Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 509: Shikigami

Qing Chen carried the little girl on his back on the northern mountain peak, while the mysterious young man and Red Leaf Hunt stood opposite them on the opposite peak.

The chasm and natural barrier separated them, yet the oppressive atmosphere between the peaks thickened the air.

The young man was about 1.7 meters tall, while Red Leaf Hunt was more than a head taller, looking exceptionally imposing.

The crimson and red kimono, like a wedding dress, was tattered.

Yin-Yang Master is an exceptionally mysterious cultivation lineage within the Federation, unique to the Shendai.

The Shendai Family has always been criticized by the Federation, but other conglomerates must admit one point: the Shendai is indeed superior to other families in preserving its culture and heritage.

Their protection of heritage and culture has reached an obstinate, almost crazy level.

Therefore, the Shendai Family has always had two sets of cultivation lineages.

One is the Family Head's lineage, assisted by special Breathing Techniques, similar to the Zhunti Method, suitable for military cultivation lineages.

The other is the current Shendai ancestor's Yin-Yang Master lineage. Only a few people can cultivate this lineage, and this branch is responsible for the family's ancestral rites.

Yin-Yang Masters rarely go south, mostly staying reclusive, and outsiders know little about them.

Even the Hu Family Intelligence Agency's intelligence on Yin-Yang Masters consists only of basic information and some anecdotes.

According to the Hu Family Intelligence Agency, the reason why Yin-Yang Masters are so few in number is that the number of Shikigamis is limited, and there are too few to distribute...

Based on the Shikigamis that have appeared from the Shendai Family so far, the total number of Shikigamis is between 330 and 430, each one unique.

Meaning…

Assuming there are only 430 Shikigamis, then…

If all 430 known existing Shikigamis are summoned, then even if those who cultivate this lineage later will have to queue up and wait.

A Yin-Yang Master without a Shikigami is not much different from a high-level infantryman.

And Metahumans have long lifespans; they might have to wait for more than a hundred years.

Therefore, this lineage is destined to have too few cultivators—unequal distribution of spoils!

According to Hu Family Intelligence Agency's information, cultivators of this lineage can only summon their first Shikigami at the C-Class level.

At B-Class, they can possess three simultaneously.

At A-Class, they can possess six simultaneously.

At S-Class, they can possess twelve simultaneously.

The most famous Yin-Yang Master, Abe no Seimei, simultaneously possessed twelve Shikigamis, so Abe no Seimei likely corresponds to the strength and status of an S-Class Demi-God.

Thinking of this, Qing Chen wondered if the world's shackles of the Outer World had ever been opened.

Did those countless gods and Buddhas actually exist, but then withered for some reason?

Otherwise, why are the Zhunti Methods of the Inner World and Outer World exactly the same?

In the early years, when the Shendai first came to this continent, the Shendai Family forcibly averaged the distribution of Shikigamis to increase the number of Yin-Yang Masters.

For example, although B-Class can simultaneously possess three, the family ordered that all B-Class Yin-Yang Masters could only summon one.

In this way, the number of B-Class Yin-Yang Masters possessing Shikigamis could be tripled.

But later, the Yin-Yang Masters were targeted by the Knight Order led by Qin Sheng. They suddenly discovered a problem: the Knight Order's individual combat capabilities were too strong; their dispersed Shikigamis made them more vulnerable.

The Shendai originally intended to distribute evenly, to ensure everyone had a fair share, but they found that almost all the bowls were smashed by the Knights.

So they needed a more streamlined and powerful force to confront the twelve Knight Order legions.

Later, the Shendai adopted an elite policy, with all the masters fully equipped with Shikigamis, all summoned to their limit.

If they could summon three, they summoned three; if they could summon six, they summoned six.

Therefore, Qing Chen looked around. This chosen one dared to block his path; he was at least B-Class.

Moreover, if this chosen one had indeed been reversely possessed, then at least three Shikigamis would be accompanying him.

He had already seen Red Leaf Hunt, but where were the other two?!

Qing Chen looked to his left rear. Indeed, on the mountain peak there was a fiery red fox, its paws stepping on green flames.

Having seen the Hu Family's Complete Illustrated Catalogue of a Hundred Ghosts at Night, he immediately recognized the No. 191 Shikigami, "Foxfire."

Looking to his right rear, a strange little monkey was scratching its ears and cheeks on the mountain peak.

The little monkey was entirely white, only one meter tall, but its hands were as big as two gongs.

This was the No. 317 Shikigami, "Mountain Child."

Qing Chen turned back to the young man and laughed loudly, "Your status must be quite high, so why would you dare to take such a risk?

His voice traveled a long distance. Hearing Qing Chen say this, the young man frowned because he had personally come here, and yet the boy was not only not flustered, but instead thought it was he who was taking a risk.

This feeling wasn't good.

Shinguji Maki whispered from Qing Chen's back, "Brother, is he powerful?

Qing Chen thought for a moment, lowering his voice, "Little Maki, remember, I… have no opponents below A-Class."

"Ah?" The little girl didn't understand. She didn't even know what A-Class and B-Class meant. "Brother, why are you speaking so softly?

"I rarely brag about myself; I'm a little embarrassed," Qing Chen laughed.

Shinguji Maki: …

But little Maki remembered one sentence: Well, brother has no opponents.

The reason Qing Chen knew that this young man was important was because Red Leaf Hunt was recorded in the Hu Family Intelligence Agency's records as the ninth-ranked great demon, not something ordinary Yin-Yang Masters could use.

Speaking of which, this leads to the Hu Family's humorous take on Awakened Ones.

As Yang Yang said, Awakened Ones' abilities are strange and unpredictable. Some are born as mid-core players, while others are born as wild monsters, only providing experience points for others.

Therefore, the Hu Family once compiled a collection of bizarre abilities, such as an irresistible leg-shaking ability, such as a hand reaching the table...

In this collection, the Hu Family humorously listed a special section for useless Shikigamis.

For example, ATS-330 Shikigami, "Reverse Pillar," was originally just a pillar. Because the craftsman placed it in the wrong position, it harbored resentment and could only kill people in places where the house structure was incorrectly built.

For example, ATS-92 Shikigami, "Nightjar," is the resentment of a pregnant woman whose child died prematurely. Because the child died at the end of July, it only comes out to kill and steal children in July and August.

For example, ATS-81 Shikigami, "Rain Woman," will stand in the rain on rainy days. If someone asks her if she wants an umbrella, she will kill that person.

These are relatively normal. The Hu Family's Complete Illustrated Catalogue of a Hundred Ghosts at Night also records their origins, the number of times they have appeared, and their past owners.

Some later ones are more bizarre.

For example, ATS-329 Shikigami, "Dojo Temple Bell," can make people forget their worries and only want to become monks...

For example, ATS-328 Shikigami, "Za Shi Dong Zi," has no offensive abilities. It is kind-hearted and can help Yin-Yang Masters with childcare and play with children...

For example, ATS-327 Shikigami, "Cat Again," has two tails and is good at catching mice...

Therefore, there is a big difference between Shikigamis. For example, Red Leaf Hunt, ranked ninth, the Sixth Heavenly Demon King, can kill for the Yin-Yang Master without any reason.

Some can only do housework or do absurd things.

Yin-Yang Masters summon Shikigamis randomly, and they cannot be changed after summoning. If a B-Class Yin-Yang Master simultaneously gathers the Dojo Temple Bell, Za Shi Dong Zi, and Cat Again, the person is basically useless.

If it's an online game, this account is basically unusable.

For this kind of Yin-Yang Master, the Shendai usually enshrines them in the shrine to become chief priests, and they are not allowed to participate in battles, fearing that something might happen to them and these bizarre Shikigamis might be released back into the "card pool."

The Shendai calls the Shikigami's resting place the Spiritual Bridge, while the outside world directly calls it the card pool.

Gradually, people felt that the term "card pool" is more descriptive...

Of course, there are also extremely fierce Yin-Yang Masters.

For example, the Shendai ancestor simultaneously possesses ATS-002 "Wine Swallowing Child," ATS-005 "Mad Bone," ATS-006 "Prajna," ATS-007 "Great Heavenly Dog," ATS-012 "Ox Head Rakshasa," and ATS-019 "Bing Zhu Bu."

These Shikigamis are all powerful combat Shikigamis without any additional bizarre restrictions.

The Hu Family joked in their materials that this was the result of the Shendai ancestor washing countless accounts...

More than a hundred years ago, the Shendai first mastered the Neural Link possession technology. Once a Yin-Yang Master possesses someone, and then cuts off their former body, they can have the chance to summon Shikigamis again.

Therefore, when powerful Shikigamis return to the Spiritual Bridge, some Yin-Yang Masters will try to possess B-Class masters. In the early years, many B-Class masters fell victim to the Shendai's methods.

After the Yin-Yang Masters possess someone, they summon new Shikigamis.

This is considered a chance to reroll their account.

At this moment, the Red Leaf Hunt in front of Qing Chen had experienced seven owners in the Hu Family Intelligence Agency's records, each a rather fierce Yin-Yang Master.

Anyone who obtains Red Leaf Hunt will undoubtedly have a high status within the family.

But Qing Chen knows one thing: although Shikigamis are fierce, their strength is directly related to the Yin-Yang Master's level. No matter how powerful Red Leaf Hunt is, it's probably only B-Class.

The only thing to worry about is that if the Yin-Yang Master himself is B-Class, then the Shikigamis are also B-Class. Confronting him is like fighting four at once.

He alone must Face^[-] Red Leaf Hunt, Foxfire, Mountain Child, and the Yin-Yang Master himself.

However, while Yin-Yang Masters have advantages, they also have disadvantages.

The Hu Family agency once stated with clear intention: Yin-Yang Master bodies are weak. When fighting a Yin-Yang Master, decapitation should be the top priority; capture the thief first by capturing the king.

This clearly tells everyone how to fight a Yin-Yang Master.

This behavior is essentially making enemies with Yin-Yang Masters, but the Hu Family's cultivation lineage is precisely the one that fears Yin-Yang Masters the least, because after cultivating their heart swords, taking the enemy's head amidst thousands of troops is like a game.

Yin-Yang Masters with exceptionally fragile bodies generally avoid provoking these flying sword users.

"Hold on to my neck," Qing Chen said, carrying the little girl as he leaped down the mountain. He had to fight this Yin-Yang Master to know their exact strength.

At this moment, Qing Chen's momentum was at its peak. His Knight True Qi, having recovered for a day, was as vast as the sea, and he was not afraid of anyone in the Outer World.

…