Inari God’s Curse Mark

Bai Cangshu looked up, only to find that the old Shrine Master—likely a member of the Ōgami Clan, perhaps Japan’s largest Shrine Master family—showed no abnormalities.

At that moment, Bai Cangshu instead sensed that something was wrong.

Bai Cangshu checked the exchange list again, only to discover that beneath the Secret Prayer Set, which should have been the final item, a new item had appeared.

Rather than an item, it was more accurately a symbol—a fox-shaped mark seemingly drawn in simple red strokes.

Secret Rite: Inari God’s Strike—Exchange Cost: 100 Reputation (Reverence)

Quality: Purple (Extremely Rare)

Description: A gift bestowed by Inari Ōkami upon the faithless—trust, mockery, or curse.

Effect 1: Use wish power to summon a powerful strike from Inari Ōkami.

Effect 2: Cannot be used once wish power is depleted; wish power must be replenished before it can be used again.

Effect 3: Non-believers of Inari Ōkami who inscribe this curse mark will suffer even greater malice.

This was an incomparably powerful item. Not only did it have no usage requirements, it did not even require training.

It was like an exceptionally convenient "firearm."

Yet Bai Cangshu frowned. Looking at the Shrine Master, he asked,

"Where is your Shikigami?"

Although the old Shrine Master did not understand why this fiend was concerned with his little trick, within the shrine, he could still perform certain techniques by drawing upon the wish power accumulated from centuries of incense offerings.

He immediately summoned his Shikigami, clasped a hand seal, and gave a low shout.

But beneath the clear sky, nothing happened.

The old Shrine Master was not embarrassed. He merely frowned and performed another technique. Mysterious power swirled around him, and a faint breeze immediately swept through the shrine.

Ōgami Masaya also realized something at this moment. He looked at Bai Cangshu, his face pale and his expression filled with indescribable terror.

Unable to speak to Bai Cangshu any further, he quickly turned around and devoutly knelt before the sacred vessel of Inari Ōkami enshrined within the shrine, muttering prayers under his breath.

Bai Cangshu could hear that the man’s heartbeat was rapid and his breathing disordered. He truly was panicking to the extreme.

Looking again at the newly appeared item on the exchange list, Bai Cangshu understood.

The fox Shikigami’s true form was likely Inari Ōkami’s divine messenger. As Inari Ōkami’s divine power waned, the deity had left that messenger by the old Shrine Master’s side in the form of a Shikigami.

The old Shrine Master himself had not noticed. He had believed it to be his own Shikigami and used it to act under Inari Ōkami’s name.

Bai Cangshu looked at the special "reward" called Secret Rite: Inari God’s Strike. After some thought, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

Japanese Shintoism followed a polytheistic doctrine and claimed to have eight million gods, but in the eyes of an East Xia person, most of what they worshipped were ghosts and demons.

Though Inari Ōkami was a god of agriculture and, conventionally speaking, a benevolent deity, the meaning being conveyed now was truly impossible to judge as good or evil.

But Bai Cangshu looked up toward the direction in which the old Shrine Master was worshipping. In the end, the deity could not punish him directly, just as this old Shrine Master had not been punished despite swindling others under a god’s name.

Perhaps deeper intentions lay hidden within this curse mark.

"Are you trying to force me to believe in you, or do you want me to die beneath this so-called greater malice?"

"Interesting."

You have exchanged for the special item, Secret Rite: Inari God's Strike

What appeared in Bai Cangshu’s hand was a small fox mark radiating red light. With a thought, Bai Cangshu caused it to settle onto his left hand.

Sizzle—

As if a branding iron had been pressed against his skin, the curse mark, resembling three foxes joined head to tail, instantly appeared on the back of Bai Cangshu’s hand.

Bai Cangshu did not know whether the curse mark had chosen his left hand because his right hand was broken, or because the Reincarnator’s mark resided in his right hand and the so-called Inari God’s Curse Mark could not settle there.

Secret Rite: Inari God’s Strike (1/1)

This special curse mark had neither an ability level nor a grade. It merely indicated that his current wish power allowed for one use.

Bai Cangshu’s Reputation also immediately dropped to Respect (15/100).

He quickly scanned through the previous items and, after brief consideration, chose what to exchange for.

Katori Pill

Quality: White

Description: A special medicinal pill made by Shintoism priests, with healing effects.

Effect: Upon consumption, accelerates recovery from current injuries.

These yellow pills were the most basic items in the Reputation Shop. They could be exchanged at the Friendly rank, costing 10 Reputation each. Bai Cangshu exchanged for three, intending to use them alongside Hamon during his usual training to speed up his body’s healing.

Emblem: Shinto

Quality: Blue

Description: A mark used by Shintoism to recognize special contributions.

Effect 1: Spirit +1, Energy +1

Effect 2: While wearing this emblem, Shintoism Reputation gains an additional increase.

This was an item available at the Respect rank. It increased the Energy attribute Bai Cangshu needed most. Furthermore, since he knew there was a high chance he would encounter Derivative Worlds with Japanese settings in the future, the emblem’s boost to Reputation was also useful.

This item cost 45 Reputation.

Barrier Talisman: Curtain (Basic Version)

Quality: Blue

Description: A talisman enshrined at a shrine, capable of driving ordinary people away within a certain range.

Usage Requirement: Spirit >10, or proficiency in related Onmyō Jujutsu.

Effect: After being crushed, ordinary people within fifty meters will receive a mental suggestion to leave this place.

This highly convenient talisman cost Bai Cangshu 40 Reputation. It was the combination that spent all of Bai Cangshu’s Reputation.

Once his Reputation had been cleared, the talisman Ōgami Masaya had given him also burned away and vanished.

Looking at the old Shrine Master, who was still continuously kowtowing and confessing his sins, Bai Cangshu turned and walked down from the shrine.

At this moment, the severe pain in his abdomen finally began to slowly fade.

Talent re-anchoring complete

Talent: Native Genetic Lock: Tier 2 (Similarity 75%) (A+)—the evolutionary shackles unlocked amid death and despair, power that surpasses the limits of life;

Absolute Territory - Ultimate Power (Similarity 72%) (A)—ultimate power beyond humanity;

Reincarnator Ex051, Talent Anchoring Anomaly. Suspected new Talent. Analysis available from the Goddess in your current area.

Looking at the prompt, Bai Cangshu realized that the abnormal swelling of his muscles and terrifying explosive power during the battle did indeed bear some resemblance to both of these powers.

But the reason Infinite Space was infinite was that it contained far too many different forms of power. Therefore, it could only "anchor" them according to similarity.

This "anchoring" was more like classification, grouping one’s Talent into an existing ability system.

The Space did not grant Talents. It merely "observed" them.

Just as the digital panel merely displayed one’s attributes, a Reincarnator’s body was not truly digitized. It still possessed the limitations and vital weaknesses of flesh.

"Gene Lock, Ultimate Power…"

Bai Cangshu shook his head, refusing to dwell on an answer he could not yet obtain.

He still had one final plan in this world. Once that plan was completed, he believed that even if his Main Mission completion rate did not reach the highest level, his gains would surpass those of nearly every Reincarnator who had entered this world.

The Blue Spider Lily appeared once more in Bai Cangshu’s scarred left hand.

"Muzan, the professor and those great clans must be driving you nearly mad by now…"

Bai Cangshu walked along the path beneath the torii gates, a smile on his lips that was impossible to distinguish as righteous or wicked.

"Come find me. Bring out everything you have, then beg me."

Bang!

A gunshot rang out. Bai Cangshu froze, staring at the bullet hole at his feet. In the distance, a man’s shout rose up.

"There’s a man at the shrine, covered in blood! I think I hit him!"

Fear and excitement mingled in the man’s voice.

Bai Cangshu laughed soundlessly, but his smile was incomparably cold.

So this was the so-called ‘suffering malice’?!