Beichuan Si exhaled sharply, his eyes flashing with a fierce brilliance.

He flicked his wrist, and Jian Ding slid into his hand before he stomped and charged forward with force!

Puchi!

A streak of silver light sliced through the air, and the resentful spirit's neck spilled out a dark liquid. Then, its spiritual body staggered back two steps, tumbling heavily to the ground.

This was, of course, to be expected since the resentful spirit in front of him was just an ordinary one, nothing special, and naturally no match for Beichuan Si.

But...

Beichuan Si's eyebrows raised as he picked up the flashlight he had left behind and aimed its beam at the damaged resentful spirit lying on the ground.

Within his sight, the resentful spirit had dissipated into a black mist, scattering in all directions, leaving behind something wrapped in white cloth where it fell.

Something seemed to be encased within the white cloth.

Something that had remained inside the resentful spirit's body?

Beichuan Si picked it up from the ground, handing the flashlight to Nishijou Kurenai who clung to his shoulder. He held the cloth with one hand and opened it with the other.

As the cloth unfolded, a crudely polished magatama quietly lay in Beichuan Si's palm.

At the same time, the system's emotionless notification tone sounded.

System notification: You've discovered a new oddity, "Magatama."

"Magatama: This is an ordinary magatama, but it's coated with a powerful resentment. It seems to want to escape your grasp to find its other half."

Beichuan Si glanced over the description, a deathly aura rising in his eyes.

Under the vision of the deathly aura, he could indeed see the resentment entwining the magatama.

But to escape from his hand...?

Beichuan Si turned the magatama over, scrutinizing it, and then shook his head.

Could the magatama really grow legs and run away?

Especially now that it was in Beichuan Si's hands, it had no chance of escaping, even if it did have legs.

And...

The other half of the magatama?

Beichuan Si tapped Nishijou Kurenai, instructing her to hold the flashlight steady and scrutinize it carefully.

Finally, he found a discreet indentation on the side of the magatama.

Beichuan Si rubbed his chin, pondering.

If the other magatama matched this one, when combined, they would form a shape similar to a full moon.

In Japan, the magatama is revered for its shape and considered a tribute to the moon... This likely has a direct connection to the Four Directions Family's worship of Tsukuyomi.

But aside from this... what does this half of the magatama symbolize?

Honestly, with its rough craftsmanship and pitch-black color, it felt different to the touch than ordinary stone material.

Beichuan Si shook his head.

With so little information, even he couldn't conjure the magatama's history from thin air.

He handed the magatama to the transfixed Nishijou Kurenai, cautioning her not to lose it before extricating himself from the wooden cage.

It appeared that the only rewards this row of wooden cages held for him were the magatama and a bloodstained manuscript.

Beichuan Si moved on, bypassing the wooden cages and continuing forward.

As Beichuan Si advanced, his field of vision narrowed.

Shadows clung to the derelict corners as though someone lurked in the dark.

Wooden pillars rose on either side, their gloomy presence neatly arrayed as they fell into line.

Looking ahead, it felt as though one could be devoured by the endless, towering pillars which seemed to have no end.

Especially now that the sky had turned completely dark, neither the path ahead nor the one behind could be seen, creating an oppressive sensation.

During his progress, Beichuan Si inspected every room he passed but acquired no useful information.

These rooms were essentially the same, likely accommodations for clan members guarding prisoners.

Beichuan Si stopped in his tracks and looked up.

He had completely skirted the wooden cages, and the view before him transitioned from a pitch-black passage to a corridor stretching out ahead.

The corridor's flanks were wall-less, with columns regularly aligned toward the Shrine's main hall before him.

This also allowed Beichuan Si a view of the outside world.

Far on his left was the sprawling structure of the Shrine.

These Shrine buildings, along with the ground under Beichuan Si's feet, floated atop the gently rippling lake surface. Even a cursory glance revealed the entire "Back Mountain Shrine Ritual" area floating upon a lake.

This place might well be the "Moon Ghost Lake" that Four Directions Huixue had mentioned.

Beneath this lake was the Yellow Springs which the Four Directions Family had always sought to suppress.

Legend had it that with each "Waning Moon Time," the lake would surge with terrifying, foul creatures and dense Yellow Springs Energy.

However, it was not the annual "Waning Moon Time," so the lake was undisturbed now, its surface reflecting the Upper Moon and possessing an almost timeless beauty.

The dim, pale moonlight fell from above, casting upon the Shrine buildings in front of Beichuan Si a sinister outline.

Leaning against the corridor's crimson railing, Beichuan Si took a moment to reflect. Then he pulled out his phone with the intent to capture the scenery and send the pictures to Shen Gu Mirai once outside.

But just as Beichuan Si steadied his phone ready to take a photo—

Snap!!!

A pale, slender arm reached out from the side and ferociously swatted Beichuan Si's phone away.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.