Chapter 198: Massive Wish Power, Two-foot Adult’s Path Straight To Three-star! Mastery Level Five Thunder Technique, Physique Explodes!
Is this Buddha statue alive?
Shangshan Che casually swept his gaze over the Buddha statue.
But when he looked back again, the feeling of being spied on from before was gone.
Two-Foot Adult asked doubtfully through the heartstring: “Che Adult, what’s wrong?”
Shangshan Che remained unfazed and told her about the sensation from earlier.
“That’s an illusion… No, that should be the reason I told Che Adult you to go touch this Buddha statue just now.”
Two-Foot Adult’s tone was unusually serious: “I need to use this to confirm something.”
“I understand.” Shangshan Che replied through the heartstring.
——Originally, Two-Foot Adult, who was several kilometers away, shouldn’t have known there was a wood carving Buddha statue beside him.
After all, she didn’t have eyes like Imagawa Yoshimoto’s that could observe every detail meticulously.
So this Buddha statue must have something special about it.
Shangshan Che looked up, meeting the eyes on the Buddha statue, which were carved bit by bit by a skilled woodworker, and put on an expression of earnestness and hope.
Just like the refugees who saw other Buddha statues.
“Namo Amitabha, Namo…”
Shangshan Che muttered while stretching out his finger, “accidentally” brushing against the cushion at the base of the Buddha statue, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground.
Then he hurriedly apologized to the Buddha statue, appearing extremely devout.
In reality—
Shangshan Che immediately plucked the heartstring: “Did you sense anything?”
“Che Adult…”
Two-Foot Adult’s tone was somewhat hesitant as she said uncertainly: “This roadside Buddha statue seems to contain a lot of wish power.”
“A lot?”
“Yeah, a tremendous amount.”
Two-Foot Adult paused, stuttering a bit,
“Just this one alone has more wish power than the combined total in all the Buddha statues at Hongyuan Temple in the mortal realm—twice as much.”
“So when Che Adult you said the Buddha statue was looking at you just now… it’s just that there’s too much wish power leaking out, making you feel a false sensation.”
Shangshan Che listened in slight daze.
He turned his head, gazing toward the end of the street—there were another three or four such Buddha statues just on this street alone.
Shangshan Che remembered that what Two-Foot Adult needed for promotion on the God Bestowal Path was wish power.
The current slow promotion was simply because too few people came to Hongyuan Temple to pay respects…
But wish power, equivalent to experience, was practically innumerable in these Buddha statues in Isshiki Town.
——Because as far as the eye could see, the streets were full of civilians who believed in Jodo Shinshu.
They were simple and devout, firmly believing that praying to these Buddha statues would bring Buddhist grace to dispel the afflictions causing them pain.
Two-Foot Adult continued: “But the wish power in this Buddha statue is quite mixed.”
“Mixed? What does that mean?”
Shangshan Che didn’t stop in place but continued moving north with the crowd.
“Uh… I can’t explain it precisely, but in any case, it’s different from the wish power in the mortal realm; it doesn’t seem like it can be directly absorbed.”
Two-Foot Adult, who had always only passively received wish power from beginning to end, naturally couldn’t understand such a profound issue.
Shangshan Che pondered.
——If he could purify such a vast amount of wish power and let Two-Foot Adult absorb it, she could probably rapidly fill the remaining progress bar and break through to Two-and-a-Half Star.
It might even be possible to directly break through to Three-Star after absorbing it fully.
As for whether there were means in the mortal realm to “purify” large amounts of “mixed wish power,” Shangshan Che believed there definitely were.
Over such a long time, countless shikigami and onmyoji had walked the God Bestowal Path; they must have encountered the same problem he was facing now.
And where there was demand, corresponding solutions would naturally arise.
At times like this, trusting the wisdom of predecessors was enough.
Shangshan Che kept it in mind, deciding to ask around the mortal realm after the Mikawa incident ended.
So much wish power accumulated illegally by these black-hearted temples colluding with demons—if not used for the righteous path, it would be too wasteful.
As Shangshan Che slowly moved with the vast sea of people, he suddenly sensed intense commotions coming from beyond his line of sight, one after another.
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s voice came at the right time: “Tetsu-kun, quite a few monks have stepped forward in the temple; it seems the Gratitude Ceremony is about to begin.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto, who could eavesdrop on surrounding sounds via the sound transmission talisman, naturally knew what this “Gratitude Ceremony” was.
Shangshan Che silently acknowledged, then once again turned into a phantom and shuttled toward the front of the crowd.
Two minutes later, Shangshan Che, squeezed to the point of immobility, twitched his lips and involuntarily stopped.
Feeling the same population density in the Sengoku Period as in Shinjuku Shibuya was truly absurd.
But from this position, he could barely see those so-called Jodo Shinshu masters and Buddha’s Child.
Shangshan Che looked up, revealing a fanatical expression identical to the surrounding crowd, as if carved from the same mold.
——At the edge of his vision, more than a few Half-dead Birds were circling, and Shangshan Che never treated enemies as fools.
Buddha’s Child…
Under Shangshan Che’s gaze, that bald boy, who had neither thick spiritual power fluctuations nor a qi circulation, was grinning and waving to the crowd.
And just by standing there, this so-called Buddha’s Child drew incredibly devout and fanatical cheers and praises from the surrounding crowd.
Shangshan Che couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
——This thing that might not even beat a Half-dead Bird could heal all these diseases left by Affliction Kin in minutes?
Believing him was less credible than believing he was the legendary Lord of the Eternal World.
“But with so many people surging here regularly, he must have some real tricks.”
Shangshan Che decided to observe quietly and see exactly how this Buddha’s Child healed diseases.
Soon, as the bell from Jodo Shinshu rang, everyone was like they had been simultaneously muted.
They stood in place, silently falling quiet without a word.
Then, Shangshan Che saw a man covered in high fever, thick sores, his body a breeding ground for countless diseases, approaching the Buddha’s Child with kowtows every step.
After saying something, the man knelt on the ground.
The Buddha’s Child smiled and raised his hand.
Shangshan Che’s pupils contracted slightly, silently activating the Corona Breathing Technique Fifth Form, striving not to miss any detail.
Pat.
The Buddha’s Child’s fair palm landed on the man’s head, followed by a burst of dazzling fluorescent light.
The next moment, the man tormented by over a dozen diseases to near death suddenly straightened up, discovering that all his ailments, external and internal…
Had vanished completely in an instant!
Yes, right under Shangshan Che’s eyes, in the instant the Buddha’s Child’s palm lifted and fell, he became perfectly healthy.
But Shangshan Che wasn’t shocked; instead, he murmured coldly in his heart,
“I saw it all too clearly…”
——The fluorescent light scattered by the Buddha’s Child wasn’t any Buddhist light at all, but a swarm of extremely tiny Shijie Worms!
The Shijie Worm swarm only needed to activate their ability simultaneously to make ordinary people perceive them as clusters of extremely serene Buddhist light.
——Moreover, in the instant the Buddha’s Child raised his hand, a blood-red prompt suddenly popped up above his head.
—【Affliction Kin·Chongke God（Three-and-a-Half Star）】.
Though he didn’t know why no prompt appeared when he first saw him, now this so-called Buddha’s Child had finally revealed his true colors.
What Buddhist grace through faith… these diseases were spread by Affliction Kin; for their leader to take them back was simple.
After confirming the Buddha’s Child was a Three-and-a-Half Star Affliction Kin, Shangshan Che also noticed the warrior monks beside him seemed stiff-faced, not like normal people.
From the earlier situation, this group was very likely all Affliction Kin, just temporarily fooling the prompt somehow.
“Could it be that these people are actually still alive?”
Shangshan Che repeatedly examined the warrior monks’ surfaces,
“Just possessed by demons, so without using demon power, the prompt recognizes them as human?”
Apart from that, the expressions on those masters’ faces were more lively, not like they had been replaced.
In that case… wouldn’t Jodo Shinshu have become a demon’s den managed jointly by demons wearing human skins and the original Buddhist masters?
As Shangshan Che’s gaze swept the surroundings, the healed man looked at Chongke God in disbelief, weeping and thanking him profusely.
“Cough… cough…”
Illusion-like coughs echoed in Shangshan Che’s ears.
A subtle discomfort appeared on his body, only to be completely dispelled in the next instant.
——This Chongke God, while pretending to reclaim diseases from believers, was still spreading them!
Shangshan Che immediately shifted his gaze, finding that the surrounding sea of people not only didn’t notice the coughs but had their gazes become even more resolute and devout.
It seemed the majority of Isshiki Town’s residents had abnormal spirits, already bewitched by Affliction Kin through unknown means.
He’d grasped the situation well enough; time to go.
Retreat arose in Shangshan Che’s mind.
Not that he couldn’t fight the Affliction Kin in Isshiki Town.
But acting now, even if he slew Chongke God and all the kin, wouldn’t fundamentally affect the current situation.
It would only alert the enemy.
Not worth the loss.
After deciding inwardly, Shangshan Che maintained the exact same movements, expressions, and words as the ordinary people beside him.
Until Chongke God “healed” hundreds, and the Gratitude Ceremony ended.
Amid the devout atmosphere, the crowd receded like the tide.
Shangshan Che took the chance to slip away silently from Isshiki Town, returning to the floating cube landed on the ground.
“Tetsu-kun, did you ga…”
As Imagawa Yoshimoto spoke, she saw Shangshan Che’s face dark as water.
Shangshan Che calmly replied: “Confirmed deep collusion between Affliction and Jodo Shinshu.”
He said: “Affliction Kin spread diseases, Jodo Shinshu collects people’s wish power in the meantime… With so much wish power, they must be preparing for World Revival.”
As one of the Eight Sufferings, Affliction knowing when World Revival would come was normal.
And fortunately, having cultivated Spirit Control Technique·Qi, he too sensed World Revival’s approach.
Before, with just the minor stirrings in the Sengoku Period incomparable to the First Wave, Shangshan Che couldn’t have imagined the dramatic change this land would face in just a few days.
What Mikawa Province would become then was unthinkable…
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s face turned icy.
“I understand.”
She nodded slowly.
【Current Walker of the Eternal World’s degree of influence on history: 1.15%→1.25%！】
Was it his words that influenced Imagawa Yoshimoto?
Shangshan Che thought.
But if these words truly made Imagawa Yoshimoto want to raze Jodo Shinshu three or four times over, why did historical influence only rise 0.1%?
Jodo Shinshu’s influence was substantial.
Could it be Jodo Shinshu’s vitality was too strong, able to revive from the ashes even after being exterminated by Imagawa Yoshimoto multiple times in the future?
Future matters aside for now.
The current priority was to have Two-Foot Adult immediately pilot the floating cube to Nishio City, so he could quickly pinpoint Affliction’s exact location and devise a detailed plan.
On the way, Shangshan Che glanced at the Five Thunder Technique promotion prompt, unsure where he’d tossed it.
【Five Thunder Technique·Qi Union（Mastery 103/2800）】
【Effect: Can release and manipulate lightning at will.】
【——Lightning is qi, qi is lightning. No need to distinguish them too clearly anymore.】
【Your Five Thunder Technique·Qi Union has reached Mastery Level, physique +2！】
【Your Five Thunder Technique·Qi Union has reached Mastery Level, spiritual arts +3！】
【Your Five Thunder Technique·Qi Union has reached Mastery Level, lightning affinity greatly increased！】
As expected, promoting Five Thunder Technique from Proficient Level to Mastery Level brought no fundamental change.
It just meant less consumption for equivalent lightning intensity, finer control over every strand of lightning, and a higher threshold for lightning his body could withstand.
The big leap would probably come after a full 2800 proficiency.
Even now, without activating the breathing technique, Shangshan Che could release lightning as easily as an arm’s extension, costing only negligible stamina.
Of course, for large-scale lightning, he’d still need the Corona Breathing Technique’s support.
Otherwise, just a few Lightning Dragons would drain most of his stamina.
But there was another pleasant surprise…
Shangshan Che closed his eyes, stimulating muscles, nerves, and skin membrane with strands of lightning from his body, carefully under the Clear Mirror’s illumination.
After faint pain, he felt the stimulated areas become more active and powerful.
Shangshan Che opened his eyes, looking at the changed data panel.
【Physique: 55→58】
A hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
Yes.
Under Five Thunder Technique’s stimulation, physique attribute jumped a full 3 points!
And he had paid almost nothing for it.
No need to bleed and get injured like activating “Berserk,” nor to gather massive fear like triggering “Fear of White.”
Just a thought from Shangshan Che, and seconds later, lightning surging through his body elevated his already powerful physique further.
And this was just the beginning.
Shangshan Che’s Five Thunder Technique had only reached Mastery Level days ago; his experience with internal lightning use was still shallow.
In the future, Shangshan Che believed Five Thunder Technique could bring at least ten… no, even fifteen points of physique boost!
But all that needed time.
“Che Adult, Nishio City has arrived.”
——Shangshan Che was precisely short on ample time right now.
Four kilometers from Nishio City, Two-Foot Adult halted the floating cube.
Because Nishio City’s defenses were far stricter than Isshiki Town’s; Shangshan Che alone spotted over a hundred Half-dead Birds from above the city.
Among them, there might even be special variants modified by Affliction.
In that case, wouldn’t there be many Three-Star kin following Affliction in Nishio City?
“That could be tricky.”
Shangshan Che murmured, deciding first to scout Nishio City’s terrain and the number and positions of great demons inside.
At least, he couldn’t be swarmed by numerous great demons draining his attention while slaying Affliction.
Failing to exorcise Affliction because of that would be too foolish.
Shangshan Che: “Lord Yoshimoto, can you stay up here with Two-Foot this time?”
Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had donned armor for half a day and fully prepared mentally, frowned slightly, raising her giant bow,
“I might be useless in close combat, but providing ranged bow and arrow support from afar to relieve some pressure on Tetsu-kun, I can do that.”
Shangshan Che stared straight into Imagawa Yoshimoto’s eyes, speaking after two seconds of silence,
“Precisely because Lord Yoshimoto’s eyes see what ordinary people cannot, I hope even more that you stay up top.”
He said earnestly: “Collect information for me, oversee the overall situation, and make more correct, rational decisions at key moments.”
“——That kind of help would be far greater than entering the city with me.”
Shangshan Che spoke bluntly.
But Imagawa Yoshimoto, on the verge of being called “weak in combat,” wasn’t angry; instead, she nodded in strong agreement,
“Then I’ll stay here.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto set down her Japanese bow, arms crossed: “Since I promised Tetsu-kun I’d obey, I won’t go back on my word.”
Surprisingly accommodating.
Shangshan Che breathed a sigh of relief, saying to Two-Foot Adult, who had conjured a pile of bizarre weapons,
“Two-Foot, your job is to let Lord Yoshimoto observe without distraction… and don’t get discovered.”
The girl’s small face was about to show a pleading look when she heard Shangshan Che solemnly say through the heartstring,
“This time I might die, and resurrection will be near the key I gave you before.
So Two-Foot Adult, you absolutely must safeguard that key.”
“——No matter the cost.”
Two-Foot Adult tensed up, clamping her chest tightly.
She replied briefly through the heartstring: “Definitely.”
Che Adult entrusted me with such an important task…
I absolutely won’t let him down!
The earlier disappointment in Two-Foot Adult’s heart vanished instantly, and she became spirited.
She bowed to Shangshan Che about to exit the cube: “Che Adult, safe travels.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto said nothing, just quietly gazing at his back with her eyes.
Before exiting the cube, Shangshan Che took a final glance at the still indistinct Nishio City.
Affliction…
He took a deep breath, and the moment he stepped out, using the Four-tailed Fox’s Thousand Faces, he transformed into a mud-colored mini figure mere centimeters tall, plummeting from the clouds.
The mini Shangshan Che, fused with the earth, slipped past all sentries undetected and infiltrated Nishio City.
Just entering the city, Shangshan Che saw Buddha statues made of various materials everywhere on Nishio City’s streets.
Placed by the roadside, held by passersby, in shops… no, there were no shops still normally open in Nishio City.
Their numbers far exceeded Isshiki Town ten kilometers away.
Moreover, each gave him a feeling no different from that initial wood carving Buddha statue.
In other words, all filled with wish power.
Shangshan Che huddled by a mud-colored wall corner, hidden in a clump of weeds, peering through the dry grass gaps at every gaunt passerby before him.
Every face beamed with satisfied smiles, as if living in a paradise of abundance.
But Shangshan Che could see countless minor ailments afflicting each person’s “qi,” continuously flaring up.
They probably couldn’t feel them anymore.
In Shangshan Che’s eyes, these filthy, emaciated, bone-thin passersby constantly exuded a vague, ethereal “qi.”
Which poured into the nearest Buddha statue.
Endlessly.
That was probably wish power.
——Nishio City’s people had become humanoid wish power extractors under the dual catalysis of Affliction and Jodo Shinshu.
Without doubt, this was a torment far more terrifying than death.
This was simply… a living mortal realm purgatory!
Shangshan Che watched silently a bit longer, then burrowed out of the weed pile as his spiritual power rapidly depleted.
“Can’t maintain this state long; need to find someone to replace quickly.”
——Using the talent Thousand Faces, greater the difference between incarnation and original body, faster the spiritual power drain.
If he kept this few-centimeter mini mud person form, his near-infinite spiritual power would deplete completely in hours.
“Jodo Shinshu main temple location is…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s faint voice came timely, bringing a smile to Shangshan Che’s face.
Following her directions, he soon arrived outside the temple.
“Next, find a suitable unlucky bastard.”
In the bushes, Shangshan Che’s eyes turned, quickly locking onto a suitable target.
——A gray-robed novice monk heading out of the temple, with weak qi, abnormally stiff face, clearly not human!
Shangshan Che followed without a word.
Less than two minutes later, the novice ducked into a deserted alley.
The few-centimeter mini mud person instantly expanded to roughly Shangshan Che’s height, though the face was casually shaped by Shangshan Che.
Silently, Shangshan Che extended a finger, sending fine lightning into the novice, spreading through his body in half a breath.
The latter stiffened instantly, toppling rigidly.
Of course, just temporary unconsciousness.
Because Shangshan Che deliberately kept the lightning intensity low enough not to kill even a Half-Star demon.
Otherwise, a kin’s mysterious death in the city might alert Affliction.
No matter how slim the chance, he had to avoid it.
Shangshan Che reached out, pressing the center of the novice’s pallid, bloodless face,
“Let me see what exactly hides under this human skin of yours.”
With that, the now identical in appearance, attire, and even qi Shangshan Che gripped hard.
And snapped it open!
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