Wasn't this the method used against the big boss Naraku in the original work? Although in the original work, it utilized the heart of the mortal Onigumo hidden within Naraku, forcing him to surrender... The one before his eyes was clearly different.
It could only suppress enemies, and while it wasn't as powerful, it was more universally applicable, making it more suitable for preventing Kidomaru from attacking again.
And it wasn't just for Kidomaru; it was also very useful for dealing with other hidden enemies.
After all...
"That arrow shot off his arm."
Kikyo's lips parted slightly, revealing a beautiful, shallow smile: "A lot of blood splattered and fell onto this land."
Kanbe Hikaru was stunned for a moment by this smile.
Then he laughed.
"You really are..."
"What?"
"Smarter than I thought."
Kikyo did not respond.
But in those pitch-black eyes, there was inexplicably some pride.
It was quite girlish.
The rising sun between them was rugged.
Outside of this, the two still held hands, standing side by side at the edge of the Barrier.
The morning light fell, illuminating the priestess in white clothes and red hakama, making her look exceptionally moving.
Kanbe Hikaru turned his head to look at her, suddenly remembering something.
"Kikyo."
"Hm?"
"You really have become stronger."
Kikyo's movements paused: "You felt it?"
Kanbe Hikaru nodded.
"Your spiritual power is much purer than it was a few days ago, and the flow is smoother."
Kikyo was silent for a moment.
"Maybe it's because..."
Her voice became a bit soft: "My state of mind has changed."
State of mind?
Kanbe Hikaru looked at her.
Kikyo did not avoid his gaze.
In those pitch-black eyes, there was something he had never seen before.
The usual coldness and indifference were gone.
But it wasn't the firm determination during battle either.
But—a softer, warmer light.
"My former master once told me."
Kikyo spoke: "A priestess's spiritual power is closely related to her state of mind."
"The purer the heart, the stronger the spiritual power, and the more stable the use of spiritual power."
"But if there are distracting thoughts or wavering in the heart... the spiritual power will become weaker."
Kanbe Hikaru understood.
He also suddenly remembered that in the so-called 'original work', it was also like this.
It is said that once a shrine maiden falls in love, she loses her power.
But Kikyo has grown stronger.
This proves something.
"Your 'love' is not actually a distraction."
Kanbe Hikaru said.
Kikyo was slightly startled, then she smiled.
The smile was faint, but it stirred Kanbe Hikaru's heart.
"Perhaps."
She said: "Or perhaps it is because..."
She raised her hand, pointing at her own chest, pointing at her heart: "It tells me that my choice was not wrong."
[shikon no tama: naohi: favorability + 1]
[Current favorability: 69 (Intimate)]
[It says: "Of course it wasn't wrong."]
Kanbe Hikaru: "..."
At this moment, he deeply suspected that it was actually the naohi telling Kikyo she wasn't wrong.
But just at this moment, Kanbe Hikaru's gaze suddenly focused.
He saw the very center of the Barrier.
In the absolute center of this land shrouded by spiritual power.
There was a tree, a huge, ancient, and lush, flourishing tree.
The tree was very tall, far taller than all the other trees around it, its trunk thick, requiring nearly ten people to wrap their arms around it.
Its canopy was like a cover, seemingly obscuring a large swath of the sky.
Most importantly, in Kanbe Hikaru's Spiritual Perception view, that tree was glowing.
A vast radiance emanated from the tree, reflecting and interacting with the white light of the Barrier.
"What is that...?"
Kanbe Hikaru's voice was slightly stunned.
"The Sacred Tree."
Kikyo's voice came from beside him: "The guardian tree of Kaede Village."
"This tree has existed longer than the village itself; it is said that it was already there even before Musashi Province existed."
The Sacred Tree.
Naturally, Kanbe Hikaru would not forget this name, this existence.
In the original Inuyasha work, this was an extremely important existence.
It was the place where the Shikon Jewel was burned in the original timeline that would never appear again.
It is said to possess the power to connect the past, present, and future, and the 'Bone-Eating Well' created from it as raw material was the very beginning of the entire story.
He had actually been looking for this tree before.
If he could find such a Sacred Tree and conquer it, the rewards would certainly be huge.
But he hadn't been able to find it.
Now, it had appeared on its own.
"I previously..."
Kanbe Hikaru frowned: "Never saw this tree."
Kikyo's voice was very calm and not at all surprised: "Because the Sacred Tree is the core of this land and the foundation of Kaede Village's Barrier."
"It will not easily reveal its true form to outsiders."
"Only those recognized by this land can see it."
Kanbe Hikaru suddenly realized.
That night of battle, he had covered the entire Kanto region with blood mist and Bone Spike.
He had slain four Materialization level demons and purified the Demonic Qi permeating this land.
He had gained the recognition of the Kanto land.
The favorability was only 1 point.
But it was this 1 point—that finally allowed him to see the Sacred Tree.
Come to think of it, that makes sense.
After all, this world is not purely Inuyasha, but a mixed world with many more complex existences. If a Sacred Tree with time-related attributes didn't know how to hide itself, it would surely have been plundered by all sides long ago.
How could it have remained secure until now?
"I see."
Kanbe Hikaru said in a low voice.
He looked at the giant tree emitting a sacred light, his eyes full of desire.
If he guessed correctly, this Sacred Tree should also be conquerable.
And... its quality, in all likelihood, was the same as the Shikon Jewel, or perhaps even surpassed the Shikon Jewel.
Kanbe Hikaru's breathing quickened slightly.
"Kikyo."
He spoke.
"Hmm?"
"I want to go see that tree."
Kikyo glanced at him.
In those pitch-black eyes, there was no doubt.
She had seen Kanbe Hikaru's 'goodwill' towards all things.
"Let's go."
She said, still tightly holding Kanbe Hikaru's hand, as if she didn't want to separate for even a moment: "I'll take you."
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