Why is my anime art style so weird?

"Humph!"

Chapter 238 'Severing'

Xu Ming, who slept until 1:00 PM, had no idea what had happened in the house that morning.

What he didn't know was that in the room across the street, a brown-haired girl with a single ponytail was righteously warning another blonde girl with red eyes and a blank expression:

"Listen up, Mashiro-chan! From now on, whenever you're alone, absolutely, positively, never be alone with Xu Ming, understand?"

The adorable girl tilted her head and stared at her blankly for a while before gently nodding.

Xu Ming was naturally unaware that his brown-haired female neighbor across the street had already labeled him a 'time management master'.

After a good night's sleep, he casually opened the system and began to check his gains from the previous day.

—Congratulations, host, for completing the event 'Witch Tower: Overlooking View (3 stars)'. Quest settlement in progress...

—Event completion rate: 90%!

—Gained 1000 Strange Points (200%)

—Congratulations, host, you have received an extra reward: randomly select one upgradable item to upgrade.

— Extraction complete. Upgrading the 'Holy Sword of Physics' will now begin. Please wait...

Xu Ming immediately noticed that a dazzling, colorful light suddenly shone from the gap in the backpack.

He quickly opened his backpack, and the crowbar was now bathed in a seven-colored glow.

When the light faded, Xu Ming held the crowbar in his hand and examined it carefully.

The crowbars of today are no longer what they used to be.

At first, it looked no different from a standard product that had just come off the factory assembly line; it was just an ordinary crowbar.

However, after several upgrades, a dark red mark that could not be wiped off appeared on the tip of the stick, like undried blood.

The staff was covered with dark red runes, which shimmered with a sinister, cold light.

Just by holding the crowbar in your hand, you can faintly feel the sharp and murderous aura emanating from it.

One glance is enough to instantly conjure up the word 'murder weapon' in one's mind.

This truly deserves to be called the 'holy sword of physics'!

Xu Ming casually opened the system panel, and the attributes of the Physics Holy Sword had undergone a huge change:

The Holy Sword of Physics (4-star, upgradable) – A super weapon forged by an indescribable being, capable of disrupting the laws of physics.

Current results—

1. Force Stacking: When striking the same target repeatedly, the force stacks up. The first strike is 1 times, the second is 2 times, the third is 4 times, the fourth is 8 times, and it can stack up to 7 times, or 64 times. If the target is not struck for more than 5 seconds, the force will be concentrated and released.

2. Warp: It can ignore distance and directly and accurately strike the target, with a maximum effective distance of 30 meters.

3. Severing: Each hit has a certain probability of severing the connection between targets. This connection can be tangible or intangible. The probability is 1% for the first hit, 2% for the second, 3% for the third, and so on.

All effects are halved for targets with a soul level of 5, and have no effect on targets of level 6 or higher.

The superposition of forces increases the upper limit of the multiplier once again, while the onset time is shortened, which is equivalent to indirectly increasing the output efficiency.

Warp increases the effective range from 10 meters to 30 meters, greatly improving the attack range.

30 meters is roughly equivalent to the effective range of a short bow or crossbow, truly turning his attack into a long-range attack.

However, what Xu Ming values ​​more is the newly emerged ability—severance.

This ability is practically a direct attack on 'weirdness,' especially possession-type 'weirdness'!

For example, once the connection between the soul and the body is severed, there is only one way out: death.

The only downside is that, perhaps because the crowbar's level is too low, the 'cut' effect has a low success rate. However, since it's an instant-kill ability, significant limitations are to be expected.

In addition, its scope of application is a bit smaller, and it cannot sever even the concept like Ryougi Shiki.

Therefore, it is a weaker version of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

However, it is still better than Ryougi Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception in one aspect.

With 'Sever' and 'Warp' providing an attack range of up to 30 meters, it's definitely a long-range version of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

At least Xu Ming felt that he didn't have the kind of athletic ability that Ryougi Shiki had, which almost pushed the limits of human physical ability; on the contrary, 'cutting' was more suitable for him.

After checking the haul, Xu Ming suddenly remembered something and quickly sent a message to Kato Megumi.

[Xiao Hui, are you there? ^_^]

Kato Megumi replied to the message very quickly.

【Hey there, what's up? :)】

Kato Megumi's quick reply made Xu Ming wonder if this seemingly idle priestess spent most of her time on her phone browsing blogs.

He quickly put those thoughts aside and got straight to the point.

How is the cleanup work at the Wutiao Building progressing?

[The matter has been handled properly. Some of the victims' remains have been returned to their families and will be buried soon. The remains of those who could not be claimed by their families will be buried in the cemetery.]

That's good. Thank you for your hard work, Xiaohui. ^_^

Xu Ming was at ease with Kato Megumi's work.

Then he remembered another very important thing.

By the way, does Xiaohui know anyone named Araya Sōren?

Xu Ming's question caused Kato Megumi to pause for a moment.

[Ming, have you been in contact with him recently?]

[Yes, I clashed with him at the Wutiao Building last night.]

Xu Ming replied directly.

A while later, Kato Megumi sent a message.

He was once a monk at the Tendai Esoteric Buddhist Academy.

Then Kato Megumi added another sentence.

[Ming, do you know about the Taiwan Secret Service?]

I don't know~???

Xu Ming only knew that Huangye Zonglian's background mentioned that he was a traitor to the Tendai esoteric Buddhist monks. Coupled with his appearance and temperament, he always regarded him as a monk who had broken his vows.

As for what Taimi is, he's not a Buddhist disciple, so how could he possibly know about the divisions of Japanese Buddhist sects?

Simply put, Tiantai Esoteric Buddhism is a branch of the Tiantai school of Buddhism...

As Kato Megumi continued to explain, Xu Ming gradually learned about some of the secrets behind it.

The Tiantai school, also known as the Lotus School, originated in Tiantai Mountain, Zhejiang Province. It is a major school of Buddhism in China and was later transmitted to Japan, where it occupies a very important position in Mount Hiei, a Buddhist holy site.

It can even be said that the Tiantai school occupies a place throughout Asia and is an absolutely huge sect.

Although Araya Sōren was only a dissident from the Japanese branch of the Tendai sect, he was once a member of the Tendai sect.

The Tiantai sect can clean up its own internal strife, but if others do it, it will be seen as a provocation against the Tiantai sect.

For powerful groups, face and social standing are more important.

Chapter 239 Predicament

Therefore, I do not recommend that you take action against Araya Sōren.

Kato Megumi concluded by saying that Xu Ming could clearly sense the seriousness and earnestness in her words this time.

After all, compared to a behemoth like the Tendai sect, a small Akimiya Shrine is like an ant, and even Suwa Taisha is no match for the Tendai sect.

Upon hearing Kato Megumi's words, Xu Ming immediately felt a headache coming on.

Now it's not that he wants to cause trouble for the other party, but rather that the other party wants to cause trouble for him.

You can't just stick your head out and let someone else hit you.

Xu Ming told Kato Megumi about his concerns.

After a moment of silence, Kato Megumi replied:

[In the struggle for religious dominance in Japan, Shintoism and Zen Buddhism are not on good terms...]

Xu Ming immediately understood her subtext: the two sides were irreconcilable rivals due to the competition for believers and the right to speak, and even if Kato Megumi intervened, the other side would not give her any face.

Kato Megumi then wrote:

[Huangye Zonglian is a disgraced disciple of the Tiantai Sect. He might not openly attack you, and might even express 'gratitude' to you, but secretly...]

So if possible, spare Araya Sōren's life.

Kato Megumi offered a moderate suggestion.

Xu Ming remained silent for a long time before replying with three words.

I tried my best.

The other party immediately treated him as a target to be killed, leaving no room for negotiation between the two sides.

How can you just back down when it's a life-or-death battle? Do you think he's Master Ip, who can take on ten opponents at once?

[By the way, it seems Araya Souren is targeting the heir of the Ryougi family. Perhaps you could bring the Ryougi family onto your side.]

After a while, Kato Megumi gave another suggestion.

Xu Ming thought this suggestion was quite good.

Unlike him, an unknown nobody with no affiliation or support, the Ryougi family is an exorcism family that has been passed down in Japan for hundreds of years. They are a well-established local power and are quite influential in Japan, especially in Tokyo.

Although it cannot compare to the behemoth that is the Tiantai Sect, the Tiantai Sect would not turn against the Liangyi Family for the sake of a discarded disciple.

After all, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake.

The power struggle between major forces is not like a child's game where they insist on determining right and wrong; it is more about mutual compromise.

But this raises a problem.

If you want to drag the Ryougi family into this mess, then you have to make Ryougi Shiki and Araya Sōren clash.