Why is my anime art style so weird?

—Congratulations, host, on completing the main quest 'White Snake Festival - Monster Mountain (4 stars)'. Quest settlement in progress, please wait...

Settlement complete, event completion rate: 90%

—Gained 10000 Mysterious Points (200%)

— You will receive the hidden reward 'Flame Crystal' and one chance to randomly increase the potential of a shikigami.

A bumper harvest! A great harvest!

The rewards gained in just one mission were several times greater than those from previous missions!

Xu Ming immediately claimed the hidden reward; he couldn't wait any longer.

Crystal of Flame: When used, it can enhance the fire attribute abilities of a shikigami.

Xu Ming immediately thought of Erina.

Previously, the ritual of purifying bloodlines using the Snow Woman enhanced Erina's ice attribute abilities; with the Flame Crystal, her fire attribute abilities can be enhanced.

Once Erina improves all her attributes, her elemental control will be greatly enhanced, and she may not be inferior to Asagami Fujino's 'Twisted Mystic Eyes'; in fact, she may be more versatile.

Xu Ming immediately summoned Erina.

Then he handed the Crystal of Flame to her.

Erina was about to absorb the Flame Crystal.

call!

A burst of flame erupted from Erina's body.

The flames were not fierce; instead, they resembled a red veil draped over Erina.

After a while, the flames slowly merged into Erina's body.

When Erina opened her eyes again, her hair shone with a golden luster, like the sun.

She noticed that Xu Ming was staring at her intently, and a look of embarrassment and annoyance immediately appeared on her face.

"Hey! What are you looking at?"

Well, it's that familiar tone again.

Xu Ming ignored her rude attitude and instead asked:

"how are you feeling?"

"See for yourself."

Erina reluctantly extended one hand.

Suddenly, a ball of fire appeared in her palm, which then transformed into a lifelike little bird, followed by a rabbit, a python, and so on...

It is clear that her control over the fire element has greatly increased.

Xu Ming nodded with satisfaction.

Erina's attribute panel now features a new ability, 'Queen of Flames,' which corresponds to the previous 'Queen of Ice.'

However, this time, Erina absorbed the Flame Crystal without feeling any discomfort or danger.

As expected of products from the system, they are always of high quality.

It's much more reliable than those substandard products.

Xu Ming then directly used the 'Random Shikigami Potential Enhancement Opportunity'.

The system immediately began executing his command.

—Random target: Haruyuki Arita (Pig Demon), enhancement begins.

—Enhancement complete. Host, please check.

The little piglet's luck has turned around.

Xu Ming quickly opened the piglet's attribute panel.

Everything else remains the same, except that the piglet's growth potential has changed from level five to level five and a half.

At the same time, an ability called 'Mind Skill: Laser Sword' was added.

Xu Ming knew that this was a unique idealistic ability in "Accel World," but the principle behind it was unknown.

Its basic function is: if I believe I can do it, then I really can.

It seems very powerful, as if it can make anyone's wishes come true.

However, this ability is actually quite limited and far from being able to do whatever one wants.

At best, it can only replenish the energy of items, make weapons sharper, or make armor stronger, and so on.

The game's mechanics can be broadly categorized into four main attributes: attack, defense, range, and speed.

Xu Ming summoned the piglet from the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and then let it test its new ability.

The little pig obediently transformed into its 'Silver Crow' form and then immediately used its 'Heart Technique: Laser Sword'.

hum!

A sound like electricity rang out, and a lightsaber, shaped like a wrist blade and about thirty or forty centimeters long, emitting a blue-white light, immediately extended from Silver Raven's palm.

Xu Ming found an iron rod and had him test its power.

Swish!

With a mere flick of her wrist, the iron rod snapped in two, leaving a perfectly smooth cut.

Xu Ming nodded in satisfaction; this power was comparable to a treasured sword that could cut through iron like mud.

Xu Ming then closed the system panel.

Having acquired so many strange points at once, he needs to carefully calculate which things to upgrade.

Xu Ming stayed in Nagano Prefecture for two days before the church informed him that the cardinal had arrived.

The visitor was none other than Bishop Perodua, whom Xu Ming knew very well.

Xu Ming quickly introduced Bishop Perod to the two goddesses of Suwa Taisha Shrine, and said many nice things about them along the way.

The two sides had a very pleasant conversation after meeting.

This incident caused no ripples in the public eye; it didn't even attract as much attention as the gossip of third-rate celebrities.

However, in the underworld, especially within Japanese Shintoism, a turbulent wave was unleashed.

The Takamagahara pantheon, Zen Buddhism, indigenous pantheons, and hidden evil cults are all stirring with urges.

Many factions even secretly worried that this might escalate into another war between the central pantheon and the native pantheon, a conflict that occurred centuries ago. That war was extremely brutal, with countless gods perishing and numerous sects, large and small, disappearing into the annals of history.

Surprisingly, the three major shrines that enshrine the Three Noble Children have a very strange attitude towards Suwa Taisha.

Instead of questioning Suwa Taisha, they even brought some shrines near Nagano Prefecture that originally belonged to other factions under Suwa Taisha's jurisdiction, as if they were trying to win Suwa Taisha over.

They clearly did something that was almost tantamount to betrayal.

Instead of being held accountable, Suwa Taisha has gained considerable exposure.

The fact that the three powerful shrines chose to retreat on their own initiative surprised many who were expecting Suwa Taisha to suffer a setback.

They couldn't help but think:

They must be doing something wrong; San Guizi has actually changed his personality?!

Only Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya knew this.

They won this gamble!

------

In the early morning, Mount Hiei is bathed in peace and tranquility, with the rich scent of sandalwood wafting through the mountains along with wisps of smoke.

Tiantai School.

As a sect that originated from China, the Tiantai school still maintains some ancient traditions.

As you walk through it, you can faintly hear the chanting of sutras and the clattering of wooden fish.

Just then, a young novice monk carefully carried two ceramic jars and hurriedly entered the temple.

He soon arrived at a courtyard in the corner.

Pushing open the door, you'll find a secluded Buddhist shrine inside.

An old monk was kneeling on a prayer mat with his back to him, striking a wooden fish with his hands and chanting scriptures.

The young novice monk, nicknamed "Leopard Pottery Jar," tiptoed behind the old monk and whispered:

"Master, someone has brought back the remains of Senior Brothers Huizhi and Huijing."

The sound of the wooden fish being struck suddenly stopped.

The old monk tilted his head slightly and said in a deep voice:

"Just leave it there."

"Yes, Master."

The young novice quickly placed the two pottery jars to the side and behind the old monk.

After the young novice monk left.

The old monk turned around, his hands trembling slightly as he took the two earthenware jars in front of him.

He stretched out his wrinkled hand and stroked the smooth white porcelain jar, muttering to himself.

"What goes around comes around, and retribution is inevitable..."

He suddenly raised his head, stared at the Buddha statue in front of him, and a look of profound enlightenment appeared on his face.

"So that's how it is! May Buddha have mercy! I understand now!"

After saying this, he closed his eyes, put his hands together in prayer, and chanted Buddhist mantras.

After some time, the young novice monk returned to the Buddhist hall.

Soon, his exclamation echoed from the Buddhist hall:

"Master Jiechen has passed away!"