Hyper-Dimensional Player-Chapter 427 - 47: Nine-Tailed Fox

Belief is indeed a fascinating thing.

Due to Shintoism’s animism, Fusang has left a bit of soil for the survival of many mountain spirits and wild monsters in the context of the great retreat of mythology.

If this were Europe, all the tree spirits, immortal spirits, fairies, etc., would have declined and perished.

The role of nymph fairies in Greek mythology was quite significant. They were subordinate divine maidens, hidden in mountains and rivers, but they gradually disappeared before the Common Era. However, now it’s the 9th century AD, and Fusang still has a soil for mythical creatures to live in, even managing to pull off the Night Parade of Hundred Demons during the Heian Era, with mountain spirits and wild monsters dwelling everywhere.

Similar belief systems, like Celtic beliefs, only lasted until around 100 BC.

Their ritual stones were used for worshiping natural spirits.

"This way, my lord."

"Please follow me."

In front of Duncan’s avatar, the Slippery Ghost was already drenched in cold sweat at some point. His luxurious black haori was gone, replaced by a thin white garment. He shivered pitifully in the cold wind, still having to lead the way for Duncan.

Japanese yokai are still Japanese; no need to be too polite.

At this moment, Duncan’s attire somewhat resembled a hidden character from the Taiko Chuanqi game. Though he was a foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes, he wore traditional samurai attire. There have been foreign samurai in Fusang’s history, apparently even a British one loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

He once served as Tokugawa Ieyasu’s diplomatic advisor and held a 250-koku fief.

The protagonist of the game "Nioh" is based on him.

This guy possesses abilities from both the East and the West.

Active during Japan’s Sengoku period, he’s considered a somewhat legendary figure, having slain many yokai in the game.

In this world, yokai don’t actually have that many spells; they’re more like enhanced versions from the Strange Tales, or perhaps they belong to the Black Myth Soul series of combat styles. Ordinary yokai spells are just that—they’re not much stronger than early Anya’s tricks, and many Fusang yokai are simply cut down with a blade.

Even in Eastern lands, it’s the same.

What spells?

The Daoist, when pushed to the limit, directly raises a sword to strike down people; there’s no need for so much fiddling with spells!

The back-and-forth spellcasting duel scenario doesn’t exist; a Daoist can cast a spell one second and swing his sword the next.

Sometimes, it’s much more convenient to cut someone down than to use spells.

When encountering a Daoist with exceptional swordsmanship, people disdain the need for spells, at most chanting a spell buff, cutting down mountain spirits and wild monsters, zombies, and ghost souls one by one.

The current Daoists follow the style akin to Master Uncle and Daoist Qianzhi, each with remarkable skills; anything short of mastering both magic and martial arts isn’t up to standard.

It’s the same in Fusang.

Yin-Yang School, sorry, regardless of being from the Hundred Schools of Thought or novelists, everyone has to know how to fight.

Because that way, it’s not so easy for others to cut you down.

The branch of Yin-Yang Dao in Fusang later evolved into ninjutsu and gradually became active during Japan’s Sengoku period. However, as of now, ninjas haven’t yet emerged, though their origins trace back to the Asuka Era in the 6th century.

The Slippery Ghost’s home was a rather luxurious noble residence.

This guy radiated familiarity.

Even while arranging for a servant to pour tea for Duncan, he had already changed into some luxurious attire, though it looked somewhat awkward and didn’t fit well.

——Zashiki Warashi (Fortune) (One-star Silver Gray).

Pouring tea for Duncan was a six or seven-year-old girl in red clothes, a Japanese yokai, also considered a type of spirit, residing in homes and warehouses as a god.

This yokai is alright; Duncan liked her very much.

He felt around for a bit and produced a handicraft from Great Britain, a Celtic ritual stone, with a smile, handed it to the little girl in front of him, saying, "It’s for you."

The Zashiki Warashi looked a bit frightened, cautiously taking it, then turned to glance at the Slippery Ghost behind her.

The Slippery Ghost was a renowned great yokai throughout Fusang.

It was the first time she saw the great Slippery Ghost in such a cautious, respectful demeanor; this peculiar-looking foreigner was who knows what kind of person.

"Since it’s a gift from the lord, Nafu, you may take it."

The Slippery Ghost sat respectfully in front of Duncan, bowing his head as he spoke, "My lord."

"I wonder what brings you to Fusang?"

Nafu?

Is that the name of this Zashiki Warashi?

Good name! Not bad!

Duncan sat cross-legged, drinking a sip of tea, and said lightly, "Just passing through, thought I’d take a look."

"I heard you have quite a few great yokai here?"

Great yokai.

Listening to Duncan’s indifferent tone, the Slippery Ghost instantly broke into a cold sweat, as he was one of the great yokai here.

As they say, in a mountain without a tiger, the monkeys rule. The Slippery Ghost was well aware of the actual weight and measures of these great yokai; not speaking of those far away, even those nearby didn’t really take them seriously. But being an overseas island country, not many came here anyway.

In recent centuries, Buddhism brought quite a few spirits and monsters.

Things like Yaksha and Asura were quite active.

The Slippery Ghost cautiously responded, "There are quite a few with the title of great yokai, but not sure which one the lord is referring to?"

Duncan thought for a moment and said, "Who’s on your mind?"

The Slippery Ghost pondered, and tentatively said, "Jiutun Tongzi, he’s the King of Hundred Demons, leading many yokai."

This one?

No way! Too weak.

The Ghost King is not up to par.

Occupying the mountains as a king, he might not even beat Little Drilling Wind.

Duncan shook his head, "Next one."

The Slippery Ghost diligently poured tea for Duncan, slowly saying, "Great Celestial Dog?"

A bit interesting.

But still too far off.

The Slippery Ghost cautiously said, "Qing Fangzhu? Asura?"

Why are they all Buddhist yokai?

The local ones?

Duncan shook his head and frowned, "Any older, more powerful great yokai?"

The Slippery Ghost was sweating cold bullets and, after thinking for a moment, said, "If the lord seeks more powerful yokai, I’ve heard some recent rumors."

"They say the Fox Demon near Kyoto has become quite active."

"A lot of powerful Fox Demons have appeared."

"It seems like a very formidable Great Monster has come from the Eastern Land!..."

Right.

This is it.

When it comes to Great Monsters, undoubtedly, it’s the Nine-tailed Fox.

The question is whether such a Great Monster was suppressed by the receding tides of mythology and hid here, or perhaps it used the spiritual energy here to reach the ceiling.

Duncan always had the feeling the Nine-tailed Fox might not necessarily be reliable.

He stared at the Slippery Ghost in front of him, his gaze lingering on the bald head for a moment, and asked, "Are there any other formidable figures here?"

"I mean extremely formidable ones who can still walk among mortals."

The Slippery Ghost shouldn’t bring out Amaterasu; as the Sun God of Fusang and the highest deity in Shintoism, she is basically impossible to appear in reality.

Currently, there are still quite a few female emperors in Fusang’s history.

The Slippery Ghost in front of him racked his brains, looking quite hesitant, and cautiously said, "Queen Himiko?"

Hmm?

Well, she is a figure from before Duncan’s time.

The primary human form became active after 450 AD, while Queen Himiko of the Yamatai was a figure from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, roughly between AD 159 and AD 247.

Besides, Amaterasu actually only existed a few hundred years before Duncan; the civilization here developed relatively late, and not necessarily earlier than the birth of Jesus.

Right.

Emperor Wu of Han and Huo Qubing were born more than a hundred years before Jesus.

The unified belief in Shintoism occurred after AD 300 to 400, transforming primitive Witchcraft (Ghost Dao) into Shintoism.

Envoys to Tang brought about many changes.

Fusang adopted the Tang Dynasty’s system, establishing centralized power after 646.

The mythology here is much later than the Norse Pantheon.

Many supposedly ancient mythical figures from other countries did not actually precede people from the Han Dynasty. The East just entered the age of humanity earlier, making the mythological receding point quite early.

Yamatai Kingdom was right in the northeast of Kyushu Island.

She was the Queen of Yamatai during Japan’s Yayoi Era, known for her mysterious rule and spirit communication abilities, and was once bestowed the title "Pro-Cao Wei King" by Cao Wei.

This counts as the earliest Ghost Dao sorceress.

"Interesting."

Upon hearing the name Himiko, Duncan couldn’t help but ponder, "Is she near Kyushu Island?"

The Slippery Ghost nodded respectfully, "Yes, my lord."

"However, how to meet her."

"Is not something a small demon like me would know! ... She is a presence that makes many monsters fear!..."

The Slippery Ghost’s attitude was very humble.

In Fusang, Himiko is somewhat considered a super big boss.

Ordinary monsters probably don’t even dare to approach her shrine.

Duncan was also pondering.

"If she’s from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and transformed into a Heroic Spirit, she’d probably be at least an Upper-Rank Heroic Spirit."

"But these entities who master spells wouldn’t transform into ordinary Heroic Spirits."

"Perhaps she’s already ghostified."

Cao Wei even bestowed titles upon her.

No joke, Himiko receiving Cao Wei’s title meant she possessed the legitimacy of that era.

Such figures who left mysterious tales in history must have been powerful wizards and warlocks from both the East and West; Himiko is considered one of the origins of sorceresses according to existing historical records.

If we go further, we’d have to wait for Ampere Qingming to emerge.

The founding patriarch of Tsuchimikado.

If mythology recedes further, Fusang here might also become obsolete; by the Japanese Sengoku Era, the great recession was basically complete.

"Ghost Dao?"

"Speaking of the Ghost God Dao, it reminds me of the Great Virtuous Master Zhang Jiao."

Early Fusang’s so-called Ghost God Technique was actually an extension of primitive Witchcraft, a power to command lower-ranked ghost gods. Heroic Spirit summoning and Shikigami summoning are essentially similar; the rank of Heroic Spirits is vastly higher than Fusang’s ghost gods.

The Oriental Daoism’s summoning Gods and exorcising Ghosts also involves summoning the lower entities; no one casually summons those above.

Duncan slowly stood up, "Take me to have a look."

Himiko is considered a historical figure here known for spirit communication with ghosts, existing nearly 200-300 years before Duncan; if she can still exist in a ghost god manner, she’s probably not weaker than Avalon’s Guardian Fairy.

If she breaks loose, those monsters of the Heian Era aren’t really noteworthy.

At this moment in Fusang, besides those notably mythologized beings like Amaterasu, Susanoo, Orochi, who can be deduced, Duncan was doubtful whether there were any world ceiling-level powerhouses here.

Orochi wasn’t worth considering.

Norse didn’t even see Jörmungandr, so Orochi probably doesn’t exist on a realistic level either.

A Nine-tailed Fox and Himiko.

These two are considered ceiling powerhouses of Fusang in the current era, yet Duncan still felt they weren’t quite the paragon he was truly searching for.

But since he was here.

That was the Nine-tailed Fox, he had to at least meet her.

As for Himiko, he just happened to land near Kyushu Island, where the relics of the Yamatai Kingdom are located.

"Ryukyu also has Dragon Palace worship."

"If there’s an opportunity, take a look."

This kind of local branch belief shouldn’t be taken too seriously; Duncan was just trying his luck, while also opening the surrounding maps.

Actually, he had a bit of a guess.

The Nine-tailed Fox appearing in Fusang felt like she was driven here by someone.

So the question arises.

Who in this era can drive the Nine-tailed Fox to Fusang? She should have come along with the envoys to Tang, right?

.........