Chapter 103: An Enraged Kikyo—Daring to Strike the Creator God?
"Time is truly a fascinating force."
Noah retrieved the Time Authority from the Tree of Ages and Bone-Eater's Well, carefully sensing the differences between Teyvat's time laws and Inuyasha's time laws.
In terms of quality, Teyvat's Time Authority was undoubtedly superior.
However, in terms of flexibility, Inuyasha's world offered far greater manipulability.
Teyvat's River of Time was composed of countless fragments of time, making it extremely difficult to alter the past.
Conversely, Inuyasha's River of Time was composed of grains of sand. As long as the total amount of sand remained unchanged, the river would naturally restore itself, preventing catastrophic temporal distortions.
After Noah absorbed the Time Authority, Istaroth, as the Ruler of Time, was instantly granted shared access.
Feeling her strength double, Istaroth cheered excitedly, spinning around Noah in circles.
"Yay! My Authority has leveled up again! Hehe, now I'm officially the strongest of the Four Shades!"
Noah, his vision spinning from her movements, firmly grabbed her ankle, his tone domineering.
"You're only the strongest if I say so. If I'm in a bad mood one day, you'll be the weakest instead."
Istaroth immediately clutched her cheeks, looking at him pitifully.
"Master…"
Noah remained stern.
"Give me a smile."
Istaroth immediately stretched her face into a wide, exaggerated grin.
"Hehe!"
Noah, satisfied, nodded and released her.
Istaroth, inwardly, was muttering grievances about her wicked master.
"This world's River of Time has gates that appear at regular intervals. It seems these serve to correct errors over time—each segment represents a distinct era."
"The next era begins in several decades. Let's take a look."
With that, he took a single step forward, his body dissolving into the air like foam, vanishing.
Noah entered the Interstice of Time, where countless glowing fragments flowed like a galactic river.
Each point of light was a grain of time's sand, collectively forming the temporal flow of an entire world.
As long as the Time Sand remained intact, no paradoxes would ever occur, regardless of how much one tampered with the past.
This was why Kagome and Kikyo could exist simultaneously.
Though Kagome was Kikyo's reincarnation, she was also not—they were temporal counterparts from different periods.
Even if Kagome traveled back to the Sengoku era and killed Kikyo, she would not disappear—the Time Sand would correct any anomalies.
Even if Kikyo vanished from Inuyasha's world, Kagome would still be born, as the River of Time had already predestined her existence.
In that case, Kagome and Kikyo would simply become two distinct individuals with identical souls.
After leaping into the River of Time, Noah and Istaroth momentarily lost their vision before returning to the world.
They were still standing before the Tree of Ages, but now it had grown significantly taller, with many more branches.
As Noah and Istaroth strolled out of the maple forest, they chatted casually.
"Wow, the Time Authority has really evolved! Before, we couldn't freely jump between past and future like this!"
Emerging from the maple forest, they arrived once again at Maple Village.
It was now fifty years later—the era of divine rule under the True Gods.
The entire world was now unified under the nation of Liyue.
Even a small village like Maple Village enjoyed a life free of worries.
Looking across the fields, humans and yokai worked together, each fulfilling their role, creating a harmonious paradise.
For a noble-looking traveler like Noah, accompanied by a small floating creature like Paimon, their presence was entirely normal in this era.
No villagers cast them strange glances.
After all, merchants and travelers frequently passed through their village.
To the people of this era, they had no concept of yokai and humans harming one another.
However, conflicts still existed—after all, where there are people, there will be disputes.
And in a world where humans and yokai coexisted, such conflicts were inevitable.
In these situations, the shrine maidens and onmyoji—who served the True Gods—were responsible for mediating disputes.
In this village, the shrine maiden who served the True Gods was none other than Kikyo.
Noah and Istaroth entered the shrine and were slightly surprised to see who was enshrined here.
It was not the Rex Lapis.
Nor was it the six newly ascended gods, nor the Adepti.
It was him—Ame-no-Minakanushi—the Lord of the August Center of Heaven himself.
At that moment, a cold yet commanding voice rang out.
"Who are you? Do you realize this shrine is dedicated to Ame-no-Minakanushi? Staring directly at the gods is an act of great disrespect."
Noah turned around with a smile, while Istaroth, mimicking him, placed her hand on her chin, her starlit eyes observing the speaker.
The first thing they saw was the red-and-white shrine maiden attire, followed by a pair of delicate, sorrowful eyes.
Her exquisite features, paired with her long, silky black hair styled in a hime cut, tied with a pure white ribbon, made for a perfect picture of grace.
Her lips carried a faint cherry blossom hue, and her aura exuded a refined yet sacred presence.
She was a beautiful young girl, and her shrine maiden attire only enhanced her appeal.
If Noah had to pick a favorite divine attire from anime, it would undoubtedly be the shrine maiden outfit.
After all, shrine maidens naturally carried an aura of holiness.
More importantly, shrine maidens dedicated both their body and soul to the gods they served.
In a sense, they were the gods' attendants and concubines.
Noah's lips curved slightly.
He wanted to tease this shrine maiden who unknowingly served him.
"Every other shrine worships the Sovereign, the newly ascended gods, or the immortals. Why is it that your small village shrine worships Ame-no-Minakanushi?"
"You should know that the Creator God never responds to anyone's prayers. After all, to a Creator God, the entire world is their creation—why would they care whether or not their creations worship them?"
"For humans, a Creator God is no different from empty air."
Istaroth nodded.
"That's right. Worshiping the Creator God is meaningless for humans."
It was the same as Phanes—although Phanes cared for humans, he never fulfilled their wishes, nor did he listen to their prayers.
The gods existed at a level far beyond human concerns.
Kikyo's face turned red with anger.
These two intruders had barged into the shrine dedicated to her god, disrespected its sanctity, and now, right in front of her, they were insulting the very deity she served!
"You two disrespectful fools—get out immediately!"
"The shrine does not welcome you!"
Without hesitation, she grabbed a broom and swung it straight at Noah and Istaroth.
Istaroth was stunned.
My god—she's actually trying to hit the Heavenly Principle with a broom?!
Noah, of course, wouldn't be hit by a mere broom. Besides, Kikyo was only trying to drive them away—if she had truly wanted to exorcise them, she would have used her spiritual power directly.
Pa!
He raised his hand and caught Kikyo's wrist. She froze, not expecting him to neither dodge nor retreat, but instead to fight back. And in front of the shrine, no less. Her eyes immediately filled with anger.
Buzz—
A surge of spiritual power burst forth from her body, forming a blue aura around her shrine maiden robes. With her free hand, she swung toward Noah's face. A spirit-infused slap wouldn't injure him, but it would forcefully expel him from the shrine.
Noah lifted his other hand and caught her second wrist, speaking with amusement. "Is this the extent of a shrine maiden serving the Lord of the August Center of Heaven? Your spiritual power is indeed strong—but it is far from the level of immortals. Has your god never blessed you? That would make him exceptionally stingy."
Kikyo gritted her teeth—her spiritual power had been completely sealed. This man was neither an ordinary person nor a simple onmyōi. But hearing him continue to speak disrespectfully about her god, she snapped in fury.
"Ame-no-Minakanushi-sama may have never granted me a blessing, nor acknowledged me as his shrine maiden—but he created all things in existence. Every life in this world should hold reverence for Him. You, a blasphemer—leave this shrine immediately! Otherwise—"
Before she could finish, Noah pulled her into his embrace, wrapping an arm around her waist, and smirked. "Haha, well said. But only a rare few think as you do. I like you."
Kikyo's expression changed drastically. To think that a mere mortal would tease her in front of the shrine of the Creator God! This was blasphemy of the highest order. Yet before she could explode in rage, her emotions—anger and panic alike—vanished instantly.
An indescribable sense of peace settled over her. The man she had thought to be irreverent now radiated an aura of absolute divinity. Behind him, a golden divine halo slowly revolved.
A god.
Even if one had never seen him before, even if one did not recognize Him—The moment they laid eyes upon him, they would know. He was a god. Of course, this was only if the god chose to reveal His divine presence.
Noah gazed at the dazed Kikyo, his fingertip lifting her chin playfully. "Heh. I won't tease you any further. A shrine maiden who worships me… Your words have pleased me. I now recognize you as my shrine maiden."
He had only revealed the faintest trace of his Eternal Throne's aura—merely at the level of a Subordinate God. Otherwise, the mere presence of his existence would have triggered celestial omens across the land.
Kikyo snapped back to reality, her expression quickly shifting to guilt and worry. If not for the fact that Noah was holding her, she would have already kneeled in reverence.
"Ame-no-Minakanushi-sama…! I… I did not recognize You… And I… I even acted disrespectfully toward You—"
Before she could finish, Noah lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.
Kikyo's eyes widened in shock.
She had expected punishment.
But instead… she was kissed by the god she worshiped.
A god's kiss was a miracle of unparalleled power—and the kiss of the Heavenly Principle was beyond imagination.
This was, in truth, a blessing. Even though Noah did not grant Kikyo any divine power, his essence now lingered upon her. From this moment on, everything she did would go smoothly. No matter what obstacles she faced, she would always prevail. In this world, she was now essentially a daughter of destiny.
Istaroth watched the scene unfold with great amusement.
So this was his goal for coming here.
A human girl.
In the memories of this world granted to her by her master, this girl was essentially a protagonist.
A realization suddenly dawned upon her.
Her master possessed human emotions. And if he possessed human emotions… then he must also possess…
The desire to collect things.
This human girl—was she merely another addition to his collection?
Ten minutes later.
Noah finally released the girl, who had long since ceased all resistance.
Her red and white shrine maiden attire was slightly disheveled, her delicate face flushed crimson, and her gaze slightly dazed. However, aside from indulging in a kiss and enjoying the feel of her, Noah had done nothing more.
"My shrine maiden, you need not feel guilty. What you have done has pleased me, and I have already granted you my blessing."
As he spoke, Noah pulled Kikyo into the Divine Pantheon Blueprint.
"Grow well. Grow until the day you are strong enough to ascend to the seat of Amaterasu."
With those words, Noah's figure gradually faded from Kikyo's sight. The moment she lost the divine embrace, she collapsed onto the ground.
As the divine presence withdrew, the tranquility in her heart was instantly replaced by the rapid beating of her own pulse.
Kikyo gently raised her hand, pressing it against her pounding heart. Everything felt like a dream.
She touched her lips.
She had only come to clean the shrine of the Creator God, just like every other day, yet her god had descended in mortal form before her.
The Creator God had recognized her as his shrine maiden and bestowed his favor upon her.
In her mind, the Divine Pantheon Blueprint surfaced.
In her ears, the voice of the God she served echoed endlessly.
"The Supreme Seat of Amaterasu…"
"Can I really live up to the expectations of Ame-no-Minakanushi-sama?"
Kikyo looked at the divine seat of Amaterasu Ōmikami within the Divine Pantheon Blueprint.
Her expression gradually became firm, though tinged with a trace of melancholy.
Since the Creator God had bestowed such great favor upon her, no matter what, she could never allow herself to disappoint the god who had acknowledged her.
...
Noah returned to the original timeline.
The timeline where Kikyo resided was from before the Inuyasha world had been assimilated.
After all, time functioned only within the internal cycle of a world and had no concern for external worlds.
This was why Noah had said that time was truly fascinating.
Once the Inuyasha world was fully assimilated, its River of Time would merge with Teyvat's, becoming one.
Of course, all the changes he had made were already set in stone.
Even after Inuyasha's world was assimilated, nothing would be undone.
After all, Noah was the Lord of the Eternal Throne of both worlds, and within a world, he was absolute and singular.
Not just him—any god who possessed an Authority was unique within a world.
Authorities were, by nature, singular laws of a world.
They could only be assimilated—they could never duplicate themselves. The fundamental laws of a world were finite.
Even Time itself could not reverse this process.
It was impossible for a new copy of an Authority to appear simply because someone brought it into the past.
Noah gazed in the direction of Kyoto.
"Teyvat's anchors within the Inuyasha world are now firmly in place."
"The final act of this performance must now come to an end."
He was impatient to complete the assimilation of the Inuyasha world.
Once it was assimilated, Teyvat would become a truly complete world, with its laws and rules fully perfected.
With that, the first phase of world evolution would be complete.
The second phase would begin—continuously assimilating more worlds to expand and refine its laws.
The goal: evolving from a single-tier world into a multi-tiered world.
A multi-tiered world would allow the birth of parallel worlds within it.
The most well-known example was the Type-Moon world, which possessed countless parallel worlds…
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