The phenomenon marking his breakthrough to a higher order of life lasted an entire day before gradually fading.
Yet even after it faded, the beings of the Demon World-and even the demon slayers, priestesses, and monks of the human realms-could not forget the sight.
The yokai of the Demon World felt fear and reverence toward that higher order of life. Its overwhelming suppression could make every yokai below the rank of Greater Yokai bow in submission.
In the human realms, the demon slayers, monks, priestesses, and other humans capable of resisting yokai wore grave expressions. None of them knew how this Greater Yokai would regard humanity.
Would he be another bloodthirsty Greater Yokai? They had no way of knowing.
Although Mingye had fought only against yokai within the Yokai Kingdom since his emergence, humans saw all yokai as evil and bloodthirsty.
And Greater Yokai were especially terrifying beings.
"Namo Amitabha."
Inside an ancient, austere temple, a withered figure gazed toward the Western Country, turning his prayer beads and chanting Buddhist sutras. Deep in his heart, he marveled:
"As expected of a yokai who could slay the overlord of the Northern Country before even becoming a Greater Yokai. Now that he has ascended, his demonic aura is truly dense beyond measure!"
Clearly, this old monk knew a thing or two about events in the Demon World.
"I hope he does not bring calamity upon the human world. Otherwise, these old bones of mine will be hard-pressed to deal with him..."
The old monk sighed repeatedly, bitterness on his face. Shaking his head, he walked out of the temple and closed its doors.
In an ordinary village, a woman preparing medicinal herbs suddenly trembled and stopped what she was doing. Her eyes, like green lotuses, turned toward the Western Country.
"What