The first is the kind most commonly known, also referred to as presence or aura.

Think of the imposing deterrence that accompanies the entrance of some great figure, or the sheer terror emanating from a Demon Lord or monstrous entity.

This type of pressure carries no inherent destructive force; if ignored, it feels no more substantial than a gentle breeze against the face.

However, if one stands within its sphere of influence and consciously pays heed, it gains the capacity for harm.

The severity of this harm, however, depends not on the Demon Lord or monster, but entirely on the steadfastness of the observer’s own will.

Those with unshakeable resolve, even if physically frail, would at most experience fear but would not perish.

Conversely, for those with weak wills, this pressure can prove fatal… much like the frequently heard tales of someone being scared to death during a battle—a clear symptom of an unstable mind.

For instance, the terrifying aura brought forth when the Ghost Priestess first made her appearance was precisely this type of presence.

The second type of pressure is an attack with tangible destructive power, condensed from one's own cultivation realm coupled with murderous intent.

Though its manifestation varies, it invariably targets the soul and the spirit.

Its destructive capacity far surpasses that of ordinary physical or magical attacks, and those slightly weaker find it exceedingly difficult to devise countermeasures against it.

Take Arthur, for example.

As the wielder of the Book of Knights, he possesses the trait of 'immortality through undying spirit.' It was sheer luck that he never encountered a user of this pressure; had he done so, even with comparable strength, he would have been utterly annihilated.

Of course, not everyone can wield this pressure.

It is reserved for specific individuals.

For instance, Hatsune Miku, Haruhi Suzumiya, or Mikoto Misaka—even if their power levels reach the Quasi-Heavenly Rank—simply cannot utilize this oppressive force, no matter how hard they try.

Conversely, Kazami Yuuka, despite her strength not reaching the Quasi-Heavenly Rank, possesses this very pressure.

Recall the incident when the Evil King attacked: she used sheer dominance to crush a Heavenly Rank expert to death—that was this form of attack.

Then there is Lin Luo.

Although the form of his Killing Intent Realm differs slightly, it is also an evolution of this pressure.

Similarly, Tendo, who has fought Lin Luo, employs the Heavenly Might he wields, which belongs to this category.

However, the pressure wielded by Lin Luo and Kazami Yuuka is vastly inferior to that of Tendo, creating a chasm between them.

Simply put, those capable of using pressure to kill are typically individuals brimming with overwhelming charisma and power.

At this moment, the pressure exerted by the Dragon God is of the second kind.

Although only Lin Luo and Kazami Yuuka present are known users of pressure, having not tasted pork does not mean one has never seen a pig run.

As the Dragon God unleashed visible pressure, the surrounding space began to collapse.

Even a great simpleton like Cirno recognized the danger, and everyone scattered like startled birds and beasts instantly.

However, pressure is not so easily evaded.

Even after exerting their full flight capabilities, and forcing Yakumo Yukari to resort to using gaps (Sukima) to bypass it, their efforts proved minimally effective.

The pressure clung tightly to their heels.

Seeing themselves on the verge of being consumed by the Dragon God’s pressure, the group made a swift decision.

Those closest together immediately converged, facing the incoming force head-on, resisting with all their might.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The instant the pressure completely enveloped them, they felt their very souls tremble.

All five senses failed; only the deep, booming resonance echoed incessantly within their souls.

This pressure targeted the soul and the spirit.

The spirit was relatively more resilient, as no one present possessed a weak will.

The soul, however, was different.

It was something even they struggled to control, a fact everyone understood: once the soul disperses, regardless of any immortality, unless one possesses Lin Luo’s power of creation from nothingness, they will die irrevocably.

Thus, at this moment, they could only exert their utmost efforts to shield their souls.

Relying on the defenses Lin Luo had granted them, coupled with their own inherent strength, they managed to hold on momentarily.

Yet, with every impact of the pressure, they felt their souls teetering on the brink of dissolution… No one knew how long they could endure, nor when the Dragon God’s pressure would cease.

This sensation was worse than death.

The most ‘relaxed’ among them were arguably Kitenko and Kazami Yuuka.

The former was a Celestial, and Celestials inherently possess a profound understanding of the soul, granting her a degree of immunity.

The latter possessed a soul as potent as the sun, allowing her to withstand the direct confrontation longer than others.

Yet, even they struggled immensely.

After just a few waves of impact, both Tenko and Yuuka were deathly pale, resembling maidens consumed by mortal illness.

This was considered the better outcome; most others were already bleeding from all seven orifices.

But while these individuals suffered, they could still hold on.

Someone, however, was rapidly approaching their breaking point—Yuyuko Saigyouji, for instance.

Since the pressure targeted the soul and spirit with minimal direct physical damage, the body, in this context, served merely as a barrier.

While not significantly helpful, it at least reduced some stress—akin to the difference between a maiden facing an assailant fully clothed versus naked.

Yuyuko was visible and tangible, indistinguishable from a normal girl save for her inability to bear children.

But her true essence was that of a bodiless specter.

Facing the Dragon God’s pressure was akin to being stark naked before an assailant; the resulting pressure was unimaginable.

After several waves of the Dragon God’s pressure, she began to sway precariously, her form even starting to distort.

Fortunately, Youmu, fiercely loyal, rushed to stand before her, successfully mitigating some of the strain.

The cost, however, was the rapidly weakening spiritual half behind Yuyuko, which seemed on the verge of vanishing in the next breath.

Hold! I must hold! Under no circumstances can I fail here… Youmu could not see Yuyuko’s state behind her, but she recognized the dire emergency.

Gritting her teeth, she persisted with immense effort.

Among those present, Youmu’s strength was not the weakest, but certainly not top-tier.

Furthermore, her status as a half-human, half-spirit made facing the Dragon God’s pressure far more arduous than for figures like Hijiri Byakuren or Sanae.

Frankly, merely protecting herself was nearly her limit, and now, actively taking on Yuyuko’s burden was tantamount to seeking death.

But! “I am the gardener of the Saigyouji family… My duty is to protect Lady Yuyuko.

Grandfather also… gave me all his strength for this very reason.

Because he believed in me! If I fail here… right here… Ahhh!” Under the Dragon God’s pressure, everyone had lost their five senses—or so it should have been.

But! When one holds someone they absolutely must protect, when the desire to protect surpasses everything else, anyone can break past their limits! Within Youmu’s body resided her own power, and the power of the Soul Specter Technique (Kon’yoku Youki).

These two forces were never meant to fully integrate within a mere half-day.

But precisely because of the unwavering desire to shield Yuyuko, a feeling that transcended Youmu’s own existence, a miracle belonging to her erupted at this moment, causing the two energies to merge perfectly.

Then, the vanished five senses returned.

Accompanied by her roar, she extended both hands, pressing them onto the objects that offered her the most solace… the hilts of the Hakurou Blade and the Roukan Blade.

Shing! The twin blades were drawn, emitting a cold light akin to moonlight.

Her body, previously bound by the Dragon God’s pressure, suddenly regained freedom of movement.

The will to protect suppressed the terror of the Dragon God.

With her soul unclouded by doubt or fear, Konpaku Youmu began her sword dance.

The Roukan Blade swept out, resembling moonlight cascading down; the Hakurou Blade thrust forth, like the waters of the Milky Way.

The speed of the twin blades descending was not fast—indeed, they moved quite slowly.

Yet, these measured movements wove a silver net that completely shielded the Dragon God’s terrifying pressure.

Then, the twin blades swept outwards again, and the substantial pressure flowed harmlessly to either side, diverted like water.

Blocked! The Dragon God’s pressure was entirely halted by Youmu! But Youmu showed no sign of elation.

She seemed oblivious to her surroundings; her eyes were as cold and sharp as sword light.

She could no longer perceive the outside world; her focus lay elsewhere.

She had entrusted her very life, and the desire she held to protect, entirely to the twin blades.

She simply danced her sword, danced her sword, continuing to dance her sword.

At this moment, she was no longer merely a swordswoman; she was the sword itself.

What moved were not just the Hakurou and Roukan Blades, but her own life force.

The Dragon God’s pressure continued to arrive in relentless waves.

Meeting resistance, each subsequent wave became fiercer than the last.

But for Youmu in this state, they were all the same.

She had transformed into the sword, making the sword her being.

Every strike was delivered along with her life.

As long as her life endured, then… there was nothing in this world she could not cleave! Its name—The Saigyou Sword Dance! “Youmu, you’ve truly become astonishingly powerful.” Freed from the deadly crisis due to Youmu’s efforts, Yuyuko looked upon the girl dancing earnestly ahead, a look of relief blooming on her face.

However, Yuyuko did not relax.

The Dragon God’s pressure seemed endless, with no discernible end in sight, yet Youmu’s life was not infinite.

To dance with her life meant constantly expending it; this spectacle could not continue forever.

Lifting her gaze, Yuyuko looked toward the source of the pressure—the Dragon God.

At that moment, her expression was one of unprecedented gravity, a seriousness utterly uncharacteristic of Yuyuko.

“Faced with such an opponent, such an attack, what can my very nature allow me to accomplish? Without Youmu’s efforts, I would likely have vanished by now.

But… I am not entirely without recourse.

Let us begin… the Feast of the Dead!” Yuyuko’s sleeves fluttered, and behind her materialized a massive, fan-shaped crest.

This world was a non-living realm created by Lin Luo.

A world without life naturally has no dead.

But conversely, a world without life is a world of death.

And within this world resides the greatest of the dead—the World itself.