Hikari Mariya's breathing quickened, and her tea-colored eyes revealed an emotion called excitement.
If she had been told from the start, she would definitely have been filled with incredulity, but she had seen the old man who obsequiously smiled at **Kaido** while walking in front of the crowd earlier.
That was a scene she had witnessed last year when she visited Nikko Mountain: that old man walked with the Tokyo mayor, followed by a large group of reporters with cameras and microphones.
Children often don't think that much; although she didn't know the special meaning of a **Godslayer**, **Hikari Mariya** knew that this Big Brother was more formidable than she had imagined.
"Of course, even the Prime Minister of his country can only bow respectfully before him."
"Wow! That's incredible!"
The adoration in **Hikari Mariya**'s eyes almost overflowed.
"If Big Brother is a King, then Sister **Erica** is his official wife, meaning, the Queen?"
"How smart, Xiao Guang!"
**Erica** smiled happily, narrowing her eyes.
"Then, as the official wife, I must also give you some advice."
"What is it, Sister **Erica**?"
"Your older sister, **Yuri Mariya**, serves the King as a Miko, and as her younger sister, you will also serve **Kaido** in the future."
"I see, so I'll also serve Big Brother like my sister in the future?"
**Hikari Mariya**'s thoughts were a little muddled; at her age, she didn't yet understand the meaning of "serve."
"That's right, in the future, your Big Brother will be your Master, and what you must do is silently swear allegiance to your Master, without thinking about anything else."
**Erica** said, word for word.
Beside her, **Hikari Mariya** nodded, half-comprehending.
"So, it means to serve Big Brother with all my heart and soul, right?"
"Exactly! I can't believe you can understand such a profound truth!"
**Erica** praised her profusely, stroking her head as a reward. "**I understand! I'll certainly strive to become Big Brother's convenient woman in the future!**"
**Hikari Mariya** said seriously.
"Convenient? Children shouldn't say such things!"
After all, **Erica** wasn't a loli-luring kidnapper; although Xiao Guang would surely experience such things in the future, a Knight and an RBQ were, after all, two completely different paths.
Even **Yuri Mariya** couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat; where had her sister heard that?
"Hohoho... It seems you're not a very competent official wife."
Princess Alice covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
The girls' conversation was overheard by the head of the **Kuhoutsuka** family who was ahead, who then concluded that "the King likes young girls" and firmly kept it in mind.
Amidst increasingly off-topic chatter, everyone passed the magnificent **Nikko Toshogu Shrine** and arrived at a more secluded area.
It was a small shrine, devoid of any decoration, with walls and tiles covered in dust and moss, while the blooming peach trees surrounding it added a touch of unusual beauty to the somewhat ruinous place.
The branches were connected by exorcism ropes, there were two horses inside the shrine, and beneath the eaves were stone sculptures of monkeys arranged in a row.
There were more than a dozen **monkey god** statues in total: sitting, standing, looking at the sky, and lying down.
The three most prominent **monkey god** statues covered their eyes, mouth, and ears respectively.
Each of them represented "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil."
Peach trees were used to keep monkeys, and their peach wood was also used for exorcisms, along with the two horses and these **monkey god** statues, forming the outer seal of the "Great Bi Ma Wen spell," isolating the Xitian Palace from the outside world.
However, the floating **authority power** around them made **Kaido**'s blood boil a little; even with the obstruction of the barrier, he could feel a very faint aura of a **heretic god**.
"Leave the sword, everyone else can go."
Under **Kaido**'s order, all members of the **Kuhoutsuka** family retreated, leaving only a precious sword capable of weakening the "seal."
It wasn't a special weapon; the **authority power** contained in the sword was specifically used to weaken the seal's power.
Other than that, it was just an ordinary sword.
"Buzz—!"
**Kaido** stepped forward into the forest behind the sacred horse stable; the barrier set up to repel people instantly broke upon contact with him, and the outer seal, centered around the three monkeys, also vanished into thin air.
The aura grew stronger.
The **Son Goku** was inside.
Passing through the uninhabited forest area, they arrived in front of an ancient shrine.
In front of the shrine were also connecting ropes and peach trees.
"As soon as you cross the ropes and open the gate, the **Son Goku** will be inside."
**Sayanomiya Kaoru** had memorized her duties before coming; she was currently in her maid trial period, so she had to perform well.
"Guang, can you take this sword and touch those ropes?"
Hearing this, **Sayanomiya Kaoru** handed the Dragon-Slaying Sword in her hand to **Yuri Mariya**'s younger sister.
"Huh? Let me... let me touch it?"
Even if **Hikari Mariya** was a bit clumsy, she knew this was a very important task.
"This sword... it must be very valuable, right?"
The girl felt a little apprehensive, fearing she might break something.
"It's alright, only you, Xiao Guang, can do this."
**Kaido** said with a smile.
The reason for bringing **Yuri Mariya**'s younger sister wasn't because **Kaido** liked lolis, but because she herself was a Miko rarely seen in a hundred years, and once she grew up, she would definitely surpass her older sister.
"Since Big Brother said so, Xiao Guang will do her best."
**Hikari Mariya** looked at **Kaido**'s smile, and while silently cheering herself on, the girl placed her hand on the connecting rope.
"Click..."
With a faint sound, the barrier sealing the deity was temporarily weakened.
And **Yuri Mariya** quietly observed the connecting ropes that had lost their **authority power**, feeling both happy and worried at the same time.
Even without using the precious sword, **Hikari Mariya**'s inherent ability to "dispel calamities" alone made her an outstanding Miko throughout Japan.
"Well done."
**Kaido** patted her head, then pushed the door open and gazed at the gloomy path ahead.
"Everyone follow me."
After saying this, the black-haired young man stepped onto that single passage.
Upon entering, the light was swallowed by the darkness, and the dense gloom made it impossible to see a hand in front of one's face.
However, there were no demons or monsters as she imagined; instead, the ground felt like hard concrete, and aside from not being able to see the way, it was quite easy to walk.
"Are you scared, Guang?"
**Kaido** asked.
When he entered, **Hikari Mariya** behind him instinctively took his hand.
"A little, but Big Brother and older sisters are here, so Xiao Guang won't be scared."
The tea-haired loli responded to **Kaido**'s call, saying she wasn't scared but gripping his hand tightly.
In contrast to the warm scene at the front, the girls behind were a little noisy.
"Lily, why are you hugging me so tightly?"
"Nonsense, I'm not holding you!"
"E-that, ahhh...!"
**Yuri Mariya** let out a soft groan; someone seemed to have touched her buttocks just now.
"Your figure is quite good; the King should prefer your easy-to-bear type of body."
Princess Alice's soft laughter came from her ear, and the warm breath she exhaled made **Yuri Mariya**'s cheeks flush.
After walking for about ten minutes, everyone experienced a peculiar sensation, an unreality as if they were being torn from reality, and the sense of time also disappeared.
Alice, **Liliana**, and the other **Witches** felt their connection to the outside world weaken.
"We should have arrived at Yu Shi by now."
**Kaido** reminded them.
In the darkness ahead, a four-cornered opening appeared, radiating a bright light.
"It's truly incredible; there's a power here that allows us, as mortals, to adapt."
Princess Alice said in surprise.
This world is divided into three layers: first, the material world where humans and other creatures live; second, the "boundary of life and death" called "Yu Shi" by magicians; and the third world is the "immortal realm" where **heretic gods** reside.
Another meaning of Yu Shi is "the empty land between the human and divine realms."
In Norse mythology, "Yu Shi" is called "the corridor to the fairy realm," Indian mythology calls it "the world of thought," and Japan calls it "the world of the Yomi-Hiraka fissure."
Yu Shi is not a world where humans can survive; even magicians have to expend a large amount of **authority power** to move in it for a short time.
Once the **authority power** runs out, one must leave, otherwise, they will quickly die from not adapting to the environment inside.
Although the island nation's methods were troublesome, the barrier erected here was filled with great wisdom.
After walking a little further, everyone finally passed through the four-cornered cave and reached the outside.
Further ahead was a dilapidated, uninhabited straw hut, similar to the stable seen in the **Nikko Toshogu Shrine**.
The soft sunlight descending from the sky dispelled the girls' inner unease.
Looking outside, there were enormous palatial cities in the distance, their designs different from typical Japanese architecture, and instead filled with a Chinese style similar to the Forbidden City.
And the location where **Kaido** and the others stood was within the palace.
"There are no horses in the stable, but there's a monkey!"
**Hikari Mariya** let go of his hand and, holding the Dragon-Slaying Sword, looked around and quickly discovered a monkey lying in the corner of the stable.
"Found him, Great Sage Equal to Heaven... no, I should call you **Son Goku**."
**Kaido** ignored the others and walked directly towards the stable.
There was a thick pile of dry grass on the ground, and a monkey lay on it.
Unlike common monkeys and apes, this monkey was about eighty centimeters long, its face wasn't red, and its entire body of golden fur gleamed in the sunlight; though it seemed to be lying weakly, the aura and power it contained were enormous.
Affected by his **Godslayer** constitution, **Kaido** was almost immediately ready for battle.
"**Son Goku**, it seems everyone who comes here calls me that. Is Great Sage Equal to Heaven also my name? It sounds somewhat familiar, but I don't remember it."
Hearing **Kaido**'s voice, the monkey on the hay pile yawned and propped up its upper body, a pair of energetic eyes scanned everyone present and finally landed on **Kaido**.
"So many people have come today, and there's even a **Godslayer**! How extraordinary! Are you all here to play with me?"
The monkey did a nimble somersault on the ground and crossed its legs, speaking in an ancient tone.
"My fantasy is shattered."
**Kaido** sighed.
Once upon a time, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was the dream of countless children and even adults; the line "The Dragon Palace Throne is temporarily replaced, I claim the throne in the Jade Realm and ascend to the heavens" made many people feel heroic and wish to live as free and unrestrained as **Sun Wukong**.
However, how could this monkey in front of him be worthy of the title "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"?
At best, it was nothing more than a spiritual wild monkey.