Naming Technique of the Night
Chapter 842: Spirit Agents

Chapter 842: Spirit Agents

Qing Chen carried the little girl on his back at the Northern Summit, facing the mysterious young man and the Red Leaf Hunter who stood on the opposite peaks.

Between them was a chasm and a gulf, but the oppressive atmosphere solidified the air between the mountains.

The young man was about 1.7 meters tall, while the Red Leaf Hunter was a head taller, appearing particularly imposing.

The blue and red kimono, like a wedding dress, was tattered.

Onmyoji is a particularly mysterious cultivation heritage within the Federation, unique to Jindai.

The Jindai family has always been criticized by the Federation, but other consortiums must acknowledge one point: Jindai excels in preserving their culture and heritage compared to other families.

Their protection of culture and heritage goes to a stubborn, almost obsessive extent.

Therefore, the Jindai family actually always had two sets of cultivation heritage.

One is the family head lineage, assisted by special breathing techniques, suitable for military cultivation heritage like Quanzhen.

The other is the Onmyoji heritage from the current Jindai ancestors, cultivated by few, responsible for family worship.

Onmyoji rarely head south, mostly reclusive, and outsiders know little about them.

Even in Hu’s Information Agency, the info on Onmyoji is basic data intertwined with anecdotes.

According to Hu’s Information Agency, the limited number of Shikigami contributes to the scarcity of Onmyoji…

Based on the currently known Shikigami of the Jindai family, the total number of Shikigami ranges between 330-430, each one unique.

The implication is.

If the Shikigami number is only 430, then…

Once all known 430 Shikigami are summoned, any future cultivators must queue.

An Onmyoji without a Shikigami is barely different from high-ranking infantry.

Moreover, Transcendents have long lifespans and might wait a century or more.

Thus, this heritage is inherently limited in the number of cultivators due to uneven distribution.

In Hu’s Information Agency records, cultivators of this heritage can summon their first Shikigami at C-Class.

At B-Class, they can simultaneously have three.

At A-Class, they can simultaneously have six.

At S-Class, they can simultaneously have twelve.

The most famous Onmyoji, Haruaki Abe, had twelve Shikigami exclusively, possibly corresponding to an S-Class Demigod’s power status.

Thinking of this, Qing Chen pondered whether the shackles of the Outer World had been unlocked.

Perhaps the myriad gods and Buddhas existed but withered for unknown reasons?

Otherwise, why are Quanzhen techniques identical in both the Inner and Outer Worlds?

Years ago, when Jindai came to this continent, they forcibly averaged out Shikigami to increase Onmyoji numbers.

For instance, though B-Class can possess three simultaneously, the family ordered all B-Class Onmyoji to summon only one.

Thus, the number of B-Class Onmyoji with Shikigami could triple.

But then Qin Sheng and the Knight Organization dealt a blow, discovering the knight organization’s superior individual combat power, resulting in more incidents when Shikigami were dispersed.

Originally distributed evenly, Jindai realized all might be smashed by knights.

So they needed more refined, powerful force to face the Twelve Knights.

Eventually, Jindai adopted an elite force strategy, summoning Shikigami to their limits for all top experts.

If they could summon three, they summoned three; if six, then six.

Thus, Qing Chen surveyed the surroundings and noted this chosen one daring to block the path must be at least B-Class.

Moreover, if this chosen one had indeed been reverse possessed, at least three Shikigami should accompany them.

He had seen Red Leaf Hunter, but where were the other two?!

Qing Chen looked to his rear left, indeed spotting a fiery red fox on the summit, its paws stepping on green flames.

He recognized it instantly from Hu’s Hyakki Night Trip Guide as the 191st Shikigami “Fire Fox”.

Glancing to his rear right, he saw a strange little white monkey scratching its ears on the summit.

The monkey was entirely white, a mere meter tall, with hands as large as copper gongs.

This was the 317th Shikigami “Mountain Child”.

Qing Chen turned back to the young man, laughing aloud: “Should be of high status, why dare to take risks?”

The voice transmitted far away; the young man frowned hearing Qing Chen’s remark, amazed that despite his presence, the boy felt he was risking.

Such a feeling wasn’t pleasant.

Jinguji Maki, clinging to Qing Chen’s back, whispered: “Brother, is he strong?”

Qing Chen thought for a moment and then whispered: “Remember, Xiao Zhenji, I’m… unbeatable below A-Class now.”

“Huh?” The little girl didn’t quite grasp, nor knew A-Class or B-Class: “Brother, why whisper?”

“Seldom brag, felt a bit awkward,” Qing Chen chuckled.

Jinguji Maki: “…”

However, Xiao Zhenji remembered one thing — yes, brother has no equals.

Qing Chen knew the young man’s important status from Red Leaf Hunter, recorded in Hu’s Information Agency, ranked ninth among great demons, not for ordinary Onmyoji.

Speaking of this, it’s necessary to mention Hu’s quip on Awakeners.

Like Yang Yang said, Awakeners’ abilities are bizarre, some born as core mages, others as wild monsters, mere XP givers.

Thus, Hu’s once summarized a quirky ability collection, including unstoppable leg shaking or always touching chewing gum beneath tables.

In that collection, Hu’s highlighted useless Shikigami.

For instance, ATS-330 Shikigami “Inverse Pillar”, just a pillar imbued with resentment from misplaced construction, kills only in faulty structures.

ATS-92 Shikigami “Taka Bird”, dead fetus ghosts of pregnant women, avenges kids dying in July, murders and steals children only in July-August.

ATS-81 Shikigami “Rain Woman”, kills anyone asking if she needs an umbrella, standing in the rain.

These are relatively normal; Hu’s Hyakki Night Trip Guide noted their origins, frequencies, and former owners.

Some are more peculiar.

ATS-329 Shikigami “Taocheng Temple Bell”, makes people forget troubles, desire to be monks…

ATS-328 Shikigami “Zashiki Doko”, non-lethal, kind-hearted, babysits for Onmyoji…

ATS-327 Shikigami “Mao You”, two tails, skilled at catching mice…

Thus, Shikigami differences are vast, like Red Leaf Hunter, ranked ninth, aiding Onmyoji’s killing without reason.

Others merely do chores, some ridiculous tasks.

Note, Shikigami summoning is random and irreversible; if a B-Class Onmyoji gathers Taocheng Temple Bell, Zashiki Doko, Mao You, they’re virtually useless.

In gaming terms, such an account is unusable.

Such Onmyoji are typically kept in Shrines as great worshippers, barred from combat to avoid returning quirky Shikigami to the “card pool”.

Jindai calls Shikigami’s resting place the Divine Bridge; outsiders call it the card pool.

Gradually, the card pool term seemed more fitting…

Of course, some Onmyoji are exceptionally fierce.

For instance, the Jindai elder, commanding ATS-002 “Shuten-doji”, ATS-005 “Mad Bone”, ATS-006 “Hannya”, ATS-007 “Great Tengu”, ATS-012 “Bull-headed Rakshasas”, ATS-019 “Soldier Department”.

These Shikigami are formidable with no peculiar restrictions.

Hu’s quipped that Jindai elder must have repeatedly reset accounts to summon such elites…

A hundred-plus years ago, Jindai mastered the neuron grafting possession technique, Onmyoji possessed others, severing past bodies for fresh Shikigami summoning.

Thus, when powerful Shikigami returned to the Divine Bridge, Onmyoji might possess B-Class experts, many fell victim early on.

Onmyoji possessed and summoned new Shikigami.

This offered an account reset and retrain opportunity.

Currently, Red Leaf Hunter before Qing Chen had seven owners in Hu’s Information Agency records, each fierce Onmyoji.

Gaining Red Leaf Hunter signifies high status within the family.

But Qing Chen knew Shikigami’s power correlates with Onmyoji’s level; however strong Red Leaf Hunter is, it’s likely B-Class.

The sole concern is, if Onmyoji itself is B-Class, Shikigami is too, confronting them equals one versus four.

He faced Red Leaf Hunter, Fire Fox, Mountain Child, and the Onmyoji.

Onmyoji has strengths and weaknesses.

Hu’s Institution bluntly noted: Onmyoji’s body is frail, to combat them, prioritizing beheadings and leader capture is vital.

This guidance explicitly advised on Onmyoji combat.

Such action rivaled Onmyoji, yet Hu’s cultivation dared challenge Onmyoji, with Heart Sword taking enemies’ heads among thousands effortlessly.

Fragile Onmyoji generally avoided these flying sword wielders.

“Hold my neck tightly,” Qing Chen said, leap towards the mountain, ready to gauge the Onmyoji’s true power.

At this moment, Qing Chen was in peak form, Knight Vital Energy surged like the sea, fearing none in the Outer World.

…

Another chapter at 11 pm tonight