Terrifying evil energy

The Dog Tribe Base.

Mingye stepped out of his tent, with Chongli following silently at his side.

When the beautiful woman saw Mingye emerge, she hurried forward and asked respectfully:

"Lord Mingye, is there anything you need this humble yokai to do?"

She was deeply deferential. Over the past few days, the pressure this man radiated while cultivating, the vigor of his blood energy, and the purity of his demon power had all left her trembling with awe.

In a woman's eyes, a powerful man held endless allure.

She, too, had been deeply drawn to Mingye.

Unfortunately, there was no desire in Mingye's eyes. He had no interest whatsoever in her alluring body.

Mingye strolled casually through the base, the beautiful woman following close behind.

He did not answer her immediately. Only after two hours had passed did he stop.

"Red Evil Ogre isn't in camp?"

There was no trace of Red Evil Ogre's presence in the camp. Mingye's senses were keen, and he had noticed it during his circuit.

"Lord Red Evil Ogre and Lord Qitian left camp after you arrived."

The woman answered truthfully.

"They left camp. It seems they went to kill Setsuna no Takemaru."

Mingye nodded slightly. Following his warning, Tōga had sent Red Evil Ogre and Qitian to eliminate that threat before it could develop.

"But... they still haven't returned..."

Mingye frowned slightly. If Red Evil Ogre and Qitian had set out immediately after he arrived and warned Tōga, then several days had already passed.

That was more than enough time to complete the mission and return.

After all, Setsuna no Takemaru was merely a human general. Though Red Evil Ogre and Qitian could not rival the strongest yokai,

dealing with a human was such a simple task, yet it had taken them this long.

"Something isn't right..."

Mingye was particularly sensitive to this matter. If Setsuna no Takemaru truly was eliminated ahead of time, he would be changing the destinies of Izayoi and the yet-unborn Inuyasha.

Though he had already altered the Demon Wolf Tribe's destiny, the Dog Tribe clearly had far greater influence in this world.

The events to come revolved around Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's growth, which alone showed how powerful the Dog Tribe's fortune was.

Changing the destinies of the future protagonists and Tōga would have a far greater impact than altering the Demon Wolf Tribe's course.

That was why Mingye was so sensitive to this matter.

And now, at this pivotal moment of eliminating Setsuna no Takemaru ahead of time, he sensed something amiss.

Such a simple mission had somehow taken two powerful yokai this long.

"Has the Leopard Cat Tribe made any moves recently?"

He spoke again, fixing his ink-black eyes on the beautiful woman. His gaze was like a divine sword about to leave its sheath, making her heart flutter.

"Lord Mingye, the Leopard Cat Tribe has made no moves. Like us, they are preparing for the great battle in six days!"

Her answer did not ease Mingye's frown. Instead, it deepened.

A premonition stirred within him, an ominous one.

Mingye turned around. Rather than returning to his own tent, he headed toward Tōga's.

At that moment, Tōga was preparing for the coming battle against Michinaga of the Leopard Cat Tribe, Flying Moth, and even Ryūkotsusei lurking in the shadows.

Facing three Greater Yokai of his own level at once placed a mountain of pressure upon his heart.

But by now, Tōga had no way to retreat. Even if it meant suffering grievous injuries, he had to end this war as quickly as possible and return to Dog Castle to protect his wife and child.

"Saya, join me in suppressing the sword spirit for now!"

Tōga took Sōunga from his back. A white-haired old man emerged from the sheath encasing it-the spirit of the sheath.

"Yes, Lord Tōga!"

The sheath spirit's expression grew solemn. Powerful spiritual energy poured from him, suppressing the ancient evil spirit within Sōunga's blade.

Tōga also poured in his mighty demon power, rich and pure, with the force of his will woven into it. Together with the sheath spirit's power, it pressed down on the restless evil spirit.

"Tōga! You... will never... seal... me!"

Sōunga released powerful, terrifying evil energy, filling the entire tent with a darkness that seemed almost tangible.

It was black as ink and had even surged out of the tent, altering the skies high above the mountain range!

The ancient evil spirit fought back with all its might. Ever since Tōga had claimed Sōunga, it had never ceased trying to erode his mind and body.

It wanted to turn Tōga into a slave to the sword, but his power was so formidable that he had forcibly suppressed Sōunga's evil energy.

Yet as Tōga repeatedly wielded Sōunga to slay his enemies, the blade absorbed the evil energy of the yokai it killed, strengthening the evil spirit.

Over the years, Tōga had come close to losing his ability to suppress Sōunga's power.

That was also why he had used Tessaiga in his battle against Kir inmaru, rather than Sōunga.

To address this, he had worked with Tōtōsai and his old friend Bokusenō to create a sheath capable of suppressing Sōunga.

Its primary material was a branch from Bokusenō, imbued with his powerful demon power, supplemented by several high-quality materials and Tōtōsai's forging skills!

Only then had the sheath spirit come into being.

Now, Tōga was about to face three Greater Yokai of his own level. He knew their strength all too well; each was immensely powerful.

Tessaiga's power alone would not suffice. He would have to draw upon Sōunga's strength.

To prevent the evil spirit within it from influencing Tōga, he was expending all this effort to seal it temporarily.

As Tōga and the sheath spirit unleashed their full power, the ancient evil spirit's voice grew weaker and weaker.

By then, Mingye had arrived outside the tent.

"What powerful evil energy!"

Sōunga's evil energy was filled with all manner of malevolent thoughts, forming a massive cloud high above the tent.

Mingye was inwardly startled. This was the strongest evil energy he had ever encountered.

"What terrifying evil energy, Lord Mingye!"

Chongli could not help retreating behind Mingye. With his strength, he could not withstand this evil energy at all. Even the slightest contact would cost him his sanity.

The evil sword Slay Gods and Demons at Mingye's waist began to pulse like a beating heart, radiating a sense of longing.

Slay Gods and Demons wanted to devour this evil energy. The evil sword was deeply enamored of such power.

"You want to devour it? Then go ahead!"

Sensing the longing of Slay Gods and Demons, Mingye used his demon power to draw the evil sword from its sheath and send it shooting out.

Like a brilliant streak of silver, Slay Gods and Demons shot straight toward the cloud of evil energy overhead. As it devoured the energy, the light of its blade grew even more dazzling.

A glint flashed through Tōga's eyes as he worked with the sheath spirit to seal the evil spirit. The ancient evil spirit's energy was weakening.

Though the change was slow, it was an enormous help to his efforts to seal it.

"Seal!"

Tōga shouted. Tessaiga and Tenseiga at his waist rang out together, releasing a sealing power that branded itself upon Sōunga.

The evil spirit's voice vanished at once, and all the evil energy began to dissipate. Most of the energy that had spilled outside flowed into Slay Gods and Demons.