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Nanako had not come unprepared.

While waiting in Herikaku City for Lily to return from Takamagahara, she had once received a few pointers from the Madam. Though they were only brief hints, they had been tailored precisely to Nanako’s own strengths and shortcomings, proving remarkably effective and leaving her with immense gains.

Later, within the Mirror Dimension, back when Rinne was still in good condition, she had chosen to teach no one else but Nanako. Under that focused guidance, Nanako’s abilities improved greatly once more.

By now, although Nanako still remained at the Big Dipper Stage, her actual combat strength far surpassed that of an ordinary adept at the same level.

She also recalled that earlier today, just before summoning her and Lily to set out, Rinne had clearly been in poor condition, yet had still called Nanako over to impart a secret technique known as the “Sixty-One Techniques of Maiden’s Command.” It was not a combat art, but rather a specialized method meant for massaging Celestial Maidens. At the time, Nanako had not understood its purpose, but now, thinking back, it must have been preparation for this very expedition.

At this moment, Lily and Nanako stood before the entrance of a ruined, timeworn ancient tomb. Lily wore a red wide-sleeved kimono, but due to the oppressive heat, it had been altered into a short, strapless style that revealed her slender, jade-like waist and navel. Below, she wore an extremely short, low-waisted skirt.

“Sister Lily… you really can’t stand the heat, can you…” Nanako murmured. Lily towered far above her in height, and in every aspect possessed a more mature figure, yet the amount of fabric she wore was even less than Nanako’s. Nanako herself wore a pink sakura-patterned short hunting robe, white long socks, and held a sakura parasol.

“Nanako, these are Twin Protection Orbs. Take one.” Lily produced two beads, one red and one white, and handed the white one to Nanako.

“This artifact is a top-tier protective spirit treasure. When one of us takes damage, the white orb transfers a portion of that damage to the red one. However, the two cannot be too far apart, or the effect weakens.” Lily’s intent was obvious, she was compensating for Nanako’s comparatively lower strength.

“But… shouldn’t I be the one holding the red orb?” Nanako pushed the white bead back. “Since when does a master protect her attendant?”

“Nanako, don’t be ridiculous. At a time like this, why bring up matters of the Heian Dynasty? We are sisters now. An elder sister protecting her younger one is only natural, isn’t it?”

“Eh…?” Nanako’s delicate body trembled, her cheeks flushing faintly. So Lily had always seen her as a younger sister? But what kind of sister…?

Still, no matter how she thought about it, a quiet sense of happiness welled up within her. Nanako accepted the orb, silently vowing, ‘No matter the cost, I will protect you… my one and only sister.’

A gust of wind swept out from the cavern entrance, lifting Lily’s hair as she stood tall, facing the ominous mouth of the Celestial Demon Path. “Let’s go.”

Whenever Lily sought treasures, she acted with decisive swiftness, never showing hesitation or doubt. Lowering her body, she burst straight toward the massive entrance of the ancient tomb.

From Nanako’s angle, that forward-leaning sprint revealed just how short Lily’s skirt truly was. Beneath the fluttering fabric, her pale, jade-like curves were faintly visible, with only a narrow strip of cloth running between.

“A white… panties…” Nanako’s face flushed deeper as she hurried after her.

Inside, the tomb was gloomy and labyrinthine, filled with uneven terrain, intricate mechanisms, and wandering vengeful spirits. Yet Lily’s divine power had already permeated the entire structure, tracing a direct path to the entrance of the Celestial Demon Path. Ignoring the many dangers, she charged straight ahead.

The true threat of the tomb did not lie in its traps. Most had long since decayed, and even at their peak would only have posed a danger to those at the Big Dipper Stage. As for the vengeful spirits, even the strongest among them had only reached the Throne Stage, hardly worth concern. At best, such defenses might deter nearby mountain villagers.

Thus, Lily and Nanako advanced without obstruction. The moment the spirits sensed the terrifying aura radiating from Lily, they scattered and fled in all directions.

Before long, they reached the deepest chamber of the tomb. The vast burial hall lay in ruins, dominated by a collapsed wall towering nearly a hundred meters high and stretching several hundred meters across. At its center yawned a massive opening nearly a hundred meters wide.

From within the opening, a scorching wind roared outward. Inside lay a colossal cavern of jagged rock, dimly lit by an eerie crimson glow. Stone formations jutted like fangs, and sparks drifted through the air.

As they stepped through, a suffocating, ancient killing intent surged forth, as though it had been accumulating for countless years. This place had once been the fiercest battlefield among the Three Realms.

Who knew how many years had passed, how many souls—divine, demonic, and mortal alike—had perished here? The lingering killing intent was laced with the malice of countless wronged spirits. Even Lily found it difficult to endure.

By contrast, Nanako’s sensitivity to such killing intent was far weaker. Though she sensed it, it did not affect her nearly as much.

“Let’s go in.”
“Mm.”

The two sisters, one tall and one petite, rushed resolutely into the opening.
They had entered the Celestial Demon Path.

“So this is the place where the Three Realms have waged endless wars…”

Though called a “path,” it stretched beyond sight, vaster than the entire Heian Dynasty by an unimaginable margin. At its widest, the Celestial Demon Path spanned tens of thousands of kilometers, and its length reached millions.

The moment Lily stepped inside, waves of ancient resentment pressed down upon her. These were all the spirits who had died in battle here.

“Woman! Kill this woman!”
“Kill you!”
“You are the true root of calamity across the Three Realms!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
“You must die!”

Endless, overwhelming hatred crashed toward Lily like the collapse of a world.

“Ah—!” Caught off guard, Lily was struck by a sudden splitting headache and a crushing tightness in her chest. Her body swayed as she nearly lost her footing.

“Sister!” Nanako cried out in alarm. Though she too felt the intense killing intent and resentment, it was nothing compared to what Lily endured. Unaffected, she rushed forward, supporting Lily as they ran.

Lily’s body felt damp with heat, her faint, ethereal fragrance mingling with waves of warmth radiating outward.

Her physical condition seemed fine, yet she was being overwhelmed by this boundless resentment. It was as if, the moment Lily took her first step onto the Celestial Demon Path, the vast majority of hatred lingering throughout the entire realm had converged upon her.

“How can this be…? Why do I feel endless hatred…? I’ve only just stepped in—why do all these ancient, fallen souls surround me… why do they hate me?!”

Millions? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? Too many to count!

Even with her formidable endurance, Lily found it almost impossible to bear. Moreover, the long-dormant resentment here had erupted all at once. The entire Celestial Demon Path seemed to awaken from an age-old slumber. And the vast majority of those vengeful spirits directed all their hatred and resentment toward Lily.

“Sister… what’s wrong? You look strange… are you alright? Should we retreat first and make a plan?” Nanako supported Lily by the waist, holding her up as she began to fall backward. One hand, through the thin fabric, braced against her burning, supple body, but even that did nothing to ease Lily’s condition.

“…I-I’m fine. Let’s go!”

Though burdened by unimaginable resentment, Lily’s will remained unshaken. They had not even encountered a true enemy yet. If she were to falter merely from the lingering malice of an ancient battlefield, could she still call herself Lily?

This pressure would not bring her down.

In this world, only those who loved her, and whom she loved in return, could ever make her yield. No matter how powerful her enemies were, she would never fall!

She had originally been thinking about how to contend with the many powerful foes competing for the Oborozuki Soul, yet she had never expected that the resentment of the Celestial Demon Path alone would weigh on her so heavily.

“Woman… kill her!”
“Nonono… kill her? Hehehe… look at that youthful, vibrant body of hers. How enticing… It’s as if she was born to allure every male in existence. Kill her? That would be far too merciful!”
“That’s right! Pin her down, strip her bare! Imprison her here and torment her for eternity! With a body like that, let’s see just how much she can endure!”
“Toy with her!”
“Break her!”
“Torment her! Listen to her cries as she writhes in despair like in the depths of hell!”

The killing intent and resentment twisted further, transforming into a far more unbearable tide of desire. Lily had already achieved significant mastery over the Charm Heavenly Path, and her body would instinctively absorb such desire. While this greatly aided her path, it also forced her to endure overwhelming, uncontrollable urges.

“Ah…” This time, Lily could no longer remain standing. Her body gave way as she collapsed against Nanako’s shoulder. Nanako’s small frame struggled to support her as Lily’s weight pressed down, one arm draped over her shoulders, her warmth radiating intensely.

Nanako quickly tightened her hold, supporting her with all her strength. It was almost unthinkable that just one step into the Celestial Demon Path had led to this, where she, the smaller and seemingly weaker one, now had to support Lily, who stood so tall and powerful.

“Sister… are you really alright?” To keep her steady, Nanako reached her hand beneath Lily’s arm, bracing her from the side.

“Mnn… ah…” Even such a simple touch drew a soft, involuntary sound from Lily.

Nanako supported her firmly, causing Lily’s body to tremble faintly.

“D-don’t… do that…”

“But if I don’t, you’ll fall…” Nanako insisted, continuing to hold her up, leaving Lily with no choice but to endure. “Sister, in this condition… how are we supposed to seize the Oborozuki Soul? Should we retreat for now, or call the others to help?”

“No. The others must guard the Mortal Realm. And the Oborozuki Soul of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto… must be reclaimed by me.” Lily’s resolve burned unwaveringly. “Let’s go.” Supported by Nanako, she forced herself forward, step by step.

“Sister, which way should we go?”

“Anywhere… this place is too vast. As long as we move…” Lily breathed heavily, her voice tinged with strain, “my blade will respond when we get close to the Oborozuki Soul.”

She rested her hand upon the hilt at her waist, her slender fingers tracing it back and forth. The cursed blade was more than a weapon—it was her companion, her ally, another form of bond.

The blade and its mistress had protected one another, fought side by side, and shared a connection forged through countless battles.

“Oborozuki Muramasa… at a time like this, you must support me. Steady me. Give me strength…” Lily’s heart had long been bound to the blade in life and death. In moments of crisis, it would always become her most reliable pillar.

And beside her now stood her other support. At this moment, Nanako would have to be the stronger one.