Chapter 199: Sickness Incarnation Reaches Three-star! Furious Berserk, Unprecedented Physique!
Click.
Unexpectedly, Shangshan Che twisted open the young acolyte’s skull with almost no effort.
That’s right, right down the center of the face, using the tip of the nose as the seam line, splitting the entire head into upper and lower halves.
Inside the young acolyte’s hollow skull, a pink, brain-like clump was trembling slightly, paralyzed to the point of being unable to even emit a wail.
—【Low-rank Sen Nōhime（Half-Star）】.
A subtle sense of disgust rose from Shangshan Che’s chest, and he stared indifferently at this Sen Nōhime for a moment, thinking it was good that he had been cautious.
If he hadn’t controlled it instantly, this Sen Nōhime would probably have spread the news of his infiltration throughout the entire Nishio City.
Shangshan Che didn’t kill it, but dragged the young acolyte to the deepest part of the alley, then broke two wooden planks and stuffed them in along with the Sen Nōhime.
At the same time, he left a Qi Barrier ring infused with a bit of electricity wrapped around the Sen Nōhime’s body.
—Every three minutes, a weak current would release on the Sen Nōhime’s main body, preventing it from activating its abilities or moving.
After doing all this, Shangshan Che, who had replaced the young acolyte, put on a wooden expression and stiffly returned to the entrance of Jodo Shinshu’s head temple.
Just like that, he swaggered right in.
The monks in Jodo Shinshu each went about their duties: chopping wood, carrying water, dyeing cloth, performing rituals…
The monks’ daily life and production routines weren’t interrupted just because they were with Affliction, and many robed monks laughed and chatted as they passed by him.
On the surface, it seemed perfectly harmonious.
In the main hall and side halls, towering Buddha statues laden with Wish Power gleamed radiantly under the sunlight, appearing exceptionally sacred.
But when Shangshan Che reached the vast empty plaza, he discovered that the largest gilded Buddha statue at the center of the high platform was completely hollow.
Not a trace of Wish Power.
Just an empty shell left behind.
“Strange…”
The anomaly made Shangshan Che wary.
“Could it be because of that Dharma Master Lotus Light… Did he ‘eat’ all the Wish Power from the Buddha statues?”
Just now, Shangshan Che had heard a few elderly monks not yet replaced by Affliction Kin say that in recent days, a mesmerizing halo had appeared behind Dharma Master Lotus Light.
This was one of the phenomena said to occur only upon attaining the fruit position of a living Buddha or Arhat in legends.
Shangshan Che didn’t speak a single word, nor did he meet anyone’s gaze.
In half a day, he had walked almost the entire head temple and most of Nishio City without drawing any attention or conversation.
—Because in Jodo Shinshu’s head temple with thousands of people, no one cared about the changed habits of a young acolyte who wasn’t even good at chopping wood or carrying water.
Through this round of observation, Shangshan Che also confirmed one thing.
That is, Nishio City only had a large number of low-level Kin around Half-Star and One-Star.
For example, there were no high-level Kin like Gyōbyōō or Kufuku above Three-Star level at all.
Those high-level Kin must have been sent by Affliction to other cities in Western Mikawa to preside over local Gratitude Ceremonies and harvest Wish Power.
—This matched Hanzō’s intelligence.
Perhaps because Affliction had a good relationship with this Dharma Master Lotus Light, there was no need for high-level Kin to bolster defenses despite Jodo Shinshu having many warrior monks.
“This is really the only good news lately.”
In the night, Shangshan Che, pretending to sweep fallen leaves, thought expressionlessly.
So, what to do in the next precious one or two days?
Go exorcise Affliction, whose true identity he had clearly identified while eating a monk’s meal?
First go slay Dharma Master Lotus Light?
Or steal a couple of Buddha statues first, and conveniently clear out these warrior monk small fry?
The answer in Shangshan Che’s heart was clear.
Affliction.
Only Affliction.
Because compared to him, even if all of Mikawa Province’s Jodo Shinshu rioted fearlessly together, it would just be small trouble.
Thousands of warrior monks raising swords?
As long as Imagawa Yoshimoto gave the word, promising to share some spoils after Jodo Shinshu’s destruction.
She could immediately rally an army of tens of thousands and crush Jodo Shinshu like bugs.
But Affliction was different.
Shangshan Che believed that against the Eight Sufferings, numerical advantage was the most meaningless one.
It might even turn into a disadvantage.
Having decided, Shangshan Che immediately set aside the broom in his hand and, following Imagawa Yoshimoto’s prompt, walked toward the empty main hall.
Just now, Lotus Light had temporarily left the head temple for some reason.
—This was a rare opportunity spotted by Imagawa Yoshimoto.
Shangshan Che decided to make his move at this moment.
In this tense time, as long as basic reinforcements wouldn’t arrive immediately, that was enough.
He couldn’t ask for more.
He walked alone to the main hall doorway, bowed his head toward the fair-skinned young acolyte sitting on the cushion in front of the Buddha statue, lost in thought, and spoke dryly without emotion,
“Dharma Master Lotus Light is waiting for you in the back mountain.”
“Hm?”
Affliction, who had been calculating the exact timing of World Revival, was interrupted and muttered displeasedly: “This Lotus Light… not much ability, but plenty of trouble.”
“Next time, I’ll definitely turn him into a puppet…”
He stood up, waved casually at Shangshan Che: “Lead the way.”
Then, Affliction turned his gaze back to the sky.
Shangshan Che kept his head down, and the instant the short-statured Affliction entered his view, a blood-red prompt suddenly popped up, occupying most of his vision.
The text was slowly flowing, as if real blood could drip from it.
—【Sickness Incarnation（Three-Star）】.
Incarnation?!
The one left in Jodo Shinshu wasn’t the main body?
Though shocked inwardly, Shangshan Che’s body didn’t hesitate at all, mechanically walking toward the temple exterior along the route Imagawa Yoshimoto had just planned for him.
—The Affliction behind him wasn’t the main body.
—But even the casual pressure from this Affliction behind him far exceeded the likes of Kaibōzu, and was considerably stronger than Ootama Hoshi.
Shangshan Che’s thoughts were chaotic for a moment.
But in just a few dozen steps, he reorganized the known information and regained his normal mindset.
As for the Affliction behind him—or rather, the Sickness Incarnation—Shangshan Che leaned toward it being the main body.
Just the “main body” in the Sengoku Period’s Mortal Realm.
As for Affliction’s true body, it was probably still in the Eternal World doing who knows what.
—This was indeed highly plausible.
Because in the Sengoku Period with scarce Spiritual Energy and before World Revival, the map’s upper limit was only three or four stars.
Just like the previous Mortal Realm, or even lower.
If Affliction’s main body was Ghost God level or above, it simply couldn’t descend to the Mortal Realm, so it could only send an Incarnation to handle things.
Thinking this, Shangshan Che tsked displeasedly to himself.
Didn’t that mean if he acted against the Sickness Incarnation now, the real Affliction might come after him once he returned to the Mortal Realm?
Trouble.
But just trouble.
After all, if the sky fell in the Mortal Realm, it wouldn’t be him, a small fry, holding it up first.
“So, Mortal Realm matters can wait…”
Shangshan Che set this hidden danger aside for now and heard Affliction’s bored voice from behind,
“Hey, about time to stop, right.”
In the silent night, the two stopped in the mountains a full twenty minutes’ walk from Jodo Shinshu’s head temple.
This location was pointed out by Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had circled above Nishio City for a long time.
By her estimate, even the nearest Half-dead Bird would take about five minutes to arrive here.
And five minutes was more than enough to end a life-or-death fierce battle.
—Affliction looked with interest at the young acolyte a few meters ahead, emanating faint Qi Barrier.
Samurai, or swordsman?
Affliction grinned, uncharacteristically not turning the other into a puddle of pus right away, but asked pleasantly: “Not drawing the sword at your waist to kill me?”
Regardless, this person had brought him some fun during this boring wait.
At first, Affliction, focused on calculating World Revival’s arrival, naturally hadn’t noticed what kind of guy was leading him.
But after just a few minutes, the alert Affliction realized the young acolyte ahead wasn’t his Kin.
But a human who hadn’t fully concealed his Qi Barrier, exposing a flaw, roughly on par with the previous Gyōbyōō.
A human who could disguise as someone else and cross layers of surveillance to reach him.
Affliction remarked: “Quite interesting.”
He stared at Shangshan Che with some expectation, hoping this human could add more unexpected fun to this boring night.
Shangshan Che, as Affliction wished.
No probing, no small talk, no intention of conversation.
Against the Eight Sufferings, aside from exorcising the opponent or death, there would be no third outcome.
In the instant he had fully prepared and rehearsed countless times on the short path—
Donning the stern White Hannya Mask, the four-tailed fox with swaying crimson tails drew the pale blade from his waist.
Scorchingly hot Qi Barrier filled his limbs and body in an instant, accompanied by a breathing sound as if sucking dry all the air and Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth.
Deep purple Lightning Slurry and pale intertwined inseparably, surging silently along the slender blade.
No longer grandiose as before, but quiet and beautiful.
Under the guidance of Spirit Control Technique · Qi, everything Shangshan Che had learned converged on the 72-centimeter Kaga Kiyomitsu blade.
Slash.
A brilliant and clean blade light flashed in the darkness, piercing through Affliction’s body, who still wore a smile.
In just an instant, the blade light vanished.
Not wasting even a bit of Qi Barrier or Spiritual Power.
Plop.
The sound of something dropping to the ground rang out.
“Hm?”
Affliction blinked, about to puzzledly touch his chin with his hand, only to find his right arm missing entirely.
He turned his gaze, first to the four-tailed fox shrouded in Demonic Energy.
Fox, huh.
Without clues, no one could link this Great Demon-level four-tailed fox to the renowned Great Onmyoji Che of Tokaido.
His gaze then fell to the ground, seeing the arm being continuously eroded by multiple powers, on the verge of vanishing.
In just one glance, Affliction identified the sources of those powers about to devour part of him.
Human Breathing Technique, pure Lightning, scorching fire that harms both mind and body, and…
Ai Bieli?
For the first time, astonishment appeared in Affliction’s eyes.
How could it be Ai Bieli’s power?
Has Ai Bieli learned of my plan?
What does He intend?
Affliction paid no mind to the fallen arm, turning to the four-tailed fox emanating Ghost God aura: “You, what relation do you have to Ai Bieli?”
At the same time, Affliction silently exhaled colorful miasma mixed with green, red, black, white, and yellow.
Driving it toward the wound to neutralize the four powers corroding his body.
In a flash, the Qi Barrier and Lightning were reduced to nothing.
Blazing held out a bit longer, but rapidly retreated under the miasma’s envelopment.
Only Sorrow of Parting relentlessly corroded the stump on Affliction’s arm, inhibiting regeneration.
Confirming it was Ai Bieli’s power again, Affliction smiled: “There might be some misunderstanding between us.”
“Because I also know Ai Bieli, and we’re the best of friends.”
—Like hell.
Among the Eight Sufferings present in the Eternal World, the one Affliction most wanted to utterly destroy was Ai Bieli.
As he spoke, Affliction seized the chance to summon all Kin in Nishio City.
“No more nonsense.”
Shangshan Che didn’t strike rashly, but cautiously observed the colorful miasma continuously pouring from Affliction’s mouth.
It clashed with Sorrow of Parting’s domain, yet kept advancing.
Soon, the pre-scattered Sorrow of Parting would be eroded clean.
Affliction was setting the field.
Shangshan Che immediately decided.
Couldn’t delay a second.
Had to use all power for a quick decisive battle, ending it before Affliction finished setting the field.
He said: “As a four-tailed fox, I just can’t stand this scene and want to kill you.”
Sizzle!
Under Affliction’s puzzled gaze, Kaga Kiyomitsu surging with blinding Lightning plunged deep into Shangshan Che’s body, piercing through.
Hannya Mask effect… changed from “Ghost God” to “Berserk”!
The next instant, Five Thunder Technique activated without reservation!
Dazzling pale Lightning spread from the wound around the blade into every inch of Shangshan Che’s body.
Lightning roared in his veins, electric light flowing into every fiber and nerve, stimulating his far stronger than normal body almost destructively!
At this moment, even Shangshan Che’s pupils were filled with electric light, leaving no gap.
He could feel, following the destructive Lightning…
Rebirth!
Colorful miasma surged from every pore of Affliction’s body, having consumed nearly all of Sorrow of Parting.
He subtly pulled back distance, warily watching Shangshan Che, who had just self-inflicted a slash.
What… is this?
Do Mortal Realm demons have this custom before fierce battle?
But soon Affliction sensed the aura from the nearby four-tailed fox, multiplied countless times beyond before the self-harm.
The Lightning quieted again, and Shangshan Che, whose consciousness had nearly been blasted to charred fragments, pulled Kaga Kiyomitsu from his chest.
He exhaled dry air, his lightly gripping hand on the hilt trembling slightly.
The sudden massive surge in Physique attribute left even Shangshan Che’s consciousness struggling to adapt.
Now, in Shangshan Che’s perception, time had become seconds he could reach out and grab.
Every air current direction, plants’ vital flow nodes, and the earth’s silent breathing underfoot…
Everything fell into his palm; with a wrist turn, Kaga Kiyomitsu could bisect them.
Shangshan Che knew.
This state wouldn’t last; perhaps minutes later, he’d disintegrate into fragments.
Only the Key of History’s resurrection beside him after death gave him the confidence to force this bodily transformation, even without fully mastering Lightning stimulation techniques.
—Now, this four-tailed fox could contend with his Incarnation.
Affliction frowned: “Plans really can’t keep up with changes.”
He waved, sending a smaller version of himself as an arm to block ahead.
At this point, Affliction harbored intent to retreat.
Half a minute ago, he never imagined playing with a “human samurai” would turn into this.
In this undemanding heaven and earth, in such a harsh Spirit-lacking environment, a demon capable of wrestling his fully powered Incarnation had emerged.
Affliction didn’t think the four-tailed fox before him came from the Eternal World.
Because that was extremely difficult.
Even he, as one of the Eight Sufferings, had expended immense mental effort to barely send this Incarnation over.
And this Incarnation’s main abilities were for cultivating Kin, spreading and controlling plague.
Using other abilities would consume the Incarnation’s Vitality massively.
Thus shortening what was meant to last over a century in the Mortal Realm to just ten or twenty years.
“That would be not worth the loss…”
Pros and cons, Affliction always calculated clearly.
But just as he was about to turn and leave, the small clone arm he’d abandoned to block the four-tailed fox momentarily had already been annihilated.
Arrogant humming resounded through the mountain forest, countless tiny Lightning crackles spreading in the air.
Looks like, no easy escape.
“Fine.”
Affliction sighed helplessly, his fair skin surging like liquid, the young acolyte’s humanoid shell gradually disintegrating.
In Shangshan Che’s eyes, Affliction’s transformation was as sudden as a one-click form switch.
—The original young acolyte had vanished.
In its place, a body pieced from countless rotting limbs, grotesquely ugly yet weirdly conveying an indescribable beauty.
Seven faces of different ages emerged, rose, and rotated from the body.
Fourteen pitch-black pupils stared at Shangshan Che emotionlessly, seven mouths speaking in unison: “Fox, had you retreated, you could have lived.”
Affliction extended his seemingly slender decayed limb, retrieving from nothingness a censer staff made of White Bone, rotten wood, and bronze.
The censer staff’s surface was covered in greenish copper rust, with three human-bone rings at the top suspending seven small bone bells.
On the bone bells, seven distinctly different ancient scripts were carved in dark red bloodstains.
“Resonance.”
Affliction lightly tapped the censer staff, instantly freezing Shangshan Che, who had assumed a three-stage thrust stance, in place.
Wails of millions suddenly rose from the lake of Shangshan Che’s state of mind, bringing the pain of millions.
Pain, Fear, palpitations…
Countless pre-death sensations and Despair flooded Shangshan Che’s senses, seeking to drown him and make him one of them.
Without the dual protection of Clear Mirror and Technique · Afterimage, Shangshan Che would have lost all consciousness in that instant.
But he barely maintained his self and consciousness amid the storm of Negative Emotions.
In the silence, Shangshan Che, soaked in cold sweat, gently pressed his hand to the White Hannya’s Mask, pulling a ferocious grin,
“Since you can make me feel so many people’s emotions, this gift… I think it suits you perfectly too.”
【Greed, Anger, Ignorance: Deals extra damage to targets that generate emotions; the more emotions accumulate and fluctuate, the higher the damage.】
