Chương 512: -506- The millennia-old miracle
Mount Gozan.
It's a mountain quite distant from the Tsuchimikado family, seeming to touch the night sky, a majestic peak.
The mountain is densely forested, uninhabited, with only a single path leading straight to the summit, resembling an ascent to the heavens, truly spectacular.
At the highest point on the summit, all the trees have been felled, creating a clearing. Though surrounded by towering trees, the middle has been transformed into a plaza, not expansive but not narrow either.
In the center of the plaza, there's a stone platform.
At each corner of the platform, there are unlit bonfires, and in each direction, there's a torii gate resembling a shrine gate, each a different color.
The eastern torii gate is blue.
The western torii gate is white.
The southern torii gate is red.
The northern torii gate is black.
The four torii gates surround the platform, making the altar situated on it appear especially solemn and sacred.
Upon closer inspection, various ritual offerings are placed on the altar.
There's a plate painted in red, containing rolls of white silk tied with silver threads.
There's an ancient-looking saddle, showing its age.
There are paper dolls.
There are bells tied with ropes.
In addition to these, beside the altar, there are a taiko drum and a conch shell, as well as a neatly folded wataboshi.
This is the altar for the Taizan Fukun Ritual—the "Heaven's Altar"—used by the Tsuchimikado family through generations.
At this moment, three individuals have arrived here.
It's Rozen, Natsume, and Dairenji Suzuka.
The three stand in front of the platform, silently gazing at the Heaven's Altar before them, a somber atmosphere prevailing.
This situation has persisted since they arrived here a while ago.
Because of this, the ritual items needed were prepared, allowing the Heaven's Altar to be neatly arranged.
The one who made these preparations was Dairenji Suzuka, who originally intended to hold the Taizan Fukun Ritual.
By manipulating Common-Style, Dairenji Suzuka swiftly completed the preparations, creating the current scene.
"It's ready."
Dairenji Suzuka didn't look at anyone but focused on the Heaven's Altar, speaking softly.
"The ritual can begin at any time."
These words brought a sense of tension that pervaded the surroundings.
"Is that so?" Rozen nodded and said decisively, "In that case, let's begin."
Upon hearing this, without withholding her concerns, Natsume finally spoke to Rozen.
"Is this really alright?" Natsume couldn't help but ask.
"Even if it's just the Tsuchimikado family's inherited 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' and not the Imperial version, isn't conducting this ritual risky?" Natsume expressed her worry.
Rozen understood that Natsume's concern was not unwarranted.
In Onmyoudou, it is believed that after a person dies, their soul goes to Taizan.
Within Taizan lies the underworld, governed by a divine spirit in charge of souls.
This divine spirit is known as Taizan Fukun, governing both the realm of light and the realm of darkness, fairly dispensing justice to both.
It's said that Taizan Fukun is a divine being appointed from the human world, the most righteous and great person, changing every five hundred years.
The 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' is a ceremony to offer sacrifices to this divine-level spiritual existence named Taizan Fukun, to establish a connection, manipulate spirits, akin to a grand ceremony of requesting assistance from a god.
Of course, modern pantheism denies the existence of spirits, and all practices and studies related to souls are considered taboos, forbidden to engage with.
Now, although the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' Rozen was about to use wasn't considered an absolute taboo like the Imperial Soul Arts, being a ritual passed down through generations within the Tsuchimikado family, it still involved interacting with divine and human spirits. Whether there would be repercussions was hard to determine.
Precisely because of this, since Yakou's era, the Tsuchimikado family had not held the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual'. Thus, this Heaven's Altar had remained dormant for nearly half a century.
Now, Rozen was preparing to reenact this ritual, and Natsume naturally couldn't help but worry.
"Even though the Onmyo Agency hasn't prohibited the Tsuchimikado family from performing the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' again, this time it's not just a ritual but preparing to summon spirits. Is this really okay?"
Natsume wore a worried expression, making it clear she strongly disagreed with Rozen's decision.
Rozen had anticipated this and remained silent, just giving a glance to Dairenji Suzuka.
Dairenji Suzuka didn't look at Rozen but seemed to sense his gaze and spoke softly.
"You can change your mind at any time."
Dairenji Suzuka's tone was tinged with self-mockery and self-punishment.
It seemed she realized her defeat and, now in a more composed state, had come to a self-destructive mentality regarding her obsession.
Rozen just smirked.
"Don't worry, I've said it, and I won't go back on my word."
Rozen assured in this manner.
"Akikan!"
Natsume couldn't hide her concern anymore.
Seeing Natsume like this, Rozen gave a reassuring smile.
"Come on, Natsume. When have you ever seen me do something reckless? Trust me; I guarantee there won't be any issues. Just have faith in me."
Rozen made another promise to Natsume.
In this situation, Natsume couldn't say anything further.
"Do you know how to conduct the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual'?"
Finally, Natsume sighed and asked this question.
"I do."
Rozen nodded.
"After all, it's a ritual that the Tsuchimikado family has conducted for generations, even if it's now mostly abandoned. I managed to get a ritual book from my father and made some notes."
Under the guidance of Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi for many years, Rozen had essentially inherited what should be passed down in the Tsuchimikado family.
Among them, of course, was the ritual of the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' passed down through generations.
"I'll start now."
Rozen made a decisive decision and didn't delay any longer, leaving behind these words and heading towards the direction of the Heaven's Altar.
Seeing this, both Natsume and Dairenji Suzuka held their breaths.
Because, next, they would witness the millennia-old miracle of Onmyoudou.
Rozen stepped onto the Heaven's Altar and stood in front of the ritual table.
"Clap!"
In the next moment, Rozen abruptly clapped his hands, emitting a crisp sound.
In that instant, jutsuryoku surged from Rozen.
"Boom!"
Around the ritual table, a brazier was suddenly ignited, flames leaping up.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Accompanied by three consecutive explosions, the remaining three braziers also caught fire.
The braziers around the ritual table illuminated the surroundings, even emitting a hazy light that shrouded the entire altar.
"Clap!"
Rozen clapped his hands again, releasing jutsuryoku.
"Dong!"
This time, the taiko drum was struck abruptly, hit by the force of jutsuryoku, producing a heavy drumbeat.
"Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!"
The drumbeats followed one after another, rhythmically resonating.
During this time, Rozen clapped his hands again, causing the shakuhachi on the ritual table to levitate and be played under the motion of jutsuryoku.
"Woooo—!"
The long, resonant shakuhachi sound spread throughout Mount Gozan, reaching the distant night sky and the faraway horizon.
It was only at this moment that Rozen extended his hand, picked up the folded shide from the ritual table, and flipped it open.
On it, densely packed prayers appeared like sacred texts.
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