It's time to improve the strength of the infinite world

Chapter 492 Poaching
According to the agreement reached through friendly consultations between the two parties...

Hakurei Shrine has been officially designated as the sole external cooperation window for Gensokyo.

Although this decision, like the faded shimenawa hanging from the eaves of a shrine, reveals subtle compromises in every aspect.

Because everyone knows that this is obviously not a good option.

The existence of Hakurei Shrine is as subtle as a great barrier; from the perspective of Shinto rituals, it is even difficult to define the shrine's affiliation.

Its geographical location is in the ambiguous zone where Gensokyo meets the outside world.

Although part of the shrine is connected to Gensokyo, strictly speaking, it belongs neither to Gensokyo nor to the outside world; rather, it is more like a special node that defines the border.

However, given the practical considerations, this decision seemed unavoidable.

After all, there are no better options besides these.

Furthermore, considering that the opponent is a supreme being capable of destroying an entire realm with a mere thought, this fact will not change regardless of where the opponent is located...

Therefore, even the Dragon God, who dwells in the clouds and overlooks the human world, had to give it his due consideration and ultimately acquiesce to this arrangement.

Let's put it at Hakurei Shrine.

After all, it was their own shrine, so at least they could ensure that all their actions were under their watchful eye.

Despite their usual indifference to shrine affairs, the Hakurei Shrine Maidens, who had passed through several generations, never paid attention to the shrine maidens' prayers, and for thousands of years, no one had ever heard their prayers...

However, special measures should be taken during special periods—it is not unreasonable to make exceptions occasionally.

………………

The cooperation window is certainly not just a nominal entity.

They also have their own businesses.

Adhering to the principle of "not troubling two masters with one task", Xia Zhi cheerfully called over the Red and White Shrine Maidens and entrusted them with an important task amidst their puzzled gazes.

"Eh? Me?"

Reimu Hakurei looked puzzled and pointed to her own nose.

Immediately afterward, she realized what was happening and shook her head repeatedly like a rattle drum, the movement of which made the bow tie fly like a blur: "I don't want to!"

—For a shrine maiden who's lazy enough, nothing can stop her from slacking off...

Even if the person opposite her was a supreme being who transcended all living beings, she remained unmoved...

—After all, if they have absolutely no reverence for the gods in their own shrine, what is there to be afraid of...?

Beside them stood a girl, also bearing the appearance of Reimu, who was the dragon god in human form.

Ripples appeared in those golden pupils, and their light flickered slightly.

Well, I feel a little bit of relief.

Although the priestess in her household didn't have any faith in her, she didn't need those things anyway, so it wasn't a problem at all.

What truly matters is that this generation of Hakurei Shrine Maidens demonstrates a pure heart and soul—the unyielding backbone of the human soul remains even when faced with absolute pressure.

They will not easily submit just because the other side is powerful.

This refusal was as decisive as chasing away sparrows while cleaning the shrine every day.

Listen to that resolute answer; there was absolutely no hesitation or doubt.

How could this not bring some relief to the Dragon God, who had felt constantly suppressed since last night?

however……

"Ten thousand coins!"

Xia Zhi didn't even lift her eyelids, as if she had already anticipated that the shrine maiden would refuse, and uttered such a word indifferently.

"Well--!!"

Reimu Hakurei, who was shaking her head repeatedly, suddenly froze, her beautiful eyes widening abruptly.

But that's not all; in the next moment—

“It’s every day!” Xia Zhi added, the additional qualifier like a mountain that crushed a camel, “100,000 coins every day.”

"..."

"..."

silence.

The Dragon God immediately sensed something was wrong and abruptly turned his head—

Huh? Nobody's here?
The shrine maiden, who should have been standing still, had vanished without a trace.

She turned her gaze back and saw that Reimu Hakurei, who had just refused so resolutely, had moved with incredible speed, as if shrinking the distance between them, and was now right next to him.

"Ten thousand coins a day! Right!"

"Is it a cash payment arrangement? There won't be any delays in payment, will there?"

The red and white shrine maiden held the sake jug with both hands and diligently poured sake into the young man's bowl.

Her slender fingertips seemed to tremble slightly with excitement. She was completely unaware that the clear wine had splashed onto her sleeves while pouring it. Her eyes shone as if they were filled with stars.

Seeing the young man smile and nod, he gently picked up the wine bowl and took a sip.

The Red and White Shrine Maiden was overjoyed. She spontaneously went behind Xia Zhi and massaged his shoulders with just the right amount of force. She even started massaging his cervical spine without any instruction, all while muttering to herself.

“Is the force appropriate?”

"Should we emphasize it more?"

"Um... about the contract—it's called a contract, right?—can we sign it now?"

"..."

"..."

The Dragon God gazed at the figure bowing down for ten thousand coins and suddenly let out a long sigh.

tired.

So be it.

The morale in Gensokyo has collapsed, making it difficult to lead a team.

------

------

The banquet is over.

Daylight passed, and night fell once more.

Of course, this is a normal day-night cycle phenomenon, and it's no longer an anomaly or anything like that.

However, it's certainly not true that nothing happened.

Spiritual energy surged down from higher dimensions like a tide, silently spreading among the stars of the mortal world. The energy was like an inverted celestial river, surging forth from unknowable dimensional rifts, transforming into an invisible torrent that swept across the universe with Earth as its axis.

Besides Gensokyo, countless people in the Underworld, Lunar Capital, Old Hell, Other Shore, and Celestial Realm also felt this and looked up in awe.

"This kind of power..."

Seated upright in the crescent moon-like crescent, letting the night breeze caress her long golden hair, the great demon of the realm gently extended her slender, white fingers.

It seemed as if it wanted to feel the night breeze, or perhaps to catch the moonlight.

"No wonder Tsukiyomi was moved. Forget about the lunar laws of another universe, just sensing that aura..."

"You can't help but be drawn to this power like a moth to a flame."

"Even I can't resist wanting a piece of the pie."

Scattered wisps of spiritual energy swirled around Yukari Yakumo's fingertips, her pupils reflecting the wondrous scene within, like a cascading galaxy.

“You’re right, I can feel it…”

Below, in a vast field of sunflowers, Yuuka Kazami stands surrounded by sunflowers.

As the night breeze swept by, millions of golden petals swayed in unison, as if responding to the ethereal glow flowing from her fingertips.

She also drew down a wisp of spiritual energy—

“Like seeds dormant deep in the soil…” the Lady of Flowers murmured, gently clenching her fist, rainbow ripples bursting from between her fingers.

The next moment, as the ripples dissipated, the entire flower field suddenly grew wildly.

The stems rise so high they can touch the moonlight, the flower heads unfold like jade cups receiving the dew from heaven, and deep within the root system comes a tremor that resonates with the earth.

That spiritual energy was not merely an infusion of power, but rather a more fundamental gift—

As the embodiment of nature, Yuuka Kazami can sense that the cells of those sunflowers are rejoicing, and that every chlorophyll is being reorganized into a more perfect form.

Even the demonic aura that had been lingering within the flowers for years dissolved in this process.

It cannot be simply defined as "rich" or "pure," as that would be like embodying the most primal pulse of life into a physical form.

However, when she looked up at the vibrant night sky and the sunflowers raised their heads in response, it was as if she saw her countless reincarnations as a plant unfolding before her eyes.

From the first sunflower seedling struggling to break through the soil...

To the master of the four seasons and the flowers that govern the laws of nature...

“A seed? That’s a good description too.” Yukari Yakumo thought for a moment, then nodded in deep agreement: “I think it’s the key to evolution, the ladder to spiritual ascension.”

As long as you absorb this high-dimensional energy.

She was certain that her demonic power would soon experience a qualitative leap.

There was no particular reason; the sage of demons simply knew it. This was information she could naturally confirm after sensing the surge of spiritual energy.

If this isn't evolution...

—And what is evolution?
"Oh, you've made up your mind?" Kazami Yuuka seemed to understand the implication and looked at the seventeen-year-old girl in the gap with interest.

Generally speaking, this guy wouldn't just barge into her flower field.

Because that often means the start of a fierce battle.

The current situation is special; even Yuuka Kazami has lost her former interest, or rather, she has temporarily lost interest in her old rival.
"It wasn't us who made up our minds, it was him."

Yukari Yakumo smiled, a captivating smile: "We all know that although he changed his mind, the change is irreversible..."

"The only difference is whether it's gentler or tougher, but no matter how the process unfolds, a new era has finally arrived."

“I have great respect for the Dragon God, but…”

She paused, then gently shook her head: "Even the Dragon God can't change that."

Yuuka Kazami remained silent.

"Think about it, Yuuka. If we don't choose to embrace this new era, what about everyone else? Ordinary youkai just let themselves wallow in it—"

Yakumo Yukari's eyes flickered, and she changed her approach again.

"Then it would be so easy to catch up to the threshold of a great demon, or even approach our current strength... Just imagine what that would be like?"

“If you’re really determined, you should act decisively, or go directly to the Hakurei Shrine to register with Reimu Hakurei, instead of dragging me along.”

The Flower Queen looked at the purple-haired old woman who liked to act young with disdain.

How novel! It's as if no one knows what she's thinking.

"In short, I think it's time to look for a new way out."

Pretending not to hear, Yukari Yakumo continued, "Merry told me that the main races on the Azure Galaxy seem to be inclined towards Servant transformation or spiritual entities..."

"This might be an opportunity for us."

Because the essence of a monster is its spirit.

They appear to have physical bodies, but in reality they do not, and are different from humans who are imprisoned in the material world.

Therefore, monsters have stronger bodies than humans, and even if their bodies are torn to pieces, they can quickly recover.

Moreover, it does not require a simple chemical thinking center like the brain.

—From this perspective, it certainly meets the requirements.

………………

………………

"A hundred flowers blooming is not bad either..."

Xia Zhi stood on the boat and calmly withdrew her gaze.

This is an extremely calm river, flowing slowly, and you can hardly hear anything.

As far as the eye could see, the river was shrouded in thick fog, with light shimmering within it, and many moss-covered sharp rocks protruding from the river.

A huge shadow swept by—

Those were extinct fish species that lived in the river, including even giant ancient fish and plesiosaurs.

This is the Sanzu River.

A river that separates this bank from the other.

Inside the Youkai Mountain in Gensokyo, you can reach the Sanzu River by passing through the Middle Path. Xia Zhi is currently crossing the river normally to reach the other side, preparing to visit the Hall of Right and Wrong.

As for the purpose of our visit...

"Onozuka——"

Without any hesitation, he called out the ferrywoman's surname. The young man gently tapped the side of the boat, making a crisp sound, and spoke with a gentle expression:
"Have you ever thought about switching platforms? My Styx River is in dire need of someone like you... cough cough, it's in dire need of someone like you."

(End of this chapter)