Chapter 83: Fujisaki Yoshifumi

In the Void Demon Realm, as if facing a celestial calamity or divine punishment, chaos erupted everywhere; not even the realm's greatest magnates could remain calm, all trembling in terror.

In contrast, Japan was utterly silent.

Japan.

Director Takahashi stood frozen, his mind like a crashed computer—ceasing thought, unable to function.

Though not in the Void Demon Realm, the shattered space rift was enormous—even larger than Higashio Dashan—and thus, the images of the Buddha's palm annihilating the ancient demonic lord, crushing vast mountain ranges and extinguishing ten thousand li of land, illuminating the Void Demon Realm, were all clearly visible to them.

When they finally came to their senses, their souls prickled with goosebumps, their bodies shivering as if plunged into a ten-thousand-year ice cave; Director Takahashi, unable to control his emotions, roared:

"This isn't a broken passage at all!!"

They had assumed the old monk struck Lin Shan after slaying the demons, intending to shatter the passage and sever the demons' path to this world.

But now it seemed…

It was nothing of the sort.

Unconsciously, his gaze drifted toward the colossal Buddha palm dominating the sky within the distant space rift.

Fortunately, the old monk was on their side—he protected humanity.

He recalled why the Buddha palm had condensed and shrunk when striking Lin Shan: it wasn't compressing power—it was suppressing it. The passage was too small; if the destructive force hadn't been suppressed, the ten-thousand-li lands now sunk in the Void Demon Realm would be Japan's fate. Yet even so, the rift torn open in space remained as vast as Higashio Dashan.

As he thought this, Director Takahashi made a decision.

Simultaneously, not just Director Takahashi, but also the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, General Suzuki Kū, and other high-ranking Japanese officials all silently arrived at the same decision.

They must not provoke Master Konghai. Whoever dared provoke him would be shot dead on the spot, immediately and without delay.

Otherwise, if Master Konghai grew displeased and brought down one palm, Japan wouldn't need to wait for future flooding—the island would be sunk outright.

"By the way!! There are other shrines and temples—get every regional administration to dig up funds, even if they have to squeeze it out—allocate money to shrines and temples, fully support their development."

The Prime Minister had just spoken.

"I second it!"

"I second it!"

"Anyone who refuses to fund them will be stripped of their office!"

Without exception, all Cabinet ministers voted unanimously in favor, even preparing to draft new legislation specifically for shrines and temples.

Master Konghai's appearance, and his casual conversation with Xia Mei, proved beyond doubt that shrines and temples possessed the extraordinary—proving why humanity could resist demons. Especially now, with Master Konghai reviving a thousand souls and annihilating ten thousand demons with a single palm, obliterating ten thousand li of demonic land, it was a direct, undeniable demonstration of how absurdly powerful the extraordinary truly were.

Such people must never be offended—only revered.

Not only that…

Now that they knew their nation possessed unparalleled extraordinary power—and judging by the annihilation of the six-eyed demons—it was clearly on their side. Japan's high officials straightened their spines; even toward their American allies, they no longer bowed and scraped, but stood firm.

Only now did they realize: America was not their father—the extraordinary were.

And with such a father backing them… hmm~ America, perhaps it's time we swapped roles—father and son.

The Prime Minister clenched his fist, nostrils flaring.

Akawa, you think you're so capable? Damn it, I offered to shake your hand, and you refused—humiliated me in front of the media. Next time you want to shake hands, I won't give you mine—I'll make you feel just as embarrassed.

"Professor Nakata, I—I accidentally offended a shrine. Do you think the shrine might hold a grudge? I mean, it probably won't, right? That goddess priestess forgave me already."

Director Takahashi trembled, on the verge of tears.

If the Prime Minister and the others found out I offended a shrine, I'll be shot. I'm still young—I haven't had my second child—I don't want to die.

"Uh… I don't know," Professor Nakata was baffled. You're asking me this? How am I supposed to answer? I'm an expert in demonology, I have a Ph. D., I'm highly intelligent—but I'm not a psychologist.

As he spoke,

Professor Nakata unconsciously stepped away from Director Takahashi.

Even if he didn't know whether the shrine had truly forgiven him, it was better to keep distance—to avoid being caught in the fallout.

Just as Director Takahashi was pondering how to apologize further, Morita Takeshi suddenly spoke up.

"Don't you think… Master Konghai is terrifyingly ruthless toward demons?"

Director Takahashi, Professor Nakata, and the others froze, silent.

Yes… terrifyingly ruthless.

The six-eyed demons killed over a thousand Japanese—but the old monk obliterated ten million demons with one palm, even shattering the mightiest of them.

Yet though they thought this, none dared voice it.

The old monk was in Higashio, right there with them—they feared their words might reach him. After all, such an extraordinary being could resurrect the dead—could he not also hear whispers across hundreds, thousands, ten thousand li?

What if he overheard their criticisms? Would he annihilate them?

As they remained silent, afraid to speak,

The internet exploded.

Netizens, fearless and brazen, felt safe online—they couldn't possibly believe the old monk could hear typing through the wires. So while Director Takahashi and the others cowered, netizens unleashed their thoughts without restraint.

MyLord2333: "Buddha is supposed to be compassionate—Master Konghai is way too hot-headed. One word out of place and he wipes out ten thousand demons. But I love it."

Creator: "You must understand—Buddhism preaches equality among all beings. To them, humans and ants are the same. Killing a person is no different from squashing an ant."

Artificial Human Fukada Eimi: "You kill a thousand of mine, I wipe out a million of yours—is this Buddhism? I'm in! How do I apply to join Buddhism? Can women apply? What's the procedure?"

Fujisaki Yoshifumi: "Perfect. Compassionate to our own, ruthless to others—this is great. I've decided! I'll keep taking a break tomorrow. Reason: visiting Senso-ji to pay respects to the Buddha. After all, Master Konghai is Buddhist—worshiping at the biggest temple is the right thing to do."

The six-eyed demons were dead, the space rift had stopped spreading, Japan was safe. Combined with the overwhelming power and clear intent revealed by the Buddha's palm in the Void Demon Realm, everyone's taut nerves finally relaxed, and they opened up to chat freely.

But the next second.

Boom—

A roar that shattered the cosmos, shaking the stars beyond the heavens, echoed throughout the Void Demon Realm.

Even across the vast distance, the thunderous sound burst out of the Void Demon Realm, reverberating through Tokyo, ringing in every ear, deafening all who heard.

Countless faces turned pale.

Director Takahashi clutched his head and screamed in shock.

"It's not about shattering the passage, not about exterminating ten thousand demons—this is... to annihilate the realm!!"