I have an infinite number of shikigami-Chapter 161 - 98. All eyes are on us, people from all sides gather, the show begins.

The Onmyo-ryo Council Hall is a grand hall modeled after the Tang dynasty style.

The overall color scheme is predominantly a solemn black, with orderly window frames and pillars painted in vibrant vermilion, adding a touch of brilliance to the stately exterior. The walls are adorned with incantations and patterns, showcasing the solemn atmosphere of the shrine. Additionally, pale green sakaki branches are placed on both sides of the entrance, and shimenawa ropes infused with Divine Power are strung, preventing snakes, insects, and flies from entering.

The drizzle fell softly, and the air in the hall carried a heavy mist.

Chief Priest Fujishima of Kagura Inari Shrine walked up the courtyard corridor in front of the grand hall, paused slightly, brushed off the water stains on his shoulders, and then entered the Earth Hall, nodding to the waiting people inside.

"Kougi Guuji, how is the preparation going?"

Upon hearing this, Kougi Guuji of White Mountain Shrine immediately shook his head: "What preparations do I have, today everything depends on Chief Priest Fujishima’s performance."

"Does Kougi Guuji intend to watch idly?" Chief Priest Fujishima asked with a gentle demeanor.

"How dare I, how dare I," Kougi Guuji squinted his eyes, his tone flat, "with a yokai sneaking into the Onmyo-ryo right under our noses, how could I watch idly? Rest assured, Chief Priest Fujishima, I will certainly follow Inari Shrine’s lead today."

"Excellent!"

Chief Priest Fujishima gently bowed.

Kougi Guuji did not dare to slack off and returned the bow in kind.

While bending down, the two Kansai Palace Masters cursed each other in their hearts: I don’t believe you at all, you crafty old Kansai fox have become just like the Tokyo people, always full of deceit.

Time slowly passed, and only a few minutes remained until the opening of the directors’ assembly.

In the spacious grand hall, the number of people increased, the sky outside turned dim, and several large red lanterns were lit inside the hall, casting light all around. Thousands of Palace Masters and hosts from temples and shrines across the entire Kanto Region gathered inside today, along with juniors who came to sit in, totaling nearly five to six thousand people crowded in, making it difficult to even find a place to stand.

Kasahara Asuka turned her little head, carefully scanning each region with her gaze.

The layout of the entire grand hall bore some resemblance to that of a modern courtroom. At the very back of the grand hall, on a high platform facing directly the entrance, were five seats representing the highest power of the Kanto Onmyo-ryo, reserved for the five directors.

Those seated in those five seats were looked up to by the entire Kanto priesthood.

A bit lower, in the area equivalent to the courtroom’s defendant and plaintiff seats, were two thousand director seats arranged on either side. In theory, every member of the directors from each branch of the Kanto Onmyo-ryo had a fixed seat there, and even if a director couldn’t attend the assembly, no one else could sit in their place.

Further back, closer to the hall entrance, was an area resembling the audience seats. Those seated there usually were family members of the directors or juniors destined to inherit director positions, getting an early taste of the assembly’s atmosphere.

Kasahara Asuka’s gaze swept across her peers in the audience section.

Different people bore different expressions.

Youngsters from small shrines and temples mostly had an attitude of learning and seeing the world, with expressions ranging from cautious, nervous, to reverent; whereas some youth with background and strength, such as those from Nezu Shrine, Oomiya Iceberg Shrine, and Kashima Shrine, appeared calm, sitting upright and stable as a mountain. They didn’t need to be overtly proud, yet the badges on their collars indicating their status exuded an aura of pride.

Among them, one group of young people especially attracted attention.

They had heard the news and rushed overnight from the other four branches of the Onmyo-ryo to Tokyo to sit in on this assembly. Whether to showcase their strength or to ridicule the Kanto Branch, these individuals were carefully selected geniuses from each branch.

Kasahara Asuka looked at the badges on these individuals’ collars, distinguishing where they were from.

From the Kansai Branch, there was the most famous Kiyomizu Temple in Japan, the Golden Pavilion Temple reputed as the most beautiful in the world, the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the head of over 30,000 Inari Shrines, and Ishikiri Hachimangu, one of the three major Hachiman Shrine headquarters; there were also Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha in the Nara Ancient City; and the Onmyo-ryo Headquarters, known as the spiritual pillar of the Japanese people... all were renowned Great Shrines and Grand Temples.

The young people from the Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido branches were also from prestigious origins. For instance, Yuzu Shrine in Kyushu Oita Prefecture, Jinlin Temple in Shikoku Kochi Prefecture, the Hokkaido Grand Shrine in Hokkaido Sapporo, etc...

Compared to local Kanto youth, the outsiders wore expressions of undisguised pride. Especially those from Kansai who always enjoyed mocking Kanto people as upstarts. They looked at Kanto peers with either indifference or disdain, their gazes carrying an evaluative intent.

"Tsk, bumpkins..."

Being a native of Tokyo, Kasahara Asuka equally despised the Kansai people.

Especially since this group rushed overnight clearly intending to watch a spectacle, and the object of ridicule being elders made Kasahara Witch particularly upset. Even before the assembly started, she was already plotting in her heart to find an opportunity to sack them and give them all a beating after the meeting broke up.

"Director Kasahara has arrived!"

With the call from the hall’s receptionist, the grand hall instantly quieted down, and then in the next moment, the silence broke. Whispering from thousands began, as thousands of eyes turned toward the hall entrance, all landing on that dignified and elegant woman.

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