Not a single bright spot in these past few days.
Over the past few days, competitors had withdrawn early for various reasons—not due to defeat, but because they had been brutally injured by that fat guy!
From what Izanagi no Mikoto revealed, he had made rounds every hundred years during the Guardian Selection, trying to persuade people to help him steal the Wooden Comb. It had practically become a tradition.
Of course, all of them had failed.
Now in Ye Liang's generation,
human thinking had become more liberated; loyalty was already a thing of the past! This time, Izanagi no Mikoto had successfully convinced everyone who entered the competition!
The promises probably involved wealth and glory, immense power, or even assistance in returning to the living world.
As for why he wanted the Wooden Comb, Izanagi no Mikoto didn't say.
"So I'm not the only one," Ye Liang realized the truth, slightly disappointed. He had originally thought he was unique, but now he wasn't so sure anymore.
Does this mean I might not be the protagonist of this world?
How terrifying!
He recalled a theory:
In novels, protagonists aren't main characters because they survive—it's the other way around. They survive, and that's why they become the protagonist!
If he were to die today, perhaps whoever successfully took the Wooden Comb would become the new protagonist, continuing the story from their perspective.
Of course, the world Ye Liang lived in wasn't some storybook tale.
He entered the arena.
At the center of the arena lay a floating cloud within the Yomi Celestial Palace, located at the upper right corner of the sky—desolate and vast. After leading everyone here, Mikamitsu Shirabe stopped paying attention to the competitors and went straight to speak with the judges.
"I wonder what they're plotting," Ye Liang mused. "Some kind of shady deal?" He couldn't help but imagine something scandalous as he watched Mikamitsu Shirabe's seductive figure.
"Hey, Brother Ye Liang. Want to earn everyone's forgiveness?" Old Man Shizhi suddenly approached.
"Forgiveness?"
Ye Liang glanced at the old man, puzzled. He understood what the latter meant, but honestly, it seemed unnecessary right now.
Once he got the Wooden Comb this time, he could finally leave the Yomi World behind. Why waste energy worrying about those villagers? Still, seeing the old man's kind eyes, he politely responded.
"What do you suggest?"
"Of course! In this Yomi Celestial Palace, there's a legendary treasure once cherished by the Yomi deity. If you can bring it out, everyone will acknowledge your strength and rely on you; naturally, they'll forgive you."
"A treasure? What kind?"
"A piece of Wooden Comb!"
"…"
So that's how it is! The old man was only using me to get his hands on the Wooden Comb!
Ye Liang now fully believed what Izanagi no Mikoto had said—that he had indeed manipulated everyone!
"Is there anything special about this Wooden Comb?" He casually asked. Since he wasn't native here, his knowledge was limited. Now that the old man brought it up, it was a good chance to learn more.
"No idea."
"…"
Alright then, see ya!
Ye Liang waved goodbye to the old man and strode away from the group.
At that moment, Mikamitsu Shirabe returned.
"Today's matches will be determined by lottery—Fighter 1 versus 2, 2 versus 3, and so on. Those who draw their numbers should get ready immediately. Come forward now for the draw."
She pointed toward the referee's table, where a box as big as an appliance crate sat.
Ye Liang barely glanced at it. Then he trailed after the others and headed over.
...
Competitor No.1: Shimura Harry!
Competitor No.2: Butsuma Leo!
...
Competitor No.17: Kameda Haruo!
Competitor No.66: Ye Liang!
The referee called out each competitor's number one by one.
Ye Liang was the last to be called. He was matched up with some nondescript middle-aged man ranked No.67. The moment he came back, Mikamitsu Shirabe's expression darkened.
"Do you remember what I told you about those few people who reached the threshold of the third layer of the Physical Forging Method?"
"You mean that old geezer?"
Ye Liang gave him a confused look. The old man had white hair and a handlebar mustache. When he saw Ye Liang looking his way, he even offered a kind gaze.
"Calm? More like ruthless if you ask me! In the previous competition, this old man tore eight contestants apart alive, going all the way to the finals! If not for a genius who mastered the third layer of the Physical Forging Method that year, he would've been the champion!"
"Ah! So this old guy is really that strong?" Ye Liang began doubting his own eyesight.
Mikamitsu Shirabe smirked slightly.
"What do you think!"
After the draw was completed.
On the arena, some were bitter, some laughed, but most faced tragedy. There were over a dozen competitors from previous events, and people as unlucky as Ye Liang weren't rare!
"Today we'll start with the lucky draws first. If you're weak, no problem—just observe the other competitors' strengths." Mikamitsu Shirabe pointed out a special contestant for Ye Liang to note carefully.
This contestant was known as Shisui Uchiha!
Reportedly, his opponents always inexplicably failed in their attacks against him!
He'd become one of the breakout new stars this year!
"Shisui Uchiha?"
At first hearing the name, Ye Liang felt stunned, then astonished.
"Damn! Isn't he supposed to be a character from Konoha Village!"
He recalled that Yomi World was the afterlife for the living world. It made sense to find Shisui Uchiha here, yet still caught him by surprise!
When he first arrived, he'd asked many people.
Spirits entering Yomi World didn't have physical bodies. Their memories of past lives gradually faded until they eventually formed new identities within Yomi World.
It was very similar to the concept of Mengpo soup in Huáguó, a mythical potion that erases the memories of the dead before reincarnation! Anyway, once deceased, people couldn't retain memories of their past lives, much like the effect of Mengpo soup!
"If that's really how it works, perhaps I might meet people who should've long been dead!"
Like Might Duy!
As the creator of the Eight Gates technique!
Ye Liang was extremely eager to interact with Might Duy!
Not for any other reason, but because if he could incorporate the Eight Gates training method into himself, his combat strength would surely leap to a whole new level!
Unfortunately, the Yomi World was vast. Not every soul descending here had the opportunity to participate in these trials. Even fewer could survive the onslaughts of the Fallen!
After finishing his thoughts, the competition officially began.
The top lucky draws today went to someone named Hatake Momo and Shisui Uchiha.
They were all newcomers who had risen to prominence in recent years, serving respectively under Oda Jushiu and Shibata Kagutaka—one was the white-haired Old Man, the other an upright and vigorous youth!
If the referee hadn't announced Hatake Momo's full name, Ye Liang never would've guessed that he was Uncle White Fang!
Sneaky old bastard! Who knew he could hide this well?
Hatake Momo stepped onto the arena with his signature chakra tanto.
The energy within the blade appeared red; Ye Liang estimated he must've used the Flame Tempering Method from the Yomi World instead of regular chakra. This made perfect sense since Oda Jushiu had many Yehuo Beasts on his side.
[Flame Tempering Method] was quite popular!
Shisui Uchiha carried a sword across his back.
He was already a master swordsman, and mastering the native Body-forging Taijutsu here made him even more formidable. With every swing of his longsword, his power surged!
Hatake Momo's expression turned serious!
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