"Master!"
Seeing Di Zhenyi's abnormal state, Han Shixi quickly called out.
At any other time, Han Shixi might have wished for Di Zhenyi to remain in a state of madness and confusion;
But now, Di Zhenyi was Han Shixi's shield. If Di Zhenyi went mad, no one would protect Han Shixi, and he would surely die!
However, Di Zhenyi seemed to have been greatly stimulated. No matter how Han Shixi called out, Di Zhenyi showed no signs of improvement.
Helpless, Han Shixi gritted his teeth and took out a pill from his pocket.
He pried open Di Zhenyi's mouth and put the pill inside.
This was an ancient pill that Han Shixi had accidentally obtained!
After analysis, this ancient pill contained various rare medicinal herbs and had an extremely potent medicinal effect. Even a dying person, if they held this ancient pill in their mouth, could easily prolong their life for several days.
Normally, Han Shixi would have been extremely reluctant to use such a precious item for anyone else.
He had kept it for himself to prolong his own life.
But at this critical juncture, if he didn't save Di Zhenyi, he would also face death.
The ancient pill could prolong life, but it could not bring someone back from the brink of death.
Han Shixi did not believe he had a chance to survive for a few days, even with the ancient pill, in front of Ying Chen.
Ying Chen would have no hesitation in swatting him to death with a single palm.
"Cough cough..."
After the ancient pill entered his stomach, Di Zhenyi coughed violently several times.
Di Zhenyi, who had been in a daze and somewhat delirious due to the stimulation, gradually regained clarity in his eyes.
His aura also slowly recovered, as if the renowned great Onmyoji of the East was returning.
At this moment, Ying Chen's attention was not on the master and disciple, Di Zhenyi and Han Shixi.
Ying Chen was looking in the direction where Xu Fu's remnant spirit was dissipating, contemplating something.
Xu Fu had betrayed Ying Chen back then; Ying Chen had known this long ago.
What Ying Chen did not know was that Xu Fu had actually founded a country overseas and passed down his arts to the people there.
No wonder Ying Chen felt a sense of familiarity when he saw Han Shixi and Di Zhenyi.
It turned out that the "Onmyōdō" they used, at its origin, was actually from the pre-Qin arts.
However, Xu Fu himself had incorporated some miscellaneous elements when learning these arts. And over generations of transmission in the East, many things with local characteristics were added.
Thus, it had become the mongrel it was today.
It resembled neither the pre-Qin arts nor the later Daoist magic.
"Two thousand years, and your spirit still lingers. It seems you still have many things you cannot let go of!"
Ying Chen suddenly sighed leisurely.
When a person dies, the lamp goes out.
Not only does the physical body decay, but the spirit, composed of thoughts and consciousness, also dissipates into the world.
But there were always exceptions.
For example, cultivators like Xu Fu, whose spirit was exceptionally tough and powerful compared to ordinary people, would find it difficult to dissipate completely after death.
If by chance, through some geographic Feng Shui or a miraculous artifact, their spirit was absorbed, it could be preserved for a long time.
It was surely for this reason that Xu Fu had been able to meet Ying Chen again across two thousand years.
However, Ying Chen did not know how much of Xu Fu's spirit had been preserved, through what artifact it was preserved, and how much of his living strength the preserved spirit had inherited.
In reality, Ying Chen did not care much.
What Ying Chen truly cared about was that if a "dabbler" like Xu Fu could have his spirit survive for two thousand years without dissipating, then his good master, who was known as the foremost Onmyoji of the pre-Qin era, would certainly be even more so!
Ying Chen had not had the opportunity to defeat that good master two thousand years ago, but in today's world, with the decline of spiritual energy and the collapse of Daoist magic, all rules and powers had been reshuffled. Ying Chen's chance had arrived!
If he confirmed that his good master was still alive in this world, Ying Chen would personally drag her down to the depths, making her experience the taste of being suppressed for a thousand years!
If she had long since perished, Ying Chen would find the place of her demise, exhume her body, and expose her remains to vent his hatred!
The most laughable saying in this world was: "The person is dead, what more do you want?"
Does death erase the harm they inflicted on others?
Does death mean that everything that happened is as if it never occurred?
Some sins, even in death, cannot be forgiven!
Others have no right to forgive on behalf of the person concerned!
"Master, are you... alright now?"
At this moment, Han Shixi's voice came from beside him.
Di Zhenyi had completely recovered his senses!
Di Zhenyi's eyes were cold, staring intently at Ying Chen.
Even though he had fully recovered, there was still a trace of deep apprehension in his eyes.
"Do you know why I lost my composure just now?" Di Zhenyi asked.
Han Shixi shook his head: "Your disciple does not know."
Di Zhenyi slowly narrowed his eyes and replied, "Because... even recalling that scene now, I still feel a lingering fear!"
"That avatar of Amaterasu Omikami was something I paid a huge price to obtain!"
"I always kept it as my trump card and never used it. If it weren't for the concern that this matter involved the success of the Dragon Leak plan, and if I weren't so covetous of the spiritual energy concentration in this villa, I would never have used this trump card!"
"My original intention was to end it quickly. Once the trump card was revealed, I would directly obliterate this monk, to avoid future troubles. I didn't expect it to be resolved by this monk!"
"The most crucial thing is, do you know what I saw?"
"I saw an avatar of the great Amaterasu Omikami actually kneel before this monk! And then withdraw voluntarily, disappearing without a trace!"
Hiss!
Han Shixi gasped.
Amaterasu Omikami kneeling before a mortal?
Such an absurd event, he wouldn't even dare to dream of it!
Yet, it had happened openly in reality!
Han Shixi couldn't help but re-examine Ying Chen.
Who exactly was this guy?
Why did he possess such terrifying power?
"Heh, thankfully you woke me up, and it made me realize something. This person must possess a treasure! At least an artifact of the level of the Bodhi relics! Otherwise, how could he suppress an avatar of Amaterasu Omikami? Otherwise, why would the avatar of Amaterasu Omikami retreat without a fight?"
"So, disciple, do you understand what I mean?"
Di Zhenyi said, looking at Han Shixi.
Han Shixi's eyes lit up instantly: "Master, you mean... if we kill him, not only can we complete the Dragon Leak plan, but we can also obtain a place for cultivation with abundant spiritual energy, and moreover, acquire a divine artifact of immense power?"
"Exactly!" Di Zhenyi nodded with satisfaction.
"But..." Han Shixi then raised a question, "Since Master knows he has a divine artifact, how can we fight him?"
Di Zhenyi grinned, revealing a mouth full of stark white teeth: "My dear disciple, have you forgotten your master's other identity?"
Han Shixi first frowned, then exclaimed: "You mean... the In-Kōshi?"
"That's right, Master. You are not only the renowned Onmyoji but also one of the top three In-Kōshi in the entire East!"
"And In-Kōshi are recognized as the Shinto profession with the strongest killing power and highest combat capability! Most importantly, In-Kōshi are the lifelong enemies and fated nemesis of all Xuanmen masters!"