CHAPTER 546: CHAPTER 543: SAKURA FESTIVAL! [FIRST UPDATE]

If someone in the past had claimed they would massacre the Iga Daigomyo to the ground, no one would have believed it.

But now, not a single person dared not to.

The figure once revered as an Imperial Pillar, the legendary Sword Saint, Miyamoto Musashi, had become nothing but a pile of bones. Who could muster the courage to resist?

After a deathly silence, Miyamoto Sakura finally spoke with a quiver in her voice: "The one you seek is in the Underground Palace!"

Li Chen said nothing but stared into Miyamoto Sakura’s eyes.

Frozen by Li Chen’s gaze, Miyamoto Sakura didn’t dare to look away, fearing to provoke the Killing God in front of her. She could do nothing but brace herself and meet his eyes.

Moments later, Li Chen withdrew his gaze and turned towards the direction of the Underground Palace.

As his figure gradually faded into a speck of darkness, a trembling Elder stepped forward and asked, "Princess, with the Sword Saint sacrificing himself for the empire, what do we do now?"

"Princess, General Yamamoto’s 13th Division is stationed 50 kilometers southwest of Mount Fuji, in Kawana County. We can order him to come!"

"Princess, the Second Elder is right. This Immortal Master Li is just over twenty and has already slain the Sword Saint. If he is allowed to grow further, the consequences would be unimaginable. We should eliminate him as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Princess, even if that Immortal Master Li possesses heavenly-defying Divine Powers, he is still but flesh and blood. Except for nuclear arms, the 13th Division is equipped with all high-end military weapons. As long as we can assemble them, this Immortal Master Li will certainly have nowhere to lay his corpse!"

Hearing her subordinates’ counsel, Miyamoto Sakura pondered for a moment and then gave a slight nod.

"Good, connect me to the Royal Palace. I shall report to His Majesty and request his decision!"

...

Li Chen arrived at the entrance of the Underground Palace and suddenly felt that something was amiss.

However, after deliberating for a while, he decided to enter.

Moreover, the look in Miyamoto Sakura’s eyes told him that Zhao Yuqing was indeed inside the Underground Palace.

As he opened the grand doors of the Underground Palace, a heatwave struck him, scorching his face.

Li Chen sniffed and immediately his expression turned solemn.

There was a strong stench of blood inside!

Perceiving this, Li Chen released his consciousness to investigate.

He couldn’t find Zhao Yuqing’s presence, not even a trace of any living being’s Spiritual Energy, only corpses scattered everywhere.

Judging from their attire, these people were likely disciples of the Iga Palace.

And they had just recently died.

Strange, apart from himself, had someone else entered the Underground Palace?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Li Chen quickly went forward to investigate.

These ten people, all had been slain by a single sword strike to the throat. It seemed the work of a swordmaster, with one strike possibly even from someone in the God Realm.

What’s more, the horror of the Sword Intent was perhaps not even less than that of the Japan Sword Saint, Miyamoto Musashi.

Thinking this, Li Chen’s face immediately turned unprecedentedly grave.

If this individual were an enemy, it could be the strongest one he’s encountered since his rebirth, even slightly more formidable than Miyamoto Musashi.

At this moment, after forcefully killing Miyamoto Musashi, his True Essence Spiritual Power was almost exhausted, and he was in a state of depletion, not suitable for a fierce battle.

The best course of action would be to retreat for now. To recuperate and gather strength before deciding the outcome.

But now, he didn’t have much time left.

Whether the person was friend or foe, as long as Zhao Yuqing was in their hands, he had to make a move.

With this thought, Li Chen looked up at the volcanic crater above his head.

Immediately, he mustered his True Yuan and transformed into a streak of light, rushing out like Bai Hong piercing through the sky.

The summit of Mount Fuji remained covered in immaculate snow.

On the edge of a cliff stood a cherry blossom tree over twenty meters tall.

The white cherry blossoms were in full bloom, strikingly dazzling. Countless branches hung down, like a spectacular waterfall of flowers, cascading down from the sky, stunningly breathtaking.

However, upon a closer look, it would send chills down one’s spine.

For in this millennium-old cherry blossom tree, there were not only cherry blossoms but also glaring white bones.

To be precise, they were the bones of seven-year-old children.

Japan had an ominous custom called the Sakura Festival.[Note 1]

Put simply, around the time of Qingming each year, a pair of seven-year-old boy and girl would be sacrificed to the Mountain God.

Children used for sacrifice would be hung alive from the branches of cherry blossoms, left to the mercy of wind and snow to devour their bodies.

It is said that it wasn’t until the end of World War II that this abhorrent practice was abolished in public under the intervention of human rights activists from the United States.

The reason for saying "in public" is because Li Chen saw two children’s corpses, still with flesh on them.

Clearly, these were sacrificial offerings from this year’s Qingming festival.

Suddenly!

Li Chen’s pupils shrank violently as he saw a light green scarf on one of the branches.

It was the scarf he bought for Zhao Yuqing two years ago when she asked him to be her boyfriend for a day.

It wasn’t expensive, only a few hundred yuan. But Zhao Yuqing treasured it like a rare gem, wearing it almost every day.

And now this scarf was hanging on a cherry blossom tree used for sacrifice.

Could it be that Yuqing had already—?

At that thought, Li Chen shivered uncontrollably. A chilling horror swiftly swept over his heart.

Without warning, a cold wind arose!

The cherry blossom branches swayed in the wind, the stark white bones jostling against each other, chanting like the wailing of ancient souls.

When will the flowers of the cherry tree drift away?

Seven children sing as they sink into dreamland.

When will the flowers of the cherry tree wither?

Seven children pass on, their spirits ascend to heaven.

Hearing this ancient chant, Li Chen’s mind became somewhat dizzy.

At this moment, he felt like a child lost in the desert, as if at any moment he could be swallowed by the endless sands.

Walking on, he seemed to see an oasis gleaming with water.

There were flowers and trees in the oasis, with babbling water, and a beautiful girl wearing a green scarf, smiling innocently, waving at him.

Yuqing?

Just as Li Chen was about to rush over and embrace Zhao Yuqing, he suddenly seemed to realize something and abruptly woke up.

No, this is an illusion!

For thousands of years, the souls of these sacrificed children lingered, hovering around the cherry trees. Over time, this had condensed into Yin Spirits.

As more and more souls of the sacrificed children congregated, the strength of the Yin Spirits grew stronger and so did their desire to leave the cherry trees.

Since Yin Spirits are not physical beings, the quickest way to leave was through possession!

And Li Chen’s body was the prime target for possession.

Realizing the danger, Li Chen immediately deployed the Vast Heaven Gang technique to block the invasion of the Yin Spirit.

"Boom!"

The Illusion Realm shattered, the desert turned back into snowy mountains, and the oasis returned to its original form: the cherry blossom tree.

Among the branches of the cherry blossom tree swirled a cluster of black mist, with the eerie sound of children crying intermittently.

Seeing the true form of the Yin Spirit, Li Chen was startled.

That was close; he was nearly capsized in a gutter, almost falling for the wiles of the Yin Spirit.

"A mere Yin Spirit dares to cause trouble? Today, I will send you all to hell!"

With the intent to kill still echoing in the air, Li Chen’s pupils suddenly dilated, and two winding Fire Dragons shot out, quickly reaching the cherry blossom tree.

In an instant, the sea of flowers became a Sea of Fire!

The cherry tree was engulfed in flames with a resounding crackle; the lingering spirits and Yin Spirits on it emitted ghastly screams.

In no time, the entire cherry tree, along with the Yin Spirits entwined in its branches, was completely devoured by the flames and turned into ashes, scattering with the wind.

Having dealt with all of this, Li Chen did not relax in the slightest; his expression was even more solemn than before.

He looked directly into the thick clouds in mid-air and declared solemnly, "Having watched the show for so long, isn’t it time for you to show yourself?"

...

Note 1: The Sakura Festival is not a fabrication of Little Le; it existed in ancient Japan.

The lyrics are from "Hell Girl," which depicts the Sakura Festival.