Japan, Ise Jingu.

Under the guidance of a priest in the shrine, Tadayuki Kato followed the path and walked slowly inside.

The shrine is located in the midst of a dense forest with an area of more than 10,000 acres.

Therefore, the surrounding environment is beautiful, with strange flowers and plants, birds and flowers.

The Ise Jingu Shrine is divided into the Inner Shrine and the Outer Shrine, and the Outer Shrine is open to the public, and it is very lively with tourists.

Tadayuki Kato looked solemn, ignoring the lively atmosphere around him, and walked straight inside.

Although he is the chief priest of Yawata Shrine, one of the five major shrines in Japan, ---- still cautious when he walks on the land of Ise Jingu, he does not dare to be disrespectful.

Because, Ise Jingu is the highest shrine in Japan, and the deity enshrined in the shrine is Amaterasu, the highest deity in Japan!

Of the countless shrines in Japan, only Ise Jingu is dedicated to Amaterasu, which means that Ise Jingu is the spiritual leader of all shrines in Japan!

Not only that, but since Amaterasu is the ancestral god of the Japanese imperial family, the priests of Ise Jingu are all members of the imperial family.

It can be said that this Ise Jingu is the Imperial Shrine.

Following the tree-lined path and passing through the outer palace, Tadayuki Kato entered the confines of the inner palace.

The surroundings suddenly quieted down, and the noisy voices gradually disappeared, and compared with the bustle of the outer palace, the inner palace seemed much quieter.

Although the outer palace can be visited by tourists, the inner palace is not accessible to everyone.

Only members of the Imperial Family are allowed to visit the shrine freely, and no one else is allowed to enter unless summoned by a priest from the shrine.

Kato Tadayuki was summoned by the Grand Priest of Ise Jingu, Twilight Tensei. That's why I stepped into the shrine. Tadayuki Kato didn't really want to come, but he had to.

Because Ise Jingu gave him a mission, he was messed up by his men.

He was sent to China. Stealing the three priests of the tomb of the last Rong Wu more than a thousand years ago. and dozens of peripheral disciples, all of whom died tragically, and none of them were spared!

As for the two treasures in the tomb, their whereabouts are naturally unknown.

Tadayuki Kato was a little sad and a little uneasy.

He was saddened that he had lost the three strongest priests of the Hachiman Shrine in China. Hachiman Shrine doesn't know how long it will take to recover.

What made him feel uneasy was that the consequences of the failure of this mission were very serious, and he didn't know how the Grand Priest of the Divine Palace would punish him.

With such mixed feelings, Tadayuki Kato finally arrived outside the main hall of the Inner Palace.

The main hall is located in the center of the inner shrine and is the centerpiece of the entire Ise Jingu Shrine, and it is said that it is also enshrined ----in the eight-foot mirror, one of Japan's three ancient artifacts that symbolize the power of the Japanese imperial power.

The main hall is a typical example of one of Japan's ancient architectural forms, "made by the gods", with a rectangular plan and a long-sided entrance. Excavation columns, there are mountain flower pillars on the gable, hanging mountain type Cao roof, and the roof is straight. From the outside to the inside, there are several fences and fences that form layers of space. There are torii gates on all sides of the exterior wall.

The whole main hall is completely made of logs according to the ancient method, and it does not touch the slightest secular atmosphere.

Tadayuki Kato waited quietly outside the main hall, and the priest who led the way was inside to report it.

It's over. The young priest came out. Motioned for him to enter.

Tadayuki Kato nodded and straightened his clothes. He walked in with a solemn expression.

As soon as he stepped into the main hall, he felt as if he had entered another world, an ancient and majestic aura rushing towards him from all directions, making him awe-inspired, and all the noise of the outside world seemed to have nothing to do with this place

The silence around was unusual, although there were priests coming and going from time to time, but I couldn't hear the slightest strange sound, and even the tip of a needle falling to the ground could be heard.

Tadayuki Kato came to the center of the main hall and stopped.

There was a dark room on the right side, and there seemed to be a person sitting cross-legged in the dark room, and a bamboo curtain blocked Kato Tadashi's gaze, so that he could not see the face of the Ise Grand Priest clearly.

Tadayuki Kato respectfully bowed to the figure behind the bamboo curtain, then knelt down and said, "The Grand Priest of Hachiman Shrine, Tadayuki Kato, has come to meet you at your call. ”

The voice landed for a long time, and there was no reaction from the figure behind the bamboo curtain. Kato Tadayuki only felt that his heart was beating violently, and his breathing was slightly disordered, so he sat quietly on the ground, bowing his head, waiting for the question of the Ise Grand Priest.

After a while, an old voice floated out from behind the bamboo curtain.

"Tadayuki Kato, you're here. I gave you the task, did you complete it?"

"I'm sorry, High Priest, I failed. Tadayuki Kato hurriedly apologized and said, "Three priests and dozens of disciples of our Yawata Shrine all died mysteriously in China overnight, and the reason is still unknown. ”

"What about the two treasures of the last generation of witches?"

Tadayuki Kato replied, "Whereabouts unknown. ”

The Grand Priest of the Divine Palace fell silent and silent, and the surroundings fell silent again.

Tadayuki Kato's nerves were tense like a tense bowstring, and he didn't even dare to take a breath of air, and his vest kept breaking out in a cold sweat, soaking his clothes.

He knew that his fate would be decided in a very short time, even though he was also a shrine priest who was revered by the world.

But his status and influence in Shinto cannot be compared with that of the Ise Archpriest.

After a long time, the voice of the Ise priest, who was so calm that it did not carry any human feelings, floated out from behind the bamboo curtain again.

"The two treasures left behind by the last Rongo are rare treasures, and they are very important to us at Ise Jingu, and indeed to the entire Shinto religion, and they must be found again, no matter how much it costs.

Still, Kato, you've done your best. I guess that the priests under your command have probably met Chinese cultivators. The Chinese cultivation realm is like a tiger's den in Longtan, the danger is abnormal, and if you don't pay attention to it, it will be the end of your body and soul, and they can only be regarded as unlucky.

I didn't think about this matter well, and I didn't expect it to be noticed by Chinese cultivators. Forget it, we, Ise Jingu, will be in charge of this matter. ”

Tadayuki Kato couldn't help but quietly breathe a sigh of relief when he heard that the Ise Grand Priest did not hold him accountable.

However, when he heard that Ise Jingu was going to make a move, he was taken aback again.

The priests in Ise Jingu, all of whom were born into the imperial family, were descendants of Amaterasu according to ancient legends, and had a special status in Shintoism.

At present, except for the first strong man of Shinto, Yuki Masaoi of Izumo Taisha Shrine, the priests of other shrines are far inferior to Ise Jingu in terms of status.

Because of this, although Ise Jingu has many powerful priests, it is generally not necessary to send people out to carry out tasks in person, but to assign other shrines to complete them.

Now, the great priest of Ise actually broke the tradition and personally sent the strong people in the shrine to the horse, which is enough to show how much importance the shrine attaches to this matter!

Kato Tadayuki was a little grateful in his heart, Ise Grand Priest was tolerant of him, and he felt that since his subordinates had failed to complete the tasks assigned by the Jingu, he should do his part to help the Jingu and recapture the two treasures.

"Your Excellency, for the sake of the prosperity of Shinto, if there is any need, I am willing to do my part, even if I go to the soup and fire. ”

The Ise Grand Priest bowed slightly behind the bamboo curtain and said, "If there is a need, I will send someone to find you." ”

"Then I'll step back first. ”

Tadayuki Kato bowed to the figure behind the bamboo curtain, then stood up and slowly retreated.

Shortly after Tadayuki Kato withdrew, the Ise Grand Priest picked up a brass bell and shook it gently.

The crisp sound of the bell was like ripples, and it was heard far away, and it was particularly loud in the silent main hall.

Before the bell rang, a cloud of white smoke suddenly rose out of the ground, and the smoke dissipated, and a young man wearing a white high hat and a white robe, and a young man with an expressionless face and a mask on his face, appeared outside the bamboo curtain.

"Your Excellency, you are looking for me. The man was young and handsome, and his voice was quite old, like a centenarian.

"Qingyuan Chengping. The figure behind the bamboo curtain faintly called out the man's name, "I have a task that you need to complete." ”

"You just command. Qing Yuan Chengping put his hands together in the wide sleeved robe, and owed slightly.

"I want you to go to Binyang, China immediately, and recapture the two treasures left behind by the last Rong Wu. As for the specifics, you can ask Tadayuki Kato of Hachiman Jingu, who should be clearer. In addition, you must remember that you must be careful of Chinese cultivators, Hachiman Shrine has already lost several priests there! Although you are the top ten powerhouse in Shintoism, you still can't be careless! I hope you don't let me down!"

"Yes, I will do my best, Your Excellency. Qingyuan Heicheng saluted the figure, and a terrifying gleam flashed in his eyes.