Chapter 42: Standing Between the Vast Heaven and Earth

Professor Nakata stared at the screen, his face flushed red, waving his hands and feet in confusion, having completely failed to hear Director Saito's words.

"Shuten-doji! The Lord of Demons is actually Shuten-doji."

"Ancient history must be wrong somewhere, or perhaps my research is mistaken. The combat power of demons is not as imagined; it must be higher, even higher."

He was like an old rascal who had gone mad with play.

Upon realizing the error in the demon combat power he had been studying, he chattered and muttered about how to fix it, how to correct it.

Throughout the entire process, he felt no regret for his mistake.

Instead, he was like an elementary school student so excited about a field trip tomorrow that he couldn't sleep at midnight.

At this moment, Professor Nakata cared nothing for inquiries from high-ranking police or government officials; regardless of their power or wealth, he now only wanted to see what new discoveries remained.

Seeing this.

Director Takahashi and others exchanged glances, unable to stop their bitter smiles.

They say that when scholars go mad, they recognize no one; this saying is no empty talk.

Indeed, scholars who drive cultural progress and technological advancement are not normal people, yet it is precisely their single-minded dedication and their mad curiosity to explore ancient history and scientific truths that brought about the current era.

When Professor Nakata's madness finally subsided somewhat.

Director Saito asked again.

Then Professor Nakata finally responded.

"Whether the Lord of Demons is Shuten-doji, I cannot say with one hundred percent certainty."

"Uh." Everyone had black lines running down their foreheads.

Just then.

Professor Nakata shifted his topic.

"But there is an eighty percent possibility that the Lord of Demons is Shuten-doji."

According to numerous ancient historical documents passed down to the present, as well as ancient notebooks and picture books circulating among the folk, whenever Onikuma is mentioned, Shuten-doji is almost always mentioned alongside him.

Their relationship is complex, with many versions.

I have integrated the data and organized the two most likely relationships between Shuten-doji and Onikuma.

First, Onikuma is the son of Shuten-doji.

Second, Onikuma is Shuten-doji's most capable subordinate.

Between these two relationships, I personally lean toward the second, because among the many versions of the relationship between Shuten-doji and Onikuma that have been passed down, many mention that Onikuma was an abandoned infant.

Legend has it that when Onikuma's mother carried him, her pregnancy lasted over sixteen months; thus, Onikuma was called "Oniko" from birth, was hated by everyone, and was ultimately abandoned.

In my view.

The first relationship can actually be understood as: after Onikuma was abandoned, he became a subordinate of Shuten-doji, and Shuten-doji treated him like his own child.

Therefore, Onikuma regards Shuten-doji as closer than his own father."

Hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.

"Professor Nakata, your meaning is that Onikuma is a subordinate of Shuten-doji, and the scholar-demon suspected to be Onikuma is now the Lord of Demons, so it is highly likely that Shuten-doji is the Lord of Demons, correct?"

Fearing he might misunderstand, Director Takahashi voiced his thoughts.

Professor Nakata nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, and the reason I am still certain the Lord of Demons is Shuten-doji is another reason."

The documents of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki record, as well as the folk investigations and collection of demon stories by demonology doctors such as Mizuki Shigeru and Komatsu Kazuhiko, all state that Shuten-doji was one of the great demons active in the Heian period and was once the King of Hundred Demons who commanded all demons.

King of Hundred Demons, commanding all demons; does such a title not seem very similar to the current Lord of Demons?"

As the words left his mouth.

Everyone froze in shock.

Indeed, the Lord of Demons commands demon-god-like creatures, roaming freely across heaven and earth; Shuten-doji was a great demon of the Heian period and was also the King who commanded all demons.

The title "Lord of All Demons" is not one anyone can use.

Furthermore, regarding the understanding of "Lord of Demons," Chimei Wangliang represents the meaning of demons; therefore, saying the Lord of Demons is the Lord of All Demons is not wrong.

The conference room fell silent.

Everyone's expressions showed shock.

If so, the Lord of Demons is highly likely to be Shuten-doji; then, if demons were to invade and the Lord of Demons joined in...

"I think we should contact the Mi..."

Just as a high-ranking government official was about to say something.

"Translate! Quickly translate what Onikuma is saying!!"

Professor Nakata, who had been watching the screen intently, suddenly roared, his voice soaring straight up.

Everyone's gaze was drawn toward him.

In an instant!

Everyone's expressions stiffened.

Twilight lingers, the setting sun is anxious.

The scholar lightly opened his mouth.

"Who struck first?"

His words were like the sounds of the Yellow Springs from the Nine Netherworlds, stealing lives and capturing souls, making gods and ghosts weep in terror.

The words were very short.

But all the demons understood what the scholar meant...

At nearly the same time, all the demons turned to look at the Great Nyudo.

They dared not speak, as if afraid their own voices would defile the scholar's hearing, or as if they feared that, like the previous demon, they would be utterly annihilated the moment they made a sound by that terrifying child-demon.

Yet, they dared not remain silent.

They could only express their words through actions.

"No, no... it is not."

Feeling the gazes of all the demons converge, even the three humans looking over, the Great Nyudo was terrified and panicked, shifting his massive body to step backward.

This retreat.

The girl and the others saw the Great Nyudo's panic and fear, while the other demons first showed expressions of shock, then cast looks of pity toward the Great Nyudo.

That atmosphere clearly spoke without words.

The Great Nyudo my lord is doomed; he moved without permission before my lord, committing a sin of blasphemy.

Facing this absurd thought arising.

The girl and the others found nothing strange; instead, they felt it was entirely reasonable.

Because.

That is simply how it should be; there is no need for reason, one must act thus before the supreme.

Their thoughts were soon confirmed.

"Before my lord, when my lord did not command you to move, how dare you move on your own?"

The child seated upon the bone great scythe had weasel eyes with cold, dark glints, like abyssal cold fires flickering; his voice was ruthless, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

The crimson mad wind rose again.

Boom!

Around the Great Nyudo, the crimson wind surged, piercing gold and splitting stone, shaking the space; its might was more terrifying than the previous time, tearing open vicious cracks in the void, within which lay darkness emitting an aura that made even souls and spirits tremble in fear.

If swept up, one would surely die, the soul would be extinguished, and one would sink into nothingness.

Everyone's scalp went numb, their blood seemed to flow backward from fear, their faces turning deathly pale.

"No! Do not come closer!"

The Great Nyudo, terrified, wanted to flee.

The moment he took a step, the crimson wind enveloped him, turning into a wind prison, locking all his escape routes; there was no retreat, no escape.

"I will fight you to the death!"

A roar shook the earth.

The Great Nyudo went mad, spreading his arms and roaring, causing the stars to flicker and Shanhe to tremble.

Under the horrified gazes of countless people, the Great Nyudo's demonic qi surged like a tsunami, his form rising, swelling with the wind.

One hundred meters, two hundred meters, five hundred meters, one thousand meters, two thousand meters...

"Hiss!"

Professor Zhongtian's eyes widened, and he exclaimed.

"No wonder I could not identify what kind of Great Nyudo he is; he was hiding it. He is... the Great Nyudo recorded in the legends, the one who can embrace mountains!"

At this moment.

The Great Nyudo was immense, ten thousand zhang tall, his demonic qi pressing down the sky, his entire body radiating a frantic demonic light that shrouded the blue heavens.

The Great Nyudo now was less a demon and more a giant spirit deity born in ancient times.

Standing amidst the vast heaven and earth.