Just as the massive samurai sword was about to strike the nullifier!
At this moment, Chen Fan's figure moved!
Chen Fan's movements were far faster than the Ootengu!
In an instant, he stood beneath the giant samurai sword and raised the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in his hand!
Clang!
The two collided, emitting a deafening roar!
Immediately afterward, a powerful blast of energy erupted from the point of impact of the two weapons, spreading outwards in all directions!
In an instant, Haseo Tree, who had been paralyzed and unconscious on the ground, was sent tumbling several meters by the shockwave, rolling over ten meters away!
The trees in this forest were also instantly knocked askew, scattering leaves everywhere!
"Hiss! Hiss—"
The massive Ootengu, still holding its sword, was forced to retreat several steps. It lowered its gaze to Chen Fan, its eyes filled with disbelief!
After that one blow, its hand was trembling slightly, yet the mortal beneath its feet remained as still as a calm lake, utterly composed!
How... how was this possible!
It was a shikigami, and the opponent was merely a small mortal!
From where did this immense power originate!
The Ootengu was utterly shocked by Chen Fan at this moment!
However, Chen Fan was filled with fighting spirit and battle intent after that exchange!
"If this thing is destroyed, you will be able to use your techniques, but I will not let you succeed."
Chen Fan placed his foot on the nullifier.
Raising the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi high, he pointed the tip at the Ootengu and said coldly, "You call yourself Ootengu, right? You'd better be good at close combat, or you'll die a very miserable death!"
Then, Chen Fan attacked ferociously!
He leaped into the air, the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in his hand piercing directly towards the Ootengu's throat!
The Ootengu, already on guard, quickly drew its sword to block.
The two blades met, continuously emitting loud clangs and explosive blasts of energy!
Clang!
Clang!
Clang...
...
Having learned from his previous experience fighting the life-borrowing shikigami, Chen Fan was now handling the Ootengu with ease!
In just over ten minutes, Chen Fan, using the nullifier as a lure, had inflicted countless cuts on the Ootengu's body!
Ten minutes, neither long nor short.
However, by this time, the Ootengu had shrunk to Chen Fan's size due to its loss of power.
Chen Fan had also absorbed a considerable amount of the mysterious black power from within the Ootengu.
At this point, the Ootengu realized the situation was dire and that continuing to fight would yield no victory.
Therefore, it attempted to escape!
How could Chen Fan possibly give it such an opportunity?
At this moment, Chen Fan no longer held back, unleashing the converted chaotic power within him!
Before the Ootengu could escape, Chen Fan grabbed it and pinned it against the nullifier!
"Hiss—"
The Ootengu, filled with unwillingness, hissed and roared.
But in the next second, its roars abruptly ceased.
For Chen Fan had severed its head with a single blow, turning it into a dense black power that he absorbed into his own body!
Soon, Chen Fan had fully absorbed the black energy that the Ootengu had transformed into.
Then, he stretched out comfortably.
"Phew~ As expected, the power that can suppress the demon core comes from the shikigami!"
"And now, I need more shikigami!"
A hint of greed flickered in Chen Fan's eyes.
As he spoke, he took out a thin booklet from his pocket.
This small booklet was the second gift from Kashima.
It was a list, recording the names of those who were supposed to gang up and fight Chen Fan on the day of the great battle!
Among them were many Onmyoji, and the unfortunate Haseo Tree who had died in the massive energy blast was one of them!
Chen Fan sheathed the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and strode out of the now desolate forest.
Now, he had his work to do.
That is, to eliminate as many people on this list as possible, ahead of schedule!
Since the list was quite long and there were only two days left until the duel, Chen Fan knew it was impossible to kill all the martial arts masters scattered across Sakurajima within such a short time.
However, he intended to kill as many as he could.
But there was one thing: Onmyoji must die!
Because after their shikigami were killed by Chen Fan, they became a powerful force that he could easily absorb!
...
Time passed swiftly.
The agreement of three days was but a fleeting moment.
On this day, at the crack of dawn, Shrine Priest Manjo, along with the experts he had gathered, arrived beside the vast and spacious arena at Kiyomizu-dera.
Although, he only had a mere dozen or so experts behind him.
There was nothing he could do; most of the experts he had found had been mysteriously killed within these two short days!
The remaining dozen or so had only narrowly escaped death because they were far enough from Higashiyokyo City!
The shortage in numbers led to the collapse of Shrine Priest Manjo's carefully laid plan.
Shrine Priest Manjo should have been full of worry at this moment.
However, he was not.
In fact, there was a smile on his face!
And in his smile, there was an undisguised smugness!
Why... why was this?
Mitsui Kenji, who had arrived early, also felt puzzled about this.
Seeing Shrine Priest Manjo, with such a pathetic group behind him, still able to smile, he was extremely confused and filled with anger.
So, he quickly walked up to Shrine Priest Manjo and, puffing with anger, questioned him,
"Hey! Manjo! Didn't you say you had prepared many experts? Where are they? You only brought these few dozen people, and you can still smile?"
Shrine Priest Manjo had always been somewhat timid towards Mitsui Kenji.
He had a smile on his face before.
But now, after being questioned so angrily by Mitsui Kenji, the smile vanished.
Shrine Priest Manjo, unwillingly, put on a fawning expression towards Mitsui Kenji.
"President Mitsui, please calm down, things have changed."
Although Shrine Priest Manjo was lowering himself, Mitsui Kenji refused to back down. He merely let out a cold snort, pointing out the severity of the current situation.
He snorted coldly and said, "Hmph! Now that we have no hope of victory, how can I not be agitated?"