Shawn Young stepped outside the private room and suddenly realized that the Night King Club was completely deserted. He walked all the way to the main hall, but there wasn't a single soul in sight. The once lively club seemed to have had all its guests vanish into thin air.
This bizarre phenomenon made Shawn highly alert. He quickly exited the Night King Club and arrived at Kabukicho Main Street, only to find that the bustling crowds had also disappeared from the lively street.
The young men and women dressed in all sorts of weird outfits had vanished as well. The whole street became eerily quiet, and even the shady old guys lurking in the corners looking for some fun were nowhere to be seen. Only the flashing neon lights and bizarre billboards remained, making the scene feel even more surreal.
"Ding... ding... ding..." A melodious sound of a string instrument rang out behind him.
Hearing the sound, Shawn quickly turned around and saw a Japanese man in strange attire standing atop a neon lamp post on the street. His hair was styled like someone from ancient times, and he wore a loose black robe with a round collar and a white chrysanthemum emblazoned on his chest.
The man's face was ghostly pale and somewhat delicate, exuding an air of calm confidence. His age was hard to guess, and he held a uniquely shaped three-stringed instrument in his hands. A mysterious aura enveloped him, making him seem both enigmatic and eerie.
"Young man, your cultivation in Taoist arts is impressive. Seems like your country still has some real talent," the man suddenly said to Shawn in fluent Mandarin.
"You're the one playing that instrument, right? How did you know I'm Chinese? And who are you, standing up there all mysteriously? Aren't you afraid of falling?" Shawn frowned, looking up at the strange man. His gut told him this guy was trouble.
"Haha, I can sense the true energy surging inside you. It's nothing like the qi cultivated by any Japanese sect. It's Second Sight Vital Qi, and only a master from China could reach this level. Korea doesn't have anyone like you! I am Simon Abe, a yin-yang master of the Divine Mind School. It's truly an honor to test the skills of a Chinese Taoist expert," the strange man said slowly in fluent Mandarin.
Shawn was stunned. He hadn't expected this man to really be from the Abe family. What shocked him even more was that Simon Abe could sense the flow of Second Sight Vital Qi within him—a feat that required tremendous spiritual power. Instantly, Shawn narrowed his eyes and grew extremely wary.
Simon Abe gave a gentle shake of his body and floated to the ground like a giant night owl, landing about seven or eight meters away from Shawn.
"I've heard Martin Oniin mention you before. He said you're extremely dangerous..." Simon Abe said slowly.
"Oh? Is that so? Well, I guess I am for anyone who's my enemy!" Shawn replied.
"Haha, you're quite confident, young man! Having someone like you as an opponent will definitely be interesting..." Simon Abe laughed.
"Really? Looks like you're itching to give it a try, aren't you?" Shawn asked coldly.
"Haha... A life without rivals or true friends is awfully lonely, don't you think?" Simon Abe chuckled.
"Hmm, you've got a point. But I don't think we'll ever be friends. Not sure if we'll make good rivals either!" Shawn replied coldly. He could already sense that, despite Simon Abe's smile, there was a chilling glint in his eyes.
"Haha... Seems we're destined to be opponents. In that case, let's get started!" Simon Abe sneered, slowly raising his left hand and forming a sword gesture at his lips, chanting a secret incantation in Japanese.
A ball of white light quickly gathered at his fingertip. With a twist of his left hand, the light grew even brighter and formed a pentagram. The spinning pentagram expanded, surrounding Shawn from all sides as if trying to bind him.
Turns out the way Japanese yin-yang masters cultivate is different from Chinese Taoists. Chinese Taoists use their bodies as a 'cauldron' to refine energy, while Japanese yin-yang masters draw spiritual power from nature and living things, channeling it as Spirit Familiars.
Controlling Spirit Familiars is the main magical skill of yin-yang masters. Spirit Familiars are a form of Japanese puppet magic, summoned from other dimensions using one's spiritual power.
Unlike puppet magic, what they control are living beings. Simply put, it's quite similar to Western summoning magic. However, Spirit Familiars are directly linked to the caster—the stronger the caster's spiritual power, the more powerful the Spirit Familiar becomes.
Shawn was startled, instantly feeling the pentagram Spirit Familiar's immense power closing in around him. No longer daring to be careless, he quickly activated the Celestial Essence within his body.
He brought his hands together, forming the Celestial Guardian Seal. A purple glow surged from his Second Sight and surrounded his body as Shawn chanted: "Vast spirit, gather! Heaven condenses, five merge, three unite, Star of the Supreme, evil spirits, by law, begone!"
Finishing the chant, Shawn spread his hands and a sphere of purple light enveloped him, forming a protective circle—the powerful Celestial Guardian Spell. It fused the primordial energy of heaven and earth with his own qi, creating a formidable shield against all evil forces. This was one of the Clear Sky Order's top Taoist techniques.
As the purple circle expanded, the pentagram Spirit Familiar trying to bind Shawn was blocked outside the barrier, unable to get any closer. Instead, the purple light around Shawn grew even stronger.
"Boom! Boom!" With several flashes of purple light, the pentagram Spirit Familiar shattered, the white glow dissipated into smoke, and a burning white talisman drifted to the ground.
"Oh, not bad... Chinese Taoist arts really are something! Now that we're warmed up, it's time to get serious..." Simon Abe was surprised at how easily Shawn broke his Spirit Familiar. He smiled and raised his three-stringed instrument upright.
He formed a sword gesture with his left hand and pointed at the strange instrument, shrouding it in white light.
"Boom!" The three-stringed instrument soared into the air, transforming into a gleaming long blade that radiated a fierce, dazzling light.
Shawn could clearly sense the overwhelming, murderous aura erupting from the blade in midair. It was so intense, it seemed to echo with ghostly wails. Shawn was secretly shocked—any weapon with such a presence must have claimed countless lives!
(Irrelevant filler, skip translation.)