The Fantasy Tree was a recorder used to record the world coordinates of the various worlds that Eight-cloud Ink had traversed.
In addition, it was also because of the existence of the Fantasy Tree that Eight-cloud Ink, who was less than 50 years old, could possess the strength that ordinary monsters could only accumulate after hundreds of years. Relying on the power of his innate realm, he had a place under the great monsters.
Without the Fantasy Tree, Eight-cloud Ink was not even sure if he could return to the Fantasy Village by relying on the power of his realm alone.
Most importantly, the Fantasy Tree was the foundation for Eight-cloud Ink to achieve the complete independence of the Fantasy Village by absorbing the power of fantasy after the birth of various worlds. If it didn't exist, then sooner or later, the declining barrier of the Fantasy Village would collapse and disappear.
The Fantasy Village that was far away from the mortal world would also no longer exist.
That was the Fantasy Village that Purple had invested countless efforts to build. Eight-cloud Ink would never allow any problems to happen to it.
Therefore, even if he believed that with the high status of the Fantasy Tree itself, it would not be afraid of the threat of Cui Zi's broken soul self-explosion. Eight-cloud Ink was still unwilling to take risks.
Even the slightest risk would not be allowed.
Although Cui Zi did not understand the importance of the Fantasy Tree to Eight-cloud Ink, she accidentally caught his weakness.
Even if he left his spirit sea, Eight-cloud Ink still spared a trace of his mind to monitor Cui Zi at all times. At the same time, he began to consciously let the Fantasy Tree stop repairing Cui Zi's soul.
If Cui Zi had any strange movements, Eight-cloud Ink would never let her do anything even if he had to strip the Fantasy Tree from his spirit sea — even if it would cause almost irreparable damage to Eight-cloud Ink's spirit.
As early as when he recognized his identity as a second realm monster and accepted Purple as his family, Eight-cloud Ink had such an awareness. He would protect his sister's cherished Fantasy Village with his life.
Eight-cloud Ink believed that without the help of the Fantasy Tree, Cui Zi's soul would continue to weaken without energy replenishment.
When Eight-cloud Ink was convinced that Cui Zi was no longer a threat, it would be the day he destroyed the witch's soul.
[I'll let you jump around for two more days.]
○
After regaining consciousness, Eight-cloud Ink saw Spring Tiger, who had been sent flying by his attack, and Big Dipper, who was rushing towards him from the sky.
"That's … a dragon!?"
He hurriedly dodged Big Dipper's attack, and Eight-cloud Ink flew into the sky.
On the other side, Big Dipper, who had missed his attack, looked at Eight-cloud Ink with curiosity and vigilance in his eyes.
"To think that a member of the dragon race would be reduced to a Spirit-branded Retainer."
Eight-cloud Ink's eyes were filled with regret.
The dragon in front of him had completely lost its dignity as a dragon after being a Spirit-branded Retainer for so many years.
The current Seven Star's body and soul had been completely branded by Tsuchimikado. Even if Eight-cloud Ink wanted to, there was no way to free him from the shackles of the Spirit-branded Retainer.
Besides, even if Eight-cloud Ink did this, Seven Star, who was already willing to become a Spirit-branded Retainer, might not be grateful to him.
Eight-cloud Ink lowered his head and glanced at Spring Tiger, Natsume, Tsuchimikado Taichi, and Suzuka, who had been hiding behind the altar, and his eyes flickered.
With Tsuchimikado watching over him, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to kill Tsuchimikado Taichi today.
"Fine, I'll let you live for a few more days."
He spat and glanced at Big Dipper one last time. With pity in his eyes, Eight-cloud Ink turned into a stream of light and leaped into the distance.
Down below, after seeing Eight-cloud Ink finally leave, Natsume collapsed on the ground and panted heavily.
"Natsume!"
Spring Tiger hurriedly went up and supported Natsume's thin shoulders with concern.
"I, I'm fine … Father, he …"
"Cough, cough, it's fine …"
Tsuchimikado Taichi clutched his chest and looked up in the direction Eight-cloud Ink left.
"Things have gotten out of hand …"
○
During the decades of being sealed, Eight-cloud Ink had been using the power of the Fantasy Sapling to fight against the darkness in the Jade of Four Souls.
Therefore, he hadn't been able to effectively absorb the power of this world.
Now that the seal had been broken, Eight-cloud Ink began to actively absorb the power.
Eight-cloud Ink flew in the air and hid his presence. He looked down at the crowd that was continuously gathering in the direction of Mount Yu and laughed in his heart.
"Is it that group of Onmyojis again? They're so late."
Among the Onmyojis, four of them had particularly powerful presences.
Their attire was also different from the other Onmyojis who wore standard work clothes.
There was even a Onmyojis riding a giant motorcycle on the mountain path.
Eight-cloud Ink discovered that the motorcycle that the Onmyojis was riding was actually a Spirit-branded Retainer.
"What a strange world. A Spirit-branded Retainer actually has a motorcycle?"
"And it seems that these Onmyojis actually carry some of this country's national fate …"
"… Hmm, could it be that Onmyojis have also become public servants in the government?"
If that was really the case, then these Onmyojis couldn't be casually killed.
If demons, other creatures with mysterious powers, and even humans who cultivated the Dao casually killed a country's public servants, unless you were also a citizen of the country, it would be fine if you killed one or two of them, but if you killed too many of them, you would definitely attract the hostility of that country's national fate.
If that country was about to be destroyed and its national fate was declining, it would naturally be fine.
However, if that country was on the rise and was full of vitality, the consequences of doing so would be extremely serious.
The hostility of a country's national fate would obstruct all of Eight-cloud Ink's actions in that country, and would make everyone in that country naturally hostile towards Eight-cloud Ink.
If it was serious, it would attract all kinds of unexpected disasters.
After observing this world, Seiji discovered that this country — or rather, this world's Japan — didn't show any signs of decline. Although it didn't continue to strengthen, it was extremely stable.
When facing Tsuchimikado Taisun, Eight-cloud Ink didn't feel any national fate from him. It seemed that this Onmyojis didn't work in the government.
"In other words, not all Onmyojis are on the government's side."
"Tsuchimikado, the descendant of Abe Seimei, should have an important position in the world of Onmyojis, but his family doesn't work for the government."
Under the moonlight, Eight-cloud Ink stood in the air and chuckled.
"A bit interesting …"
"Cuiko, how is it? This is what your country will look like thousands of years later — although it's in another world. What do you think?"
Eight-cloud Ink suddenly asked Cuiko in his mind.
Cuiko didn't immediately answer. She probably didn't expect that Eight-cloud Ink would suddenly ask her such a question.
"Cuiko is just a witch. I only want to protect the people of one place from the invasion of demons. I don't care about anything else."
Not long after, Cuiko's voice sounded in Eight-cloud Ink's mind.
"Hmm, so cold …"
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