Chapter 106: In Heaven And On Earth, None Can Escape This Arrow
Shangshan Che blinked, discovering that this time the prompt that popped up was unexpectedly more than just a short line.
【Ai Bieli · One of Ten Thousand Transformations（Three-Star）】
【Talent: Self-Knowledge, Heart-Peering】
【Self-Knowledge: Centered on her own body, Ai Bieli can achieve wide-area or precise mental manipulation.】
【Heart-Peering: Ai Bieli can see through the emotional fluctuations in the hearts of all people, demons, gods, ghosts, Demons and Monsters.】
He could also see that behind Ai Bieli’s office worker male clone, there were more than a dozen ordinary people following, some terrified, some crying, some angry.
Girl, boy, women, old man……
But without exception, none of them could control their own bodies.
In the desolate ruins specially cleared out using Earth Element Onmyōdō, Ai Bieli revealed a pleasant smile and said to Nanjo Emi, who was expressionless not far away,
“Although I’ve seen your name quite a few times already, in reality, this should be our first meeting, right, little Emi?”
She, wearing the appearance of an office worker male, slightly bowed toward Nanjo Emi, but halfway through bending at the waist, she couldn’t help but let out a greedy murmur: “Ah… what a beautiful heart, just like a black mandala, surging, intense, yet utterly calm.”
“Hmm, though I feel it’s unlikely.”
Ai Bieli winked playfully at her and stepped aside to display the dozen or so ordinary people behind her: “But I still have to ask specifically, little Emi, are you willing to surrender for their sake?”
Nanjo Emi didn’t answer, merely snapping her fingers expressionlessly,
“Water Element · Blood Explosion Spell.”
The next moment, including Ai Bieli’s office worker clone, everyone burst into a cloud of blood mist in an instant, with only scattered bone fragments and flesh splashing into the cracks of the rubble.
This was the quickest and most painless way to die.
Ordinary people’s nerves didn’t even have time to transmit signals of “fear” and “pain” before they were blown to pieces.
But in just a few seconds, another childish voice drilled out.
“Ah haha~ So ruthless to your own kind too, little Emi? Normally, people you encounter at least hesitate a bit.”
Nanjo Emi turned her gaze, and a little girl in a floral dress came into view.
A prompt popped up again in Shangshan Che’s field of vision—【Ai Bieli · One of Ten Thousand Transformations（One-Star）】.
It had the same talent as the previous office worker clone, just with a much lower rank.
“Don’t be too quick to act…”
The little girl clasped her hands behind her back, revealing a sunny and cheerful smile.
She clapped her hands: “Everyone—we’ve arrived at the amusement park!”
Thus, dozens of children only six or seven years old blinked their innocent big eyes and happily came before this dazzling “amusement park.”
In the distance, Shangshan Che, who had just protected a kindergarten, subconsciously gripped the hilt tightly, making the girl in front of him shrink back.
But she quickly mustered her courage and said,
“Good ghost mister, we won’t run around and cause you trouble, so please don’t be angry.”
Shangshan Che was silent.
“—Delaying time will only make you lose faster, Ai Bieli.”
Nanjo Emi tilted her head in confusion: “Do you really think bringing more innocent ordinary people will make me waver even a little?”
“Don’t say it like that. Psychological warfare is an important part for me too.”
The girl covered her mouth and chuckled: “Who knows, maybe it will. After all, to me, they’re just consumables everywhere. If it can create even a sliver of guilt in your heart, little Emi, it’d be a success.”
Ai Bieli could peer into Nanjo Emi’s heart, a heart unlike any she’d ever seen, rare and delicious in the world.
Beneath that calm shell like Antarctic ice hid absolute confidence, all-encompassing arrogance, and a “righteousness” as if bestowed by destiny.
——”I am right.”
Regrettably, such a beautiful and powerful heart was sealed tight without a single gap, not allowing her to taste even a trace of leaking emotional fluctuation, even as countless emotions surged endlessly within.
This situation of being able to look but not touch was nearly driving Ai Bieli mad.
—If she could devour that heart, all other schemes and plans would become unimportant.
Just this one heart alone could elevate Ai Bieli to the realm of Ghost God in an instant.
So no matter what she paid or lost, Ai Bieli didn’t care.
She only wanted to eat that heart.
“Earth Element · Earth Devouring Spell.”
Amid intense tremors, a giant snake formed of earth and stone surged out from underground, its dozens-of-meters-long body writhing, swallowing all those clapping and cheering children in mere seconds.
Then, silence.
“—If you think this works on me, then come at me.”
Nanjo Emi spoke calmly: “Whether ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand… or more, however many come, I’ll kill them all.”
She lowered her head and rubbed her fingernail, casually saying,
“In the end, I’ll kill you—Ai Bieli.”
Bang!
The girl’s body also burst into a cloud of blood mist, scattering with the wind.
“So ruthless, little Emi. I’m starting to doubt if you’re even human.”
Fine rain threads fell, and a woman with long white hair stepped out from somewhere, puzzledly tapping her head.
One, ten, a hundred…
Hundreds or even thousands of white-haired women slowly walked out, surrounding Nanjo Emi in the center of the ruins.
They spoke in unison: “But peeling open that iron-like heart layer by layer and savoring the blazing emotions within is its own kind of fun.”
All the Ai Bieli stared covetously at the unmoving woman who even lit a cigarette, and said together,
“Return to One.”
An ethereal voice rippled out, and all the Ai Bieli bodies began to turn illusory, except for one that remained as clear as ever.
In the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Eyeball’s vision, a blood-red prompt appeared that nearly took up half the sky.
—【Ai Bieli · Ten Thousand Transformations Return to One】
【Ai Bieli · Ten Thousand Transformations Return to One（Three-and-a-half Star）】
【Talent: Self-Knowledge, Heart-Peering, Ten Thousand Transformations, Shape-Molding.】
【Ten Thousand Transformations: Ai Bieli can freely split her own body and consciousness to form new individuals. She can also freely recall all individuals back into herself, gaining their growth and memories from the time of separation.】
【Shape-Molding: Ai Bieli can arbitrarily reshape body and soul.】
Nine heads and eighteen eyes peered down from the high sky, scarlet feathers slowly drifting in the air, the ferocious ghost aura instantly corroding the surrounding earth and stone.
Mountain-like shadows fell, making many Onmyoji who noticed this in the distance involuntarily break out in cold sweat.
Guiche!
Ai Bieli, the moment after Return to One, shaped herself into a legendary Great Demon.
Black flames surged from the nine giant mouths of Ai Bieli like a tide, instantly engulfing Nanjo Emi’s figure completely.
“How’s that, little…”
Before Ai Bieli could laugh, she felt pain in the central neck, and the dozens-of-meters-long neck and head snapped off with a tear.
Nanjo Emi stood indifferently behind the nine-headed Great Demon, withdrawing the several-meters-long Metal Element Blade.
Several spell formulas representing the activation of Onmyōdō lit up instantly under her feet.
Every strand of spiritual power flowed from her fingertips into one spell formula after another; whether her own spiritual power or that borrowed from heaven and earth, not a single bit leaked or was wasted.
Thus, Ai Bieli couldn’t even detect from spiritual power fluctuations that she was already enveloped by multiple Onmyōdō spells.
“Leak Moment · Subjective Time Slow.”
“Astronomy · Dragon Binding Lock.”
“Onmyōdō · Spirit Endowment.”
Before the remaining eight heads could turn, thick pillar-like chains as nimble and vigorous as dragons burst from under Ai Bieli’s feet.
Those ink-black chains seemed to possess intelligence, probing out amid Ai Bieli’s clumsy strikes and breaths.
Then, binding her tight!
“Roar—!”
The Guiche that Ai Bieli had become let out a terrified roar, its building-sized body writhing nonstop.
The earth shook and mountains trembled.
Nanjo Emi stood in midair, her face pale as she took a deep breath, forming an intangible, formless blade in her hand.
“Great Onmyōdō · Spirit Slaying.”
Slay!
……
Shangshan Che silently watched the scene transmitted by the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Eyeball.
Moments later, he took a black Wrathful God Mask from his storage space.
This was the highest-spec mask among those given to him by Katsumi Boss; according to him, it was only used for business worth at least fifty thousand Soul Ash.
In return, Katsumi would arrive at the scene at the fastest speed.
Shangshan Che didn’t hesitate, gently fastening it over his pale Hannya Mask.
Ding ling~
A wind bell tinkling sound slowly rippled out, and Shangshan Che, now alone in a half-collapsed classroom, waited silently.
Less than a minute later, the wind bell sounded again.
Appearing with the wind bell was a Straw Figure resembling Katsumi, standing on the windowsill wearing a God of Wealth Hat and holding a folding fan.
The Straw Figure puzzledly looked around, finally settling its gaze on Shangshan Che.
It made a puzzled rustling sound: “You are… Che Adult?”
Shangshan Che, wearing the Wrathful God Mask, looked at him: “It’s me.”
“You…” Katsumi hesitated for a moment, then stepped back half a pace, his tone turning cold, “You should know the value of fifty thousand Soul Ash.”
“Fifty thousand Soul Ash is indeed precious.”
Shangshan Che nodded: “But compared to the business of one of the Eight Sufferings, what is its worth?”
“Eight Sufferings!?”
Katsumi exclaimed, the Straw Figure trembling several times before calming down.
He hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Shangshan Che’s sleeve, asking urgently: “You mean that birth, old age, illness…”
“Ai Bieli.”
Shangshan Che interrupted Katsumi’s words, pointing to the distant ruins—now more like barren land—where constant explosions, spiritual power tides, and shadows of various Great Demons emanated.
“My companion is fighting Ai Bieli right now, and might win. But once the outcome appears, win or lose, Ai Bieli will flee this place.”
“By the time the tide arrives, there won’t be such a rare opportunity as now.”
He stared at the Straw Figure: “Doesn’t Katsumi Boss want to add to his collection…”
“Che Adult!”
The Straw Figure nearly jumped off the windowsill: “The likes of Eight Sufferings must be slain by all! Why talk to me about collecting or not?!”
Hmm?
Shangshan Che, who had planned to persuade Katsumi with lines like “one-of-a-kind collection” or “fame from slaying Eight Sufferings,” was stunned and shut his mouth.
It seemed Katsumi had a deep grudge against the Eight Sufferings.
This was an unexpected boon.
The Straw Figure pounded its chest forcefully, its voice growing impassioned: “Whatever Che Adult needs, just say the word!”
Shangshan Che plucked his heartstrings to have Two-Foot Adult on the rooftop issue Curse Positioning, and upon receiving the successful response, said: “I need an item that can reach the marked target regardless of distance.”
“One moment.”
The Straw Figure reached both hands into the small pouch at its waist, seemingly rummaging for something.
Seconds later, Katsumi pulled out a copper arrowhead larger than the pouch, still stained with black-red blood, looking quite ominous.
Shangshan Che took the arrowhead, his skin feeling a slight sting.
【Nail-Head Seven Arrows · Nail】
【Quality: Super Epic】
【Effect: Upon use, immediately teleport within ten meters of the locked target.】
【Note: Lacks corresponding accessories, cannot lock. Lacks corresponding accessories, cannot curse-kill. Lacks corresponding accessories, curse-kill power weakened. Currently only teleportation possible.】
【—Heaven above, earth below, none escape this arrow.】
“This should meet Che Adult’s needs. I shall take my leave first.” The Straw Figure bowed. “The tide hasn’t arrived yet; lingering too long in this world will damage this precious incarnation.”
“Next time we meet, Che Adult, don’t forget to bring good news.”
Amid the wind bell’s tinkling, Katsumi departed.
Shangshan Che gripped the arrowhead tightly, seeing through the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Eyeball that Nanjo Emi’s chest was nearly pierced through halfway.
—That was the injury from Ai Bieli’s backstab when she appeared behind Nanjo Emi after the Guiche form was slain, at the moment everyone thought it was over.
At the same time, Shangshan Che could see Ai Bieli’s third panel after 【One of Ten Thousand Transformations】 and 【Ten Thousand Transformations Return to One】—
【Ai Bieli · Ten Thousand Transformations Red Tide】
【Talent: Self-Knowledge, Heart-Peering, Ten Thousand Transformations, Shape-Molding, Red Tide, Void Escape, Ai Bieli.】
【Red Tide: Plant seeds, bloom, scatter pollen, bear fruit. Ai Bieli can draw emotions from “fruit” seeds as her own nourishment.】
【Void Escape: Ai Bieli can instantly transfer herself to any “fruit” seed. Usable only once in a short time.】
【Ai Bieli: Ai Bieli can pull the target into the most touching separation of their life, amplifying the sensations a thousandfold, and draw the emotions as her own nourishment.】
“Can a Three-and-a-half Star reach this level…”
Shangshan Che recalled his battle with the wax figure in Edo Castle.
The opponent had immense pressure, terrifying power and speed; two slashes could cleave him in half, a truly formidable foe.
But compared to those two figures, it paled in comparison.
In the silence, Shangshan Che suddenly noticed the constantly blooming lights in his vision abruptly vanish.
—It’s over?!
End-of-volume is too hard to write, and it feels not that great either.
Anyway, this short plot segment will wrap up in two chapters! Entering volume two after the tide arrives!
Update delayed a bit, sorry meow.
