Chapter 124: Legendary Quest Farewell Cut, Special Trial Slasher Master
Kaga Kiyomitsu had just been gripped in Shangshan Che’s hand when it began to vibrate discontentedly.
It was as if it were saying: I’ve clearly completed my transformation and stayed by your side for so long, so why did it take you until now to pick me up!
You woman-obsessed, sword-forgetting guy!
——Women will only slow down your sword-drawing speed!
“Alright, alright.”
Shangshan Che rubbed its cool guard with his fingertip and whispered, “Even if I have 1% of the problem, don’t you have 99% of the problem? Little Jia, can’t you jump into my hand from over there yourself?”
Kaga Kiyomitsu stopped trembling, seemingly not expecting such a shameless master.
It was just a daito, and it was sheathed at that—how exactly was it supposed to move?
Seeing that he seemed to have soothed Kaga Kiyomitsu, Shangshan Che let out a slight breath, then understood the source of the subtle feeling in his heart upon seeing the huge golden prompt before him.
【Detected that your weapon Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting has reached Epic Grade!】
【Legendary quest·Parting Cut unlocked!】
【Legendary Quest·Parting Cut】
【Completion Condition One: Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting’s quality reaches “Legendary”!】
【Completion Condition Two: Use Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting to slay any Wild God-level（Five-Star） demon!】
【——Histories a thousand years later would record it thus: When the First Wave arrived, the then-obscure Shangshan Che wielded it to slay Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli, marking the beginning of the legend. From then on, this daito gained its unique name, Parting Cut.】
Legendary.
Shangshan Che tightened his grip on Kaga Kiyomitsu slightly.
He understood that the sudden throbbing in his heart came from this.
So-called Legendary Grade items were generally those weapons or items that could leave a uniquely profound mark in lengthy and tedious history, occasionally heard of by later generations.
For example, “Spider Cutter” from Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s hand in the Heian Period a thousand years ago—many had heard of those three words, but if replaced with “Hizamaru,” far fewer would know it.
Shangshan Che had a premonition.
Once Kaga Kiyomitsu advanced to Legendary Grade, it would surely bring a complete transformation in quality.
And it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on him as well.
“Legendary, huh…”
Shangshan Che quietly followed behind Sister Nanjo, raising it to eye level against the light streaming in from the aisle window.
The warm-toned sunlight made the Crimson Scabbard and the copper guard dotted with Pale Color gleam brilliantly.
Discussing “Legendary” now felt a bit premature to Shangshan Che.
After all, between “Epic” and “Legendary” there was another equally important quality—Super Epic.
The nails of the Seven Arrow Nail Head were of this quality, possessing the miraculous ability to teleport to a designated target’s vicinity regardless of distance.
And Kaga Kiyomitsu had risen from Rare Grade weapon to Epic just in Shangshan Che’s hand, slaying countless demons in the process, including unique Eight Sufferings like Ai Bieli.
Without slaying Ai Bieli, who knows how long it would have taken Kaga Kiyomitsu to advance.
“The days ahead are still long.”
Shangshan Che stroked the hilt of Kaga Kiyomitsu, which fit perfectly against his palm, and silently viewed the attributes of the now Epic Grade Kaga Kiyomitsu—
【Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting】
【Quality: Epic】
【Effect One: Thrust Enhancement·Extreme. Using thrust-type sword skills will deal massive additional damage.】
【Effect Two: Soul Slaying.】
【Effect Three: Slash Enhancement·Extreme. Using slashing-type sword skills will deal substantial additional damage.】
【Effect Four: Blazing.】
【Effect Five: Blade of Parting（Unique）.】
【Effect Six: Hundred Refinements as One. Kaga Kiyomitsu’s toughness and hardness greatly increase, making it extremely difficult to break. At the same time, Kaga Kiyomitsu becomes more adaptable to forging.】
【——This is the blade that slew Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli. It will surely leave its mark in history.】
Shangshan Che carefully scanned every word on the panel.
The most obvious changes were Thrust Enhancement and Slash Enhancement, both now suffixed with “Extreme,” proving that Kaga Kiyomitsu could deal even greater damage on hit.
Combined with the inherent sharpness increase from quality upgrade, Kaga Kiyomitsu’s stats had fully thickened once more.
There was also the new Effect Six “Hundred Refinements as One,” which unreasonably boosted toughness and hardness without affecting sharpness.
One must know that in ordinary cognition, the harder a sword, the better it holds its edge—but its toughness suffers, making the weapon prone to breaking.
Thus, battlefield swords were generally neither too sharp nor too hard, ensuring durability so they wouldn’t snap mid-kill, leaving one unarmed.
But now, under Effect Six “Hundred Refinements as One,” Kaga Kiyomitsu completely defied this iron rule, elevating all three attributes simultaneously and truly becoming a Supernatural weapon.
If the current Kaga Kiyomitsu clashed with the tachi in the Ju-Hina Yako Master’s hand, it might even cleave the opponent’s tachi in two.
Shangshan Che smiled, then turned his gaze to Soul Slaying, which now had a long string of notes.
【Effect Two: Soul Slaying. Using Kaga Kiyomitsu to slay demons, Demons and Monsters times, Kaga Kiyomitsu’s quality will gradually improve.】
【Note: Further advancement requires slaying massive numbers of demons, Demons and Monsters. You may seek a Master Craftsman or Master Craftsman apprentice to perform secondary forging on Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting to enhance the “Soul Slaying” effect.】
These words “massive numbers” aligned perfectly with Shangshan Che’s prior thoughts.
But finding a Master Craftsman or apprentice… Shangshan Che had no way to contact the old blacksmith or Zashiki Warashi who had vanished somewhere.
He pondered slightly.
If neither Sister Nanjo nor the Special Affairs Office had anyone with “Master Craftsman”-like abilities, he could try asking Katsumi later while shopping.
“You’ve gotten stronger again, Little Jia.”
Shangshan Che smiled and flicked its hilt; the latter trembled again, extremely dissatisfied with the casual, ordinary nickname like a neighbor kid’s.
Feeling the vibration in his palm, Shangshan Che thought:
——Ever since Kaga Kiyomitsu reached Epic Grade, its spirituality had indeed increased significantly.
Before, at Rare quality, Kaga Kiyomitsu rarely showed such anthropomorphic behavior.
……
After casually changing out of his patient gown into a cheap Special Affairs Office uniform, Shangshan Che followed behind Nanjo Emi out the door toward the Tsuzuki Ward Special Affairs Office.
Unlike the Arakawa Ward Special Affairs Office’s towering seventeen- or eighteen-story building, the Tsuzuki Ward Special Affairs Office Headquarters was a measly four stories.
But considering the entire Special Affairs Office was sparsely staffed, even these four floors of office and residential space probably couldn’t fill up.
“Can’t even sense any shikigami qi… Feels just like a retirement community.”
Shangshan Che glanced at the cafeteria in the distance marked with two glowing “Special Price” signs, then politely smiled at the familiar young man on guard duty at the door.
That’s right—this youth guarding the Special Affairs Office Headquarters gate was the one Shangshan Che had met at the hotel earlier.
——He just hadn’t expected that even after the First Wave, they were still using a real person with less than One-Star strength for gate duty.
Their Arakawa Ward Special Affairs Office now used a rotation of Two-and-a-Half Star+ Three-Star shikigami for gate duty, ensuring strong early warning.
While in Shinjuku or Shibuya, gate shikigami were at least Three-Star to qualify, and even they were just for show, not the main guard force.
Local disparities were real and severe.
Shangshan Che nodded to the youth whose face was full of shock and eyes brimming with envy, then turned back with a slight sigh.
What Sister Nanjo had to do now was help these “remote” areas’ Supernatural forces grow stronger as quickly as possible.
After all, post-Wave, many demons appeared without logic—they themselves didn’t know why they spawned in such sparsely populated backwaters.
Exiting the empty Tsuzuki Ward Special Affairs Office Headquarters, Shangshan Che immediately spotted Master Huijue squatting on the roadside curb at the doorway, draped in a kesa, slurping instant noodles from a bucket with a disposable fork.
The young novice Huiming stood beside him, maintaining a slightly stiff smile while eyeing every passerby.
As if afraid someone would stop and accuse them of tarnishing Hongyuan Temple’s reputation.
“Benefactor Shangshan! How is your health?”
Spotting Shangshan Che emerge, Master Huijue tossed his plastic fork into the noodle broth, wiped his mouth casually, and laughed as he approached.
Shangshan Che raised an eyebrow.
In just two short days without seeing Master Huijue, his “gear” had updated again.
The aged, patina-covered Buddhist kesa looked ancient; a skull necklace with a cross in its mouth dangled from his neck, and a pair of cheap crescent earrings swayed gently.
Good grief, he’d achieved a fusion of three religions—a puzzle unsolved by countless ancients over millennia, cracked single-handedly by Master Huijue.
Shangshan Che held back a laugh, eyed Master Huijue’s half-eaten Kangshifu spicy instant noodle bucket, nodded slightly, and gave a thumbs-up.
“Classic flavor—great taste, Master.”
“Then it must be really good.” Master Huijue smacked his lips, then pointed at Huiming behind him. “I told my junior brother how delicious this stuff is and urged him to try, but he kept saying no no, what a shame.”
Master Huijue grinned: “The kid’s too young. Bet when we get back, he’ll dream of this instant noodles for days, and then there’ll be none to eat.”
Shangshan Che shifted his gaze to the awkwardly smiling Huiming.
“Senior Disciple Brother—”
The young novice clenched his fists, blushing.
“Benefactor Shangshan.”
Master Huijue set the noodle bucket aside, dropped his playful expression, clasped his hands, and bowed slightly.
“On behalf of all my brothers and our master, I thank you.”
Shangshan Che recalled the old mage who had helped place the memorial tablet and asked, “Is the abbot alright?”
Master Huijue smiled: “Thanks to Benefactor Shangshan, Master is fine. He even had the energy to thunder at me when he saw me—three or four elders could barely hold him back.”
That was only natural.
With Master Huijue’s abstract three-religion fusion outfit, it was enlightened of the seventy-something abbot not to beat him and expel him on the spot.
Shangshan Che shook his head, not questioning Master Huijue’s fashion or aesthetics—after all, he was still in an exploratory phase; a bit wild was normal.
“Then, Master Huijue, if there’s nothing else, see you another day.”
Shangshan Che pointed to Nanjo Emi, who had wandered off alone to smoke: “Got things to do—can’t keep the superior waiting.”
“Of course, of course.”
A faint, imperceptible Buddhist glow seemed to flicker behind Master Huijue as he calmly said, “Safe travels, Benefactor Shangshan.”
With that, Master Huijue picked up his noodle bucket from the ground, slurped the noodles while leading away the protesting young novice Huiming who said they’d get cold.
Shangshan Che stared at the prompt before him in slight daze.
【Safe Travels: A sincere blessing from an Innate Dao Body bearer. For the next three days, you will literally have smooth travels in transportation.】
He gazed at Master Huijue’s receding figure, suddenly feeling this era’s future would be spectacular.
Meanwhile, atop a rooftop three hundred meters away.
Three blurry figures stood side by side.
“That’s the Arakawa Ward seed Shangshan Che?”
A black-clad boy wrapped in bandages, revealing only purple pupils, said flatly: “Our opponent in seven days is just this level of trash?”
He mockingly toyed with the crow on his left arm, stroking its glossy feathers: “That Onmyo Major Official called Nanjo Emi is indeed strong—my intuition says she’s even more formidable than Master.”
“The monk called Huijue next to him isn’t bad either— he could probably take all three of us alone.”
Karatorishigure sighed in disappointment: “But that Shangshan Che really falls short. I can’t even muster the interest to toy with him.”
“Now now, little crow, don’t be hasty.”
Beside him, a blonde woman in a thin evening gown thrust out her ample chest, brushed the hair from her shoulder, and smiled.
“I heard there’s a girl called Tokugawa Ririko in Arakawa Ward who’s pretty amazing—sword technique at incarnation level, comparable to legendary sword masters.”
Kuzuha Chihaya licked her sharp fingernail: “Playing with her properly sounds fun.”
“Tokugawa?”
A listless voice sounded behind them.
Hands in pockets, masked, wearing a loose patchwork hoodie up top but sheer black stockings below, the girl with dark circles lifted her eyes slightly.
“If it’s Tokugawa, no need to make enemies with her.”
Akatsuki Ran said softly: “It’d trouble Obscure Moon Hall and Master.”
Kuzuha Chihaya hugged her chest in dissatisfaction: “Ran-chan, you’re such a buzzkill!”
Akatsuki Ran remained unmoved, not even glancing at Shangshan Che hundreds of meters away: “This kind of ‘genius’? I’ve lost count of how many I’ve killed.”
“If that guy dares step up overconfidently, let me end him directly.”
Tossing a pale Bone Dagger that appeared from nowhere, Akatsuki Ran turned with a yawn: “I’m heading out—late-night digestion workout last night, haven’t caught up on sleep.”
“Thought there might be a rare surprise this time, but only disappointment.”
Akatsuki Ran’s voice faded as she dissolved into a shadow drifting into the air.
Kuzuha Chihaya’s remaining words caught in her throat; she opened and closed her mouth, shrugging helplessly: “Ran-chan’s underestimating the opponent— that’s not good.”
“Sister Kuzuha, that’s not underestimating—that’s stating facts.”
The black crow spread its wings and soared into the sky.
The boy’s figure vanished abruptly, leaving only a disdainful scoff: “We’ve watched him so long and he hasn’t noticed us—in real combat, he’d be dead dozens of times over.”
Soon, only Kuzuha Chihaya remained on the rooftop.
She scratched her head, poked the little snake head emerging from her collar back in, and stared at the unremarkable boy—who lacked even the spirit, energy, and vitality of a true powerhouse—for a moment.
“Ran-chan and little crow are kinda right… Too lazy to kill a target like this.”
“For them to pick this mediocrity as a district seed, Nanjo Emi’s eye for talent is something else—especially since she’s so strong herself.”
Kuzuha Chihaya walked downstairs boredly; by the time she exited the building, she had completely transformed into another person, blending traceless into the crowd.
……
“Sister Nanjo, that’s my opponent?”
Shangshan Che scrolled through Kitano Runa’s bragging “cultivation progress bar” and her selfies with Lili Zi, leaning against the wall waiting for Nanjo Emi to finish her smoke.
“You noticed?”
Nanjo Emi glanced at him in slight surprise.
“First second in.” Shangshan Che replied with a dumpling emoji（Not bad）, then said, “After practicing Lili Zi’s two little tricks, those three’s ‘spirit’ is like high beams at night—impossible to ignore.”
He remarked: “Stung my eyes.”
Nanjo Emi exhaled smoke: “They’re not weak—quite strong, in fact. On paper, two Two-and-a-Half Stars, one Three-Star, with insidious tricks galore.”
“You’ve only just handled your first Three-Star demon, so if you feel your strength is lacking before the match…”
“Those three are still a bit short.”
Shangshan Che pocketed his phone and shrugged at Nanjo Emi: “They didn’t even notice me observing them—really subpar.”
“Good then.”
Nanjo Emi nodded.
She’d never paid much attention to Obscure Moon Hall’s three disciples—types like them were commonplace and unremarkable.
But Shangshan Che was different.
Nanjo Emi flicked her cigarette butt into the nearby sewer grate and walked toward the van pulling up across the street.
Shangshan Che was one of a kind.
……
Opening the car door, Shangshan Che surprisingly found Nure-onna and Hiyori Bo already seated in the trunk.
But unlike before, they weren’t playing rock paper scissors like kids—instead, each shikigami held a fruit phone.
The eerie glow lit their faces, with creepy giggles occasionally escaping their mouths.
“He’s here!”
Spotting Shangshan Che enter, Hiyori Bo suddenly reacted, pressed the screen-off button, and headbutted Nure-onna’s face, making her whip her head around in panic several times.
Then, in a fluster, she fiddled with the phone and showed them the home screen, stammering guiltily: “I-I wasn’t looking at anything weird!”
Moments later, Nure-onna blushed silently.
Shangshan Che: “…”
He turned, eyeing Nanjo Emi who wore an equally speechless expression, meaning: “Gonna rein in your shikigami?”
Nanjo Emi shook her head—she was too lazy to call out Nure-onna’s little scheme.
Having been through it herself, she knew exactly what a phone home screen like that meant.
Since she’d given her shikigami personal phones and connected them to this era’s internet and devices, encountering such content was inevitable.
Nanjo Emi saw no need to interfere.
They’d get bored eventually and stop; plus, as Three-Stars, Nure-onna’s physique was robust—occasional relaxation was fine.
Understanding Nanjo Emi’s intent, Shangshan Che sat back down, watching Nure-onna casually play a match-3 game, and sighed inwardly.
How did these perfectly fine shikigami turn out like this.
Probably Two-Foot Adult secretly teaching them on the down-low.
Shangshan Che resolved to interrogate her properly later.
But for now, business first.
“Sister Nanjo, I’m gonna nap.”
With a creak, Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes, leaving only an imperceptible slit.
——Sleep? Of course not.
With a whopping 3080 Soul Ash in hand, he’d squeeze in some Fishing Master on the ride back.
A Two-Star White Hannya’s physique should swim faster than those purple-glowing Epic fish—not to mention Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation’s Heavenly Thunder could one-shot big fish.
He hadn’t called out Two-Foot Adult after boarding because of this.
He might need Two-Foot Adult’s help later to fish some green and white guaranteed pulls.
In the silence, a prompt popped up.
【Special Salvage: Fishing Master!】
【Second salvage costs 1000 Soul Ash! Doubles each subsequent time!】
【Remaining salvages: Two】
【Note: High-quality item appearance rate greatly increased in this Special Salvage!】
【Consume 1000 Soul Ash to start Special Salvage: Fishing Master?】
“Yes.”
Shangshan Che affirmed silently.
Familiar text appeared.
【Special Salvage starting soon.】
【First, select your accompanying shikigami.】
Shangshan Che selected “Hachishaku-sama” again.
Instantly, Shangshan Che’s vision went slightly black; to the others in the van, he seemed to enter deep sleep.
【Welcome to Special Salvage·Fishing Master!】
【Here, catch as many fish swimming in the pond as possible within the time limit…】
【While ensuring you don’t get hooked by the angler…】
Click.
Shangshan Che felt his feet on solid ground, no water pressure or currents around.
He opened his eyes.
“Where is this?”
Everything was blurry, but he could make out a spacious courtyard with many shadowy figures around.
Definitely not the previous Fishing Master pond.
What was going on?
Shangshan Che checked the “accompanying shikigami” slot—Two-Foot Adult’s profile picture had a “prohibited” mark, and he indeed couldn’t summon her.
Fortunately, weapons and items like Kaga Kiyomitsu were still accessible.
Shangshan Che belted Kaga Kiyomitsu at his waist, adopting an iaijutsu stance to brace for potential danger.
Then, another prompt appeared.
【Detected your last random era: Late Edo Period·Bakumatsu.】
【Also, you were previously observed by a core figure of the Late Edo Period·Bakumatsu era—】
【Thus, Special Salvage·Fishing Master has been altered!】
These three lines reminded Shangshan Che of the end of last Fishing Master, when that youth resembling Okita Soji had reeled him in.
That had been real?
Shangshan Che was stunned—that meant he could time-travel back via Fishing Master’s three chances?
Even if he could do little and affect nothing, “returning to the past” held more allure than any perks.
“This is wild…”
Shangshan Che muttered, then saw the final prompt.
【——You are entering Special Trial·Slasher Master!】
As the prompt faded, the blurry surroundings gradually sharpened, voices of discussion reaching Shangshan Che’s ears.
It felt like ages, yet only an instant—then someone loudly announced,
“Next tester, Shangshan Che!”
He looked around puzzled, quickly gathering intel.
First, on the nearby stone brick ground, he spotted a man-high daruma with festive red-and-black face paint.
Its head bore a tag like ordinary demons: 【Zan Maru】.
But it emitted no demonic aura, merely swaying slightly like an item or decoration.
Immediately, a prompt appeared over “Zan Maru.”
【——Use full-power slash on “Zan Maru.” Better slash effect means more rewards in Special Trial·Slasher Master.】
【Note: In this Special Trial, all your skill cooldowns are refreshed, all item cooldowns refreshed. Using any skills here won’t affect reality.】
Oh—so that’s the setup.
Moreover.
Shangshan Che eyed the note.
This meant he could freely use Four-Tailed Fox’s Wrathful Gaze without repercussions.
“Nice.”
Shangshan Che curved his lips—this would let him roughly gauge his current combat power across states.
Normal human body, minor items + breathing technique maxed, Berserk White Hannya, Wrathful Gaze Four-Tailed Fox…
Later attribute gains translated differently to reality, so brain estimates couldn’t fathom the power of those terrifying numbers.
Soon, murmurs arose around him.
“Why hasn’t he gone up?”
“Scared?”
“Shh—quiet. Didn’t you hear his name? Shangshan? And that sword at his waist isn’t ordinary. Dare slander such an adult, and you might lose your head.”
Some shut up, but others gossiped more.
“With those skinny arms and legs, I’d say max 600 kan power.”
“600 kan? You blind fool, his breathing technique is at Qi Through Four Limbs— at least 1000 kan!”
This was Edo region’s semiannual “samurai exam” site, drawing commoners, nobles, samurai, dojo disciples alike.
Not just to pass and become nominal samurai, but to gauge regional peers’ levels.
Everyone’s first hurdle: “slash power assessment.”
Minimum pass: make the black-red Zan Maru report “500 kan.”
Shangshan Che didn’t know this.
He scanned the ancient attire around him, then withdrew his gaze.
——Didn’t matter; he knew it was time to swing.
Silently approaching the man-high Zan Maru, Shangshan Che slowly drew Kaga Kiyomitsu, eliciting gasps.
“That blade! That edge!”
“Fast draw! Brother, 100 ryō gold—sell it to me?!”
Someone affirmed Kaga Kiyomitsu’s quality: “Named sword.”
Shangshan Che ignored them.
He gripped the hilt, exhaled hot breath.
First slash: test plain auto-attack without breathing technique.
Raising Kaga Kiyomitsu, Shangshan Che shouted and swung down.
Tang Bamboo Stance!
Kaga Kiyomitsu, range-constricted by special power on Sorrow of Parting, slashed down precisely onto the black-red Zan Maru.
Whoosh—!
Winds howled; Zan Maru toppled back, intoning annoyingly: “Slash, slash power—nine hundred ten kan, says!”
The number silenced the crowd.
Not for being high, but too low.
Someone had said this “Shangshan Che” boy had breathing technique at “Qi Through Four Limbs”—such an expert should casually hit over 1000 kan.
Let alone with an undoubted Treasure Sword daito.
The recording clerk glanced puzzled at Shangshan Che, noted it accurately, and said: “Nex…”
“Hey, wait.”
Shangshan Che raised a hand, dissatisfied: “No one said only one slash allowed.”
Clerk paused: “Uh, theoretically…”
“Then we’re good.”
Shangshan Che hung Hannya Mask and Four-Tailed Fox Jade Pendant at his waist, then donned Cold Steel Armguards.
Many gawked—this noble fool’s son was loaded, “decked out in gold and silver” just to swing a sword.
Shangshan Che cracked his neck; Corona Qi boiled within.
Nearby youths and adults at Qi Through Four Limbs or higher exclaimed—turns out Shangshan Che hadn’t gone all-out before.
“Hah—”
Shangshan Che’s eyes flashed; he gripped Kaga Kiyomitsu, Tang Bamboo Stance manifesting again.
Corona Breathing Technique·Fifth Form!
The might this time was worlds apart.
Slash—
Most couldn’t follow; Kaga Kiyomitsu’s blade arced over Zan Maru’s rotund body, then Shangshan Che sheathed it casually to the side.
But next instant, the black-red Zan Maru didn’t topple—instead sat there, voice distorting as it reported,
“Slash, slash power—three thousand—”
Before finishing, cracks spiderwebbed its body, exploding in a boom.
Bang!
Amid shocked stares, the black-red Zan Maru shattered into fragments, steaming hot, fresh corpse.
“Hit the cap already?”
Shangshan Che frowned slightly— that slash had merely touched Two-and-a-Half Star peak.
Far from Wrathful Gaze Four-Tailed Fox; even max Berserk White Hannya Incarnation’s auto could do it.
Stingy test?
No wonder skills were free-use.
Shangshan Che eyed the stunned clerk: “Got a tougher Zan Maru? I wasn’t even at full power.”
“Y-Yes!”
Clerk jolted, beaming unreservedly—if the Kanto region’s Champion emerged under him, he’d feast for a year.
Clerk pulled a blue mini Zan Maru from a pentagram-etched cloth bag, tossing it atop the fragments.
No mourning for the fallen—blue Zan Maru rushed the battlefield!
Instantly swelling like dough in water, it crowed obnoxiously: “Come—slash me! Let me—mock your puny power!”
Veins bulged on nearby foreheads.
Convenient as Zan Maru was, whatever onmyoji made them had wired all with ultimate taunt voices.
Shangshan Che, steeped in modern culture, glanced indifferently at blue Zan Maru, noting its different tag.
—【Ashigaru Zan Maru】.
Ashigaru… maybe meant one warrior with this could fell hordes of ashigaru.
Ignoring onlookers, Shangshan Che transformed into White Hannya.
He felt surging power within, resheathing Kaga Kiyomitsu.
To the crowd, Shangshan Che had just donned his waist Hannya Mask—odd, but trivial next to what followed.
Inside White Hannya, Corona Qi burned flesh and lesser meridians, activating Berserk to boost physique.
After thirty seconds of closed-eye silence, Shangshan Che snapped his head up amid dead quiet.
Iaijutsu·Kui-mae Batsugi!
Pale blade light leaped, as if severing swathes of sunlight from the heavens, plunging the area around Shangshan Che into white void.
“Slash, slash power five thousand…”
Bang!
Ashigaru Zan Maru didn’t utter a second word in life, exploding far more spectacularly than the first.
It crumbled to pale powder, settling into the prior Zan Maru’s corpse gaps.
“Physical strength matches Ju-Hina Yako Master, Three-Star baseline huh.”
Shangshan Che swung the pleasantly humming Kaga Kiyomitsu, thinking silently.
After a brief pause, Shangshan Che asked the trembling clerk frantically recording the horrifying number:
“That’s it? Got an even tougher Zan Maru? Still not at full power.”
“S-Still coming!?”
Clerk’s vision blackened; he knew he’d never forget those words.
