As the Undead Legion unfolded on Hirasaka Ridge, starting to set up defensive positions, the two Mage Corps dispatched here also began to establish stable Necromantic Space passages and a ritual altar. Chen Yu left the place with the head of the Tsuchimikado Family.

It would take some time to set up the ritual altar, and during this period, Chen Yu did not need to stay here to oversee it.

He believed that with the abilities of the Constitution, it was more than enough to complete the setup of the ritual altar and the preparations for the battlefield here.

After leaving Hirasaka Ridge with the head of the Tsuchimikado Family, Chen Yu said to him, “The Tsuchimikado Family wants to pledge allegiance to me? That’s not a problem, but I need you to show your worth.”

Upon hearing Chen Yu say this, the head of the Tsuchimikado Family hurriedly said, “Of course, we are willing to offer our loyalty to Your Highness, but Yoshiharu is already your subordinate, and our Tsuchimikado Family…”

“Yoshiharu is Yoshiharu, you are you.” Chen Yu interrupted the head of the Tsuchimikado Family directly, looking at him seriously and saying, “Yoshiharu’s abilities and loyalty have already gained my approval, and the Tsuchimikado Branch Family he represents has pledged allegiance to me long ago. If your Main Family wants to achieve the same status, demonstrate your value in this Deification Ritual.”

“This…” The head of the Tsuchimikado Family was at a loss for words: “Our Tsuchimikado Family really is…”

Even though the Tsuchimikado Family is one of the three major supernatural forces in Japan, as a great Onmyoji family, currying favor with a Demigod like Chen Yu would indeed be very profitable.

However, the head of the Tsuchimikado Family originally intended to use Tsuchimikado Yoshiharu’s connection to align himself with Chen Yu, which shouldn’t even be considered full allegiance. In his original plan, the Tsuchimikado Family should maintain an equal cooperation status with Chen Yu’s Mingyue Society, not invest their lives and loyalty thoroughly.

Yet, when discussing these matters with Chen Yu, he was taken directly to Hirasaka Ridge.

The head of the Tsuchimikado Family thought initially that he would at most serve as an advisor in Chen Yu’s entourage, never imagining that Chen Yu would involve him and the entire Tsuchimikado Clan in the battlefield against Yomotsu no Oni Kuni.

As a descendant of the Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei, the Tsuchimikado Family naturally has no shortage of knowledge about Hirasaka Ridge and Yomotsu no Oni Kuni.

In fact, it has been mentioned in many of the documents left by Abe no Seimei, particularly regarding Mage Ashiya Douman hiding in Hirasaka Ridge.

But this is precisely the reason for the head of the Tsuchimikado Family’s fear, because in the records left by Abe no Seimei, he repeatedly warned future descendants not to enter Hirasaka Ridge, with the descriptions full of warnings.

Given the caution and vigilance that even the Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei had toward Hirasaka Ridge, it naturally instilled a sense of danger regarding this place in the Tsuchimikado Family over generations.

But now, Chen Yu wanted the Tsuchimikado Family to confront Yomotsu no Oni Kuni in Hirasaka Ridge, something that even Abe no Seimei would not provoke. For the head of the Tsuchimikado Family, it was like a bolt from the blue.

Even though he was very much afraid of Hirasaka Ridge, he could not disobey Chen Yu’s orders.

After all, the head of the Tsuchimikado Family was still clear-headed and quite shrewd, clearly aware that he had already pledged allegiance to Chen Yu, and if he retreated at this moment…

If Chen Yu’s deification attempt failed and Yomotsu no Oni Kuni invaded the human world, the defensive responsibility would inevitably fall upon Japan’s three major supernatural forces, with the Tsuchimikado Family at the forefront.

The head of the Tsuchimikado Family did not believe that the Tsuchimikado Family and Japan’s three major supernatural forces could withstand Yomotsu no Oni Kuni. In such a scenario, the Tsuchimikado Family would either face total annihilation or abandon their roots and flee abroad, with surrender as the only other option.

And none of these options were what the head of the Tsuchimikado Family desired.

Considering the possibility of Chen Yu succeeding in his deification and resealing Yomotsu no Oni Kuni, the Tsuchimikado Family would face reckoning for desertion.

The reckoning from a deity, and the head of the Tsuchimikado Family’s rational mind acknowledged that while they possessed some capacity to challenge minor deities, they could not contemplate confronting an entity as powerful as Chen Yu before his deification.

For the head of the Tsuchimikado Family, neither outcome was acceptable.

While he still wanted to negotiate, Chen Yu’s gaze turned icy and he remarked, “To benefit, you must pay the price. Attempting to gain without effort will cost lives.”

Having said this, he left without waiting for the head of the Tsuchimikado Family’s response.

Watching Chen Yu’s departing figure, the old face of the head of the Tsuchimikado Family wrinkled up, utterly unsure of what to do.

————————————————–

Back at the Tsuchimikado Family estate, the head gathered the elders of the Main Family to discuss the situation at hand.

“Let’s hear what everyone thinks. Given the current circumstances, what course should our Tsuchimikado Family take?” the head inquired of the gathered family elders.

“This…” The elders exchanged glances, unsure of how to address the issue.

The Tsuchimikado Family’s allegiance to Chen Yu was the result of deliberate discussions among these elders, and sending the head to meet Chen Yu was a collective decision.

Initially, everyone thought they could gain benefits from allying with Chen Yu, especially seeing the Branch Family having gained substantial advantages through his support, inevitably stirring envy.

However, with the Main Family now expected to confront the invasion of Yomotsu no Oni Kuni, this left the elders feeling bewildered, uncertain of their next steps.

“Given that we have pledged allegiance, shouldn’t we serve this Demigod?” one elder ventured tentatively, appearing somewhat straightforward in thought.

“Though that reasoning stands, we’re talking about Yomotsu no Oni Kuni! Are we to send our family’s elite to their deaths?” another elder interjected, clearly holding a differing perspective.

The mere mention of Yomotsu no Oni Kuni seemed to exert immense deterrence, silencing other elders who initially considered speaking.

After a moment’s silence, an elder finally proposed, “Perhaps we should consult Lord Chiba? Like our ancestor Seimei, he is a powerful Great Onmyoji, and might be capable of countering Yomotsu no Oni Kuni.”

“Even if Lord Chiba could counter Yomotsu no Oni Kuni, what means do you have to persuade him to intervene?” another elder queried, expressing doubt regarding the proposal to seek the aid of “Lord Chiba”: “Lord Chiba harbors only a lingering sentiment from Seimei’s legacy for us. Our family’s involvement in past wars has already drawn his ire, so what basis do we have now to request his assistance?”

“This…” The elders found themselves at a loss for words. While Lord Chiba represented one of the family’s greatest assets, their relationship was not profound, extending only to a touch of token esteem from Abe no Seimei.

“Perhaps we could inform Lord Chiba that someone intends to unseal Yomotsu no Oni Kuni for a deification process, which might pique his interest.”

Finally, someone proposed a relatively plausible suggestion, and after deliberation, lacking a better solution, the elders reluctantly agreed to this course of action.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep