Chapter 298: Wagatsu-sama’s Fury, Even A Ghost God Is Powerless—lili Zi Challenges Shangshan Che!
Thud.
Tsuchimikado Ran knelt weakly on the arena, his vision gradually blurring.
The curse he traded a massive amount of vitality for from that one… why didn’t it work?
The ritual had clearly succeeded, and he had felt a faint trickle of power flowing from that majestic existence, embedding into the clay figurine’s forehead.
Every step had been flawless.
Shangshan Che was also puzzled.
He lightly closed his eyes, and in an instant, used Qi Barrier, spiritual power, and Lightning Magic for internal vision… and more to repeatedly observe his body and spirit, yet felt and observed no discomfort or abnormality.
Tsuchimikado Ran’s curse had indeed taken effect at the very last moment.
But why was he still perfectly fine standing here?
In contrast, Tsuchimikado Ran had already knelt down, vomiting thick black blood laced with dense incantations due to the backlash.
—Could it be that his opponent made a mistake, turning the curse into a delayed explosion?
After a storm of thoughts yielded no results, Shangshan Che reopened his eyes.
Whatever, no more overthinking.
Anyway, the battle had ended the instant he wasn’t killed by the curse.
Falling alongside Shangshan Che’s resolve was the Nameless Sword he had hastily swung.
Crack.
A second beam of Nameless Sword Light flashed from the center of Tsuchimikado Ran’s nose bridge, extending downward and splitting his entire body in two from top to bottom.
—In fact, Tsuchimikado Ran had also sensed the arrival of the second Nameless Sword, which was why he forcibly pulled out the Black Nail to interrupt the ritual.
And the reason Shangshan Che didn’t choose decapitation was that he felt facing an Onmyoji with such diverse techniques, decapitation might not necessarily lead to death.
Tsuchimikado Ran might just bend down, pick up his head from the ground, hold it in his hand, and praise his sword technique.
That would be disastrous.
As the blood seam appeared and Tsuchimikado Ran showed no reaction, the Ghost God Judge immediately arrived on the arena.
“Match over, Shangshan Che wins!”
The physician promptly healed the fatal wound from the Nameless Sword, then spent about ten seconds restoring Tsuchimikado Ran’s blood from near zero to full.
“Thanks…”
Tsuchimikado Ran coughed up a mouthful of black blood. Even though he faced defeat in his first match, he still didn’t forget this obligatory thanks.
The physician smiled warmly at him, then went to Shangshan Che’s side to prepare to remove the curse.
But when the physician Ghost God’s hand touched Shangshan Che’s body, he was stunned to find this body was extraordinarily healthy!
At most, just a bit depleted and minor damage.
The physician’s large hands roamed over Shangshan Che’s body, growing more puzzled with each touch.
This is bizarre!
This… this is completely fine!
Where was that curse that even made him shudder just now?
Where did it go?
After several seconds like this, the physician couldn’t hold back his bewilderment and looked up at the oddly-eyed Shangshan Che, asking,
“Where’s the curse? Did Shangshan competitor eat it?”
“Uh.”
Shangshan Che, who had thought this physician might have some strange fetish, mentally scolded himself, then shook his head.
“I don’t get it either, but I feel perfectly fine.”
As the two were full of confusion, Tsuchimikado Ran, who was about to leave the stage, suddenly stiffened, his already healed seven orifices once again oozing sticky black blood.
“Urk…”
But soon, this backlash was no longer just about blood loss.
Tsuchimikado Ran fainted to the ground in an instant.
Dense blood-colored incantations flowed like blood across Tsuchimikado Ran’s fair skin, causing the Judge and physician Ghost Gods’ expressions to change dramatically.
Amid the audience’s puzzled gazes, the entire arena was instantly enveloped in a blindingly bright barrier, sealed airtight.
Judging by the brightness, at least several Ghost Gods on the high platform had acted simultaneously.
The Ghost God Judge shouted loudly,
“Quick, suppress it!”
The physician didn’t dare delay, stepping to Tsuchimikado Ran’s side.
Over a dozen complex spells bloomed at his fingertips, all landing on Tsuchimikado Ran.
The blood-colored incantations emanating evil qi were tightly bound by interlocking spells, temporarily frozen.
The physician’s ten fingers trembled slightly, rare sweat beading on his forehead.
He stared at the ancient incantations on Tsuchimikado Ran’s body, thinking silently to himself,
“That Adult… is angry?”
That Adult was angry for some unknown reason because Tsuchimikado Ran borrowed His power through the ritual.
Though such scenes were extremely rare, the physician wasn’t too surprised.
Because that Adult was described as “capricious” in all records.
Though He had rarely responded to pleas from the mortal realm in recent centuries, the ancient texts all said so.
Moreover, it was said that in the recent period after the Tide arrived, that Adult seemed quite active.
Even an Onmyoji like Tsuchimikado Ran, who hadn’t reached the Ghost God realm, could commune with that Adult via ritual—best proof.
Swoosh…
Flecks of blood-colored starlight flickering in his peripheral vision drew Shangshan Che’s gaze, then vanished abruptly under his puzzled stare.
The physician, focused on suppressing the incantations, also breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m afraid Tsuchimikado competitor can no longer continue in the match.”
The physician clasped his palms, panting heavily, and quickly conferred with the solemn-faced Judge.
Immediately after, the two reached a consensus.
“—The sidelines physician and Judge agree that Tsuchimikado Ran competitor’s current condition is no longer suitable to continue the match.
Thus, his slot is canceled for withdrawal.”
Because even Ghost Gods could only briefly suppress the backlash on Tsuchimikado Ran; truly rooting it out would likely require sending him back to the Tsuchimikado Family.
No audience objected.
—Even those unaware of the details could tell something utterly terrifying had nearly happened.
Several official Ghost Gods from the Seed Battle appeared at the sidelines.
They joined the physician in tightly suppressing the still-writhing blood-colored incantations, then swiftly left the Sky Castle venue.
Shangshan Che on the arena was stunned.
The cursed one was fine, but the curser cursed himself?
What was going on?
Even so many terrifying Ghost God levels were helpless?
What kind of horrifying status thing was Tsuchimikado Ran using to curse him?
Not only did it completely fail, but the invited big shot backlashed him?
Shangshan Che was baffled.
Out of caution, he still thoroughly checked himself inside and out again.
But still found no signs of being cursed.
Anyway, time to continue challenging.
Shangshan Che asked Kaga Kiyomitsu and, getting the same answer, looked toward Kamo Kiichi.
Kamo Kiichi was also looking at him, brows tightly furrowed.
He who had watched the entire match without blinking stayed silent.
Because Kamo Kiichi knew he didn’t have a significant strength gap with Ran; if anything, he lacked decisive moves like extreme curses.
Now, Ran had proven Shangshan Che had absurdly strong curse resistance.
Physically, piercing two layers of ultra-fast-regenerating shells to barely injure him; mentally, facing at least a Sword Heart refined through Hundred Refinements and Return to One.
Shangshan Che was utterly a colossal hedgehog covered in thorny blades, capable of Lightning Strikes.
“I challenge rank third, Kamo Kiichi.”
“I accept.”
The successive challenge reignited the Sky City Arena.
……
About half an hour later, after a grueling battle, Shangshan Che defeated Kamo Kiichi.
Exhaling lightly, Shangshan Che wiped the blood dripping to his chin with the back of his hand.
Though his Qi Barrier and spiritual power were nearly depleted, compared to Kamo Kiichi and Tsuchimikado Ran, he still felt the latter posed a greater threat.
Kamo Kiichi’s moves were mostly Five Elements Sorcery and Onmyōdō, straightforward.
Thus, Shangshan Che won straightforwardly, clashing head-on from start to finish.
Aside from a few fatal grazes, no real trouble.
Naturally, he saved Two-Foot Adult, that key trump card, for the “final circle”.
In contrast, the clash with Tsuchimikado Ran was brief but riddled with hidden kills, killing intent everywhere.
If not for the opponent’s curse inexplicably failing at the end, who won might truly be uncertain.
……
“The renowned Tsuchimikado and Kamo, both defeated by this Shangshan Che?”
“What underdog comeback story?”
On the audience seats, gasps rose one after another.
Since ancient times, audiences loved the trope of an ordinary boy beating a privileged noble.
But someone immediately retorted: “Underdog? By what right do you call him underdog? Real underdogs would’ve been eliminated long ago.”
“Not to mention his companion Tokugawa Ririko is bloodline of the colossal ‘Tokugawa’!”
“—Because Shangshan Che was still in high school at Sakura Capital High School not long ago.”
This remark instantly drew all nearby gazes.
The boy still wearing Sakura Capital High School uniform even on vacation repeated: “Because Shangshan Che was a second-year at Sakura Capital High School not long ago… and had no presence.”
Facing the dense stares, the plain-looking boy forced a difficult smile and continued,
“Whereas Tokugawa Ririko is our school’s Kendo Club ace, who even won the Jade Dragon Flag championship before.”
In an instant, a large surrounding area fell into dead silence.
Seconds later, f*ck shouts, shrieks, and yells erupted everywhere, spreading virally across the entire venue.
Kujō Rōgetsu thoughtfully glanced at the uproarious audience seats, then at Nanjo Emi, who had found a lounge chair to lean on and was sipping ice cola with a wine-tasting technique,
“Nanjō Emi, aren’t you surprised?”
“Surprised? Why should I be?”
Nanjo Emi drained the last of her cola. Nearby, Akatsuki Ran in Special Affairs Office uniform stepped forward and refilled it under Kujō Rōgetsu’s indescribable gaze.
Kujō Rōgetsu watched his junior, who seemed like a different person in mere months, his brow twitching,
“Hey… Ran-chan, you’re just submitting like this?”
Akatsuki Ran shook the cola bottle still half-full in her hand: “Senior Disciple Brother, you wouldn’t know—pour two glasses and I still have a whole bottle left. Why not take such a good deal?”
Simply put, free drinks and she runs.
Kujō Rōgetsu: “…”
Nanjo Emi ignored their interaction and continued,
“From the start, I believed Shangshan Jun would take the championship.”
“He’s the once-in-a-millennium genius I recognize; impossible for him to stop here.”
“Once-in-a-millennium…”
Kujō Rōgetsu was speechless.
No matter how much Nanjo Emi favored Shangshan Che, this expectation was over the top.
A millennium-level genius meant Shangshan Che’s future achievements could rival Seimei and that Kamizumi.
The man shook his head: “Saying this now is way too early.”
“Didn’t you ask? As for who’s right, let time prove it.”
Nanjo Emi said no more, just continued savoring the cola whose bubbles were trapped by Onmyōdō bindings.
Kujō Rōgetsu silently watched that Red Hannya Mask.
He still didn’t believe.
Didn’t believe Nanjo Emi’s words, nor that his luck was good enough to witness a future legend’s rise.
……
“Great, great! Truly eye-opening for this little monk!”
Hozoin Inrai clapped delightedly,
“Enshō Senior Brother, Ogasawara Sister! This trip was truly worth it!”
The little monk’s eyes rippled like autumn water: “If only this little monk could go up for a spar…”
Okabe Motonobu didn’t respond.
Or rather, had completely blocked all external information and sounds.
She just stared at the man wearing the Red Hannya Mask, named Shangshan Che…
Or rather, named “Che.”
Great Onmyoji, Che.
She was certain that man was almost certainly Che.
Even if the last sliver of impossibility, it would be a direct disciple inheriting Che’s mantle or similar.
But if it was Che, two doubts remained.
Why, after all these years, had Che—who could wield Lightning back then—lived to now without achieving Ghost God?
And how did he stay young and survive to this era?
Forget Ghost God; even if Che became something greater, Okabe Motonobu fully believed he could.
But this didn’t stop Okabe Motonobu from wanting to rush up, stab the guy twice, and rip off that damned mask on his face.
Okabe Motonobu’s hands clenched tightly on her knees, her squinted eyes filled with churning emotions dropping into shadow.
She just wanted an answer.
Whether for herself, the entire Imagawa Clan…
Or for her Lord.
……
Below the arena, Shangshan Che handed Kaga Kiyomitsu back to Ririko.
Witnessing this, now TOP4 Kamo Kiichi looked grim.
He lost.
He, defeated by commoner bloodline.
And the opponent hadn’t even gone all out.
Kamo Kiichi’s teeth ground audibly.
But thinking Tsuchimikado Ran had directly withdrawn home because of this eased his mind a bit.
But next…
Kamo Kiichi looked up at Tokugawa Ririko with her pristine Sword Heart overhead.
Tokugawa family folk probably wouldn’t win easily either.
Tokugawa Ririko was tough already; plus that sword, and Shangshan Che had deliberately exposed all her moves as a demo!
Bang.
Kamo Kiichi couldn’t help smashing the armrest, making a dull thud.
Had he become some roadside mob fish they could casually sweep in their eyes?
The more Kamo Kiichi thought, the angrier he burned.
But as the fire rose, it suddenly extinguished.
Whatever.
The youth sighed, leaning back in his chair, touching his 【TOP5】 badge.
Anyway, back in the clan, he was always middling; even at full effort, barely front-row but never top.
“Hoo…”
Kamo Kiichi exhaled in relief, his gaze calming.
Even if beaten by that Tokugawa Ririko again, so what?
Failure isn’t shameful; stopping after failure is.
The true golden age had just begun; future chances were countless.
Even if lagging now, who could say he couldn’t catch up or surpass these victors later?
So, Kamo Kiichi.
The Kamo family’s Onmyoji told himself word by word in his heart.
“Don’t fight for a moment; fight for a lifetime.”
—Next, Ririko, reclaiming Kaga Kiyomitsu, rose straight to rank fourth.
As expected, with all intel exposed, Kamo Kiichi was ordinarily dispatched by her.
Light pillar flashed, seating the girl in TOP4.
Ririko looked up.
Shangshan Che looked down.
Their gazes met.
The latter paused, closing his just-opening mouth.
He knew exactly what Ririko was thinking.
—Ririko wanted to keep rising, all the way to claim first place.
—As for the one-failure rule?
Sorry.
Tyrants don’t heed such rules.
“I challenge rank third, Shangshan Che.”
Shangshan Che breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze shifting from gentle to solemn,
“Then come on.”
He said.
