Chapter 853: Yakumo Ran

Fujiwara no Mokou flexed her palms; she could feel a terrifying power roaring wantonly within her body. She was completely different in this moment than at any other time, and she even felt confident that she could capture her former self within ten moves.

Ordinarily, suddenly gaining immense power would nine times out of ten cause a person to fall into a state of bewilderment, but Fujiwara no Mokou was not among them. She could clearly feel that after a period of secret ecstasy, an inexplicable force flowed through her heart, completely suppressing this situation.

At this moment, standing beside Lingyun, she felt his power truly and clearly for the first time; it was a strength far beyond her reach. In fact, the reason she was able to possess such power now was because a portion of the power on Lingyun had flowed into her.

In this moment, she suddenly possessed boundless confidence; even if the enemy before her was the Phoenix, she could still defeat it. She would inevitably be victorious, because Lingyun was behind her, and the Eternal Mark on her forehead was the proof.

"Teacher, wait for me to return!" Fujiwara no Mokou turned around, smiled at Lingyun, and then walked toward the volcanic crater.

Crimson flames spread across her body, and a pair of crimson flame wings unfurled behind her back. With a leap, the young girl plummeted into the crater like a shooting star.

The instant Fujiwara no Mokou entered the crater, an angry cry suddenly rang out. It was the angry cry of the Phoenix upon seeing that someone bearing the sin of eternal life dared to invade its domain. It had never seen such a bold immortal person, daring to openly invade its domain. It swore in the name of the Phoenix that it would absolutely reduce the offender before it to ashes.

"Boom—"

One after another, pillars of magma erupted from the crater, instantly submerging Fujiwara no Mokou's figure. Mount Fuji, which had been silent for who knows how many years, erupted once again amidst the cries of the Phoenix. The fierce magma began to boil madly at this moment, and thick smoke shot into the sky, obscuring the sun. The surging magma overflowed the crater, roaring as it rushed down the mountain. Lingyun stood where he was, motionless, yet all the magma seemed to have a consciousness of its own, avoiding the spot where Lingyun stood.

"Mokou, I will wait for you to return to participate in the Moon Surface War." Lingyun turned around and vanished from the spot, turning into specks of light.

In the Bamboo House, Lingyun held a book in his hand, reading with great interest. However, with Kaguya and Fujiwara no Mokou missing, this Bamboo House had ultimately become desolate.

Just at this moment, a Gap suddenly opened beside Lingyun, and Yakumo Yukari emerged from it.

Yakumo Yukari, having emerged from the Gap, slipped directly onto Lingyun's bamboo bed and lay down comfortably.

"Lingyun, I heard that the volcano at Mount Fuji erupted!" Yakumo Yukari said to Lingyun.

"I know, I'm the one who caused it," Lingyun said indifferently.

"You caused it?" Yakumo Yukari nearly jumped off the bed.

"Mokou wants to participate in the Lunar War, so I let her go slaughter that fire bird inhabiting the volcano."

"Are you crazy? Do you know what kind of strength that Phoenix has? Although Mokou's current strength is already quite good, she cannot possibly be a match for that Phoenix!" Yakumo Yukari darted in front of Lingyun all at once.

"Mokou is a Hourai Person now," Lingyun added.

"Even if that little girl is a Hourai Person now, it won't work! Don't you know that in a certain sense, that Phoenix is the nemesis of Hourai People? You are sending her to her death!"

Looking at the slightly angry Yakumo Yukari, Lingyun suddenly smiled: "Yukari, when have you ever seen me do something I wasn't sure about? I can tell you clearly: in this battle, Mokou will definitely win! Upon her return, she will inevitably possess the qualifications to step onto the Lunar battlefield!"

Seeing Lingyun like this, Yakumo Yukari was suddenly a bit dazed. Although Lingyun seemed to have done many seemingly crazy things, in the end, what he said would inevitably come to pass. Thinking of this, Yakumo Yukari also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I shall wait and see."

As for the matter of Fujiwara no Mokou losing, he knew it was absolutely impossible. He could not intervene in the battle between Fujiwara no Mokou and the Phoenix; this was Fujiwara no Mokou's battle of transformation. Only by successfully overcoming the obstacle of the Phoenix could Fujiwara no Mokou become the true Immortal Smoke. Therefore, even though he possessed the ability to let Fujiwara no Mokou easily devour the Phoenix, he still did not intervene.

However, not intervening in the battle did not mean Lingyun could not put effort into other areas; the Eternal Contract was the most powerful guarantee for Fujiwara no Mokou. Under the protection of the Eternal Contract, no matter how many hardships Fujiwara no Mokou experienced, she would be able to devour the Phoenix in the end and return victorious.

"By the way, Lingyun, I want you to meet a Youkai this time," Yakumo Yukari said.

"Meet a Youkai?" Lingyun raised an eyebrow. "Meet who?"

"Didn't you tell me to find someone who could take care of me before?" Yakumo Yukari said with a smile. "I've been looking seriously during this time and finally found a suitable candidate."

As Yakumo Yukari spoke, she casually opened a Gap: "Let me introduce you; this is my newly acquired Shikigami, Yakumo Ran. Ran, this is the Lingyun I told you about!"

A tall figure walked out of the Gap and bowed to Yakumo Yukari: "Lady Yukari."

Then, Yakumo Ran bowed to Lingyun: "Lord Lingyun."

Regarding the man before her, Yakumo Ran was actually very curious; after all, someone who could make her master mention him from time to time could not be an ordinary person.

Lingyun's gaze fell upon the newcomer; she was a tall woman with a pair of fox ears on her head and nine huge tails swaying gently behind her. She wore a Chinese-style Daoist robe, with her hands tucked into her sleeves.

"So this is your Shikigami, Yukari? She is indeed no ordinary Youkai; you have finally found someone to share your work, Yukari." Lingyun looked at the Yakumo Ran before him, his eyes brightening.

Judging from the aura emanating from Yakumo Ran, her strength could be considered a leader among Great Youkai; presumably, Yakumo Yukari must have expended quite a bit of effort when subduing her.

"That's right, being able to subdue Ran is something I'm proud of. Besides, Ran is very capable; with her here, my work pressure has decreased quite a bit!" Yakumo Yukari's tone was full of self-satisfaction.

"Lady Yukari is too kind," Yakumo Ran said modestly.

Looking at this energetic nine-tailed fox, the corners of Lingyun's mouth curled into an inexplicable smile. Currently, Yakumo Yukari was still the Sage of Youkai, and the tasks on Yakumo Ran might not be that heavy yet. Once Gensokyo was established and the Sage of Youkai became the Idler of Youkai, Yakumo Ran's hard days would begin. It was said that with elders above and young ones below, the work pressure was so great that her tails even started shedding fur.

"Uh, I always feel that Lord Lingyun's gaze is a bit strange," Yakumo Ran couldn't help but mutter in her heart.

"Ran, I'll leave Yukari to you from now on!" Lingyun said with a smile.

"As a Shikigami, it is normal to share the burden for one's master," Yakumo Ran said, but she always felt that Lingyun's words carried an inexplicable meaning.

"Is that so? Then I can rest easy."