Chapter 891: Chapter 562: Old Fusang and New Fusang, Shadows in the Darkness_2
Arasaka Masamune slightly raised his head and led everyone to look at the mural inside the main shrine—though the frame of the main shrine was decaying, the key parts within were still perfectly preserved.
Similar to the murals carved outside the stone lanterns on both sides of the path behind the Torii gate, but this place seemed even more grand. The war of demons and gods was vividly depicted on the murals, with menacing faces wielding power beyond the reach of ordinary people.
And at the very bottom was the position of humanity, as insignificant as weeds by the roadside.
However, these demons and gods, although they stood above all living things, akin to dukes, were not the main protagonists of the picture.
The true rulers sat in the splendid palace at the top of the painting, resembling the sun, and were humanoid beings in luxurious robes with strange appearances.
Most of their necks were much longer than those of ordinary people, with snake tails behind, and scales covered the visible surfaces of their bodies.
The pale faces, with snake-like red pupils highlighted by special paint, still shone brightly, overlooking the ignorant masses below.
"This was Fusang nearly three hundred years ago."
He said flatly, "This was once the main shrine of the Eight-headed Serpent, and the only shrine under the Holy Mountain, Mount Fuji, which is why the closest Tokyo prospered."
"At that time, Fusang had just entered the national era, and the rulers were a group claiming to be descendants of the Eight-headed Serpent."
"Descendants of the Eight-headed Serpent... the main shrine of the Eight-headed Serpent... the shrine?"
Chelina frowned slightly, looking at the serpent-like beings at the top of the mural, capturing the key point: "Are those who regard the Eight-headed Serpent as a Divine Spirit, beings bestowed with its bloodline?"
Arasaka Masamune glanced at her, his gaze flickering over her wolf ears and tail, remaining calm: "This lady is correct."
Arasaka Masamune’s gaze turned to another mural on the side, which seemed to describe the origin of everything:
The mural depicted a giant serpent named the Eight-headed Serpent with eight heads and tails.
After the great upheaval, it arrived in Fusang early and ruled over this land for nearly two hundred years, and then departed from this barren land towards the dazzling kingdom across the sea.
Before that, Fusang was extremely backward, with almost no strong individuals worthy of mention.
However, the turning point occurred after that.
Arasaka Masamune stated calmly, "Nearly three hundred years ago, a rainbow of eight colors fell from the sky, and overnight, many mineral veins emerged beneath Mount Fuji."
"Pollution, accompanying the Eight-headed Serpent’s flesh and blood, rapidly spread across Fusang, transforming Spirit Beasts into Magical Beasts, yet also brought abundance and resources to this land."
"Some bravely dug down, finding Divine Spirits buried within the veins beneath the Holy Mountain, between life and death, obtaining its bone and blood, consuming it."
"Most perished on the spot, while a rare few transformed into serpent-like forms."
"They worshipped the Eight-headed Serpent, which had ruled Fusang since the great upheaval, as the legitimate supreme Divine Spirit of Fusang, also elevating themselves as the supreme divine race, yet did not lose their heads, acknowledging the bloodlines shared by other Divine Spirits as nobles and dukes, second only to theirs."
The old man closed his eyes, revealing a reminiscent expression: "Thus... the national era began, and the nation once called Fusang returned to this land."
"But Fusang of that year was entirely different from now, an era revering beastmen and evil spirits."
"Those born with awakened talents, able to contract Spirit Beasts, were called Shikigami and were also regarded as noble figures, but many others could only seek power from those Divine Spirits, establishing shrines, offering tributes to Spirit Beasts above Tier Five, hoping to receive bestowed bloodlines."
Arasaka Masamune’s voice unknowingly raised, echoing through the shrine like a bell.
"Nowadays, people naturally know they are part of the Beastmen, at most differing in the origin of their bloodline and its tier; under normal circumstances, inferior to Spirit Masters."
"But in that era... those mastering this bloodline and the best resources, those beastmen were naturally above most mortals who could not awaken."
"Those worshipped Divine Spirits, with the blessing of faith, naturally began to break through boundaries, becoming increasingly powerful."
"However... since the Eight-headed Serpent’s pollution could transform Spirit Beasts into Magical Beasts, it would naturally make these Divine Spirits and those receiving beast features upon gaining the bloodline more ferocious and extreme, gradually losing their humanity, no longer seeing humans as kin."
"Most of the royal and noble families were so, developing atrocious cultures."
He did not elaborate, yet everyone could still feel the darkness and despair of that time.
"During that dark century, they were the rulers, and humans were merely fodder, followers, and potential kin."
"Conflicts, wars, killings... calling it a country named old Fusang was practically just a stage for those high-ranking individuals to indulge and prey, even a few Spirit Masters ultimately could not oppose them and could only ensure their own safety."
At this point.
Arasaka Masamune’s slightly closed eyes opened a sliver, a gray divine light bursting forth.
"The turning point was Kurokawa Yue’s father, our leader, Kurokawa Yue."
"Kurokawa was undoubtedly a genius beyond his time, taming a Divine Spirit’s infant form resembling the sun in his youth, establishing a contract with it."
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