Chapter 258: Kamishiro Hime’s Trump Card
Yata no Kagami?!
Even under the pressure of Kamishiro Hime’s wisp of divinity, Natsuba Genryū felt it was difficult to breathe.
But Natsuba Genryū was still captivated by Kamishiro Hime’s words.
Regarding the divine artifact of the Kamishiro imperial family, Natsuba Genryū didn’t know much.
In fact, in the ancient texts of the Natsuba conglomerate, there were only a few words. Natsuba Genryū could only roughly understand the name, and knew nothing about its effects.
However, although in the ancient texts that had been passed down, there was no description of the effect of the imperial family’s divine artifact…
But Natsuba Genryū knew a little about the power of the Yata no Kagami.
Because…
A few decades ago, in the forces that had besieged Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin, Natsuba Genryū had been one of them.
Of course, to ensure the secrecy of the operation, the besieging forces had not revealed their identities, and had acted in secret.
In reality, even the major forces didn’t know which force the other was from.
They had only gathered together with the same goal, to change the rule of the imperial family, but they had not expected the number and rank to be so high-quality.
In that battle, the moment they had launched their joint attack…
An unparalleled power had swept everything. At that time, two A-ranks had died on the spot, and there were more than a dozen peak B-ranks.
The number of seriously injured was countless.
And after Natsuba Genryū had returned, he had also been seriously injured.
Yes, Natsuba Genryū’s strength had been at the peak of A-rank. And in his youth, there were very few opponents who could compare with him.
He had hardly been injured at all, let alone have old injuries.
And now, the many old injuries on Natsuba Genryū’s body were most likely from the backlash of that one Yata no Kagami.
Back then, because his strength was the strongest…
And Natsuba Genryū had a considerable ambition in his heart…
Due to the fact that Natsuba Kouryu and Natsuba Taiga had already been tested to have extremely dangerous abilities, it meant that the Natsuba conglomerate would surely be extremely prosperous in the future.
And it was highly likely to climb to the peak.
But it was bound to attract the attention of the imperial family.
A top-tier conglomerate, with a family head with an extremely dangerous ability, was still within the allowed range of the imperial family.
But if there were two extremely dangerous abilities, that clearly had a certain provocative threat.
Not to mention, the appearance of an extremely dangerous ability almost meant that half a foot had already stepped into A-rank. Only a small number could not step into A-rank.
At that time, the Natsuba conglomerate, with Natsuba Genryū, would have three extremely dangerous abilities.
And it meant it was highly likely that there would be three A-ranks.
So, to prevent the imperial family from acting against the Natsuba conglomerate in the future, Natsuba Genryū had decided to strike first.
And it just so happened that there was this excellent opportunity for a joint operation.
At that time, Natsuba Genryū had taken the lead and had fought the most fiercely.
In his youth, most who had seen his ability had died. And for the small number who had seen it, Natsuba Genryū could also not use his own ability, but could use a sword to stimulate the killing intent in his body and thus fight.
So his ability was hidden perfectly.
But Natsuba Genryū absolutely could not use his divine artifact.
Because all the divine artifacts were recorded in the imperial family, and their characteristics were very distinct.
Unless Natsuba Genryū could kill everyone present, otherwise, to use a divine artifact would undoubtedly completely expose his identity.
This was very not worth it.
And at that time, as long as Natsuba Genryū killed either Kamishiro Take or Kamishiro Sōshin…
He could make the imperial family’s prestige greatly diminish, and in the future, they would completely lose the ability to balance against the Natsuba conglomerate.
However, the imperial family’s divine artifact had made Natsuba Genryū’s plan come to nothing.
Natsuba Genryū had not expected that Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin would be so cautious as to carry a divine artifact. And that Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin would be so ruthless as to not activate the divine artifact in Takamagahara.
After all, even if Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin had activated it together…
And Kamishiro Sōshin’s rank had also reached the peak of A-rank…
But to activate a divine artifact not near a sleeping god, the price to pay, although it varied from god to god, was undoubtedly extremely great.
To have one’s rank drop was a small matter.
It was highly likely that it would damage one’s foundation, and from then on, their rank would be stable and they would not be able to advance. And in a serious case, they could be seriously injured on the spot and even die.
In that one divine artifact attack…
The joint forces were dead and seriously injured.
And Natsuba Genryū, who had taken the lead, had naturally also been seriously injured.
But because he had the strength of a peak A-rank, and although he hadn’t used the power of his divine artifact, he had used his divine artifact, the ten-fist sword, to block a part of the attack…
Natsuba Genryū had not died on the spot, and still had a certain ability to act.
After Kamishiro Sōshin and Kamishiro Take had fled, Natsuba Genryū had also quickly returned to the main residence.
And his goal could be said to have been half achieved.
Although at the cost of being seriously injured and with countless old injuries in the future, and with Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin both seriously injured, and from the current perspective…
They had been in Takamagahara until now, and had never come to Kyoto again.
It could be imagined that their foundation had definitely been seriously damaged, and they were still healing until now.
It could be said that they had completely lost their ability to balance.
If not for Kamishiro Hime reaching A-rank, and the imperial family rising again, otherwise, in the future, they would completely decline.
According to the normal trajectory, although Natsuba Genryū had countless old injuries, he was still alive. When Natsuba Kouryu and Natsuba Taiga had developed…
A family with three A-ranks…
Even if Kamishiro Hime was also an A-rank, she simply could not stop the Natsuba conglomerate’s footsteps.
However…
—Summer Harvest Mountain!!!
Thinking of this, in Natsuba Genryū’s lowered head, a look of ruthlessness and anger burned in his pale golden pupils.
Natsuba Genryū gritted his teeth so hard they creaked, and his fists were clenched so hard that his nails were about to dig into his flesh.
Summer Harvest Mountain had killed Natsuba Taiga and Natsuba Kouryu, and had completely destroyed Natsuba Genryū’s grand plan.
The current Natsuba conglomerate only had Natsuba Genryū, a single A-rank, struggling to support it.
As for Natsuba Rinrei, that A-rank?
In Natsuba Genryū’s eyes, Natsuba Rinrei was not a person at all. After reaching A-rank, she was just a more valuable piece of goods that could be exchanged for more.
Of course, although the situation was so tragic…
But…
Fortunately, fortunately.
There was still Natsuba Yosuke, this only seedling.
Even if Natsuba Yosuke’s ability was only a high-risk ability, as long as he reached B-rank, he could be pushed to A-rank through special means.
As long as the head of the Natsuba family was an A-rank, he could barely protect the family and not decline too much.
And he would just stabilize it.
And after Natsuba Yosuke reached A-rank, he could stop raising his rank.
And Natsuba Yosuke would just work day and night to continue the Natsuba family’s bloodline.
With the buff of Susanoo’s direct descendant, even if Natsuba Yosuke couldn’t produce two extremely dangerous abilities, to produce one was absolutely not difficult.
As long as there was one extremely dangerous ability, then the Natsuba conglomerate could escape the crisis of decline.
Not only that…
And by using Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei, and letting them serve as birthing tools, Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei also had the possibility of giving birth to an extremely dangerous ability.
Of course, the children Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei gave birth to could absolutely not serve as the head of the family.
But as a candidate to assist the head of the family, it was completely possible.
If there were more than two extremely dangerous abilities of the Natsuba direct descendants, then the Natsuba conglomerate would have a chance to rise again!
It was fine.
As long as Natsuba Yosuke existed, the Natsuba conglomerate had not yet reached a point of no return.
With Natsuba Genryū’s plan, it could also be foolproof.
And just in case, to prevent Natsuba Yosuke from also being killed by Summer Harvest Mountain…
Natsuba Genryū had also told Natsuba Yosuke…
To stay in the main residence and not go out.
Natsuba Genryū had even specifically told Mizuō Morishige, Chikari Tanishi, and a few other heads of the family to help him keep an eye on Natsuba Yosuke.
In this way, even if Summer Harvest Mountain wanted to rush into the Natsuba main residence to trade one for one and kill Natsuba Yosuke…
Even if the master of Summer Harvest Mountain were a peak A-rank…
But with Mizuō Morishige’s defensive power, and with Chikari Tanishi, who was close to A-rank, she would not easily succeed.
And once she injured Natsuba Yosuke…
It would trigger Susanoo’s divinity.
In this way, even a peak A-rank, under the siege of the three parties, would also die here.
As for a god-level being releasing their divinity in the Natsuba main residence…
Then Natsuba Genryū would be even less worried.
If a god who had entered the main residence did not restrain their own divinity, but was reckless…
Then the unconscious divinity of Susanoo that filled the main residence would surely act.
In fact, if the invading god were strong enough, with the current situation of the gods’ revival, it might even make Susanoo awaken a large part of his consciousness and strike the invader with a thunderous blow.
Of course, Natsuba Genryū felt that the god of Summer Harvest Mountain, to have awakened so early, her strength was at most a low- to mid-level god.
Susanoo’s unconscious divinity was enough to deal with her.
After all, if Susanoo were to really revive a large part of his consciousness, it would mean that Natsuba Genryū, who was supposed to be the head of the family, would have another person, a god, above his head.
At that time, many of the decisions would not be his to make.
In reality, the revival of a god would affect many aspects of a conglomerate. The most challenged was naturally power.
The Natsuba conglomerate had been painstakingly managed by the direct descendants of the Natsuba family for a thousand years.
And it had only reached the level of a top-tier conglomerate. And Natsuba Genryū had also poured a large part of his heart into it, and had been extremely worried about the rise and fall of the conglomerate.
Susanoo’s awakening was a complete act of picking a peach. And Natsuba Genryū simply could not rebel.
Because the root of the Natsuba direct descendants was Susanoo.
And in terms of power, Natsuba Genryū simply could not compare to a single hair of Susanoo’s.
Although Natsuba Genryū couldn’t stop it…
But Natsuba Genryū just wanted this day to be postponed.
After all, his age was already old, and with countless old injuries, he would probably die completely in a decade.
Before this, Natsuba Genryū had to settle everything for Natsuba Yosuke.
Back to the topic at hand.
Although Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin did not intend to go to the Natsuba main residence, but with Kamishiro Hime coming with a divine artifact, and with Kamishiro Hime being an early A-rank but giving Natsuba Genryū a strange threat…
This was also completely enough.
A divine artifact not being activated did not mean it was useless.
Especially the strongest god’s divine artifact, the Yata no Kagami.
With Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei as bait, to lure the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain here and kill her…
In fact, even if the god of Summer Harvest Mountain came, with the buff of the Yata no Kagami, there was a high chance of leaving her in the Natsuba main residence and killing her here.
At that time, the threat of Summer Harvest Mountain would be completely eliminated.
And with Kamishiro Hime agreeing to come, and the imperial family being completely involved, it also made Natsuba Genryū feel at ease.
Natsuba Genryū’s head drooped even lower, and a hint of joy appeared in his old and hoarse voice. This hint of joy had to be seen by Kamishiro Hime.
And Natsuba Genryū said,
“Then when is Lady Hime planning to go to the Natsuba main residence? I will be waiting for the good news.”
“However, due to some of the plans I’ve prepared, to prevent any changes, I hope Lady Hime will make a decision as soon as possible and arrive as soon as possible.”
With Natsuba Hanae and Chikari Makoto being held captive…
The Master of Summer Harvest Mountain would very likely get this news very soon.
If the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain were to attack the Natsuba main residence before Kamishiro Hime arrived, then the Natsuba conglomerate would surely suffer a great loss, and it would not be certain that she could be held.
After all, from the destruction of the Kujō family…
Even if the Kujō family’s god had fought the god of Summer Harvest Mountain, the Kujō family also had a very deep foundation.
And it would require Summer Harvest Mountain to have a number of A-ranks to deal with.
This also meant that the situation of Summer Harvest Mountain having more than three A-ranks was completely confirmed, and there were probably not a few subordinates with peak B-rank strength.
And if Summer Harvest Mountain were to come to the Natsuba main residence with the premise of rescuing Natsuba Hanae and Chikari Makoto, then without Kamishiro Hime’s help, it was very likely that they would succeed.
And the next time to have such an opportunity with a bait would be extremely difficult.
Kamishiro Hime, hearing Natsuba Genryū’s words, could also roughly guess what he was thinking.
Thinking of her mother’s instructions, Kamishiro Hime said,
“No need to wait, Lord Natsuba.”
“The revival of the gods is imminent, and the Kamishiro imperial family also has a lot of things to worry about. I don’t want to add another hidden variable like Summer Harvest Mountain.”
“I’ve decided to be quick. Wait for me a moment. I’ll prepare some things, and bring some people, and then I can go back to the Natsuba main residence with you today.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll officially start implementing your plan.”
Kamishiro Hime said softly, and her pure white beautiful eyes shone with a perfect divinity, and it flowed.
She would bring the divine artifact, and a few tengu loyalists, and also Tamamo-no-Mae.
The revival of the gods was not just a matter for the Kamishiro imperial family, but also for Summer Harvest Mountain. Kamishiro Hime’s mother also had to implement her plans as soon as possible to enhance her own strength.
After all, Summer Harvest Mountain was already an enemy of Susanoo.
And Amaterasu had also become a potential enemy.
Susanoo was a peak god, and Amaterasu was even the strongest god, definitely above Susanoo.
Even Kamishiro Hime’s mother could not possibly deal with two such powerful gods at the same time.
Her mother had to kill one of them first during this period.
And Natsuba Genryū had already walked into the trap. And the Natsuba main residence, which was on the surface Natsuba Genryū’s, was in reality already eroded by Kamishiro Hime’s mother.
To kill Susanoo first was a must.
And this time, Kamishiro Hime would no longer be a daughter who couldn’t help her mother, but a key power.
Kamishiro Hime possessed divinity.
In fact, she even possessed the strongest divine artifact, which was her unique trump card.
Even Susanoo…
—This was also a power to be reckoned with!
