Waves slapped against the hull, the horizon blurring into a haze of gray mist. Xu Fu stood on the deck, bamboo staff in hand, gaze profound and distant. Behind him, eight thousand boys and girls waited silently for his command. They did not know where this journey would end — only that this aged yet wise man was their sole reliance.
"Mount Penglai…" Xu Fu murmured, his voice tinged with doubt and resignation. "Does an elixir of immortality truly exist in this world?"
He did not disbelieve — rather, he already knew the answer. A cultivator of decades, Xu Fu understood the laws of Heaven and Earth: the cycle of life and death must not be broken. Eternal life defied nature. Even if such a medicine existed, it would exact a terrible cost. The First Emperor's obsession was nothing more than a mortal's fear of death.
Yet fate had other plans. A sudden storm destroyed his fleet. Only one vessel survived, drifting aimlessly until it washed ashore upon a strange land — the Japanese archipelago. When Xu Fu stepped upon this soil, he felt an unfamiliar stillness, a mystery. No wars of the Central Plains, no tyranny of Qin's harsh laws, only vast forests, clear streams, and simple natives.
But danger lurked beneath the peace. Soon Xu Fu learned of a monster dwelling on the island — the Yamata no Orochi. It devoured livestock, slaughtered villagers, and threatened the tribe's very survival. Xu Fu frowned at the tale. He knew: if he wished to remain, he must rid them of this calamity.
Night fell. At the foot of Mount Fuji, the earth was steeped in silence. The air reeked of blood and sulfur, as if doom hovered near. Xu Fu walked into the darkness, his frail figure steady with resolve.
"Beast!" His voice boomed, echoing across the valley.
A roar shook the land. The ground split, and from beneath rose a colossal serpent. Its body coiled like mountain ridges, eight hideous heads rearing high, crimson eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"Mortal… you dare disturb my slumber?" one head rasped, dripping with disdain.
Xu Fu gave no reply. He gripped his staff, shut his eyes, and began chanting. Each syllable fell like a star into the void, stirring Heaven and Earth. A surge of spiritual energy burst from him, blazing gold against the night.
The Orochi writhed, agitated by this power. With a roar, its eight mouths spewed poisonous mists, painting the air a ghastly purple. Plants withered, rocks shattered, even the air corroded.
"A mere human dares defy me?" another head mocked.
Xu Fu's eyes snapped open, cold light flashing within. He raised his staff. "Wind and thunder — subdue the fiend!"
The heavens darkened. Clouds churned, thunder cracked, winds howled. A bolt of lightning split the sky, striking one of the serpent's heads. Blinding brilliance seared the night, the crash echoing like mountains breaking. Black smoke gushed from the wound, foul blood pouring forth. The beast only grew more frenzied, its seven other heads belching fire, a storm of flame rushing at Xu Fu.
Unfazed, Xu Fu's hands flew through seals. He thrust his palms forward. "Five Elements converge — water and fire, unite!"
A roaring flood materialized, smothering the inferno. The waters twisted into a massive vortex, swallowing the Orochi whole. The serpent thrashed violently, waves exploding skyward. Its massive tail whipped at Xu Fu, a blow of pure destruction.
He dodged aside, countering with a sweep of his staff, golden light intercepting the strike. Power clashed, sparks burst, trees ripped from the ground by the shockwave.
The battle blazed to its peak. Xu Fu knew brute force alone could not prevail. Only Heaven and Earth themselves could bind the Orochi. Sitting cross-legged, he formed seal after seal, sweat beading on his brow but his eyes resolute.
"Heaven and Earth without limit — lend me your strength!"
The world stirred. Spiritual energy flooded into him, his body radiating golden brilliance, like a sun reborn. He rose, staff lifted to the heavens.
"Seal — Eightfold Binding!"
Runes rained from the sky, encircling the Orochi. They spun, weaving a radiant barrier. No matter how it struggled, the beast could not break free.
At dawn's first light, the Yamata no Orochi loosed a final, despairing roar before its massive body sank into the earth, vanishing. Xu Fu collapsed, spent of every ounce of power, gasping for breath.
"It's done…" he whispered, weariness softening into a faint, relieved smile.
Xu Fu did not return to Qin. The battle had drained his life's essence. Knowing he could never go home, he remained. He taught the islanders agriculture, medicine, and, above all, passed down his Daoist arts. Thus was born the lineage of Onmyoji, sworn to guard the Orochi's seal across generations.
In time, Xu Fu was revered as "Tenno," while the tale of the Yamata no Orochi became a secret vigil, passed from one Onmyoji to the next.