Mountain.
Fortunately, he had already established a connection with the Kamishiro imperial family.
Otherwise, if Summer Harvest Mountain, relying on that low-level god, were to destroy the Natsuba family’s industry, it would be a difficult situation.
Although it would not be a major blow to the Natsuba family, it would undoubtedly be a large chunk of skin being peeled off.
And with the help of the Kamishiro imperial family, it would be different.
The ten-fist sword was known as the most offensive divine artifact.
And the Kamishiro imperial family’s divine artifact was the most comprehensive in all aspects. The two strongest divine artifacts, as long as they were willing to pay a certain price, even against a mid- to low-level god, they would not be at a disadvantage at all.
If the god of Summer Harvest Mountain were to appear rashly, based on her strength, a plan could be made against her.
It was not impossible to win the fame of a mortal killing a god.
At that time, even if the head of the Natsuba family was a high-risk supernatural user, perhaps with this fame, the overall power could also increase.
And they could perfectly pass through the so-called “period of decline.”
Thinking in this direction…
The destruction of the Kujō family might not be a completely bad thing for the Natsuba family.
It could be said to have pros and cons.
Although they had lost a major combat force against Summer Harvest Mountain…
But at the same time, the marriage relationship between Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei and the Kujō family had completely disappeared. With this, perhaps the disposal of the two sisters could be more arbitrary.
And they could give birth to more descendants…
Or, he could use the two sisters to marry into a new force, and even be the concubine of the two wastrel princes of the Kamishiro imperial family.
And strengthen the alliance with the Kamishiro imperial family, and get more aid.
However, in Natsuba Genryū’s view, the former method was perhaps the only way to truly strengthen the Natsuba family’s power. Relying on others was ultimately not a long-term solution.
After thinking for a moment, Natsuba Genryū’s face was uncertain. Finally, he parted his lips.
“Rin.”
“Besides informing the Kujō family, the other things I’ve assigned you remain unchanged. Pass on the orders.”
The Kamishiro imperial family was ultimately an external force, an aid.
Now they could cooperate, but when the Kamishiro imperial family’s power truly reached a point where they could control this land, they would surely act against the forces that could threaten them.
To maintain a good balance.
To prevent a second occurrence, to let the A-ranks who had sneak-attacked the Kamishiro imperial family in the past act again.
In that case, the top-tier force, the Natsuba conglomerate, would undoubtedly be one of the forces to be cleared.
So, strengthening his own conglomerate’s power was the right way.
And not to rely on others.
Of course, this was a matter for much later. In now, to deal with Summer Harvest Mountain, he still needed to cooperate with the Kamishiro imperial family.
And their positions were almost on the same line.
There was no reason not to cooperate.
Seeing that there were no new orders, Mizuō Rin said in a low voice,
“Yes, Family Head.”
Then he turned and went out, and closed the door.
And Natsuba Genryū stood in place, and knelt down again, and prayed and murmured,
“May all things go smoothly.”
“May the Natsuba family prosper for all time.”
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Natsuba Main Residence, Natsuba Hanae’s room.
The news of the destruction of the Kujō main residence needed some time to ferment.
And during this period, Natsuba Hanae, with a group of her daughters, had now returned to her own home.
With the power of a high-level god, besides consuming a wisp more of her divinity than teleporting herself, it had no other effect. This wisp of divinity was naturally insignificant to Natsuba Hanae.
Of course, today was the duty of the Chikari and Mizuō branches, to patrol the Natsuba main residence.
In reality, without teleporting, even if she had walked in directly, it wouldn’t have had much of an impact.
Moreover, to discuss matters at the edge of the ruins of the Kujō main residence was indeed a bit strange. It was better to sit down in her own home and drink black tea, which was more elegant.
This way, her daughters wouldn’t have to fight over who would be her stool at the ruins of the Kujō main residence.
Natsuba Hanae lifted her teacup and sniffed the black tea. A white mist, along with the fragrance, entered her delicate nose. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
She took a small sip of the rich, sweet black tea. There was no bitterness, only an endless aftertaste and a faint freshness.
It had to be said that although Chikari Makoto didn’t use her brain much when fighting, her skill in brewing black tea was getting better and better.
And just as Natsuba Hanae was savoring the black tea…
Tamamo-no-Mae had been plotting for a long time.
Her brilliant purple eyes were suddenly filled with a deep weariness, and she said to Natsuba Hanae,
“My Lady.”
“In the battle against the Kujō family, I think I used all my strength. I’m a little exhausted and tired now.”
As she spoke, Tamamo-no-Mae fell onto Natsuba Hanae’s bed.
“Let me rest for a moment. I’ll get up in half an hour.”
The moment she finished speaking, Tamamo-no-Mae closed her eyes, as if she had instantly fallen into a deep sleep, or as if she had entered an eternal sleep.
However, her tail slowly pulled up the quilt and covered her head. From within, a series of heavy pants could be heard.
And the tail that was exposed was trembling nonstop, as if it had been electrocuted.
Natsuba Hanae: “…”
Kamishiro Hime: “…”
Even if the others didn’t know Tamamo-no-Mae’s specific situation, Natsuba Hanae and Kamishiro Hime knew it very well.
Tamamo-no-Mae, besides dealing with the supernatural users in that area at the beginning, had been slacking off the entire time, sleeping soundly.
Of course, her perception had also been released. To prevent any supernatural users from escaping.
But because the other daughters hadn’t let any of those supernatural users go, no supernatural user had been able to run to the edge of the city.
So, Tamamo-no-Mae had been slacking off the entire time.
Not to mention consuming all her strength. To consume more than ten percent, even Natsuba Hanae would lose.
And that ten percent had probably already been recovered in her subsequent sleep and slacking off.
However, Tamamo-no-Mae’s nature was like this. She was not a real human, and preferred a leisurely life.
To have grown the Ryūko Shrine to such a large scale, and to have become a state religion, and to have established a relationship with the Kamishiro imperial family, Natsuba Hanae was also quite satisfied with her.
She had perfectly completed her early layout and had spent a lot of her mind. It was fine to let her rest for a moment now.
Within a reasonable range, Natsuba Hanae was very tolerant of her daughters.
And now, most of her daughters were at peak B-rank and near A-rank. If at that time, only Tamamo-no-Mae was a peak B-rank…
Then she would have to be ruthless.
And pluck out all the hair on Tamamo-no-Mae’s tails!
She didn’t know what Tamamo-no-Mae was sniffing in her quilt. At that time, she could completely use the other’s tail hair to make a new quilt.
She was a gentle mother, not some unreasonable demon.
Natsuba Hanae withdrew her gaze from Tamamo-no-Mae.
And she looked at Kamishiro Hime and said softly,
“Hime, you can continue.”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Kamishiro Hime nodded and continued to narrate.
“According to the intelligence I’ve received from the imperial family, many of the forces on this land with gods have shown a conscious divine fluctuation in their main residences.”
“There’s reason to believe that the gods who have been sleeping for a thousand years are now very likely to be gradually awakening.”
Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae nodded slightly.
This was within her expectations. And even more so, this change was caused by her.
Of course, Natsuba Hanae was just a catalyst. She had accelerated the pace of the gods’ awakening. The gods’ revival should have been later, but because she had reached the divine realm…
It might have had a strange effect. When the sleeping gods sensed this conscious divinity, they thought that the time for awakening had come.
And with the time for true awakening approaching, some of the weaker gods had begun to slowly regain their consciousness.
However, from the looks of it now, no god had completely appeared.
Ebisu’s awakening was more like Natsuba Hanae had forcibly broken into its sleeping area and had given it a slap, forcibly waking it up from its slumber.
As for Yamata no Orochi, it was also an unusual situation.
It was a curse parasitizing Susanoo’s body, and with a strange means, it had forcibly revived its consciousness and was reborn.
Susanoo was a more normal situation.
Natsuba Hanae had broken both of its arms, but even so, Susanoo had not made a move, and was still in a deep sleep.
Of course, Natsuba Hanae had also keenly sensed…
The unconscious divinity of Susanoo in the Natsuba main residence was also more active than before, and not as dead as before.
Clearly, it was also a sign.
With Natsuba Hanae’s thinking, Kamishiro Hime also paused, sensing the situation.
Until her red, glass-like beautiful eyes swirled again, and Kamishiro Hime continued,
“Mother.”
“There is also news about Yamata no Orochi.”
“It doesn’t seem to have any intention of hiding. Although it hasn’t officially appeared…”
“But with Mount Fuji as the center, the small black snakes are radiating towards the surrounding cities. Now several cities have been destroyed, and the people in the cities are like shriveled skeletons with only a layer of skin.”
“And a large part of them have died.”
“According to the tests, the supernatural power in the air is also unbelievably low.”
“If I’m not mistaken, Yamata no Orochi is very likely in Mount Fuji.”
“The filthy aura there is also very dense, and has even affected the weather, causing a black rain to fall.”
With Kamishiro Hime’s reminder, a thoughtful look appeared in Natsuba Hanae’s red, glass-like beautiful eyes.
Yamata no Orochi was recovering much faster than she had imagined.
And since it knew about her and still dared to brazenly reveal its existence, it was clear that its strength had recovered to mid-level god or higher.
She didn’t know if it had reached the high-level god level.
Xiao Bai had not sent any news, and the divinity of hers that remained in Xiao Bai was also somewhat hindered. Was it due to the influence of its divinity or filth?
As a former peak god, it was normal for Yamata no Orochi to have some unpredictable means to block her investigation.
Clearly, although it had shown its own sense of existence, Yamata no Orochi was still planning something, and was not letting people investigate. Or was it to attract people to come and be a source of its power?
Should she go and see for herself?
Just as Natsuba Hanae was thinking, a knock was heard at the door.
“Come in.”
She said softly.
The wooden door opened, and Mizuō Rin’s figure appeared.
Facing a member of the Natsuba family, Kamishiro Hime almost instantly wanted to swing a fierce wind, but was stopped by Natsuba Hanae with a wave of her hand.
Then, Mizuō Rin knelt on both knees, his forehead touching the ground.
“Second Miss, I have something to report.”
…
