Chapter 62: Onmyodo Framework
What was Onmyodo?
Every Onmyoji had their own answer.
If one drew a broad line between ancient times and the modern era, then the difference was obvious. Ancient Onmyodo centered on following the laws of nature, listening to one's heart, and using Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, astronomy, and astrology to pursue the truths of the world.
Modern Onmyodo was different.
It leaned more toward efficiency, convenience, and control. It sharpened spellcraft, refined formulas, and treated Onmyo Arts as practical tools to be mastered and deployed.
At first glance, modern Onmyodo seemed to have lost the core and brilliance of the old path, as though it had been reduced to a lesser version of itself.
But who could truly say their understanding was the only correct one?
Who could say the Onmyodo they grasped was the real Onmyodo?
At that moment, after all the text from the Senji Ryakketsu had poured into Gin Tsumugi's mind, it condensed into an entirely new Senji Ryakketsu within his consciousness.
It was no longer ancient or weathered. It had shed that outer shell completely.
Page by page, it opened before him.
And as it opened, it was as though he had stepped into an endless sea of secrets.
Mysteries. Principles. Hidden truths.
It was all there.
Not only the understanding of the ancient Onmyoji, who used Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, astronomy, and astrology to explore the world's laws, but also the insights of modern Onmyoji, who had pushed the mastery and refinement of Onmyo Arts to astonishing heights.
Only now did Gin truly understand why so many Onmyoji were obsessed with the Senji Ryakketsu.
It was not merely a treasured book.
It was an encyclopedia of Onmyodo itself.
It tore the entire system apart, laid out every component piece by piece, and presented it clearly to whoever could bear to look upon it. It did not contain actual Onmyo Arts, but that hardly mattered. The mysteries recorded within it were the framework beneath all Onmyo Arts, the foundation upon which everything else was built.
Gin felt as though someone had already paved a heavenly road before him.
Every sentence, every paragraph, every fragment that surfaced within his mind illuminated his own path more clearly. Concepts that had once seemed cloudy or distant now became sharp and obvious.
Within his consciousness, the Senji Ryakketsu had already turned to the thirtieth page.
At the same time, his understanding of his own Onmyodo steadily took shape. More than that, he began to use the Senji Ryakketsu to sketch the outline of something even greater.
An Onmyodo Framework.
That was the standard of a National level Onmyoji.
In ancient times, those who reached that step were even called true Onmyoji, people who had genuinely begun walking the road of seeking the world's truths.
Wisps of vast, all encompassing mystery spread from Gin's body.
His spiritual power moved on its own, weaving Sanskrit, modern language, ancient language, and even divine script through the cavern like drifting flower petals. The sight resembled the strange phenomena said to appear when ancient sages attained enlightenment.
Below the altar, Tsuchimikado Natsume finally relaxed a little when she saw the pain vanish from Gin's face and his breathing gradually settle.
Then her confusion only deepened.
Just what exactly was happening?
"He is using the Senji Ryakketsu to comprehend and construct his own Onmyodo Framework."
Tsuchimikado Hirotaka's voice was low, but there was no mistaking the weight in it.
"If he succeeds, then he has already obtained the admission ticket to the ranks of National level Onmyoji."
"An Onmyodo Framework?"
It was the first time Natsume had heard the term.
Hirotaka glanced at her.
"To be honest, it is still too early for you to come into contact with this concept. I had not intended for you to learn it so soon."
Even so, he continued.
"For an Onmyoji, reaching the professional level means defining one's own Onmyodo. Reaching the national level means constructing an Onmyodo Framework."
"Most Onmyoji below the Fifth Class professional rank do not even possess a clear sense of self positioning in Onmyodo. It is usually only after entering the Fifth Class that they begin trying to define their own path based on their understanding and experience."
"And once that self positioning is complete, they may gain the chance to touch the threshold of an Onmyodo Framework."
He paused, then let out a quiet breath.
"Chizuru and I have both attempted it more than once. We failed every time. That means our accumulation and understanding of Onmyodo are still insufficient. Becoming a National level Onmyoji has never been easy."
Natsume frowned.
"That does not sound right, Uncle Hirotaka. If even you and Aunt Chizuru, after all these years, still lack enough understanding, then how did Dairenji Suzuka manage to construct an Onmyodo Framework at her age?"
Spiritual power was one thing. Insight was another.
No matter how special Suzuka's circumstances had been, there should have been no shortcut to understanding.
Hirotaka's expression shifted slightly.
"A large part of Dairenji Suzuka's Onmyodo Framework was grafted from another person."
Natsume's eyes widened.
"Grafted?"
"Yes."
Hirotaka nodded.
"If two people possess an extremely high degree of similarity in the way they define their Onmyodo, then it becomes possible, to a certain extent, to graft one person's Framework onto the other."
"Dairenji Suzuka was subjected to Onmyo Art experimentation by her father from childhood onward. In truth, her path had already been shaped for her long before she ever understood what Onmyodo meant. Once she completed her self positioning, she was able to directly graft Dairenji Shidou's Framework."
He shook his head faintly.
"Of course, even that is not simple. First, the original owner must reveal their Framework in full. Our Tsuchimikado Clan has records of certain ancestral Frameworks in the Library, so that part is not impossible. The real difficulty lies elsewhere."
"One must still understand the Framework being grafted. Thoroughly. Completely. Only then can it be attached."
He looked up at Gin, whose body was still radiating strange and sacred phenomena.
"It is easier than building one from nothing. But only easier."
Natsume listened intently.
"So there must be a price."
"There is."
Hirotaka gave her an approving look.
"A shortcut often means an unstable foundation. Potential may be consumed before it ever has the chance to bloom."
He continued calmly.
"No two people in the world are exactly alike. The same is true of their understanding of Onmyodo. Even if two paths appear similar, there are still differences. Thoroughly understanding another person's Framework does not mean one can truly make it their own."
"That is Dairenji Suzuka's problem. After grafting her father's Framework, she did indeed step into the National level sequence. But because she cannot fully control that Framework as her own, she is among the weakest of the Twelve Divine Generals."
"And unless she abolishes it entirely or completely masters every part of the Framework she inherited from Dairenji Shidou, it will be extremely difficult for her to advance further."
Sometimes, he thought, that was even harder than starting from scratch.
Half an hour passed.
Within Gin's consciousness, the Senji Ryakketsu had already turned to page fifty.
More truths emerged.
More mysteries unfolded.
And in his mind, a vast structure began to take shape, like an evergreen tree made of countless nodes. Points connected to lines, lines crossed and branched, branches spread and deepened. It was no longer abstract.
It was becoming real.
The Onmyodo Framework.
All the external phenomena in the cavern began to draw back into his body.
"It succeeded."
Hirotaka could no longer hide his joy.
When he and Chizuru had failed in the past, their manifestations had shattered halfway through. Gin's did not. It held together, stable and complete.
That meant the Framework had been successfully constructed.
Gin had stepped across the threshold.
"As long as he continues to grow stronger, this era can still be saved. Our Tsuchimikado Clan can still be saved as well."
Natsume turned in surprise.
She had been confused for quite a while now.
The strange reaction of the Senji Ryakketsu had clearly not been some simple accident. When its words had flown into Gin's body, Hirotaka had been far too calm. More than once, he had spoken as though he already knew exactly what was happening.
The Senji Ryakketsu returning to its master.
That phrase still lingered in her mind.
Master?
Who was he talking about?
The master of the Senji Ryakketsu?
"Natsume."
Hirotaka seemed to sense her thoughts.
"You only need to remember one thing for now. Mr. Gin Tsumugi is the most distinguished guest our Tsuchimikado Clan could possibly receive. Follow your heart. The rest, you will understand later."
He offered no further explanation.
It was not yet time for the younger generation to know too much. Knowing before they were ready would only burden them.
Another hour passed.
The Senji Ryakketsu had reached page seventy.
The Framework within Gin's consciousness continued to absorb and refine the mysteries pouring from the pages. The vast structure of points and lines became more complete with every moment. More connections formed. More depth emerged. It gradually gained the feeling of a real and living whole.
At that point, the Framework had already reached five percent completion.
That was the standard of a National Third Class Onmyoji.
An Onmyodo Framework below thirty percent completion belonged to the National Third Class. Between thirty one and sixty percent was National Second Class. Anything above sixty percent was National First Class.
Two hours later, the Senji Ryakketsu had turned to page ninety.
Most of the principles recorded there had become incomprehensible.
They were too deep, too removed from Gin's current stage.
Even so, his Framework had still advanced to ten percent completion.
Another hour passed.
The Senji Ryakketsu reached page one hundred.
By then, the mysteries written within it looked less like knowledge and more like divine script. Gin understood clearly that this session could go no further. He had reached the limit of what he could presently absorb.
Even so, the gains had already surpassed everything he had expected.
Not only had he successfully constructed an Onmyodo Framework, he had even pushed it to ten percent completion.
And as for the role playing system, its progress had already filled completely not long after he began reading.
[Abe no Seimei, Founder of Onmyodo]
[Role playing progress: Youth Stage, Advancement Available]
[Character abilities: Basic Talisman Compendium, Minor Accomplishment Shikigami Contract, Minor Accomplishment Five Pointed Star Incantation, Minor Accomplishment Word Spirit Technique, Proficient Uho, Proficient Immovable Binding Technique, Proficient Fire Boundary Spell, Proficient Ghost Averting and Evil Dispelling Incantation, Advanced]
Gin did not believe the gains had only filled the missing five percent. That was merely the visible portion. The true harvest would only become clear after the next advancement.
The only headache left now was a very practical one.
How exactly was he supposed to explain the fate of the Senji Ryakketsu?
Because no matter how one looked at it, he had effectively absorbed the thousand year old treasure passed down by the Tsuchimikado Clan.
.....
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