Chapter 431: Chapter 431: The Yamata Sect’s Supremacy Over Other Churches
Chapter 431: The Yamata Sect’s Supremacy Over Other Churches
When Kong finalized his itinerary, other forces across the sea were also reviewing the new information and discussing the upcoming Mythical Beast Conference.
Each made their own arrangements.
As time passed, while the sea was still focused on the news of a new gem-level hunter’s emergence, the announcement of the Mythical Beast Conference swept through like a fierce storm.
The entire world erupted with excitement.
Many people began packing their bags and setting sail toward the sea region where the Mythical Beast Conference was to be held.
For a time, the second half of the Grand Line, New World grew bustling.
A massive influx of people and fleets poured in from all corners of the world.
The reason for such a tremendous response was tied to the consistent reputation of Yamata’s God Orochimaru.
In an era where multiple churches flourished, the philosophy of the Yamata Sect might not have been the most popular among all churches.
However, its strength was widely acknowledged across the Great Sea as the strongest, capable of surpassing all other churches.
Even the Holy Light Church, established first in the past two years, could not compare.
This held true despite the Holy Light Church having a powerful hoy knights from the Kingdom of Miracles as its pope.
As for other churches, they were far less significant.
Many churches existed in a state where they lacked widespread support or influence.
Those who were rational and strong preferred to join the forces of the gods themselves rather than align with such churches.
Thus, while the power of churches had grown somewhat in recent years, this was mainly reflected at the grassroots level, through the spread of their beliefs.
However, among these churches, the Yamata Sect stood out as an anomaly.
This was because the Yamata Sect was favored by the Yamata God Orochimaru.
Simply put, even when Orochimaru conducted experiments, followers of the Yamata Sect would willingly offer themselves.
In the words of the Yamata Sect, this was to bathe in divine grace.
Those who perished during the experiments were said to ascend to heaven, considered a blessing.
It might seem that the followers of the Yamata Sect were foolish.
In reality, the sect’s senior leaders were highly intelligent.
While they revered Orochimaru’s power, they were far from mindless.
Yamata’s God Orochimaru experiments might indeed claim many lives, but the power gained upon success was immensely formidable.
As for the risks, the sect believed that seeking power without danger was an unrealistic dream.
Moreover, for the Yamata Sect’s senior leaders, while they could not eliminate risks, they could minimize them.
They used the sheer number of followers to gradually refine Yamata God Orochimaru’s experiments, allowing the leaders to partake only when the risks were significantly reduced.
It was not as though no high-ranking members of the Yamata Sect had died in these experiments.
But compared to those who survived and gained power, the losses were negligible.
At most, they would offer condolences akin to a pirate’s promise: "I will support you, your wife, and your children."
Through this approach, the Yamata Sect’s influence expanded rapidly.
A core group, with Yamato God Orochimaru as the highest combat power, was formed through numerous experiments.
Eight beings with monstrous strength, Chiki, Fūki, Suiki, Kaki, Kinki, Mokki, Dokki, and Shūki, gathered within the sect.
This made the Yamata iSect an unparalleled anomaly among all churches.
In contrast, the Blazing Sun Church, which spread its ideas most widely, had the highest combat power equivalent to a veteran Marine Vice Admiral.
Its leader, Ethan, was once an aide to the Sun God King.
Later, with the rise of the Blazing Sun Church, he left the Marines to join this emerging church and rose to the position of leader.
His strength ranked among the top within the Blazing Sun Church.
Even for a widely influential church like the Blazing Sun Church, which had developed for less than two years, this was the extent of its power.
By comparison, the Yamata Sect’s development was extraordinarily formidable.
Ultimately, the Yamata Sect’s growth was driven by the influence of Yamata God Orochimaru.
Indeed, the Mythical Beast Conference hosted by Yamata God Orochimaru drew immense anticipation and interest from people worldwide, eager to seize any advantages it might offer.
As people across the sea mobilized, Kai in Soul Society also returned to the present world.
At night, between the peaks, a lush green valley lay silent under the moonlight’s embrace.
In a vibrant flower field, fireflies danced, their tiny lights glowing softly in the long night.
A cool evening breeze stirred, scattering petals and spreading their intoxicating fragrance.
Pink flowering trees stood surrounded by soft grasses, their dense crowns swaying in the wind.
Pink petals fell, shimmering with beautiful brilliance under the moonlight.
They danced like pink fairies, weaving through people’s hair and clinging to the edges of their clothes.
In this serene and enchanting environment, a melodious rhythm played slowly.
The delicate notes of a piano expressed tender emotions, seeming like the only constant in this valley.
Before an ornate and exquisite piano sat a girl with silver hair and crimson eyes.
Even after two years, her appearance remained largely unchanged, though her body’s curves were more pronounced.
She wore a Gothic-style black dress adorned with layered leather accents.
As the soft breeze blew, her long silver hair fluttered, illuminated by the cold moonlight, glowing with a white sheen, like an elf under the moon.
A silver hair ornament adorned her head, giving her the appearance of a fairy-tale princess.
Kai sat beneath a flowering tree and gazed at Yin.
The scene, with the girl at its center, formed a soothing and picturesque tableau.
Accompanied by the beautiful rhythm, it appeared serene and deeply healing.
Ding ding dong dong—ding!
Time passed slowly, and the moving melody flowed gently through the valley, lingering for a long time.
Da da da!
As Yin finished her performance, Kai opened his arms in time.
Boom!
Suddenly, a soft, fragrant body nestled into his embrace.
They hugged each other tightly, as if merging into one, their warmth blending together.
"Master..." the girl murmured in his arms, her voice tugging at the heartstrings.
After a moment, Yin lifted her head from Kai’s embrace.
Her crimson pupils reflected the light as she gazed at him softly.
Over the past two years, though Yin’s body had grown, the changes were subtle.
Her curves had become more defined, but her height had not increased much.
It was not that she could not grow into greater maturity.
Rather, she resisted growing up.
Or rather, she longed to grow up yet resisted it.
Growing up meant maturity.
Maturity meant relinquishing her willfulness.
She still wished to walk hand in hand with him through the sea of clouds.
She wanted to embrace him in the shadows of the deep sea.
She yearned to watch cute fish dance around them on the white sand seabed.
She desired to feel his calm and natural breath amidst the heat of erupting magma.
She wanted to paint, arrange flowers, and play the piano together.
She wished to claim more of his time!
Only by being willful could they spend more time together.
She was so willful, so greedy...
"Master..." she said.
"Would you like me being so greedy?" she asked suddenly in the silent night.
Though her question came abruptly, Kai understood her meaning.
Looking at Yin in his arms, he saw the nervousness shimmering in her crimson pupils.
Kai gently held her delicate pink cheeks and lowered his head.
In the quiet night, only the night breeze danced, stirring the moonlit lake.
The rippling lake surface blended the image of the two embracing into a glaze of light.
After an unknown amount of time, Kai lifted his head and smiled.
Seeing her rosy cheeks, the emotions once hidden in her eyes had vanished.
He said with a smile, "Greedy Yin is still Yin!"
Hearing Kai’s words, Yin’s pupils glimmered faintly.
She nestled deeper into his arms, breathing deeply against his neck.
Then, Kai felt a warm, moist touch on his neck.
After some time, she rested her chin on Kai’s shoulder and began asking her usual questions.
"Master..." she said.
"Now, have I grown up?" she asked.
The silence lasted longer than usual.
At that moment, Yin’s eyes suddenly shone with a profound light, and she raised her head.
Meeting her passionate gaze, Kai’s slender fingers brushed her cheek.
He could see it.
Even amidst endless death and nothingness, a dazzling will shone through, an unparalleled determination.
Her strong emotions and unyielding thoughts were evident.
Though she appeared as a cute girl outwardly, she carried the aura of a queen reigning over death and nothingness.
She was truly beautiful!
"Yes, you have grown up, Yin..." he said.
Upon receiving his approval, a radiant smile spread across Yin’s face.
Such a bright, sunny smile was rare on her usually reserved face.
After smiling, she raised her head and leaned toward him.
The image of their embrace reflected on the nearby lake.
After a while, their figures vanished.
( End of this Chapter )