Chapter 78: Onmyoji, the Power of the Yamata no Orochi

He sensed two extraordinarily powerful auras. Xiao Yu held nothing back; his mastery of shrinking the earth to a foot was pushed to its limit. After dodging to the side, he unleashed a sword strike of unparalleled might toward the two overwhelming forces. The potent sword energy shattered their combined powers, and Xiao Yu's figure retreated explosively once more. Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo, not to be outdone, advanced swiftly—their speed so great that their forms seemed to transform into streaks of black smoke, shooting toward Xiao Yu.

Seeing their rapid approach, Xiao Yu showed not the slightest panic. His sword pointed directly at their charging figures, and his right foot tapped lightly in the void. With that step, a powerful force erupted, causing the surrounding space to ripple with waves.

A wild surge of energy gathered upon Xiao Yu’s blade, and as Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo closed in, Xiao Yu slashed down fiercely once more. An immense, destructive power swept toward the two like a tidal wave.

Sensing the devastation within this force, Anbei Seizuka and his companion quickly steadied themselves. Anbei Seizuka swung his precious sword ceaselessly, while Higashijo extended his arms wide, channeling his strength.

Boom, boom, boom.

The void echoed with deep, thunderous explosions as three different, formidable forces clashed and tore at one another, unleashing wild currents of energy that spread relentlessly. The very space around them seemed to be torn apart by the collision of these powers.

Boom.

Another deafening explosion resounded. Waves of destructive energy surged in all directions, and the spatial fissures around them widened. In just a brief moment, over a hundred black holes appeared in the space surrounding the three.

Each was a sovereign in their own domain, and Xiao Yu fought alone against two martial masters at the pinnacle. After several exchanges, even Xiao Yu found his chest tightening; a metallic taste surged in his throat.

He struggled to suppress the blood rising in his mouth, but at last, he could not help but spit a mouthful of crimson. Yet Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo fared little better—a trace of blood stained their lips as well. The three stared at one another in silent confrontation.

Xiao Yu reached out and slowly wiped the blood from his lips, his gaze icy as he looked at his opponents. He spoke coldly, “So the so-called experts of the Sakura Nation amount to nothing after all.”

Xiao Yu had ample reason for his arrogance. All three were equals in strength, yet he fought alone against the two. Though he was wounded, his opponents were scarcely better off.

Hearing Xiao Yu’s words, Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo grew angry, but could not deny the truth. They had not expected Xiao Yu to grow more formidable as the fight continued. Earlier, he had matched Anbei Seizuka, and then, after being ambushed by Higashijo and seriously injured, his power seemed not diminished at all—indeed, it now appeared even greater.

Seeing the grim faces of his foes, Xiao Yu grinned, then flickered into a shadowy blur, his form flashing through midair. He charged first toward the pair.

Seeing his approach, Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo exchanged a glance and nodded heavily. Their earlier misfortune at Xiao Yu’s hands stemmed from their lack of unity and holding back their true strength.

Now, however, with Xiao Yu displaying absolute power, if they continued to hesitate, they might truly be unable to defeat him today.

Anbei Seizuka nodded at Higashijo, then transformed into a mass of black mist and vanished. When he reappeared, he stood before Xiao Yu, while Higashijo likewise disappeared and emerged behind Xiao Yu, the two forming a pincer attack.

Xiao Yu wielded his sword with dazzling speed, engaging both foes at once. The three mighty forces churned the surrounding space as if stirring the air itself; the atmosphere grew oppressively heavy, and even Xuan Yuan Huangdao, sensing the tension, felt uneasy.

Bang!

The three clashed, their bodies separating once more. Xiao Yu flickered upward, appearing above their heads. His jet-black hair streamed in the wind, and his sword blazed with radiant light. At that moment, Xiao Yu seemed a sovereign, his commanding presence so overwhelming that none could muster the will to fight.

But Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo were no ordinary adversaries. As absolute experts of their domain, they treated Xiao Yu’s imposing aura as nothing, their eyes locked upon him with unwavering focus.

Xiao Yu’s momentum in the sky continued to rise, filling Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo with a sense of imminent danger. They knew that though Xiao Yu appeared motionless, his blade was already gathering a devastating offensive force.

Anbei Seizuka and Higashijo dared not slacken. Anbei Seizuka raised his sword, swinging it repeatedly in the void. A suffocating dark power surged upward, intensifying in the surrounding space.

Then, a scene unfolded that stunned all present. The black mist around Anbei Seizuka condensed above his head at a speed visible to the naked eye. In moments, a creature appeared—a serpent-like form with eight heads and eight tails.

“That’s the Yamata no Orochi!” Xuan Yuan Huangdao exclaimed from afar upon seeing the beast.

“No—wait! That can’t be the Yamata no Orochi itself. Its pressure would be far greater than this. Could it be a subordinate?” he murmured, frowning.

The onmyoji of the Sakura Nation were the most devout followers of the Yamata no Orochi. In times of peril, they could unlock some of its sealed power for their own use. This was the source of their revered status and strength.

With the appearance of the black serpent, the sky grew gloomy and oppressive. A potent aura of darkness filled the heavens.

“Roar!”

The black serpent seemed almost real, suddenly letting out a ferocious hiss. As Anbei Seizuka swung his sword, the serpent dove at Xiao Yu with astonishing speed, its jaws gaping wide.

At the same moment, Higashijo’s body shuddered, a surge of dark energy exploding and enveloping him as he flashed toward Xiao Yu’s position.