Chapter 67: The Cursed Seal of the Inari God

Bai Cangshu looked up, only to discover that this old Shrine Priest, who was likely a member of Japan's greatest Shrine Priest family, the Oogami clan, showed no signs of anything unusual.

At this moment, Bai Cangshu instead sensed that something was wrong.

Bai Cangshu checked the exchange list again, only to find that a new item had appeared below the Secret Prayer set, which should have been the final item.

Rather than an item, it was more accurate to say it was a symbol, a fox-shaped symbol that looked as if it had been sketched in red.

【Secret Rite: Inari God's Strike — Requires 100 Reputation (Reverence) to exchange】

【Quality: Purple (Rare and Peerless)】

【Description: A gift, trust, mockery, or curse bestowed by the Inari God upon the faithless】

【Effect 1: Utilize Vow Power to summon a powerful strike from the Inari God】

【Effect 2: Cannot be used once Vow Power is depleted; must replenish Vow Power to continue use】

【Effect 3: Non-believers of the Inari God who inscribe this Cursed Seal will suffer from increased malice】

This was an incredibly powerful item; it not only had no usage requirements, but it did not even require cultivation.

It was just like a highly convenient "ranged weapon."

But Bai Cangshu frowned; he looked at the Shrine Priest and spoke.

"Where is your shikigami?"

Although the old Shrine Priest did not understand why this scourge cared about his little tricks, he was still able to perform some Cursed Techniques within the shrine by utilizing hundreds of years of incense Vow Power.

He immediately summoned his shikigami, clenched a hand seal, and let out a soft shout.

But under the bright, clear sky, nothing happened.

The old Shrine Priest was not embarrassed, merely frowning; he performed another type of Cursed Technique, mysterious power swirling around him, and a breeze immediately blew into the shrine.

Dashen Zhengzai also realized something at this time; he looked at Bai Cangshu, his face pale, his expression filled with indescribable terror.

Too preoccupied to speak to Bai Cangshu again, he turned quickly and knelt piously before the Inari God's physical body (Imperial Spirit Substitute) enshrined within the shrine, muttering words under his breath.

Bai Cangshu could tell that the other party's heartbeat was rapid and their breathing was chaotic; it was indeed a display of extreme panic.

He looked again at the newly appeared item in the exchange list and understood.

It was likely that the fox shikigami's true form was indeed a God's Envoy of the Inari God, only the Inari God, as divine power waned, had left the God's Envoy by the old Shrine Priest's side in the form of a shikigami.

The old Shrine Priest himself had not realized it, thinking it was his own shikigami, and had used it to act under the name of the Inari God.

Bai Cangshu looked at this special "reward" named Secret Rite: Inari God's Strike, and after a moment of thought, the corners of his mouth curled up.

Japanese Shintoism is a polytheistic doctrine, claiming 8 million gods, but in the eyes of Dongxia people, most of what is worshipped are Ghosts and monsters.

Although the Inari God is an agricultural god and a good god in the conventional sense, the meaning revealed at this moment was indeed difficult to judge as good or evil.

But Bai Cangshu looked up at the direction the old Shrine Priest was kneeling; after all, the other party could not punish him directly, just as this old Shrine Priest had not been punished for swindling people under the name of a god.

Buried within this Cursed Seal were perhaps even deeper intentions.

"Do you want to force me to believe in you, or let me die under the so-called increased malice?"

"Interesting."

【You have exchanged for a special item, Secret Rite: Inari God's Strike】

What appeared in Bai Cangshu's hand was a small fox mark emitting a red glow; with a thought from Bai Cangshu, this thing landed on his left hand.

Sss~

As if a branding iron had touched his skin, the Cursed Seal, which looked like three foxes joined head-to-tail, instantly appeared on the back of Bai Cangshu's hand.

Bai Cangshu did not know if it was because his right hand was broken that the Cursed Seal chose to land on his left, or because the Reincarnator's mark was lodged in his right hand, making it impossible for the so-called Inari God's Cursed Seal to land there.

【Secret Rite: Inari God's Strike (1/1)】

This special Cursed Seal had no ability level and no grade; it merely noted that the current Vow Power could be used once.

Bai Cangshu's Reputation also immediately dropped to the 【Respect (15/100)】 level.

He quickly scanned the previous items and, after brief consideration, chose the items to exchange.

【Katori Pill】

【Quality: White】

【Description: A special pill made by Shinto priests, possessing healing effects】

【Effect: After swallowing, accelerates recovery of current injuries】 This yellow pill was the most basic item in the Reputation Store, exchangeable at the 【Friendly】 level for 10 Reputation each; Bai Cangshu exchanged for 3, intending to use them to accelerate bodily healing during his usual practice of Ripple Qigong.

【Emblem: Shinto】

【Quality: Blue】

【Description: A mark used by Shintoism to recognize special contributions】

【Effect 1: Spirit +1, Energy +1】

【Effect 2: Wearing this emblem, Shintoism Reputation will receive an additional boost】

This was an item exchangeable at the 【Respect】 level, increasing the Energy attribute Bai Cangshu needed most; at the same time, because Bai Cangshu knew he would likely encounter Derivative Worlds with Japanese backgrounds in the future, this emblem's boost to Reputation was also considered useful.

This item consumed 45 Reputation points.

【Barrier Talisman: Curtain (Simplified Version)】

【Quality: Blue】

!

【Description: A talisman enshrined in a shrine, possessing the power to disperse ordinary people within a certain range】

【Usage Requirement: Spirit > 10, or possess relevant Yin-Yang Cursed Technique specialization】

【Effect: After crushing, ordinary people within a fifty-meter radius will receive a mental suggestion to leave this place】

This highly convenient talisman cost Bai Cangshu 40 Reputation points; this was the combination with which Bai Cangshu spent his Reputation clean.

After his Reputation was cleared to zero, the talisman in Bai Cangshu's hand given by Dashen Zhengzai also burned away and disappeared.

Watching the old Shrine Priest who was still kowtowing and confessing his sins, Bai Cangshu turned and walked down from the shrine.

At this moment, the sharp pain in his abdomen finally slowly faded away.

【Talent re-anchoring complete】

【Talent: Native Gene Lock: Second Order (Similarity 75%) (A+) — The evolutionary shackles unlocked amidst death and despair, the power to transcend the limits of life;

Absolute Domain: Ultimate Power (Similarity 72%) (A) — The ultimate power that transcends humanity;】

【Reincarnator ex051, talent anchoring anomaly, suspected brand-new talent, may proceed to the Goddess in the current area for analysis】

Bai Cangshu looked at the prompt and discovered that the abnormal muscle expansion and terrifying explosive power he possessed during the battle indeed had a certain degree of similarity to these two types of power.

But the reason Infinite Space is infinite is that the composition of various powers is simply too vast, so the Space can only perform "anchoring" based on similarity.

This kind of "anchoring" is more like a classification, categorizing your talent into an existing ability system.

The Space does not grant you talents; the Space merely performs "Observation" of your talents.

Just as a digital panel only displays your attributes, the Reincarnator's body is not digitized and still possesses physical limitations and vital points.

"Gene Lock, Ultimate Power..."

Bai Cangshu shook his head, choosing not to ponder this answer that could not be obtained for the time being.

He still had one final plan in this world; once that plan was completed, he believed that even if the Main Mission completion rate did not reach the maximum, his gains would exceed almost every Reincarnator who had come to this world.

On Bai Cangshu's scarred left hand, that 【Blue Spider Lily】 appeared once again.

"Muzan, you must be getting pushed to your breaking point by the professors and those noble clans by now..."

Bai Cangshu walked along the torii path, a smile that was difficult to distinguish as righteous or evil playing on his lips.

"Come find me quickly, bring out everything you have, and then, beg me."

Bang!

A gunshot rang out; Bai Cangshu's body froze as he looked at the bullet hole at his feet, and in the distance, a man's shouting could be heard.

"There's a man at the shrine, covered in blood; I think I hit him!"

The man's shouting was mixed with fear and excitement.

Bai Cangshu laughed in spite of himself, though his smile was incomparably chilling.

Is this what is called "suffering malice"?!

(End of chapter)