Chapter 217: Ootama Hoshi, Do You Remember Me?! Secret Realm Rewards, Anonymous Person Tied For First Place!
Detected you have entered a special area·Projection Secret Realm·Muromachi Period·Sengoku Period!
In the vast white secret realm space, a long-awaited prompt suddenly appeared, making Shangshan Che pause.
Did the system classify this Sengoku Secret Realm as the Eternal World?
Shangshan Che made a sound of surprise and brought up the map selection for descent with his thoughts.
He then discovered that among the dimly lit Edo Castle, Aragawa Ghost Village, Kisaragi Station, and the greyish-white Sengoku Period, a brand-new option had appeared.
—Projection Secret Realm·Muromachi Period·Sengoku Period.
He fell into thought.
If that were the case, wouldn’t it mean he wouldn’t have to touch the secret realm vortex like everyone else to enter?
But could “work remotely” from anywhere?
This would be much more convenient…
Shangshan Che hadn’t finished his thought when he suddenly realized that wasn’t the main point.
The real point was that everyone else only had three lives and three chances to challenge!
—And he could refresh his challenge chances twice every day!
Shangshan Che smiled: “They aren’t even trying to act anymore…”
The prompts didn’t stop there.
This area has a total of forty-two floors. Upon first clearing the 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th floors, you can choose one of three random rewards. The magnitude of the rewards will increase progressively!
Simultaneously, when you are the first to completely clear this secret realm, you will receive a special unique reward!
Special Rule: While you are in the Projection Secret Realm, the proficiency gained from combat will be greatly increased!
Shangshan Che ignored the prompts for now.
He sat up and turned his head, seeing nothing but dense mist not far in front of him.
The other three sides were all a vast white, yet for some reason, he knew that the “boundary” of this floor was fifty meters away.
“It seems this mist acts as a safe barrier before each combat begins…”
After confirming that the projected enemies in the secret realm would not appear immediately, Shangshan Che began to read the newly appeared prompts.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
The secret realm had a total of forty-two floors, and Saito Ryuichi had previously cleared it to the thirty-ninth floor.
Just three floors away, Saito Ryuichi could completely conquer this Sengoku Projection Secret Realm.
But if, as Mr. Y had said before—every ten floors corresponded to a star rating, then wouldn’t there be Ghost God level existences above the fortieth floor?
Even if not, the power gap between the projected strong individuals in the final few floors would likely be quite significant.
“But now I’m only on the first floor, thinking about this is useless. Saito Ryuichi was also zapped and screamed by the projection adept at lightning magic on the fortieth floor…”
Shangshan Che clicked his tongue and pondered the “projection adept at lightning magic” before stepping forward to touch the edge of the mist.
Touching the mist will initiate the challenge.
—After entering the secret realm, he had unknowingly learned this rule at some point.
Detected the existence of a creation related to Projection Secret Realms—the Top 100 Ranking.
When the secret realm closes, the higher your position on the Top 100 Ranking, the more generous the rewards will be.
“This works too?”
A piece of paper that Mr. Y casually tore off could actually be recognized by the prompts.
This was no longer a question of power, but of strangeness and peculiarity.
It was simply bizarre!
—I’ll definitely ask Sister Nanjo later about who this “Y,” the director of the strategy department, is.
As the prompt appeared, Shangshan Che’s finger had already touched the mist.
Instantly, the mist that had been isolating all senses and scrutiny suddenly dissipated, revealing the figure on the other side of the fog.
He had to temporarily shift his attention, grip Kaga Kiyomitsu, and stare sternly ahead.
The next moment, what appeared in Shangshan Che’s vision was a middle-aged farmer, thin and severely malnourished, holding a rusty pitchfork.
He had no spiritual power, no Qi Barrier, and not even a trace of internal Qi.
The farmer wore what was practically no earth-colored burlap, and he stared intently at Shangshan Che, his eyes filled with inexplicable killing intent and hatred, and immediately let out a hoarse roar and charged.
“Huh?”
Shangshan Che, who was about to draw his sword, was stunned.
Could even ordinary people whose combat power was inferior to Tamamo be projected into the secret realm?
He didn’t slay the opponent with a single strike but raised his hand and used materialized Qi Barrier to bind the farmer inch by inch in an instant, then lifted him, making him shake his head in mid-air and spew saliva.
It was a good opportunity to study the Eye of Interpretation and observe this secret realm.
Shangshan Che took two steps back, widening his eyes slightly as he looked at the farmer who was struggling with all his might but to no avail.
Eye of Interpretation, activate.
Instantly, all the farmer’s movements seemed to slow down as if in bullet time.
Besides that, before the farmer even blinked for the first time, Shangshan Che found that he could already “see” what expression would appear on his face after his tenth blink.
It was pre-reading.
The Eye of Interpretation greatly enhanced the effect of pre-reading!
It even made his Clear Mirror more sensitive and clearer, able to reflect things far more subtle than before.
The Eye of Interpretation elevated his observation skills by another level, a clear enhancement.
Shangshan Che examined the farmer from all sides, then walked to the “boundary” and tapped it with his finger to confirm its existence.
He then brought up the panel and found that he could not freely enter or exit the secret realm at the moment; he would likely only be automatically sent out upon death.
This also explained why Saito Ryuichi did not choose to re-enter immediately after his first setback.
Because Saito Ryuichi only had two challenge chances left.
“Although I don’t know the time flow rate between here and the outside world, the spiritual energy concentration in the secret realm is much higher than in ordinary places in the Mortal Realm and Eternal World.”
After sensing this, Shangshan Che tried to circulate his Spirit Control Technique, like a whale, continuously drawing the surrounding dense spiritual power into his body.
Several minutes later, Shangshan Che looked at the unchanged proficiency on the Spirit Control Technique panel and fell silent amidst the farmer’s dry roars.
This bug seemed unexploitable.
Shangshan Che sighed and looked again at the farmer, who was bound tightly by his Qi Barrier and full of killing intent.
“No choice, then I’ll have to start killing.”
He flicked his finger, and the sharp Qi Barrier passed through the farmer’s skull like a weapon.
As the farmer’s voice abruptly stopped, Shangshan Che’s vision flashed, and he saw the rising mist again.
He had reached the second floor.
He touched the mist in the same manner and then saw a normal ashigaru holding a spear and wearing light armor.
Apart from slightly better physical condition and upgraded equipment, there was no difference from the farmer.
Shangshan Che didn’t delay any further, flicked his finger again, and arrived at the third floor.
…
After casually unleashing a bolt of lightning and blasting a charging normal samurai into charcoal, Shangshan Che looked at the reward prompt that appeared before him.
You have cleared the 10th floor of the Projection Secret Realm. Please choose one of the following three rewards.
One: Spell Record·Fragment
Two: Brand New Pitchfork
Three: Ashigaru Armor
Shangshan Che: “…”
“Never mind, it’s still pretty good.”
You have obtained, Spell Record·Fragment.
After selecting option one, Shangshan Che put the scroll, worth 100 proficiency points, into his storage bag.
Apart from taking a little extra time on the first attempt, the subsequent nine floors were all one-hit kills.
Although he didn’t gain much proficiency due to the opponents being too weak, getting a spell record in one minute was already a great deal.
Shangshan Che knew how to be content.
The projections from the 11th to the 20th floor had combat power ranging from One-Star to One-and-a-Half Star.
Beings of this level, whether samurai or demons, were still instantly defeated by Shangshan Che.
There was no difference.
Only the power output of Shangshan Che’s Five Thunder Technique had increased slightly.
Thus, after a rampaging slaughter, Shangshan Che, who was preparing to collect his earnings, saw the reward prompt again.
You have cleared the 20th floor of the Projection Secret Realm. Please choose one of the following three rewards.
One: Spell Scroll
Two: Ordinary Plain Spear
Three: Heart Protection Mirror
Instinctively, Shangshan Che wanted to click on the Spell Scroll.
However, his gaze was suddenly fixed by the “Ordinary Plain Spear” below.
“This thing… is truly good.”
Shangshan Che’s brows twitched slightly—compared to the 500 proficiency points that could be ground out, a weapon item with such rare substitutability was more useful.
You have obtained, Ordinary Plain Spear.
After the reward selection for clearing the 20th floor was complete, Shangshan Che took a deep breath.
The path ahead would not be so easy.
Open eyes, touch the mist.
—Pus·Two-and-a-Half Star.
A humanoid figure, completely covered in purplish-black skin and containing an unknown amount of translucent pus, wobbled before Shangshan Che.
Affliction Kin·Pus.
“I’ve really run into an ‘old acquaintance’…”
Shangshan Che sneered.
Back in the Sengoku Period, the environmental pollution in Mikawa Province was severe, largely due to this Pus, which contained thousands of types of viruses.
However, in stark contrast to its powerful environmental destructive capability, the Pus’s combat power was abysmal.
He didn’t even draw his sword, not wanting to dirty Kaga Kiyomitsu’s blade.
Shangshan Che held his breath and, with the rapid circulation of his Spirit Control Technique and Five Thunder Technique, conjured a churning, stark white lightning dragon in his palm.
Then, precisely at the moment the Pus was about to self-destruct, at its weakest point, he enveloped it with the lightning dragon!
Your skill, Five Thunder Technique·Qi Comprehension Proficiency +34!
Your skill, Spirit Control Technique·Qi Proficiency +18!
…
Your skill, Natural Reason School Proficiency +5!
Your skill, Spirit Control Technique·Qi Proficiency +22!
…
Projection Secret Realm, 30th Floor.
Your skill, Natural Reason School Proficiency +9!
Because you have engaged in extensive combat and are within the Projection Secret Realm, your Trait·Sword Principle 1% has changed!
Your Trait·Sword Principle 1% has now become Sword Principle 2%!
“This can also increase?”
After once again slaying his younger brother Ii Naomasa, who had become much stronger since their last encounter, Shangshan Che slowly calmed his internal Qi, blinking in surprise.
Things like Skill and Reason could actually change during combat?
He had never known that before.
Realizing the subtle change in his feelings, Shangshan Che’s eyes lit up.
This place was truly a treasure trove.
Not only did it send him proficiency and treasure rewards, but it could even improve Skill and Reason, which were usually difficult to progress, something he wouldn’t find elsewhere!
After his Sea of Qi stopped churning and his spiritual power was replenished, Shangshan Che, having caught his breath, looked with anticipation at the choice of three rewards for clearing the 30th floor.
The rewards for clearing the 20th floor had already reached “Rare” quality, so now it should be something good.
You have cleared the 30th floor of the Projection Secret Realm. Please choose one of the following three rewards.
One: Spell Record
Spell Record
Quality: Epic
Effect: Upon use, provides 1000 proficiency points to a designated skill. The effect does not diminish when used on Expert Level or higher skills.
—Vast time flies by in the blink of an eye.
“So Spell Scrolls have a reduced effect when used on Expert Level skills.”
Shangshan Che nodded thoughtfully, thinking it was good he saw the prompt here, otherwise, he would definitely suffer a loss in the future.
Two: Anchor
Anchor·Special Item
Quality: None
Effect: When placed in the Sea of Qi, it will greatly enhance the stability of the Sea of Qi. It will also produce unknown positive effects depending on the Sea of Qi.
—An anchor, used for positioning.
An item related to the Sea of Qi…
Uncertain, let’s look further.
Three: Life-Replacing Doll
Quality: Epic
【Effect: After the user writes their true name in blood on the “Life-Replacing Cloth,” they can be resurrected once by the doll upon death. Invalid if killed by a Five-Star or higher existence. Cannot take effect across the barrier between the Mortal Realm and the Eternal World.】
【—Where to place the doll is a problem.】
Alright, who to choose is self-evident.
Shangshan Che already had an unused Life-Replacing Doll, and the one in the reward would become invalid if killed by a Five-Star existence, while the one on his palm was a star higher.
【You have obtained the Anchor （Special Item）!】
After choosing the second option, a completely transparent triangular crystal fell into Shangshan Che’s hand.
Although called an “Anchor,” its appearance had absolutely nothing to do with a ship’s anchor. It looked more like a cheap plastic toy, making one doubt how effective it would be…
Shangshan Che brought it closer to his eyes and actively used the Eye of Interpretation to examine it for a while, but he couldn’t figure anything out.
All one can say is, most special items are like this.
They appear unremarkable on the outside, but when actually used, they reveal completely different miraculous effects.
Shangshan Che temporarily put it into his backpack and continued his triumphant advance towards the thirty-first floor.
……
At this moment, Shangshan Che was unaware that—
Mr. Y, likely having some spare time after reaching his destination, updated the Top 100 Ranking remotely.
With an update that could be completed in a single refresh, the Top 100 Ranking was no longer updated only after the entire challenge was finished.
Instead, it was settled in real-time.
The stone monument before the Secret Realm vortex was the same.
Therefore, everyone, including Tamamo and Yagyu Oshi waiting before the stone monument for Shangshan Che to emerge, countless Agents monitoring the newly appearing list in the Special Affairs Office app, and those who were just curious.
Everyone who was paying attention to the barely changing Top 100 Ranking could see an “Anonymous Person No. 666” climbing upwards at a terrifying speed, starting from the bottom of the current Top 100 Ranking—the twenty-fifth floor!
Twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh… in less than three minutes, this Anonymous Person No. 666 had climbed to the thirtieth floor.
And not only that.
After a pause of several tens of seconds, Anonymous Person No. 666 again advanced like a broken bamboo, reaching the thirty-fifth floor at an average speed of one floor per minute.
They had already surpassed Yagyu Oshi, who was originally ranked fourth, and were now tied with the third-place anonymous person on the current Top 100 Ranking.
Yagyu Oshi gazed at his ranking slipping, but instead of being discouraged, an expression of anticipation appeared in his eyes: “There are truly many strong individuals even within Hamamatsu City alone.”
Tamamo glanced at him and said nothing.
What strong individuals… To her, it looked exactly like Elder Brother Uesugi, who had just entered the challenge!
Said they wouldn’t participate in the Top 100 Ranking, hmph, who would believe that!
Looking up at the shining “Thirty-fifth Floor,” Tamamo couldn’t help but recall herself on the second floor, defeated.
Back then, she had used all her might, even her teeth, to finally kill that old man wielding a pitchfork.
As a result, the next floor had a much stronger opponent who speared her through with a single thrust of their spear.
Damn it!
Tamamo touched her flat chest with lingering fear, then looked up again, hoping this “Thirty-fifth Floor” could still increase a few more times.
The girl clasped her hands together and prayed silently, “Elder Brother Uesugi, please stomp down on Saito hard…”
Although, Tamamo, who was skilled in gathering all sorts of intelligence, knew that such a thing was unlikely to happen.
Because that was Saito Ryuichi…
—Meanwhile, the Seed Potential group in Arakawa Ward was bustling with activity.
The group, which originally had only a few messages a day, exploded with excitement because of the Top 100 Ranking.
The newbies in the group all discussed—if everyone from our Arakawa Ward were to try, who could achieve the highest ranking?
【Hattori Ayako: Shangshan Jun.】
【Akechi Family General: It’s definitely Senior Uesugi!】
【There is only one truth: To be honest, it really is Shangshan Jun.】
This time, everyone in the group was shocked, not because of their unanimous agreement.
But because of who this Shangshan Jun was?
Next, “Akechi Family General” began to list, as if counting his family treasures, all the deeds of Shangshan Che that were publicly recorded in the Special Affairs Office mission logs.
“I don’t think so.”
Kitano Runa chuckled, temporarily exited the group chat, and clicked on the blue avatar, which was filled with a vast ocean.
【Will never be a loser!: *poke.jpg*】
【Will never be a loser!: Lili Zi! That Top 100 Ranking seems to be very popular lately, and it’s gathering geniuses from under heaven to go for trials. I guess Shangshan Jun will definitely go there too, are you going to show off a little?】
As a senior “Lili hunter” on LINE, Kitano Runa specifically included the keyword “Shangshan Jun” in her message.
Otherwise, Lili Zi might not even bother to reply to such uninspired hot topics.
But this time, she miscalculated.
Lili Zi withdrew her gaze from the Top 100 Ranking and the message pop-up from Kitano Runa. Her heart was like a ancient well, without a ripple.
Wearing her dōgi, she continued to sit alone in the empty dojo, cultivating.
Cultivating.
Solitary cultivation.
Endless cultivation.
For ordinary people, cultivation is usually for something—wealth, beauty, power, a stronger body, the security of not being killed by demons.
And so on, and so forth, the reasons are inexhaustible.
But Lili Zi was different.
She considered herself different.
Being able to practice swordplay, being able to cultivate, being able to continue on this path was enough.
“Everything else is irrelevant.”
The eighteen-year-old girl closed her eyes and softly murmured, as if to emphasize.
“—If you want to go, it doesn’t matter.”
In the Special Affairs Office, Nanjō Emi, who had finished her half-day’s work and obtained precious breathing time, shrugged.
She browsed the forum, which was like it had exploded, and laughed: “This effect, like a virus invasion… No need to think, it must be Mr. Y’s doing.”
Nanjō Emi tapped the shadow beneath her with her toe.
“Xiao Ying, if you go, take Little Ru and Hiyori Bo out for a stroll too, get some fresh air. Don’t stay cooped up in the office with me all day, or you’ll go insane.”
A startled cry came from the shadow: “You’re saying such a thing, has Little Emi’s sanity truly deteriorated?!”
Nanjō Emi crossed her arms contemptuously, crossing her long legs: “Anyway, I’m about to get promoted and get a raise, so squatting in the office is just a thing of the past.”
—Kanagawa Prefecture, at the foot of a barren mountain.
The burly body of the Red Hannya was severed, and the luminous blue demonic sword drank its fill of blood.
Minamoto Shizuka calmly took a handkerchief from her waist to wipe the bloodstain from her cheek. During her rest, she quietly listened to the servant behind her report today’s important news.
“Secret Realm Challenge Top 100 Ranking? Such a fleeting reputation is merely…”
“Hmm? Saito Ryuichi is first?”
“And an anonymous person has already tied with him for first place?”
“Prepare the car, immediately, right now. I want to reach Hamamatsu City in the shortest possible time and crush them all.”
……
Ten minutes ago, in the Projection Secret Realm.
“Ootama Hoshi…”
Shangshan Che, who had spent a full ten minutes to mostly recover his body, reached out to touch the edge of the mist and saw the familiar figure, as tall as a mountain.
He gripped the hilt of Kaga Kiyomitsu and slowly raised it.
“This time, I can win without using Fury.”
However, contrary to Shangshan Che’s expectations, when Ootama Hoshi opened its eyes and got up, it did not roar and charge at him like the humans or demons in the previous thirty-eight floors.
Instead, it stared blankly at him, and a very confused expression gradually appeared on the colossal face made of wood and stone.
This anomaly caused Shangshan Che’s vigilance to heighten once more, preparing to use Darkness Sword at any moment.
In the suffocating silence, Shangshan Che heard Ootama Hoshi speak dryly, uttering a word he never would have expected with great confusion.
“Great Onmyoji… Che?”
He suddenly looked up, staring at the obsidian pupils of Ootama Hoshi.
It remembers me?
How could it possibly remember me?!
This isn’t the Mortal Realm, but a Projection Secret Realm five hundred years after the Sengoku Period?!
Shangshan Che felt his scalp tingle.
After gazing at Ootama Hoshi for a long time, Shangshan Che couldn’t help but ask the great demon he had once personally killed.
“You, remember me?”
6k, feeling unwell today, adjusting. Will make up for it in a couple of days.
