How did I, an Onmyoji, become the Lord of Yokai?

Since they were there to help, Ōtakemaru and the others naturally shared the information they had gathered with them.

However, Shimizu Asahi gently shook his head at the suggestion.

"No, even if we dig through this place, we probably won't find anything more."

"Even if there are clues here, they have probably already disappeared from Ōtakemaru's operations."

"Then... is there no point in continuing the investigation here?"

"Well... not necessarily."

Faced with the black-haired girl's question, the boy narrowed his eyes slightly.

He crouched down, placed his palm on the ground, and asked, "Ah Li, Ōtakemaru said that this land is devouring demonic and spiritual power, right?"

"Yes, I remember Ōtakemaru saying that Uminari set up an array here to maintain the spiritual energy of Suzuka Mountain. Because the spiritual energy of this land was exhausted, it was driven by the array to continuously devour the surrounding spiritual energy."

After thinking for a moment, Ali nodded in response.

However, Shimizu Asahi gave a different answer.

"Ah Li, don't you guys find this strange?"

"The purpose of this formation is to consolidate spiritual power, and consolidating spiritual power represents gentleness."

"Unlike other highly aggressive formations, it is not ferocious or opportunistic. It never actively absorbs energy. Even if external spiritual or demonic power flows in, the formation will only distribute it gently, instead of greedily devouring it like this!"

A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from the boy's body like a tidal wave. However, the moment this power touched the ground, it was easily snatched away by another tyrannical and extremely powerful force!

It vanished without a trace, as if swallowed whole!

"So, you mean the problem isn't with the land of Suzuka Mountain, but with the formation itself?"

Upon hearing Qing Shui Chaoyang's words, Qing Nufang immediately frowned.

This formation was set up by Haiming, who, as a senior member of Suzuka Mountain, made unquestionable contributions to the mountain. Both Ootakemaru and other sea monsters trusted him implicitly, and he himself was extremely loyal to Suzuka Mountain.

But now, Shimizu Asahi is saying that there's a problem with the formation he set up? Chapter 243 This island, I, the Evil God, want it!

"Actually, when I decided to get involved in this matter, I started thinking about why Ōtakemaru and the others couldn't find the reason for the Suzuka Mountain incident."

“If the problem lies with the land of Suzuka Mountain, then there’s no way Ōtakemaru and the others wouldn’t be unable to find it… They are the masters of Suzuka Mountain, the yokai who live on this island.”

“They know the island better than anyone else.”

"Therefore, it's impossible for them not to find the cause of the anomaly."

"After Ōtakemaru recounted their actions, I became even more puzzled. They had gone to such lengths; how could they still not find the reason?"

"And what I finally concluded was that it wasn't that they couldn't find it, but that they overlooked it."

Shimizu Asahi stood up, looked at the three girls in front of him, and said softly, "Because of their trust in this reason, they overlooked this possibility. I came here to investigate in order to confirm this answer."

"After searching through their methods and finding nothing, I searched through them using my own methods."

"So, this is my answer."

Indeed, as he said, the sirens are the masters of this island. They have lived here for three hundred years, and no one knows this place better than them. Therefore, whatever is hidden here, they can find it easily.

The only answer to the question of why the cause of the mutation cannot be found is to ignore it.

Because of trust, they don't think things through and turn a blind eye to the answers that can be obtained simply by changing their perspective.

This is the answer that Ōtakemaru and his companions have been searching for for decades without finding it.

“Chaoyang, you can’t just give this answer. You should have sensed the atmosphere of Suzuka Mountain. All the yokai here are one family. They trust and help each other. Now you’re saying there’s a traitor among them… that’s the biggest provocation to them.”

Even if Ōtakemaru might have some strange feelings for you, they will never let you go!

Qing Nufang frowned slightly, her words filled with seriousness and earnestness.

“That’s right, Chaoyang. What you can think of, Ootakemaru and the others should have thought of as well. But Haiming is still here, which means that Haiming is not a traitor.”

Ali couldn't help but try to dissuade him, saying that this answer was too terrible for Suzuka Mountain.

However, after they finished speaking, Ibuki chuckled softly.

Unlike their attempts to persuade her, the petite ghost king seemed to want to escalate the matter, and said with a charming laugh, "That's not necessarily true."

"Ah Li, do you know that although monsters are very cunning, they are also very innocent?"

“They won’t doubt what’s etched into their blood. We might doubt Haiming, but Ootakemaru, Kyūjōra, and the other sea monsters, even if they die here, they won’t doubt Haiming.”

"So, I'm afraid no one in Suzuka Mountain has ever mentioned this possibility in the past few decades."

"but......"

Ali wanted to say something more, but at that moment she couldn't think of any words to refute it.

However, at this moment, Shimizu Asahi spoke up again.

He exhaled a soft breath, then revealed a gentle smile.

"Don't worry, Ali. I'm not doubting Haiming. Although Haiming set up this formation, it doesn't prove that Haiming is the answer."

"Array formations are a very mysterious thing. Even if no one touches them, they will change for various reasons."

"Just like the movement of islands and changes in spiritual energy, these can all cause changes in the formation."

"Therefore, what we need to do is find the root cause of the formation's anomaly. Once we find the root cause, we will know the answer."

"I see... That's good."

A-Li and Qing Nufang exchanged a glance, and then breathed a sigh of relief. They were really afraid that Shimizu Asahi would tell Ootakemaru about this matter directly.

"Oh my... Is that all? I was really looking forward to it, my lord."

Of course, Ibuki, who prefers excitement, let out a somewhat bored cry.

"Alright, we've come here to find answers. Conflicts that can be avoided should naturally be avoided to the best of our ability."

The boy smiled and said something to Ibuki.

"Shall we go find the formation now?"

As if she had just thought of something, Qing Nufang asked uncertainly, "Do you know where the formation is?"

"Um...give me some time, let me look for it..."

Upon hearing this question, Shimizu Asahi immediately showed a hint of embarrassment.

Although he is an Onmyoji and Haiming is a demon, he is not very good at formations. In addition, Haiming is a powerful demon king, and the formations he sets up are naturally very well hidden. Therefore, with his current level of skill, he cannot easily find the center of the formation.

But it's okay, just give him a little time.

While he was searching for the center of the formation, on the other side of Mount Suzuka, Ōtakemaru also made his own discovery.

He withdrew that terrifying demonic power and stared at his palm in disbelief.

Just now, he realized that the demonic power he released had been devoured!

Although it was only a little bit, he did sense that... a portion of the demonic power he used to find clues had been stolen by a sudden force.

The power in that location was weak, but extremely well hidden. My demonic energy crisscrossed back and forth, almost turning over everything within a ten-mile radius, yet I remained completely unaware until it bit off a portion of my demonic energy.

"What...is this thing?"

Ōtakemaru narrowed his eyes. Although he was very curious about what was inside, he was filled with joy.

He found it!

After more than a decade of searching, he finally found the answer here!

After suppressing his emotions for so long, he couldn't help but clench his fist. "No matter what it is, this time, I will definitely find you!"

With this belief, the Lord of the Sea Kingdom put his hand back down, and an incomparably powerful demonic force surged out from his palm once more. This force sealed off everything around him with absolute force, and no matter what was below, he would make it have nowhere to hide!

As long as that power devours his demonic energy again, he can seal it off instantly.

Now, everything is ready, just waiting for the prey to fall into the trap...

However, Ōtakemaru was unaware that the moment his powerful demonic energy surged into the earth, a faint purple aura quietly appeared deep within the soil. This aura spread outwards silently, like invisible and intangible air, easily penetrating his blockade... Chapter 244, Section 241: Hachimata: You're the ones who provoked me?

From the thick soil, a wisp of purple aura appeared silently without warning. It was like an untouchable entity, quietly moving back and forth in the depths of the earth. The invisible cage formed by the powerful demonic energy seemed to have no effect on it.

It easily passed through the invisible cage!

However, the moment it passed through the cage, this wisp of energy seemed to be stimulated by something, and it imperceptibly increased in size.

Then, this being, which appeared for reasons unknown, stopped its flowing body and began to shake its head gently, like an animal using its sense of smell, as if it were searching for something.

Then, in the next moment, it found its prey...

Its flowing form gently turned its head, like a snake, and slowly approached the place where demonic energy gathered, then gently climbed up...

Just as if it had found the best place to settle down, it made its home here!

Ōtakemaru was completely unaware of all this...

Time passed slowly, and Ōtakemaru manipulated his demonic power to slowly move towards the area directly below him. He no longer cared what was below; all he wanted now was to find that thing and resolve the crisis at Mount Suzuka!

Just as he was doing this, Haiming and Yun returned to his side.

“Young Master, we have searched every corner around here, but we have not found any withered flowers or plants. I am afraid that this is the second place on the island that has gradually died due to the loss of spiritual energy.”

Haiming reported respectfully, and after he finished, he noticed Ōtakemaru's current state.

He looked slightly puzzled, then asked uncertainly, "Young Master, have you... discovered something?"

"Ah, just now when I used my demonic power to explore this land, a strange force suddenly appeared and devoured my demonic power. Although it was only a small part, it could even devour my demonic power. I'm afraid it is the root cause of the loss of spiritual power in Suzuka Mountain!"

"I am currently blocking its operations."

"Once we block its movements, we'll be able to see its true colors!"

"I see. Then this old man will also lend a hand to the young master!"

Haiming nodded instinctively and planned to use his demonic power to help Ōtakemaru, but just as he was about to make his move, he suddenly froze.

"Wait, wait, young master, you...you just said...the...source!!!"

Haiming, realizing what was happening, was instantly there. He stared at Ōtakemaru in disbelief. His pale eyes, though devoid of pupils, exuded such an aura.

In fact, they didn't have high hopes for this operation. After all, they had been searching for more than ten years without any results, so how could they possibly find the answer here by chance?