Chapter 207: Soul Ash Breaks Ten Thousand For The First Time! Infinite Potential Of The Rin Character Technique! Arakawa Village No Longer Exists
The strength of using a Fragment of the Ten-Hand Sword as the sole Defining Object for the Sea of Qi is not low, and its future upper limit is also not low.
Because it is part of a weapon from mythology.
Shangshan Che can completely collect more fragments of the Ten-Hand Sword in the future, or even a whole Ten-Hand Sword, to supplement the completeness of the Defining Object.
Defining with a whole Ten-Hand Sword would surely forge a vast Sea of Qi that ranks among the top two in the Mortal Realm for killing power.
So, how to choose?
Shangshan Che gave the answer without hesitation.
“—How could one be so short-sighted, abandoning the greater for the lesser?”
With a wave of his finger, he dismissed the “Uniqueness Defining Object” prompt in front of him.
Indeed, the temptation of immediately converting potential into strength, expanding the Sea of Qi by dozens or hundreds of times instantly, with a clear path for future growth laid out before him, is very alluring.
But doing so would forfeit true potential.
For Shangshan Che, what is “true potential”?
“Demon Incarnation Cards.”
This is beyond doubt.
Even his initial reason for using Five Elements Defining Objects to define the Sea of Qi was due to the incompatibility of the two Incarnation Cards within it.
—Establishing a stable cycle with Five Elements Defining Objects, then placing five Incarnation Cards with continuously upgradable ranks into it, has immeasurable potential.
And currently…
Shangshan Che stared at the fragment floating in the air, ruthlessly suppressing the two Incarnation Cards.
Hmm, the Fragment of the Ten-Hand Sword doesn’t seem to get along well with them.
Perhaps the moment it is confirmed as the Uniqueness Defining Object, the two cards will be kicked out of the Sea of Qi with a powerful flying kick from it.
This is something Shangshan Che does not want to see.
“So, go down.”
Shangshan Che said softly, manipulating the Qi Barrier generated by the Incarnation Cards in the Sea of Qi to forcibly drag the fragment into the churning Sea of Qi.
The fragment struggled at first, but in moments, it was overwhelmed by the massive amount of Qi.
As if aware of his thoughts, a second prompt popped up—
【Should “Fragment of the Ten-Hand Sword” be used as one of the Five Elements Defining Objects for the Void Qi Sea?】
“Yes.”
Shangshan Che nodded.
In the next instant, the golden light enveloping the entire Void Qi Sea slowly receded, gathering instead on the surface of the fragment itself.
Buzz buzz buzz.
Moments later, the fragment, which had previously been domineering and aggressive, rose again from the Sea of Qi, slowly surveying as if searching for which Incarnation Card suited it best.
Finally, the gleaming golden fragment settled on top of the Hannya Card, fusing with it and plating the already luxurious card face with a shiny golden border.
This also made the White Hannya in the card stir slightly, adding a touch of spirituality to her eyes once more.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the portion of the Sea of Qi occupied by two-thirds of the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation began to churn violently.
In moments, the black-red portion of the Sea of Qi compressed large swathes of the pink-white portion back, returning the Void Qi Sea to a half-and-half split.
Though the overall occupied portion was compressed, the actual amount of “Qi” was far greater than before.
Shangshan Che roughly estimated—in the seconds after the fragment fused with the Hannya Card, the entire Void Qi Sea had expanded by at least one or two times.
And it was still expanding at a speed dozens of times faster than before.
Unfortunately, the anticipated connection and circulation were still not achieved—the Hannya and Four-Tailed Fox portions remained distinctly separated, each doing their own thing.
“This is normal.”
After all, this requires the Five Elements cycle, and currently his Sea of Qi only has one.
However, it did succeed in restraining the Four-Tailed Fox Card.
—And the Hannya Card did not counter-suppress it.
Besides that, Shangshan Che could clearly feel that all the Qi in the entire Sea of Qi had gained a cold, sharp edge.
This should significantly enhance the armor-piercing capability of these Qi Barriers.
Beyond that… nothing else.
The fragment is ultimately just a fragment, and Shangshan Che had rejected making it the unique one, turning it instead into one-fifth of the Defining Objects.
This was his choice.
Shangshan Che quietly observed the two cards for a while, nodding with a smile upon seeing them peacefully continuing to expand.
He opened his eyes in the Dojo.
Soon, he could feel that the Qi Barrier in his body, both in quantity and quality, was rising at a small but noticeably perceptible rate.
Going forward, both the intensity of the Qi Circulation and the speed of Tempering the Palace of Flesh would become stronger and faster as a result.
The commotion was exceptionally minor.
Rather, the changes in the Sea of Qi hardly affected reality at all.
Shangshan Che exhaled slowly: “Sea of Qi, as expected of the noble product unlocked only at the end of the first major stage of the Breathing Technique.”
Compared to strengthening the internal organs or Qi reaching the four limbs, the Sea of Qi utterly crushes them countless times over in both pure strength and functionality.
As he was thinking, his nose twitched, catching the scent of bone broth wafting down from the third floor.
“What is Lili Zi making? It smells so good…”
As Shangshan Che wiped the corner of his mouth, he recalled Lili Zi saying before that cooking is also cultivation.
—It’s Sword Principle, I added Sword Principle!
“Alright, no matter how outrageous the answer, it probably won’t be that.”
He tilted his ear to listen to the sounds upstairs, realizing there was still quite some time before the meal was ready.
“Then, use this time to learn this Nine Syllable Mantra as well.”
Anyway, he just needed to tear open the scroll.
Shangshan Che took out the scroll from his Storage Bag and examined this ancient scroll storing one of the legendary Great Onmyōdō·Nine Syllable Mantra techniques.
From its appearance alone, its value was completely undetectable.
—Worn and dusty, a tattered scroll of unknown material with indistinct writing that offered no sense of its wonders.
Even Shangshan Che was the same.
At a glance, he felt like he was holding some garbage dug up from who knows where.
One could say the scroll storing Great Onmyōdō is extraordinary.
Shangshan Che nodded noncommittally and exerted force with both hands.
Tear—
What came from his hands was not the fragile feel of tearing paper.
Instead, it was toughness so immense that not even the edges showed the slightest damage!
Hmm?
Shangshan Che raised an eyebrow, and tangible Qi Barrier instantly enveloped his palms.
Once more, he exerted full force from the center outward!
Password incorrect.
The parchment scroll remained utterly still.
It clearly looked tearable, yet in reality, even Shangshan Che’s full effort couldn’t tear it even a little.
“Perhaps… to prevent ordinary people or Samurai who only cultivate Breathing Techniques from tearing it open.”
The thought flashed by, and Shangshan Che acted on it.
Thus, the Qi Barrier was replaced by thick, almost liquid-like Spiritual Power enveloping it.
The surging Spiritual Power had just poured from Shangshan Che’s hands when the parchment scroll absorbed every drop.
Shangshan Che’s eyes lit up.
Right!
He grinned and immediately increased his Spiritual Power output, wanting to see how much it would take to satiate the little parchment scroll in his hand.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds…
Until a full minute passed, Shangshan Che in human form was drenched in sweat, his Spiritual Power depleted, forcing him to transform into the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation to continue.
Feeling his Spiritual Power replenished again, Shangshan Che gripped the parchment scroll tightly, fully operating the Spirit Control Technique while absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and pouring it in.
Upstairs, Lili Zi, gripping the handle of the nearly overturned pressure cooker, frowned.
—What is Shangshan Jun that guy doing downstairs again.
In the first-floor Dojo, two minutes later, Shangshan Che was sweating profusely again, even the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation’s Spiritual Power nearly exhausted.
“But finally…”
Shangshan Che panted heavily, pulling the slightly glowing parchment scroll in his hand apart—
Tearing it in half!
Rip.
The parchment scroll, cleansed glossy new by massive Spiritual Power, tore open effortlessly, and the ancient golden secret script stored within flew out immediately.
Whoosh, it shot straight into Shangshan Che’s forehead.
In an instant, Shangshan Che found his five senses detached from his body—still perceptible, but uncontrollable.
By the time he refocused, his consciousness had arrived in a boundless, borderless black space of near nothingness.
Only before his eyes stood an ancient, majestic silver secret script.
Ancient, noble, exuding profound dignity.
Though incomprehensible, Shangshan Che figured it must be the “Rin” character.
He waited a bit, but no acquisition prompt appeared.
Shangshan Che let out an “ah.”
Where was the promised instant learning upon tearing?
So you want me to comprehend it here on my own?!
As he thought this, the “Rin” character before him erupted in brilliant light and crashed toward him.
Shangshan Che couldn’t dodge.
After a subtle dizziness, he felt able to freely enter and exit this black space, and finally, the acquisition prompt appeared—
【You have acquired Nine Syllable Mantra·Rin Character Technique!】
【Rin Character Technique】
【Mastery Level: 1%】
【Effect: Generates a barrier at will upon use.】
【—The beginning of all things, commanding myriad objects.】
After repeatedly checking the Rin Character Technique’s Panel several times, Shangshan Che fell into contemplation.
The description sounds so impressive, yet the effect is so underwhelming.
Generating a barrier… the Special Affairs Office must have countless such Onmyōdō techniques, not a thousand but definitely over a hundred.
Regardless, test the effect first.
With a thought, Shangshan Che returned to reality and used the Rin Character Technique, summoning a translucent barrier before him without warning.
He extended a finger, gradually increasing force to tap it.
Finally, at two-tenths strength, the barrier shattered under the strain.
Shangshan Che rubbed his chin—this effect was only slightly better than the Basic Onmyōdō earth barrier.
Great Onmyōdō?
That’s it?
He turned his gaze to the 【Mastery Level】 entry.
The barrier’s low strength might relate to this Nine Syllable Mantra’s unique 1% extreme.
Wait.
Summoning another barrier for testing, Shangshan Che suddenly realized something.
Since maintaining Qi Circulation requires Qi Barrier, and using Onmyōdō consumes Spiritual Power…
What does using this Rin Character Technique consume?
His Qi Barrier and Spiritual Power showed no consumption!
At that moment, a faint heat came from the back of his hand.
Shangshan Che looked down, spotting on the back of his right hand an imprint identical to the “Rin” in the black space, but so faint as to be nearly invisible.
He released several more barriers in succession, and the back of his right hand grew even hotter.
I get it.
This Rin Character Technique is like a special skill; releasing it consumes no energy at all, only its own “usage count”!
Most likely, this usage count recovers over time.
Shangshan Che stared at the fading imprint on the back of his right hand, his eyes equally fervent.
—Now, it truly lives up to the name of Great Onmyōdō!
He closed his eyes and hurriedly re-entered the black space.
The dignified, ancient “Rin” character still stood in the darkness, as if eternal.
“To raise the Mastery Level, I probably need to come here and comprehend this ‘Rin’ character.”
Shangshan Che pondered, then focused his gaze upward, trying to concentrate.
Eating Soul Incense Ash before comprehending would surely be effective, but now he wanted to test his own ability without it.
He didn’t know how much time passed.
It felt like a long time, yet also just an instant—a strong dizziness hit Shangshan Che’s mind, kicking him out of the black space.
In the Dojo, Shangshan Che shook his head and first checked the Rin Character Technique’s Panel.
【Mastery Level: 1.005%.】
One session of comprehension actually increased progress by a full 0.005%?
Not calling it exceptionally effective, it could only be said to have no effect.
Clearly, facing such ancient script, relying solely on personal comprehension is very feeble.
He rubbed his throbbing temples: “Now Soul Incense Ash expenses will have another line item.”
Looking up at the clock again, Shangshan Che realized nearly an hour had passed.
Though his perceived time was only tens of seconds.
“Time passes so quickly…”
“—Shangshan Jun, come eat!”
Lili Zi’s call crossed the floors, along with the aroma of tonkotsu ramen, interrupting Shangshan Che’s thoughts.
Why could he instantly tell it was tonkotsu ramen…
Rising, Shangshan Che shook his head, wondering if this was also part of Sword Principle.
Heading to the third floor, he could smell the tantalizing, richly aromatic broth of the carefully simmered ramen base.
Turning his head, he saw on the large dining table two bowls the size of hot pot bowls filled with tonkotsu ramen.
First to catch the eye was the chashu piled into a small mountain drenched in sauce, as if afraid he wouldn’t eat enough.
Two perfectly soft-boiled eggs cut in half lay neatly beside it, with tall nori sheets half-submerged in the broth and half exposed to air, blending both flavors.
Beneath the ingredients were noodles that screamed “chewy” at first sight.
No doubt, this “Lili Zi special ramen” was authentically a hundred or even a thousand times tastier than the hot items in those chain stores on the street!
Shangshan Che couldn’t help but slurp back drool.
Any longer, and it would drip onto the floor.
—As for how Lili Zi processed so many ingredients in an hour?
No need to ask such things.
At the table, the girl still wearing an apron had pulled out a chair and sat down.
She hadn’t touched her chopsticks yet, probably waiting for him.
Shangshan Che quickly sat opposite Lili Zi, picked up his chopsticks, and said to the girl, “Itadakimasu.”
“Itadakimasu.”
Lili Zi replied, pausing her chopsticks just before dipping into the bowl, secretly glancing up.
Wanting to observe Shangshan Che’s expression at his first bite.
Usually, the first reaction when unaware of being watched is the most genuine.
This was her first time making such a complex dish, so she wasn’t sure about the taste.
Slurp~
Under her gaze, Shangshan Che wrapped ramen with chashu and ate it, his eyes curving in delight, then continued devouring heartily.
Lili Zi withdrew her gaze and ate the same way.
After one bite, the girl paused.
It was really delicious.
She thought.
Not bad for me.
The two ate unhurriedly but didn’t speak.
Except in special cases, both Shangshan Che and Lili Zi were the type to quietly enjoy delicacies.
But someone… or rather, some sword, didn’t think so.
Just as Shangshan Che was about to finish and slap the table for a second bowl, the string in his heart was already vibrating wildly.
Unable to hold back, Shangshan Che released the energetic Kaga Kiyomitsu for some air.
“Hm?”
As soon as Kaga Kiyomitsu appeared at his waist, Lili Zi, slurping noodles, instinctively glanced over.
Due to the sudden unfamiliar Sword Principle in the Sword Domain.
To Lili Zi, unfamiliar Sword Principle was even more eye-catching than a lighthouse in the darkness.
“Kaga Kiyomitsu?”
Seeing the source emitting Sword Principle, Lili Zi let the noodles dangle in mid-air, stunned.
Buzz?
Kaga Kiyomitsu, already half unsheathed in an instant, trembled all over and snapped back.
“Scared scared scared… Little Jia is scared!”
Hearing this, Shangshan Che looked up to see the girl standing with hands on the table, noodles dangling from her mouth.
“What’s there to be scared of?”
He chuckled, drawing the now-playing-dead Kaga Kiyomitsu from its Scabbard and placing it on the table.
—Finally, someone to properly discipline this brat; of course he’d give a push from behind.
But playing dead wouldn’t fool Lili Zi.
In her Sword Domain perception, Kaga Kiyomitsu glowed vibrantly all over.
She slurped up the noodles in one go, mumbling as she chewed: “This Kaga Kiyomitsu of yours… has developed autonomous spirituality?”
Shangshan Che nodded: “Yeah, met a kind Master Craftsman who forged it, and it happened.”
Hearing this, Lili Zi’s gaze scanned Kaga Kiyomitsu from head to tail bit by bit.
Finally, the girl sat back somewhat regretfully, shaking her head: “Honestly, if it weren’t yours, Shangshan Jun, I’d want to snatch it.”
Kaga Kiyomitsu trembled.
But sensing Lili Zi’s gaze, it immediately went still again.
Shangshan Che could hear it trembling in his heartstring, saying,
“Bi… big, Great Demon King… scared, Master…”
And this Master mercilessly betrayed his child: “Lili Zi, Little Jia says you’re a scary Great Demon King, and it’s very afraid of you.”
With that one sentence, Kaga Kiyomitsu went completely still.
Its suspended heart finally settled.
“Me?” Lili Zi said oddly, “I wouldn’t do anything.”
She pondered that she hadn’t even made a move yet, done nothing.
Finishing the last of the soup, eighty percent full, Shangshan Che looked at the girl whose gaze never left Kaga Kiyomitsu and thought mischievously,
“Little Jia truly is an unadulterated great succubus for Swordsmen and Samurai.”
“You two get to know each other first.”
Shangshan Che set down his bowl and, having just finished eating, felt a wave of drowsy fatigue,
He tossed the Scabbard to Lili Zi, winking: “I’m off for a big nap; Little Jia is yours for today.”
Lili Zi, about to say something, paused and smiled, raising her hands toward Kaga Kiyomitsu.
“Can’t ask for more.”
Buzz—
Ignoring the commotion from the Living Room, Shangshan Che dove headfirst onto the tidy large bed and, without much thought, closed his eyes in compliance with the drowsiness.
He figured it was probably from the mental exhaustion of comprehending the Rin Character Technique earlier.
When he opened his eyes again, he should be able to head straight to the Eternal World to find Katsumi.
That’s why he left Kaga Kiyomitsu with Lili Zi—Katsumi’s gaze at Little Jia was off, who knows what the Merchant’s scales would make him do to it.
…
Sleeping until the next morning, Shangshan Che entered the Eternal World directly from the bed.
The transaction location was set in Arakawa Village.
This way, after the trade, he could mooch some related info from Katsumi.
Water pressure swept by.
Just entering Arakawa Village, Shangshan Che sensed something wrong.
Because…
He looked up, seeing no familiar thatched roofs.
The damp, rotten straw smell and sulfur scent had dissipated completely.
The old Shrine was casually stuck into the mud, either ignored or invisible to others.
Shangshan Che turned, finding the area that should have been Gassho-zukuri houses and streets now empty.
Only wasteland remained.
Even the distant fields had become drainage ditches.
Arakawa Village was gone, and the shop the Foreman had high hopes for was gone too.
What remained… probably just the distant Blacksmith Shop.
And—
Shangshan Che looked into the distance, spotting at the horizon’s end a steel forest rising from the ground, shrouded in the roar of machinery.
Thickest black smoke billowed from dozens or hundreds of chimneys, with uniform gear meshing, clanging cuts, friction, and quenching sounds spreading to all directions of the empty wasteland.
This noise was at least ten times louder than the previous Factory.
Shangshan Che watched for a moment, then first donned the black Wrathful God Mask—Katsumi said it would help locate faster.
After just over ten minutes, that familiar tone appeared out of thin air again.
“Eh yo—Walker Adult is right on time~”
The Katsumi Clone, about normal human height but still made of straw, fanned itself with a Folding Fan.
He too heard the rumbling from the Factory, so he turned: “Mmm… those Factory Owners’ handiwork again.”
Katsumi muttered, then turned back with a smile without lingering: “Alright, Adult, let me tally the items you want to sell.”
Shangshan Che wasted no words, waving to summon the pile of prepared Items.
Katsumi bowed, picking them up one by one for close inspection.
Two minutes later, he snapped open his Folding Fan, pointing at the Plague God Bell, Hina Crown, Ashigaru Armor, and various other sundries:
“Adult, how about 1,800 portions of Soul Ash for all these?”
“No objection.”
Shangshan Che nodded; among these Items, the Plague God Bell had the highest Quality, but merely Rare with limited effects.
Selling for nearly 2,000 Soul Ash was already good.
Since he still needed info on Two-Foot Adult later, no need to haggle over a hundred or two with Katsumi.
“And this?”
Shangshan Che looked at the Fine Steel Pestle again.
Katsumi smiled, raising three fingers: “Three thousand portions.”
“On the other side, this Iron Pestle fits perfectly for a wealthy bull demon client; he said he can pay this price.”
The great Merchant with footprints across Eternal World and Mortal Realm, clients in the millions, bobbed his head chanting,
“So—choosing the right client is key.”
A Rare+ Iron Pestle with nothing but hardness actually sold for a full 3,000 Soul Ash!
And he already had over 6,000 Soul Ash.
Shangshan Che mentally calculated, his pupils contracting slightly.
This would push his Soul Ash reserves past a full 10,000!
Earlier, a reader noted “Yasakani no Magatama” should be “Ten-Hand Sword” correction.
Thanks for pointing it out, now fixed.
So what Shangshan Che obtained before was indeed the “Fragment of the Ten-Hand Sword.”
