Before the dark clouds in the sky had completely dispersed, several royal spirit boats with luxurious paint and engraved golden chrysanthemum emblems pierced the oppressive air and slowly descended on this land that had just experienced Cataclysm.
Compared with the delay in arriving before, the appearance of the Imperial Family members now seems quite "timely".
The cabin door opened, and a team of fully armed Royal Guards filed out and quickly took over the scene. Walking at the front was a middle-aged man wearing golden armor with gray hair on his temples. He is Princess Matsumoto's uncle, and he is also the hard-line representative of the Imperial Family clan today - Prince Nobunaga.
Prince Nobunaga's gaze swept across the battlefield like a hawk. He first glanced at the cold corpse of Zure not far away, and then fixed his sight on the row of prisoners tied up with five-flowered buns.
"This is..."
As an old fox who has been struggling in the whirlpool of power for many years, he recognized the origins of those ninjas only by the hidden tattoos on their bodies - Yin-Yang Guardian Hall's private soldier "Shadow Host".
"Arata Seimei, that old guy, finally couldn't help but take action."
A sneer of schadenfreude flashed through the heart of Prince Nobunaga. This was a God-given opportunity, enough to be the perfect excuse for the Imperial Family to attack General's Mansion.
He straightened his expression and strode towards the black-haired boy in the field.
Ian was facing away from him, seemingly checking the injuries of the civilian students.
"Are you that civilian student?"
Nobunaga Prince clasped his hands behind his back, with a condescending look in his tone, "What exactly happened here? Who sent these killers? Also, what methods did you use to purify those villagers?"
A series of questions, carrying the unquestionable pressure of the superior.
However, Ian did not answer. He did not even turn his head, as if what stood behind him was not a noble prince, but a ball of air.
"I'm asking you a question!"
Being so ignored by a civilian, Prince Nobunaga felt ashamed. His face darkened, and he stretched out his hand to hold Ian's shoulders and force him to turn around, "Do you understand the rules? I am..."
"Get lost."
Ian turned his head slightly and glanced over coldly from the corner of his eye.
At that moment, Prince Nobunaga felt as if he was being targeted by a giant beast from ancient Abyss.
There were no violent fluctuations of spiritual power, nor a shocking explosion of murderous intent, just a look - it was an absolute crushing on the level of life. Just like humans looking down at ants, and gods looking at mortals.
The trembling feeling originating from the depths of his soul made Prince Nobunaga's hand stretched out in the air as stiff as a stone. His throat seemed to be strangled by an invisible big hand, making it difficult to even breathe.
"If you don't want to die, you'd better not bother me."
Ian looked away, his tone as calm as if he was talking about the weather.
Nobunaga Prince's forehead was dripping with cold sweat. He instinctively took two steps back. On this young man's body, he actually felt a more terrifying sense of oppression than when facing His Majesty the Emperor.
"This kid... is definitely not an ordinary person."
In order to cover up his embarrassment, he coughed twice and turned dejectedly towards the unconscious Princess Matsumoto, "Well, since you don't want to say it, forget it. Someone, come and escort the princess back to the palace for treatment!"
Looking at the backs of the Imperial Family members hurriedly leaving, the corner of Ian's mouth curled up with a sarcastic arc.
He knew very well that this group of people had not given up. They were just temporarily intimidated. Once they returned to their familiar home court of the palace, all kinds of soft and hard recruitment and brainwashing methods would follow.
However, that is all a story for later.
Yin-Yang Guardian Hall, Heaven-Piercing Pavilion.
This is the other pole of the Yamato Dynasty's power, the office of Yin-Yang General Arata Seimei.
But at this moment, this usually majestic general was standing in front of the shrine door on the top floor with a livid face. The aura of violence exuding around him made all the attendants along the way tremble and wish they could bury their heads in the ground.
This operation was completely screwed up.
Not only were all the elite soldiers sent to die, but the lurking "angel" Zure was also dead. What's worse is that this operation exposed his intentions and gave Imperial Family an excellent handle.
"Creak--"
The door of the shrine was roughly pushed open by him.
The goddess was still kneeling in front of the altar, her back looking cold and lonely.
"You need to give me an explanation." Arata Seimei's voice was hoarse and low, suppressing the anger that was about to burst out. "Why was there no warning? Why did that Kozuki Akimitsu have such strength? Our plan is completely ruined!"
The room fell into a deathly silence.
After a full ten minutes, the goddess slowly turned around. There was no emotion in her eyes that seemed to see everything in the world.
"You are too greedy, Arata."
Her voice was empty and cold, "You are eager for quick success and instant gain, trying to kill two birds with one stone. You want to get rid of the Imperial Family heir, and you also want to monopolize the heaven. Failure is the price of your recklessness."
"Don't forget our contract!" Arata Seimei veins popped up on his forehead, "Without me, you would never have accomplished that goal!"
"I can't help you this time."
The goddess said calmly, then closed her eyes, as if seeing off guests.
"You..."
Arata Seimei clenched his fists and dug his nails deeply into his palms. He wanted to draw his knife and kill the arrogant woman in front of him, but he knew that he could not. This woman's power was unfathomable, and she was the only bridge to "that place".
"Okay, very good."
Arata Seimei laughed angrily, threw up his sleeves and turned around, "You will regret it."
As the heavy footsteps faded away, silence returned to the shrine again.
The goddess opened her eyes and took out two photos from her sleeve. One was Ian, and the other was Miko (Miko), a civilian girl with the ability Prophecy.
"Arata is already a sunken ship."
She murmured to herself, gently stroking the photo with her fingers, "In order to rescue my brother, I need new chess pieces. And these two people... maybe more useful than that useless general."
She lit a talisman, and light blue light and shadow intertwined in the air, transforming into an image of a laughing little boy. Looking at the illusory figure, the goddess's cold face finally showed a trace of extremely tender attachment.
"Wait for me... Even if it means overturning the world, I will bring you back."
Before Arata Seimei left the shrine, an origami bird flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder.
The paper bird opened its mouth, and the shrill voice of the chamberlain came out:
"My lord general, your majesty invites you to enter the palace immediately."
Arata Seimei crushed the paper bird with an expressionless expression, a trace of fierceness flashed in his eyes.
"It's coming so fast. Are you trying to force me to have a baby?"
He formed a seal with his hands and summoned a huge Three-Legged Crimson Crow Shikigami, which turned into a stream of light and rushed straight to the palace.
Golden Throne Hall on.
The young emperor was sitting on the dragon throne, and several Imperial Family clan leaders were lined up on the left and right, looking at Arata Seimei with eyes full of amusement and banter.
No greetings were exchanged, no seats were offered.
The chamberlain directly read out an imperial edict that had already been prepared:
"... In view of the Yin-Yang Guardian Hall's recent lack of supervision, which has resulted in frequent Spirit Calamity incidents. After Imperial Council's resolution, the post of **'Three Heavenly Guardians' was specially established to be stationed in the Guardian Palace to assist the general in handling military affairs."
"Three Heavenly Guardians?"
Arata Seimei sneered in his heart. It sounded like assistance, but in reality it was decentralization and surveillance.
Once these three positions are established, they will be like three nails in his sphere of influence. And the most sinister thing is that this is a "temporary" position - which means that as long as his Arata family is still in power, these three supervisors will be there; once Imperial Family regains the position of general, this position can be revoked at any time and centralization of power can be restored.
This is a conspiracy.
Either accept decentralization or rebel now.
Looking at the half-smiling expressions of the Imperial Family family heads around them, Arata Seimei knew that they wished they could draw their swords now, so that they would have reason to attack in groups and completely wipe out the Arata family.
"... I accept the decree."
Arata Seimei took a deep breath and bent his proud waist.
endure.
As long as you still have the bottom-level army in your hands, and as long as the last step has not been reached, there is still a chance for a comeback.
Seeing Arata Seimei surrendering, a trace of disappointment flashed in the emperor's eyes - he had expected the old lion to resist. He waved his hand, as if to shoo away flies, signaling to retreat.
College, late at night.
The bustling day is finally over.
Ian returned to the dormitory. After confirming that no one was monitoring him, he activated the multiple barriers in the room and then summoned Origin Grimoire.
[Dream Magic·Nightmare Summoning]
In a pure white void space.
Princess Matsumoto opened her eyes suddenly. She remembered that she had obviously returned to the collapse of the palace, why did she appear here?
"Welcome to my world, Your Highness Princess."
A joking voice sounded.
She turned around and saw the "Senior Guangyue" who impressed her deeply. But at this time, he was no longer the Land of the Sun boy with black hair and black eyes, but a foreigner with dazzling blond hair and deep blue eyes.
"It's you?!"
Princess Matsumoto took a step back warily, "Who are you? What is this place?"
"It doesn't matter who I am."
Ian typed the Snap, and a gorgeous chair appeared behind him. He sat down gracefully, "The important thing is, I want to talk to the old guy living in your body. Let him come out."
"I don't understand what you are talking about..."
"Are you still pretending to be stupid?"
Ian's eyes turned cold and he held his right hand empty.
"Buzz--"
A transparent Cosmic Cube body barrier instantly enveloped Princess Matsumoto. Immediately afterwards, the four walls of Cosmic Cube's body began to slowly shrink inward.
"Ah!"
Princess Matsumoto was horrified to discover that this was by no means an illusion. The suffocating feeling of being squeezed by space was terrifyingly real. She had to curl up, and her bones made an overwhelming clicking sound.
"My patience is very limited." Ian looked at her indifferently, "If that old guy doesn't come out, I will crush you into a meat pie. By then, he who is attached to your soul will also be gone."
"Stop! Stop it!"
Just a second before the barrier was about to crush the girl, a vicissitudes of life and grand aura suddenly burst out from her body.
The light and shadow were distorted, and an old man wearing ancient imperial clothes and a long white beard emerged. He looked at Ian helplessly and sighed.
It is the founding king of the Yamato Dynasty--Late Emperor Yeguang.
"Today's young people really don't know how to respect the old and care for the young." Yakou stroked his beard and said with a wry smile.
"That's for a respectable old man." Ian waved his hand to remove the space squeeze, but still maintained the cage. "For an old monster who took away his own descendants and is still living, I think this treatment is already very generous."
Yakou's old face turned red, but he was a tycoon after all, and he quickly regained his composure. "How did you find out?"
"The fluctuations in your soul are too obvious, especially when you take over the body in battle." Ian said straight to the point, "Stop talking nonsense, I have a few questions. If you answer them well, I can consider letting this girl go."
"Just ask."
"What is behind that giant bronze door under the college?"
Yakou was silent for a moment, and his eyes became a little blurred. "That is the secret that Yamato Clan has guarded for thousands of years... In fact, even I only truly unveiled its veil after we unified the continent."
"It is said that the secret of eternal life is hidden behind that door. For this legend, I launched a war, conquered all countries, and snatched the tokens that opened the door from the surrendering nobles - those 'tokens'."
"When you opened the door, what did you see?" Ian asked.
"A book."
Yakou looked at Ian and slowly uttered a word, "A book you call 'Grimoire'."
"Sure enough." Ian was not surprised, which confirmed his previous guess.
"But that's no ordinary Grimoire."
Yakou's expression became extremely serious, even with a hint of awe, "The moment I came into contact with it, I realized... it is more than just a powerful magic weapon."
He took a deep breath and revealed the truth that could shock the whole world:
"That Grimoire is the Cornerstone and core of the whole 'Mental World'."
"In other words... all the Onmyodo systems in this continent, all Shikigamis, and even that huge alien space are all derived from the power of that Grimoire."
Ian's pupils suddenly contracted.
The core of the world. A book of Grimoire actually supports the laws of a dimension?
If he could get it... Ian's eyes flashed with an unconcealable fanaticism. That would be the key puzzle for him to repair "World Gate" and even impact higher dimensions.
"Very good." Ian stood up and released the dream cage, "This information bought your lives."
The moment before his figure disappeared, he left a message to the shocked Princess Matsumoto and the late emperor:
"Live well and don't die. Because you are still useful until the final change comes."