What does she mean, 'a seal failing after five hundred years that can be broken with a light slash'? If it were that simple to break, would Ioroi have stayed inside the stone statue for so long?
Although Ioroi hated to admit it, he truly was powerless against the seal set by that junior—there was simply no way to break it.
Yet, this unsolvable seal was broken by the girl with a single strike.
What does this indicate? It means either the girl's mastery of Onmyōdō is higher than that of Tadatsune Harunosuke, or her strength is simply immense.
Otherwise, why did he only struggle symbolically whenever he was grabbed by the scruff of his neck? Don't ask; the answer is he didn't want to get slashed.
"Alright, we should get going. Today's destination is the Grand Narukami Shrine!"
Shiki waved her hand, and the two people and one tanuki continued along the mountain path toward the summit.
There are many Torii gates on Mt. Yougou. Sure enough, Shiki encountered another one shortly after. However, this time, next to the Torii gate was not a tanuki, but a fox.
Passing through the Torii gate, there were two red Shrines, one on the left and one on the right. After paying respects as local custom dictates, they continued on their way.
"...Is this kind of path really meant for people?"
Shiki frowned, looking at the nearly vertical mountain path, which was over twenty meters high. Each step was almost a person's height. This wasn't mountain climbing; it was rock climbing!
Not far from them was a Thunder Sakura Bough, and in mid-air, there was something shaped like a purple shuriken.
This thing is called a Thunder Sphere, an Inazuman specialty. Those favored by the electro element can use the Thunder Sphere for high-speed movement.
A user with an Electro Vision can use Thunder Spheres directly, while those with other Visions need to obtain a Electrograna.
But Shiki doesn't have a Vision, so if she can't obtain a Electrograna, she naturally can't use the Thunder Sphere.
"Alright, who has a Climbing Rope?" Shiki turned and asked.
"What is a Climbing Rope?" Ioroi's voice came from above. It turned out the tanuki had already reached the top sometime without them knowing.
"When did you get up there?" Shiki slowly typed out a question mark.
"Just now. I just jumped up."
Shiki: ... Fortunately, Kazuha spoke up from the side: "Miss Ryougi, don't worry. Grab my hand, and I'll take you up."
"Oh..."
Shiki obediently extended her hand. A pushing force came from beneath her feet, immediately followed by a feeling of weightlessness, but she instantly regained the sensation of solid ground.
"Tame Wind!"
Unknowingly, she had already traversed this nearly vertical path, but another road, almost identical, stood before her.
"Can't the Grand Narukami Shrine hire someone to fix the road? At least put up a ladder if they can't manage that!"
Shiki felt terrible. The thought of many more similar paths ahead gave her a headache.
And how did that little boy who always asks for eggs at the Grand Narukami Shrine and the plump Pang Dahai merchant who constantly seeks fortunes manage to get up this ridiculous mountain path?
"It's alright, I'll handle it."
Kazuha stepped forward, followed by "Tame Wind!" "Midare Ranzan!" "Fuubutsu Kitan!"
Relying on the Teyvat version of the Double Jump, Shiki finally reached the fork in the road leading to the summit.
One path led to the Thunder Sphere direct platform, and the other was a winding mountain road stretching for unknown miles.
Shiki first walked to the Thunder Sphere platform. Of course, she wasn't planning on ascending to the Grand Narukami Shrine from there, but rather wanted to observe Inazuma's specialty.
Looking at the deep purple "Nuclear Wastewater" below, saturated with the electro element, Shiki swallowed. If she fell down there, she'd probably be instantly reduced to ash.
"The Thunder calamity here has been present for a long time," Kazuha said, walking up beside the girl.
"But five hundred years ago, it wasn't like this..." Ioroi reverted to his Original Form and looked down at the mountain base. He seemed to be remembering something, his expression sorrowful.
"She wouldn't have allowed the Sacred Sakura to become like this."
Shiki knew who the 'she' Ioroi spoke of was: the Kitsune Saiguu, the Fox Spirit who followed the Raiden Shogun since the Archon War, and who died in the disaster five hundred years ago.
Ioroi also avoided being caught up in that disaster because of the game of Hide-and-seek Kitsune Saiguu had initiated.
An incident five hundred years ago caused heavy casualties in Inazuma. No one knew exactly what that Calamity was, but Shiki guessed it was likely... the Abyss!
Khaenri'ah's destruction was due to its contact with the power of the Abyss. the Heavenly Principles led the Seven Gods, plus Ei, to destroy Khaenri'ah. The Dendro Archon and Makoto died during the Khaenri'ah War.
Then the Abyss erupted, transforming the people of Khaenri'ah into Hilichurls. At the same time, the Calamity formed by the Abyss eruption swept across the entirety of Teyvat.
Inazuma, at that time, happened to be facing the invasion of the Great Serpent. The combination of these two events made Inazuma the nation with the most severe losses.
Makoto, Tengu Kujou, Oni Torachiyo, and the Fox Spirit Kitsune Saiguu—all friends from the same era as Ei—died.
The Sacred Sakura also truly became the "Divine" Sakura as a result.
Facing the depressed Ioroi, Shiki's hand hovered in the air, unsure how to comfort him. Kitsune Saiguu was undoubtedly dead, but her Remembrance was absorbed by the Filth, eventually forming Hana Sanri.
Once the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual is completed, Hana Sanri, who was formed by the Filth, will disappear.
Shiki naturally wanted to save Hana Sanri, but she genuinely didn't know how.
She didn't know any Onmyōdō, and the Miko's techniques only served to Exorcise Evil, not save it.
After a moment of silence, Shiki stroked the Large Tanuki beside her and said, "Ioroi, why don't we complete the task she left unfinished?"
"Maybe, once it's complete, she'll emerge and admit defeat to you."
At these words, Ioroi grasped them like a lifeline: "Yes, yes! I will complete the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual! Hey, Smelly Fox, we still haven't determined who's the winner!"
Kazuha stood to the side, completely confused. He knew every word, but when they were strung together, why couldn't he understand?
However, his extremely high emotional intelligence prevented him from interrupting. Kazuha chose silence, leaving the space to the person and the Tanuki Youkai.
After calming down, the two people and one Tanuki Youkai set foot on the winding path leading to the summit of Mt. Yougou.
Now, Shiki's purpose for going to the Grand Narukami Shrine was miles away from her initial goal. Although she was still going to see the Fox, it had nothing to do with Kujou Masahito.
Why did she want to go to the Grand Narukami Shrine? Wasn't it just to find a Backer?
But now she didn't need one. With the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual as leverage, why should she fear Kujou Masahito?
However, she still needed to maintain good relations with the Kamisato Clan. The more friends, the more options!
Passing through numerous Torii gates, the two people and one tanuki finally arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine. However, Ioroi did not shrink himself, maintaining his original size, which immediately startled the young Miko cleaning leaves at the entrance.
"Ah! What a huge tanuki!"
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