Chapter 35 A Madman

Gods possess more than just the ability to vanish; as a high-ranking deity, Han Zhou's power extends far beyond the methods she has currently displayed.

Mizutani was not only tainted with corrupted spiritual energy, but also surrounded by vengeful spirits. Those who possess spiritual energy can ward off vengeful spirits. However, when spiritual energy is completely corrupted, the ability to resist vengeful spirits is lost.

Instead, it will become an aid to the wronged spirits.

Qingye saw a dark gray humanoid creature gradually emerge behind Mizutani; that was Mizutani's corrupted soul.

"Human, if you lie on the way to judgment, your soul will suffer attacks to varying degrees."

Mizutani looked up at the tall woman. Since Hanshu was still in human form, Mizutani naturally didn't take Hanshu's words to heart.

What is the purpose of colluding with the Time Travel Army?

Han Zhou didn't care about Mizutani's attitude; she knew she'd find out even if he didn't tell her. Looking at the color of his soul, she knew Mizutani's sins went far beyond persecuting tsukumogami.

"Oh, I don't know."

The moment Mizutani finished speaking, the arm of the dark gray soul behind him was completely torn off!

The severed arm was quickly devoured by the vengeful spirits surrounding Mizutani. Having tasted the sweetness of this attack, the spirits immediately shifted their focus to Mizutani's soul.

Buzz—

The moment his soul was damaged, blood flowed from Mizutani's seven orifices. He felt a dull pain in his brain, and an itch that seemed to emanate from the depths of his bone marrow.

This made Mizutani instinctively want to scratch, but he was bound and unable to do so. He could only endure the damage to his soul.

The state of the soul can be seen by everyone except Mizutani. Although there is no flying blood, the way it seems ready to dissipate at any moment is still very impactful.

"Have the swords in the citadel already met with misfortune?"

Han Zhou's question immediately drew the attention of the Lai faction. They had initially thought only they themselves were being auctioned off, but it turned out even their comrades from the citadel were being...

"Cough cough—Yes, yes!!! I have already disguised myself as the Honmaru... The coordinates have been leaked and the stronghold has been breached."

"Cooperating with them...is to save someone who is very important to me!"

Qingye and Yuyuwu were monitoring the state of Mizutani's soul; this time, it was unharmed. This proved that Mizutani's words were true, but it was precisely because of this that the three swords sent by the attacking faction suffered considerable damage.

"How could this be? Everyone in the citadel is already..."

Ai Qi Kunitoshi gripped the dagger tightly, ready to teach Mizutani a lesson. However, he was stopped by his guardian.

"China version?"

"It's not the right time yet."

The Saniwa who rescued them was very powerful. Of course, she wasn't the only one.

Akashi Kuniyuki shifted his gaze to the other two Saniwa, who, as Tsukumogami, were extremely sensitive to spiritual energy.

These three individuals possessed immense power, far exceeding that of ordinary Saniwa (masters/spirits) of a Honmaru. This place was stained with blood. The vast auction hall was devoid of any sign of life; Mizutani himself was an A-rank Saniwa.

Otherwise, they wouldn't possess rare swords.

The only ones stronger than A-rank are the legendary S-rank Saniwa.

While Akashi Kuniyuki was analyzing intelligence based on the current situation, Kanshu didn't stop asking questions.

How did you get involved with the Time Travel Army?

"They contacted me first! They provided me with some of the formations I learned, as well as other things!"

Could there be humans among the Time Traveling Army?! Qingye made this somewhat incredulous speculation, then, as if shocked by his own thought, quickly shook his head.

Of course, this isn't the only speculation; there's another possibility. Someone in the political arena has deep connections with the Time Travel Army, and not just anyone can execute such formations.

The foul energy emanating from the Time Retrograde Army could not possibly coalesce into an array. Either the leader of the Time Retrograde Army possesses spiritual or demonic power, or those cooperating with the Time Retrograde Army have the necessary conditions to cast an array.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Han Zhou turned his attention to the swords and spears that had come from the sect.

He's now in your hands; you can do whatever you want with him.

Then Hanshu briefly left Mizutani's side with Tsurumaru Kuninaga, while Ran Toushirou chose to stand by Aishichi Kunitoshi's side and lend him a hand.

Of course, there was also a desire for revenge.

"The information we obtained this time is extremely important. Lord Hanzhou, what are your plans next?" Qingye looked at this god who could judge humanity.

He hadn't done anything wrong, so naturally he wasn't afraid of Han Zhou.

"When this auction venue disappears, the three major families will definitely become restless. They will certainly test us then."

Yu Yuwu stood beside Qingye, easily handling the probing attempts of the three major families.

Before arriving at the auction, they left behind illusions within the citadel, creating the false impression that they were still there. This method was taught to them by Hanshu.

Both Yuu-giri and Ao-yaku chose to conceal the matter from their respective clans' spirits; now was not the right time to inform them. They would naturally inform their spirits after the three major clans had tested them.

"Time is a very powerful force, and in theory, it shouldn't create something like a Time Travel Army that destroys history. The past of these three families is far less glamorous than they've presented."

While keeping an eye on the situation on the other side of the chaos, Han Zhou began to explain.

"If we compare time to a river, and a problem has arisen downstream, then we need to trace it back to its source. We need to go to the origin of time to find the answer."

To travel to the source of time?

Qingye and Yuyuwu exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding the meaning of Hanzhou's words, but they didn't ask him at this moment. They had a premonition that this matter was beyond their control.

"Use the methods I taught you to investigate the situation of the three major families."

Yu Yuwu narrowed her eyes, watching the scene of the tsukumogami disposing of Mizutani in the distance. Her black eyes were filled with sorrow as she looked at Han Zhou, who was much taller than her beside her.

"Lord Hanshu, is there no hope left for Mizutani's citadel?"

She wasn't worried about that scumbag, but rather about the tsukumogami (spirits/ghosts) inside that citadel.

His citadel has vanished into the cracks of time.

She phrased it tactfully, but that tactfulness indirectly revealed the answer to the matter.

"Yeah......"

Knowing this was the answer, Yu Yuwu looked somewhat dejected. Perhaps she already knew the answer in her heart, but simply didn't want to face it.

As the group and Ran Toushirou approached, Mizutani's soul had not yet dissipated, but it was unable to move due to being bound by the Hanfu.

As for Mizutani's body, it was naturally lifeless. The final fate of its soul was simply to be devoured by vengeful spirits.