Spark of Life 01
"Hello?"
You dropped your phone almost reflexively. Luckily, you were sitting on the bed, and your phone wasn't damaged at all. Even Ryoumen Sukuna didn't frighten you; that was the strength of the Great Demon Lord Naoya.
The great demon king Naoya is so terrifying.
You retrieved your phone and exclaimed, "Naoya!?"
"Are you surprised it's me?"
No shouting, no arguing, just the usual sarcasm.
[Are you surprised it's me?]
Naoya raised an eyebrow at best when he said this.
This is not like Naoya.
"Where's my uncle?"
"Dad has something to do. Are you okay? If not, I'm hanging up."
This is what it feels like to have the phone hung up on so decisively. You went even further, hanging up without even notifying Gojo.
I feel so sorry for him.
Am I being a bit authoritarian?
You grit your teeth and think.
You shook your head.
Gojo always teased you before, so it was impossible for you to be nice to him.
Find some time to apologize to Gojo again.
You're prepared to make a dozen calls, just like Gojo. Unlike Gojo, you're certain your call will be answered; the only difference is which one. With so many people in the vast Zenin family compound, someone is bound to hear.
No one would dare to hang up on you except Naoya.
When the seventh call was made, Naoya's voice was still heard from the other side.
"Hello?"
He drawled a little, but there was no impatience.
"Why still Naoya?"
"Is it me that makes you unhappy?"
Naoya was possessed! ?
Afraid he'd hang up again, you said bluntly, "I'm glad to hear Naoya's voice." You and Naoya always spoke your mind, neither willing to give in or coax the other. There were only endless arguments and fights. As you grew older, the fights became less frequent, and the arguments more frequent. You often didn't want to see him, yet he was always around.
As you grow older, you will meet less and less without necessary reasons.
The Zen temple house is indeed very big.
[In five whole months, you only spoke to me once. And it was for someone else.]
This month is the sixth month. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to Naoya in six months.
"I'm not happy to hear your voice."
Five months was the limit of Zenin Naoya's endurance. From then on, he would wait for the woman to call him every day.
But no.
No!
[I was very happy to hear Naoya's voice.]
Just tell lies.
But she disdains to lie to him, Zenin Naoya.
Because you said such things to Zenin Naoya, he hated you even more. You left without saying goodbye, so how could you have the nerve to say you were glad to hear his voice?
"Naoya has his own ideas, and I have mine. We don't affect each other. Naoya's ideas are not important to me."
"Don't you want to know when Dad will be back?"
You choked on Naoya, wondering when he got smarter, and he added, "Dad's back, talk to him."
The call was not hung up, it was just transferred to someone else.
Thirty minutes ago—Kyoto, Zenin's house.
"Master Naoya." Zenin Ryoko greeted warmly.
"Is it you today?"
"It's me." Zenin Ryoko continued to reply in a gentle voice.
"You didn't go out with Dad?"
"The master of the family brought someone else."
Ten minutes later.
"Why is Master Naoya wandering here?" I heard from others that Master Naoya seems to have been like this recently.
"What do I do to you?"
"Miss rarely calls home, Master Naoya. You are here——"
He knew she was a cold-blooded and heartless woman!
Zenin Naoya sneered, but he wasn't as angry as before. He just walked around Zenin Ryoko and sat down inside the room.
Young Master Naoya did not take any other action, so Zenin Ryoko just let him do as he pleased.
Twenty minutes later.
The phone rang.
Zenin Naoya answered immediately and put the phone to his ear: "Hello?"
"Are you surprised it's me?"
After a few words, Master Naoya hung up the phone. His hand remained pressed on the phone, his eyes raised, and he bit his lower lip tightly.
The phone continued to ring.
By the seventh call, Master Naoya finally picked up the phone again.
"I'm not happy to hear your voice."
Nonsense.
Master Naoya seemed to want to laugh, but he didn't.
"Ryoko? You're in the house. Oh, Naoya is here too." The head of the family said drunkenly, holding the wine jug leisurely.
"Dad is back, you can talk to him." Master Naoya handed the phone to the head of the family and left with a flick of his sleeves.
"Master of the family——"
"Don't worry about him." Zen Temple Zhibiren patted his sleeves. He got drunk outside and accidentally got some grass leaves on his sleeves.
"I need to tell my uncle something very important." Zenin Naobito understood and asked Zenin Ryoko to guard the door. This place wasn't usually visited, and no one else could hear what was being said on the phone. Zenin Naobito was on guard against the possibility that Zenin Naoya might return.
"The reason why there are so many cursed spirits and sorcerers in Japan is because of the existence of the Tianyuan barrier."
"You weren't so sure then." Zenin Zhibi pinched his beard. "How did you know that?"
"I met Lord Tianyuan."
Zenin Zhibiren burst into laughter, almost breathless. If the child never lied, he would definitely scold him for daydreaming too much.
"Lord Tianyuan doesn't ask about mundane matters, so why would He want to see you?"
"Uncle is indeed uncle."
The two sentences have similar meanings, but the subjects are different. Zenin Naobi means that it was Master Tengen who took the initiative to see you, not that you found Master Tengen.
"I don't understand what Master Tianyuan is thinking."
"How old are you, Tianyuan-sama? I am several times older than you, but Tianyuan-sama is older than a dozen of me."
My uncle would occasionally joke around.
"What did Master Tianyuan tell you?"
"My uncle saved me because he believed I had the ability to change."
"I have this intention. But the baby changes every day. My thoughts will also change." Why say so many roundabout things? It's not cute at all.
"But you still want me to do that, right?"
"It's not that I want you to do that, but whether you want to do it or not. Aren't you doing it?"
"I am trying." Unfortunately, the results are minimal.
You were silent for a moment, then said, "It didn't matter to you whether I could save Riko or not. All you wanted to see was a change of heart. I grew from my pain. You did that very successfully."
"I admit it." Zenyuan Zhibiren burped.
"But Lady Tengen has different ideas than you. She wants me to save Riko."
"What does Lord Tianyuan think?" Zenyuan Zhibiren frowned.
This is what Lord Tianyuan said to you at the beginning.
She hopes you will give her a solution to end these thousand years of sacrifice and beyond.
You don't know why she suddenly loses confidence.
You will prove it to her.
"Lord Tianyuan also hopes that I will change."
What is it that Tengen-sama wants to change...Think about what you want to do, and Zenin Naobi will roughly understand.But——"Can you do it?"
You didn't answer your uncle's question directly, but thought of something else.
Materials rich in mana are extremely rare in nature and are valuable and precious materials for spells. All those with a stable supply of these materials are owned by the oldest families. Without the support of the Zenyuan family, you wouldn't have the resources to practice with your spell tools.
You pick up a sacred talisman from the bedside. Now that you have some free time, you can try to reduce the cost of making the spell tools. Gojo has recorded many battle records. He doesn't mind having his memories peeped into.
You stroke the Shenzai.
The technique can be integrated into the barrier and operated. The foundation of the Tengen barrier is Tengen-sama's immortal technique. The illusions within the technical high school are sometimes broken by Gojo and Geto, but they are restored in the blink of an eye.
The immortal and indestructible nature of the barrier makes it impossible for others to break the barrier and find Tianyuan through violence.
The barrier is Tianyuan's home ground.
But the enchantment itself can be learned and applied by everyone.
"I've been working hard. I've made some progress lately."
That's why I called back. Sure enough, he's still a child.
He's not very good at complimenting people.
"Tell me about it."
"If the entire cursed environment is considered the ocean, then the Tengen Barrier is a barge on the ocean, and the passengers are the entire country of Japan. The entire ocean is empty except for this barge."
"Hey." The Zen temple attendant smacked his lips.
"There's salt in the seawater. The ocean is mobile, and the salinity should be roughly the same across the entire ocean. The barge doesn't move, and it's absorbing a small area of the ocean. The water in that area can't flow, and the people living on the barge keep adding salt to it, so the salt in that area is accumulating more and more."
The kid used another bizarre metaphor. But Zenin Naobi understood. The gist was that the Tengen barrier made Japan the only country in the world with a high level of mana. That was pretty much the truth—
"Do you think that's the end?"
Zenyuan Zhibiren was not annoyed when his thoughts were spoken: "Then continue." He wanted to see what other shocking words this child could say.
"This barge has a regulating function to maintain the concentration of mana at a certain level. The designers don't know what will happen if the mana becomes too concentrated, so safety measures are very necessary."
"This safety measure is very interesting. I couldn't help but think about it. It immediately reminded me of the basic knowledge that a sorcerer should know - all living things in the world contain magical energy, and humans are the most prominent among them. Other creatures only possess magical energy inherent in themselves, but humans can generate magical energy independently. Ordinary people cannot control the overflow of their own magical energy, and this is why cursed spirits are born."
"Then it would be easy to infer that 'the more humans there are, the more cursed energy accumulates in the natural environment, and the more cursed spirits and cursers there are.' However, the reality is exactly the opposite."
"I contacted Miss Jiujiu. She told me that compared to Japan, there are very few ghost stories in the United States. Cursed spirits are almost extinct, and there are very few sorcerers. There's even less to talk about ancient cursed objects. The United States has only been a country for a short time."
"The US population is several times greater than Japan's, so why is it Japan that's suffering the most from cursed spirits? Furthermore, aside from Japan and parts of Africa, cursed spirit attacks in other countries and regions are practically nonexistent. The theory that 'the more humans there are, the more cursed energy accumulates in the natural environment, and thus the more cursed spirits and sorcerers there are' doesn't hold true."
"Japan relies on the Tengen Barrier to maintain a high level of cursed energy. Why does Japan need the Tengen Barrier?"
The Zen temple attendant heard the child continue to speak calmly, but his voice was not as heavenly as before.
"It's clear that cursed spirits and cursers don't actually need to exist. Without the Tengen barrier, Japan would be no different from other countries and regions."
"I'm not telling you this to blame anyone. Except for Lord Tianyuan, all the people who did these things are dead. There's no point in pursuing them now. I just want to bring up another matter."
"Japan relies on the Tengen Barrier to maintain a high level of cursed energy." You repeated what you said before.
"The opposite is the truth: this world is incapable of maintaining a high level of magical power. The Heian period, with its dazzling spells, was ultimately a flash in the pan. Spells are not the mainstream of this world."
We've been chatting for so long that I'm tired of holding up my phone.
You put the Shenzha back on the table, put your phone on the bed, supported your body with your hands, and looked up at the ceiling.
When the spell is activated, it's impossible for you not to sense the pure emotion of the cursed spirit. With countless trips back and forth between Tokyo's urban and suburban areas, your perception of emotions has become increasingly clear and subtle as your strength grows.
You finally understand why.
Buildings and roads can diminish or even block your perception.
This leads to a new question: Why do buildings and roads affect your technique?
The land and forests both contain faint magical powers.
However, the buildings and roads constructed by humans using earth and wood do not contain magical power.
Why is this?
The "Six Eyes" can see the trajectory of all cursed energy.
Gojo was accustomed to the world he saw. This was the world he had seen since he opened his eyes. He didn't know what the world looked like to others, and he didn't know the difference between his own world and the world they saw.
So he couldn't think of "why".
But you have countless "whys" to be answered.
You used the "Six Eyes" to figure out why all this happened.
The sky, the land, the ocean—all of these were things humans struggled to grasp in the past. Even today, humans can't claim to have completely conquered nature.
The existence of the emotion of fear is just for the purpose of better survival in this world.
All the magical powers contained in nature are derived from the collective subconscious fear of nature in humankind, a fear that still exists today.
There are fewer and fewer natural creations that can produce materials for spells, and more and more human creations.
Humans do not fear their own creations.
You wait for your uncle's reply. You know the truth may be hard to accept, but it is the truth. Truth is the truth. Truth does not change based on personal opinion.
Your uncle called your name calmly.
"I'm here, uncle."
"None of this is making sense."
[Because your choice is meaningless, Miss Zenyuan. Many things in this world are predestined, and your participation or not has no effect on their ultimate trajectory.]
“It makes sense.” You gripped your phone tightly.
Uncle called your name again.
"What is it that dissipates the cursed power?"
Stone, bronze, iron, steam, electricity, atoms.
Human history is the history of tool use, and human civilization is a tool-utilizing civilization. Humans use tools to continuously explore, understand, and transform the world in order to continue human existence.
"For millennia, humans have cherished the dream of flight. Then one day, humanity achieved soaring above the unattainable sky. Another day, humanity reached a universe even more vast than this sky. When I realized this, I mastered the "domain." It is "civilization," uncle."
"My field is—"The survival of civilization."
"Ha, ha ha ha, ha ha ha!" The people in the Zen temple almost broke their necks with laughter.
"I hate your technique and I hate your domain." He said it quite bluntly.
"I hate my technique, but I love my field."
“What kind of change can you bring with all this?”
[I offer my body, my strength, and my wisdom here, and all the mantras will be hidden.]
This is Lord Tianyuan’s wish.
When spells flourish, countless powerful individuals will emerge, including spell spirits and spellcasters.
Living together with these countless powerful individuals are an even larger number of ordinary people.
During the Heian period, when spells flourished, Lord Tengen began to work on establishing the Tengen Barrier.
The name "Tianyuan" is related to Buddhism.
The Buddha saves all living beings.
The Buddha fed ghosts with his own body.
Master Tianyuan's original intention was to erase his own existence, transforming his body into a barrier. An immortal being doesn't necessarily possess an indestructible will. Curse power comes from the brain, and so does technique.
It's uncertain whether Tianyuan will remain after evolution. However, Tianyuan's will is essential at the very beginning of evolution. Without will, evolution is impossible.
Ancient texts reveal records of Tengen-sama dating back to the Nara period. She was already renowned then, and her birth could only have been much earlier. During the Heian period, Tengen-sama likely realized that her body was undergoing changes she couldn't understand, and so she resolutely set about constructing the Tengen barrier.
I'm afraid that in Lord Tianyuan's original idea, "assimilation" was not necessary to maintain the Tianyuan barrier.
Lord Tianyuan is very thoughtful.
She wants Japan to no longer be plagued by the problem of cursed spirits.
But her dream did not come true.
The reality is that only Japan's spells have continued to this day, and Japan has become the country with the most cursed spirits and the strongest spellcasters in the world.
The operating mechanism of the Tianyuan barrier has been reversed.
Lord Tianyuan had no way to deal with this.
The Tianyuan barrier is immortal and cannot be broken or rebuilt. Once built, it will last forever, continuously influencing the people of this land.
Tian Yuan needed to curb her evolution, and the world let her get her wish.
Astral Plasma is the human being most deeply affected by the Tianyuan barrier. Astral Plasma has the same properties as Tianyuan, and assimilating with it can make Tianyuan's body completely new and stop its evolution.
As soon as the astral plasma is born, Tianyuan will be able to sense it with the help of the barriers spread across Japan, and the astral plasma will eventually belong to Tianyuan.
[Let me tell you a secret, Miss Zenyuan. All the astral plasmas are by my side. Does this make you feel better?]
Today's Tianyuan is nothing more than a group of consciousness with Tianyuan's will as its main body.
It is indeed just "assimilation", not "death".
But I will never see the one I love again.
Can I still come to see you?
[You don't like Hongxing Palace.]
You keep recalling the conversation from that day, over and over again.
[Many things in this world are predestined. Whether you participate or not will not affect their ultimate trajectory.]
Ordinary people died because of spells, and spellcasters died because of spells.
Astral plasma that died for her to avoid evolution.
How could Lord Tianyuan not be sad and become cautious?
She longs for change but is also afraid of it.
She went back on her word.
You forgive her.
“What kind of change can you bring with all this?”
"Let us put an end to this long and unnecessary sacrifice in the world of spellcraft."
My uncle didn't say anything.
"Don't worry, uncle." You wiped your face. "The existence of the Tengen barrier ensures that Japanese magic will continue to exist forever. No one has the ability to break the Tengen barrier."
"Immortality" is such an annoying abstract concept.
"My area is small and cannot cover the whole of Japan. I don't want to eliminate curses. I just want to do what I can."
"To the best of my ability? I think you're being too arrogant!" Zenin Naobi finally lost his patience and shouted, "Aren't you planning on not seeing Tenriko again until you assimilate her?"
"The closer the assimilation date gets, the more likely Riko will recall the memories I marked as indicating her desire to assimilate. This will affect her choice!"
"Her choice? Even without you, the chances of Tenriko making the choice you expect are slim to none. She was born for assimilation!"
Your eyes widened. "You've never been mean to me! And what you said is not true!"
Zenin Naobi was so angry that his heart was boiling. He waved his sleeves, sat down, and said calmly, "You know the school that Tenno Riko attended and what it's like. Religious schools place a lot of emphasis on music. Coincidentally, your father was a musician. After arriving in Tokyo, you made the conscious effort to visit your father's friends. And that led to your connection."
"You're going to create an indirect, seemingly unintentional opportunity to get close to Nakano. You don't even intend for her to see you."
“Kiyoko told you,” you said calmly.
"So what? With your skills, you don't need to go through so much trouble to get into the school. You're just afraid that if you do this, the higher-ups will take Nakano Riko away."
"You're not entirely right. I simply don't want to blaspheme others with my magic."
"So principled now!" Zenin Naohito purred his beard and glared. "You're just making a 100% probability a 99% probability. You know that assimilating to Tengen-sama is indeed Tenchi Riko's lifelong belief."
"The opposite of 99% isn't 0.1%; it's zero. There are only successes and failures."
"Have you thought about the consequences?"
"I have thought about it. I promise it won't have any impact on your life."
"I can't control you anymore."
"No. By the way, Uncle, are there still rumors in Kyoto about my marriage to Gojo?"
"How is it possible! I blew it! I blew it a long time ago! I can't blow it anymore! How could those idiots from the Gojo family possibly beat me!" After Zenin Naobi said this, his anger subsided and he blew on his beard.
This girl.
Anyway, she wouldn't do something like destroying the world.
Since you're letting go, you should leave it to her with confidence.
"It's getting late, go to bed. Haven't you always wanted to grow taller?"
"hey-hey."
"good evening."
Zenin Naobi muttered something, walked out with his hands behind his back, and saw Zenin Naoya hiding.
"Naoya, come here."
Zenin Naoya called out "Father" but did not go over.
"Oh, you're still stubborn with me."
"No."
"You're blaming me."
"No."
"Hatsu can already expand the domain."
“How is this possible!?”
"I told you a long time ago that you are not worthy of her."
"Does that make Gojo Satoru worthy of him?!"
"Tsk. He's not worthy of it. Are you satisfied?" Zenin Naobi patted Zenin Naoya's shoulder, "Naoya, you can't even inherit my mantle."
"Who else but me will be the next head of the Zenin family?!"
"God knows." The Zen temple director stared.
The three major families were of the same blood. In the case of a family ritual, the one who inherited the ritual must take on the role of head of the family.
The moon is so round and bright today.
The Zen temple attendant patted his sleeves, but he had not yet swept away the grass leaves.
The Gojo family's "No Limits" and "Six Eyes," and the Kamo family's "Red Blood Manipulation Technique" have already been created. According to the rules, it makes no sense that the Zenin family's "Ten Shadow Techniques" wouldn't also be created.
There are only those newborns in the Zenin family. There's no chance of Maki and Shinji having children. Let's wait a few years and see if Shiro's child is born.
"That's not what you said before."
"That was in the past."
The head of the family can only be me, only me.
"I understand." Zenin Naoya waved his sleeves and left.
Wow, the kids have grown up and can fly on their own.
Zenin Zhibiren shook his head and said, "Ryoko, go open another bottle of wine."
"Master, can you still drink?"
"What can't you drink? Go open it."
"yes."
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