The Yamata no Orochi flew into a violent rage, suffering a heavy blow while in its slumber. The immense pain fully awakened it. Its eight serpentine mouths gaped wide, spewing torrents of black water with extreme corrosiveness, carving pits into the ground and emitting a foul stench. Anything that fell into it would dissolve into sludge, let alone fragile human bodies.
The group of Eastern瀛 people wished they could sprout extra legs to flee as far as possible. Only the Eastern瀛 divine maiden and Fūma Tarō stayed close, manipulating their shikigami to charge back into battle. Shuten Dōji transformed into a three-meter-tall demon with a blue face and fangs, its demonic aura like a sea of blood, where countless demon heads bobbed and wailed, surging toward the great serpent and tearing into it. The nine-tailed fox also revealed its true form, becoming a ten-meter-long white fox, its nine tails spreading like a peacock's tail in the air, swaying incessantly, each tail brimming with various energies—foxfire, yin lightning, demon wind...
Subdued as shikigami, these two great demons had no choice but to obey, charging fearlessly at the Yamata no Orochi, the most terrifying monster in Eastern瀛 mythology, plunging into a chaotic and brutal melee. The shockwaves of their attacks spread out, leaving the land scarred and desolate. The Yamata no Orochi, fighting one against two, completely dominated the battle.
Fēng Lín stayed far away, continuing to play dead, drawing no attention. These Eastern瀛 people ultimately lacked a weapon like the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi to inflict fatal damage on the Yamata no Orochi, instead provoking its ferocity, leading to heavy casualties. But since they dared to come, they naturally had backup plans. Fēng Lín didn't rush in recklessly, patiently waiting for the right moment to snatch the prize from the tiger's mouth and seize the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in one fell swoop.
On the battlefield, the Yamata no Orochi radiated overwhelming might. Each of its heads was as thick as a massive pillar, crashing forward with force, sending Shuten Dōji flying backward. Thousands of demon heads from the blood sea covered the serpent, their bones crunching as they bit into it, but they couldn't even break its scales. The nine-tailed fox's various energy attacks fell like drizzle, easily countered by the serpent. Each of the Yamata no Orochi's heads possessed unique abilities, employing diverse tactics, sweeping through like dragons commanding clouds and tigers summoning wind, stirring up waves of black water that corroded the earth like raging tides. The Eastern瀛 people retreated repeatedly, unable to withstand even a single clash.
This couldn't go on. Fūma Tarō and the Eastern瀛 divine maiden, as the main combatants, exchanged glances, nodded with determination, and formed the treasure vase mudra, their hand seals shaping a bottle mouth aimed at their respective shikigami. "Return!" Shuten Dōji and the nine-tailed fox, unable to evade, let out agonized howls as they transformed into shadows and merged into their masters, becoming one. Human and spirit united!
Their forms drastically changed. Fūma Tarō became a vicious demon with two horns on his head, demonic aura swirling behind him, accompanied by endless ghostly wails. The divine maiden transformed into a seductive fox-woman, half-human, half-fox, her nine fluffy tails swaying behind her.
Forward Slash! Fūma Tarō, wrapped in demon wind, took a step in the void, spinning his body as his blade moved with him, tracing an elegant arc in the air. The sword unleashed a colossal blade force, solidifying into a fifty-meter-long blade that aimed to cleave the serpent in two. The Yamata no Orochi, too large to dodge in time, took the blow head-on. One of its heads was struck hard, severed at the neck, hanging by a thread of skin and flesh, exposing white bone as blood gushed out.
"Amaterasu!" the Eastern瀛 divine maiden shouted, swinging her fox tails together. At their tips, eerie black flames emerged, emitting no light or heat, burning silently in a bizarre manner. Like the legendary flames of destruction, the Amaterasu black fire landed on the Yamata no Orochi, instantly igniting. It burned everything, unquenchable even by surging water, which only fueled the flames further. Soon, another head was reduced to charcoal in the blaze.
After merging with the demons, their combat power surged. With one strike, they instantly severed two of the Yamata no Orochi's heads, dealing heavy damage. The Yamata no Orochi—now better called the Rokki no Orochi—roared in agony, growing even more frenzied. Its massive body thrashed endlessly, churning up corrosive black water. Its six heads opened wide, spewing lightning, flames, ice, and other energies, forming a torrent that engulfed the Eastern瀛 people.
Fūma Tarō, wreathed in demonic aura, wielded his blade with sharp precision, continuously slashing through the air, unleashing tens-of-meter-long blade forces that cut through everything in their path. The Eastern瀛 divine maiden, her fox tails spread like a peacock's tail, commanded the black fire, as if the great god Amaterasu had descended to destroy the mortal world with infinite divine flames. Unfazed by the serpent's demonic might, the two charged forward, engaging the Yamata no Orochi in fierce combat.
If any Eastern瀛 person had witnessed this scene—frail human bodies facing a world-ending monster—they would have thought mythical heroes had returned to the mortal realm. But Fēng Lín lurked in the shadows, a mysterious gleam flashing in his eyes.
After a while, the battle's outcome became clearer. Though the two had merged with demons, greatly enhancing their abilities to rival elite cultivators, and had repeatedly wounded the Yamata no Orochi, the serpent's massive size meant even a slight movement shook heaven and earth, leaving them battered by the shockwaves. The Yamata no Orochi had lost five heads, leaving only a pitiful three—a mutual defeat.
It's time for me to act! Fēng Lín, having waited long enough, knew the moment had come. He took out the purple gourd, formed hand seals, and released the Great Tengu. "Cut open the Yamata no Orochi's belly!" he commanded coldly. The Great Tengu, subdued and unable to disobey, struck instantly with a sneak attack, merging body and blade into one. It unleashed an ultimate killing slash, flashing through the air like lightning or a shadow of fire—extinguishing all life. Three Ultimate Slashes!
A sudden interloper appeared mid-battle, startling Fūma Tarō and the Eastern瀛 divine maiden, slowing their movements. At that moment, the Great Tengu's blade swept in with unstoppable force, slicing through the Yamata no Orochi's turtle-like belly. Scalding serpent blood spilled everywhere, revealing a silver greatsword. A figure darted in like a ghost, seizing the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and yanking it out with force. The Yamata no Orochi let out a pained cry, its massive body shrinking rapidly, merging into the greatsword, which now bore a pattern of the eight-headed serpent.
"Who are you?" Fūma Tarō shouted in shock and fury. They were on the verge of killing the serpent, only to have their prize snatched away. Who dared such a thing? "You're not Yamamoto Ichirō!" the Eastern瀛 divine maiden said sharply, her eyes piercing, as if trying to see through Fēng Lín's disguise and reveal his true identity.
Fēng Lín ignored them. Gripping the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, he felt a sinister power surge into his body, as if breaking his physical limits, rapidly boosting his life force. 97, 98, 99, 100... His life force shot up like a rocket, breaking through the 100 mark, surpassing the limits of the human body.