Chapter 235: White Hannya, Quality Promoted! Rank Cap Unlocked To Four-star! The Guardians Of The Old Era
“This is the place.”
The young man circled the cliff above the spring, marveling: “It’s been so long, yet nothing here has changed at all.
Even that moss-covered stone looks exactly the same.”
“Sometimes, your Walker’s methods are truly bizarre, strange, and wondrous.”
Shangshan Che, who had just been jolted by the prompt, was stunned for a moment and asked in return,
“This spring water isn’t natural?”
“—Of course not.”
The young man showed an expression of complete naturalness: “Everything in this Secret Realm was collected and tossed in bit by bit by that guy. Even the residents were originally living in the Eternal World.
At the very beginning, there was absolutely nothing here.”
Shangshan Che looked up, his gaze sweeping around.
Sky, sun, trees, more or less…
All of this was “tossed” in from outside by that Walker from a thousand years ago?
He couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy, unable to imagine it.
This really is…
A bit exaggerated.
“But I’m not too clear on the specific effects of this spring water. I forgot to ask back then.”
The young man picked up a small piece of gravel and tossed it inside.
After a calm ripple, he spread his hands with a smile,
“But in any case, there’s no ancient Giant Beast or Demon lurking inside.”
Shangshan Che thought to himself that this consideration was quite thorough, preventing him from jumping in and getting swallowed in one bite.
“—So, I’ll have to trouble Shangshan Jun to go in and feel it for yourself. Anyway, I don’t think that guy from a thousand years ago had any reason to harm you.”
The young man smiled and looked toward Karakasa-kozō, who hadn’t dared say a single extra word and was even breathing carefully,
“As for you, Miaofeng, just stand up top and watch. You might get some benefits too.”
“Okay, got it! Village Chief!”
Karakasa-kozō stood at attention.
“Hey, just call me Village Chief. How could I possibly deserve the word ‘Adult’?”
The young man shook his head,
“Besides, I don’t think I’m a particularly competent Village Chief at all…”
“Then, Village Chief, I’ll go ahead.”
Shangshan Che leaped forward, letting the gravity—almost identical to that of the Mortal Realm—pull him down, splashing into the milky-white spring water.
【You have entered a special area, Bell Spirit Spring!】
【Note: You may choose one of the following: Perform “Quality Promotion” on a Demon Incarnation, or increase proficiency by 2000 points for any selected skill!】
【Note: You may only choose one of “Quality Promotion” or “Proficiency Increase”!】
A warm, gentle sensation spread across his skin. Shangshan Che felt like soaking in this spring water was like bathing in a hot spring that didn’t emit heat, making him unable to resist relaxing.
After truly entering the spring water, a few new prompts popped up.
Shangshan Che glanced over them and couldn’t help laughing out loud—so obvious a choice, did it even need hesitation?
Two thousand proficiency points… Even if added to the hardest-to-improve Natural Reason School, which had already reached Expert Level, in the long run, it couldn’t compare to promoting the Incarnation’s quality.
Because no matter what, proficiency could be “ground out” through effort and sweat, step by step.
But Incarnation quality couldn’t.
Even though Shangshan Che had once used a Red Ogre Horn during the Sengoku Period to promote Hannya’s quality by a star point, how many such Red Ogre Horns were there?
These two kinds of Demons weren’t as common as the three kinds of Hannya.
With sufficient strength and daring to enter the Mortal Realm, the number of Red Ogres could probably be counted on two hands, and their spoils after being slain were usually divided on the spot.
Therefore, the key question now was whether to choose White Hannya or Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation.
After a brief hesitation, Shangshan Che fixed his gaze on “White Hannya.”
There were several reasons, but most were straightforward and simple.
First, unlike the Four-Tailed Fox, whose talents aside from “Anger” were all control or support types, all of White Hannya’s talents served combat.
Second, White Hannya had a talent called “Ghost God.” This alone eliminated any extra hesitation for Shangshan Che at this stage.
Finally, there was the Hannya Mask that could replicate two of White Hannya’s talents.
If he promoted White Hannya’s quality, the Hannya Mask might evolve again.
That way, when Shangshan Che incarnated as the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation and wore the Hannya Mask, he would gain even greater enhancement.
【You have selected Demon Incarnation·White Hannya for Quality Promotion!】
【Your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya’s quality is being promoted…】
After the two golden prompts appeared, Shangshan Che immediately felt the surrounding spring water begin to churn, as if some wondrous substance was seeping into his body.
His entire body felt warm and cozy, making Shangshan Che’s mind relax for the first time in a long while, as if merging with the entire spring.
The gentle, smooth promotion lasted quite a while, but to Shangshan Che, it felt like just a blink of an eye.
When he gathered his thoughts again, the promotion-complete prompt had already jumped up before his eyes.
【Due to your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya’s Quality Promotion, your Physique +1!】
【Due to your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya’s Quality Promotion, your Willpower +1!】
【Your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya’s quality promotion is complete! Please check it yourself!】
Shangshan Che exhaled comfortably, recalling the huge commotion when Hundred-Eyed Demon’s quality was promoted in the Gacha Pool, then glanced at the now-faded spring water around him,
“A silent promotion. Not bad.”
He looked inward at his Sea of Qi and saw the White Hannya Card with a shinier border and overall craftsmanship elevated another level. He opened its Panel.
A Panel that had fundamentally transformed sprawled before Shangshan Che’s eyes.
【Demon Incarnation·White Hannya】
【Quality: Epic→Epic+】
【Rank: Two-and-a-Half Star】
【Rank Cap: Three-and-a-Half Star→Four-Star】
【Talents: Ghost God, Greed Anger Ignorance, Pale Frenzy】
The changes to the Incarnation Panel were simple: just a few characters changed in quality, Rank Cap, and talents.
But those few characters made Shangshan Che unable to suppress his grin any longer.
“A Four-Star Rank Cap. Methodically leveling up would reach Ghost God level… It’d sound utterly absurd to outsiders.”
Before promoting White Hannya’s quality, Shangshan Che hadn’t expected reality to give him such a grand gift.
As someone who had experienced it firsthand, he knew all too well the gulf between “Three-and-a-Half Star” and “Four-Star.”
Even without other changes, this simple Rank Cap increase alone made this Quality Promotion completely worthwhile.
But it wasn’t just that!
White Hannya’s core skill “Ghost God” had changed again—
【Ghost God: Ghost God’s Might, Ghost God’s Appearance, Power of Ghost God（Weak）.】
This time, the “Weak” after Ghost God’s Appearance was gone too. Just complete the final third of the puzzle to see the complete Ghost God talent.
“But what exactly is Ghost God’s Appearance?”
Shangshan Che manifested the Hannya Mask, stroking its smooth edges, staring at the greatly changed mask. After two seconds of daze, he somewhat understood the meaning of those four words.
In his eyes, deep dark red Incantations had surged onto the originally pale and eerie White Hannya’s Mask.
The Incantations were mysterious, narrow, and serpentine.
Just one glance made one instinctively hold their breath, not daring to move.
Unlike the previous terror and fear it evoked.
Now, the Hannya Mask appeared solemn and majestic.
“Not bad, looks quite authentic.”
Shangshan Che examined the mask up and down, nodding in satisfaction.
—And his previous guess was indeed correct.
After the Quality Promotion, the Hannya Mask’s effect as a Special Item—retaining talents—had increased from 60% to 70%.
Finally, the original talents “Berserk” and “Fear of White” had disappeared, merging into a single, more powerful and comprehensive talent.
【Pale Frenzy: The heavier your injuries, the more Fear you receive, the greater the growth in Physique and Willpower, and the faster the recovery of injuries and Qi Barrier.】
Still a simple, brute-force numerical talent, very fitting for White Hannya’s Incarnation style.
—Of course, among all the changes from the Quality Promotion, the Ghost God gate directly opened to him was the most tempting.
If only he could get an item like a Time Reduction Card sometime…
Unfortunately, such items were mostly unattainable.
Shangshan Che sighed lightly and stored the Hannya Mask back into his Sea of Qi.
He leaped from the clear spring water, climbing the rock wall in a few steps to reach the ground.
Just as he came ashore, Shangshan Che noticed Karakasa-kozō, standing a few meters away, had grown a bit taller, and the red umbrella on its head seemed even glossier.
It was still swaying in place, looking thoroughly dazed.
—【Karakasa-kozō（One-and-a-Half Star）】.
The prompt’s change confirmed Shangshan Che’s feeling was right.
Perhaps from absorbing the scattered mist, the originally vague Karakasa-kozō, dragged in as a mere spectator, had jumped up half a star.
Truly a windfall from the heavens.
Shangshan Che didn’t disturb it and walked straight toward the young man sitting on the moss-covered stone not far away, intending to give thanks.
The young man, having already noticed the movement, looked at Shangshan Che but didn’t see much difference.
He narrowed his eyes: “Did this spring water work? It couldn’t be that guy lying, right?”
“I’ve gained greatly.” Shangshan Che cupped his hands toward the young man, tone sincere. “Thank you, Village Chief Your Excellency, for bringing me here.”
“Ho, that’s pretty good.”
The young man raised his brows in surprise and stared carefully at Shangshan Che for a while, but still couldn’t spot any changes from before.
His curiosity burned fiercely.
But the young man ultimately didn’t ask such a privacy-invading question. If he couldn’t see it, so be it—his eyesight and experience were just insufficient.
Asking would be too rude.
At this moment, Karakasa-kozō by the cliff had also sobered up. It hopped over on one foot and bowed deeply to Shangshan Che and the young man respectively.
“Village Chief, and Walker Adult, thank you both.”
The young man thoughtfully rubbed his chin and laughed,
“No need for thanks. It’s all due to your excellent comprehension, Miaofeng. Given time, you might even surpass your Ancestor Master!”
These words turned Karakasa-kozō’s pale face bright red. It lowered its head deeply, stammering without a good reply.
The young man stood up and beckoned to Shangshan Che,
“Since we’ve come here, let’s head back to the Village first.”
……
This time, thanks to Karakasa-kozō’s strength increase, the return trip took a full third less time.
Just arriving at the Village doorway, the young man saw that most of the Yokai villagers had gathered together, looking toward him… no, toward Shangshan Che behind him.
“This is the legendary Walker Adult…”
“Big Brother actually looks unremarkable, like a good person.”
“An aura almost like an ordinary person. This Walker’s Breath Concealment is truly Proficient to the extreme.”
Chattering voices rose among the Yokai crowd, most concerning Shangshan Che and the Walker Token at his waist.
Shangshan Che listened briefly and found that most Yokai had a favorable impression of him; they just hadn’t dared approach due to unfamiliarity.
Only a silver-haired old woman leaning on a cane rasped: “Village Chief Adult, it’s been over eighty years since you last saw this old woman…”
This drew the surrounding Yokai’s gazes.
“Village Chief?”
“This is Village Chief Adult?”
“Huh? Does our Village have a Village Chief?”
The young man stopped, sizing up the wrinkle-faced old woman, taking a good while to match her with the woman in his memory,
“Has it been that long?”
The young man muttered: “I just thought of a better structure for Onmyōdō Spell conduction and wanted to implement it into Reality. Didn’t expect decades to pass in a blink.”
He showed a somewhat apologetic expression to the old woman and the villagers,
“Everyone… sorry. Being alone for so long without lifespan threats, my sense of time has become quite fuzzy.”
The villagers waved their hands repeatedly.
—The average age of the Yokai villagers standing here wasn’t even fifty, so they had no real sense of the Village Chief’s words.
The old woman didn’t say much else.
She smiled at the young man, then slowly walked over, placing a pale yellow Brocade Pouch before Shangshan Che.
“Walker Adult… If you encounter some life troubles in the future, perhaps this can help resolve some worries.”
Shangshan Che accepted the Brocade Pouch with both hands, thanking her earnestly.
—This old woman was the “Fortune-telling Granny” he had seen passing through the Village earlier.
“Walker Adult’s thanks, this old woman accepts.”
After a slight nod, the smiling Fortune-telling Granny turned and slowly departed.
Following the Fortune-telling Granny’s gift, the other Yokai villagers also gave various “local specialties,” mostly as mementos.
Shangshan Che thanked each one earnestly, regardless of value.
Once the laughing and chatting Yokai villagers dispersed, Shangshan Che sighed: “This place is truly a paradise detached from the world.”
The young man, unfamiliar with the idiom, pondered briefly, then replied noncommittally upon understanding,
“Eternal peace and Pleasantness… These Yokai, free from worldly strife, do indeed greatly enjoy this atmosphere.”
Shangshan Che caught the undertone in his words.
—They had thought mere decades or centuries had passed, hoping to carve out a place in a new era, avoiding unbeatable monsters.
Yet one day, an outsider suddenly informed them that a millennium had passed outside.
A millennium was far too long.
Dust to dust, earth to earth.
Everything that belonged to him, and all he had experienced, remained in that Heian Period a thousand years ago—a time bordering the Eternal World, yet also one of unparalleled prosperity in Onmyōdō.
“So, Village Chief Your Excellency, how should I leave?”
Shangshan Che asked him.
“Simple. Take me to where you appeared.”
The young man grinned heartily at him.
—Soon after, the three arrived in the dense forest where Shangshan Che had first opened his eyes.
Under Karakasa-kozō’s dumbfounded gaze, the young man just waved his hand, creating a pale white vortex large enough for passage above the grass.
Even at point-blank range with Eye of Interpretation open, Shangshan Che couldn’t discern its mechanism.
He could only tell it involved deep Spiritual Power usage.
The young man pinched his nose, sensing the familiar aura surging from the other side of the vortex,
“Huo Jin? She’s still there?”
“Village Chief Your Excellency, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave…”
“Shangshan Jun, could you help me with something?”
The young man smiled nostalgically, interrupting Shangshan Che’s farewell.
“Please speak.”
Curiosity swirled in the young man’s eyes,
“If you come again with time, could you bring some Documents about history? I’d like to know what happened over this millennium.”
Shangshan Che blinked, nodding: “No problem.”
—To the young man, the history of the past millennium was the “Future.” If offered a chance to see the next millennium’s future, Shangshan Che would make the same request.
The young man waved at him: “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Shangshan Jun.”
After waving to the young man and Karakasa-kozō, Shangshan Che stepped into the pale white vortex.
……
“Shangshan Walker, it seems you’ve gained quite a bit in the Secret Realm.”
Magatsu-kami’s tone carried a hint of delight.
She lightly waved her small hand, instantly clearing Shangshan Che’s hazy mind, allowing him to see her clearly.
“Indeed… But without Magatsu-kami Your Excellency’s prompt, I might not have entered the Secret Realm at all, let alone obtained what I wanted there.”
Just thinking of White Hannya’s “Four-Star” Rank Cap made Shangshan Che feel his future bright.
“These are just my duties.”
Magatsu-kami clasped her hands, expression calm: “Nothing worth praising.”
With that, she sighed softly,
“I originally wanted to assign you some simple, easy tasks with generous rewards, like before.
Unfortunately, I can no longer do such things now.”
Magatsu-kami gently stroked the nearby renovated yet still age-worn empty Stone Slab,
“Now, I stay here to ensure the Walking Assembly endures forever, as the final retreat for all Walkers.”
Her tone was unusually calm.
Shangshan Che was silent for a moment, then asked: “Forgive my impudence, but may I ask Magatsu-kami Your Excellency’s lifespan?”
Magatsu-kami didn’t answer.
But Shangshan Che sensed an aura of desolation and loneliness around her.
Presumably, the answer was a very, very, very large number…
Shangshan Che rubbed his fingers, recalling the young man’s request to him earlier.
So he spoke: “Magatsu-kami Your Excellency, do you have any hobbies, books you’d like to read, or Food you’d like to eat?”
The girl in the white Hood, serene as a plaster statue, was stunned.
She blinked in bewilderment.
After a long while, she hesitantly shook her head: “I… am not sure.”
“Such memories are too distant, too fragmented and vague.” Magatsu-kami said helplessly to him, “Shangshan Walker, please forgive me.”
This answer was within Shangshan Che’s expectations.
Shangshan Che took a bottle of Iced Soda from his Storage Bag and handed it to the girl,
“This drink is for you…”
With a mysterious smile, Shangshan Che waved to her,
“Then, Magatsu-kami Your Excellency, please look forward to our next meeting.”
The faint white light vanished before Magatsu-kami’s eyes. She tilted her head blankly, looking at the black-brown Cola that felt cold to the touch.
She rubbed the condensation beads on the plastic bottle, carefully scooping a drop with her finger and tasting it on her tongue.
Drink… product?
Something like water?
Magatsu-kami couldn’t quite figure it out, just as she couldn’t figure out how to open this fragile bottle to see past the membrane and view what was inside.
From then on, besides cleaning the empty Walking Assembly, Magatsu-kami had a new daily task.
—Figuring out how to open this strange, fragile bottle.
……
Shangshan Che opened his eyes again.
He found Chisa in her little white dress squatting before him, expression grave.
“Shangshan Bro, you’re finally awake.”
She said very seriously: “Mom said sleeping here will make you catch a cold.”
Chisa furrowed her little brows, earnestly admonishing: “This habit is really bad. Even Shangshan Bro should correct it.”
Seeing her like this, Shangshan Che didn’t feel annoyed; instead, he found Chisa’s big-sister act adorable and amusing.
So he replied just as seriously: “Thank you for your concern, Chisa-chan, but I was actually cultivating here.”
“Eh?”
Chisa, who had prepared a whole speech she’d heard countless times and lectured to her younger brothers countless times, immediately pursed her lips and casually looked away.
“Oh, is that so… Ahaha, Chisa seems a bit dumb.”
The girl laughed dryly twice.
Then, Chisa showed an envious gaze,
“Shangshan Bro, you cultivators are really amazing. Do you never get colds or feel unwell several times a year?”
“Mm!”
Shangshan Che gave her a thumbs up, eyes sharp: “After successful cultivation, even getting drenched in a downpour won’t give you a fever!”
Chisa’s eyes sparkled: “That’s—so amazing!”
“There’s even more amazing stuff…”
Midway through Shangshan Che’s words, his pocket phone buzzed several times in a row.
Under Chisa’s curious gaze, he first took out the Mobile Phone, unlocked it, and looked up.
Messages from Nanjo Emi.
【Nanjo Emi: Many strong contenders will be at the preliminaries. It’s your last chance to collect intel face-to-face without drawing attention. Don’t miss it.】
Followed by some precautions and preliminary rules.
【Moon Sand Sauce: Be sure to come.】
“By the way, Chisa-chan.” Shangshan Che did a quick operation and forwarded Nanjo Emi’s Line to her. “This Big Sister is my Superior, very capable.”
“I’ll explain the situation to her. You can chat with her later and see if she’s willing to take you as a disciple directly.”
“Okay…”
Chisa responded softly, nodding, her sidelong glance at Shangshan Che tinged with loss.
Shangshan Che didn’t notice.
Because he had turned his gaze to the thunderclouds rolling outside the window.
Amid the surging Tide of dark clouds, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
“This weather… is the perfect stage for cultivating Spirit Control Technique and Five Thunder Technique.”
Shangshan Che glanced at the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation, whose progress bar was nearly full, and couldn’t help laughing pleasantly.
He bid Chisa temporary farewell and headed to the Special Affairs Office’s rooftop.
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(End of chapter
