Chapter 226: White Hannya Two-and-a-half Star! Ghost God
To be precise, there were still two hours, five minutes, and forty-seven seconds left.
Shangshan Che changed positions and sat on the wooden steps of the Small Dojo, propping his elbows on his knees, cradling his chin in his palms, and silently staring at the time ticking away second by second.
Staring at the time for a bit, then at the Silver Moon in the sky.
Less than two minutes later, Shangshan Che grew quite bored and smacked his lips.
He hadn’t noticed before when he wasn’t paying attention, but with the promotion time so close, time felt stretched out exceptionally long.
Hard to wait.
Moreover, his intuition told him it was best not to promote inside the dojo covered by the Barrier.
Doing so wouldn’t cause any major issues, but the commotion would inevitably lead to misunderstandings—even in an unoccupied corner, the Apprentice Master could easily sense it with her abilities.
Because he himself could do such a thing.
Thinking of this, Shangshan Che stood up with still an hour and fifty-five minutes to wait, preparing to go out for a stroll.
“Good morning, Shangshan Ge Xia.”
“Good morning, Shangshan Ge Xia.”
Perhaps because the Apprentice Master had introduced him to the dojo students, even just passing by, Shangshan Che drew enthusiastic greetings from a large group of dojo disciples.
Helpless, he could only smile and respond to each one.
“Yo, Ryūgen Jun, you’re really putting in the effort.”
About to leave the dojo, Shangshan Che spotted Yagyu Oshi alone in the shadows, gripping a solid wooden sword and holding a stance.
The weather at the end of May in the early morning wasn’t too hot, but even so, sweat had already drenched Yagyu Oshi’s forehead, neck, and back.
This made it clear that Yagyu had been standing there maintaining the stance for quite a while.
“Is Shangshan Jun heading out?”
Yagyu Oshi replied without averting his gaze; even while speaking, the tip of the wooden sword didn’t tremble in the slightest.
Shangshan Che nodded casually: “Yeah, I overslept earlier, can’t sleep now, want to go out and breathe some fresh air.”
“Then, heading south, you can see a small mountain; the Mountain Peak there has a nice sunrise.”
Drenched in sweat, Yagyu Oshi offered his suggestion.
Shangshan Che blinked, then cheerfully gave him a thumbs-up: “Thanks, Ryūgen Jun.”
Just as he stepped out of the dojo gate, Shangshan Che could clearly feel the Spiritual Energy Concentration between heaven and earth rise more than one level.
Probably because maintaining the Barrier covering the dojo consumed a massive amount of Spiritual Power; stronger Barriers demanded plenty of Spiritual Power, which was normal.
“Even after just a month, the Spiritual Energy Concentration has grown quite a bit compared to when the First Wave arrived.”
Shangshan Che still remembered that compared to before the Tide, the Spiritual Energy Concentration between heaven and earth had risen 11.8 times.
Now, it was at least 15 times, and the concentration was still slowly increasing steadily.
As soon as he slightly circulated the Spirit Control Technique, he could feel Spiritual Power surging into his body from all directions, then being absorbed, purified, and extracted.
Finally, the massive amount of impure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was transformed into a drop of extremely high-quality liquid Spiritual Power inside his body that the Spirit Control Technique could easily manipulate.
“Occasionally going out alone like this to practice the Spirit Control Technique is pretty nice.”
Shangshan Che unabashedly “inhaled” the continuous stream of Spiritual Energy in big gulps, walking slowly in the direction Yagyu Oshi mentioned, even slower than an ordinary person.
In this aimless slow stroll, an hour passed quickly.
After running the Spirit Control Technique at high intensity nonstop for an hour, Shangshan Che glanced at the Proficiency and saw it had risen by just over 10 points—extremely fast.
“But even so, only an hour has passed?”
Rubbing his somewhat swollen temples, the slightly fatigued Shangshan Che sighed.
If only there were a Medicinal Bath right now to do Bone Forging.
Once he started Bone Forging, three hours would fly by in the blink of an eye… but such thoughts were completely unfounded now.
As for turning back to intensely learn Footwork from the Apprentice Master for two hours?
“Better spare myself.”
Shangshan Che half-opened his eyes to watch the road, in power-saving mode, thinking he wasn’t some cosmic super ultimate grind king like Lili Zi.
Right, Lili Zi.
Calling now might disturb Nanjo Emi, but it absolutely wouldn’t disturb Lili Zi.
Because sunrise was imminent, and even if Lili Zi slept, she always woke earlier than the sun.
Thinking of this, Shangshan Che took out the Rotary Phone, supported its bottom with Qi Barrier, and dialed Lili Zi’s number.
Beep…
Click.
As expected, instantly answered.
“Hello?”
Shangshan Che held the antique-style phone to his ear and heard the girl’s slightly heavy, forceful breathing from the Speaker,
“Huff… huff… Shangshan Jun, you actually calling me is rare…”
Shangshan Che looked at the still unchanged Rotary Phone and replied: “Got a new phone, testing it out.”
Lili Zi gave a muffled hum, then asked,
“So… is there something?”
Originally just calling to test the phone, Shangshan Che paused, thought for a moment, then said: “Didn’t I teach you a lot last time? How’s the Palace of Flesh Cultivation going?”
Lili Zi’s voice trembled slightly: “I’m… in the middle of Muscle Refining right now…”
I see.
No wonder her breathing was so heavy.
Able to talk normally in the middle of Muscle Refining—Lili Zi was truly a beast.
Lili Zi continued: “After this… I should first cultivate one of the Four Great Ultimate Forms, the ‘Palace of Flesh,’ to test the waters for you.”
Hearing this, Shangshan Che pinched his throat and said,
“Then thanks a lot, Lili Zi Adult.”
Pausing, Shangshan Che returned to his normal voice: “Then I won’t disturb you, cultivate well.”
Just before he hung up, Lili Zi’s voice came through, like she was gritting her teeth to force it out,
“I’ll watch the prelims broadcast…”
Shangshan Che was slightly stunned, then smiled,
“Thanks.”
Click.
Short call ended.
In no time, two lines of text appeared at the top of the Rotary Phone.
First line: 【Tokugawa Ririko】.
Second line: the detailed address.
Shangshan Che remembered clearly; this was indeed his home address, precise down to the house number.
This Weapon was useful indeed.
Even Lili Zi was completely unaware.
It seemed at least for existences below Ghost God level, it was a sure kill.
Because Shangshan Che hadn’t met many practitioners below Ghost God with perception stronger than Lili Zi’s so far.
Satisfied, he put away the Rotary Phone and noticed that directly across not far away, a young Corporate Slave in a cheap black suit, clutching a Briefcase, pale and haggard-faced, was walking toward him.
The key point wasn’t that.
Behind the young Corporate Slave hung a Phthisis Ghost sucking his essence, noticeably skinnier than others of its kind.
Commuting before dawn…
Shangshan Che was speechless: “He’s already on the verge of sudden death, and you won’t even spare mosquito legs?”
As they brushed past each other, Shangshan Che suddenly spoke to the hurrying youth: “Hello, up so early for a morning run?”
The youth clearly didn’t expect a passerby to talk to him, so he was slightly startled.
But soon, he recovered and gave Shangshan Che an awkward smile: “No… heading to work.”
Up close, Shangshan Che realized this youth’s complexion was even worse than most Special Affairs Office Clerks.
If he’s working this hard and still this miserable, better save him if possible.
Shangshan Che flicked his finger, using fine Lightning to turn the Phthisis Ghost glaring wrathfully from the youth’s back into a handful of Soul Incense Ash, then patted his shoulder,
“If it’s work, try to find something easier.”
He raised a finger in warning: “Insufficient rest can wreck your body, and then all that earned money goes to the Hospital…
Brother, you don’t want to work this long just to end up working for the Hospital, right.”
The youth was stunned.
He never imagined a random passerby would show him such concern, so after a moment of disbelief, he took a deep breath.
Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.
“Thanks for the warning… I’ll remember it.”
Eyes reddening, the young Corporate Slave deeply bowed to Shangshan Che, then continued forward.
Shangshan Che looked again and saw the youth’s originally hurried steps had slowed a bit.
He smiled and turned back.
Thus, he saw the Mountain Peak shrouded in moonlight that had dimmed somewhat.
About a few kilometers away, it stood right before his eyes, at the center of his vision.
Suddenly, Shangshan Che wanted to climb the mountain.
Not because of the sunrise Yagyu Oshi mentioned, nor any other reason.
But,
Because the mountain was there.
How could one resist not climbing it?
Thinking this, Shangshan Che didn’t hesitate at all.
He immediately lifted his legs and quickened his pace several notches, aiming to reach the top of that not-too-high Mountain Peak in the over an hour before the Incarnation promotion completed.
Walking alone through the quite deserted main road in the early morning, Shangshan Che arrived at the Foot of the Mountain, dense with Jungle and lined with stone steps.
The mountain was peaceful and quiet, but probably due to few visitors, there were indeed many Demons and Monsters of all sizes.
Shangshan Che just gazed at the steps before his toes and stepped forward without a word.
In minutes, these Demons and Monsters in the mountain were attracted by the enticing Spiritual Power and Qi emanating from Shangshan Che.
But they vaguely sensed that this enticing human ahead seemed to possess some danger.
Thus, more and more Ghosts and Yokai noticed Shangshan Che, but all hesitated, waiting for others to probe first and test the waters for them.
Shangshan Che ignored them.
Lift leg, step down, lift leg, step down.
In less than half an hour, he reached Mid-mountain, even encountering a simply equipped boy and girl also climbing.
Judging by clothes, faces, and heights, probably high schoolers, maybe a couple.
Several Half-Star Ghosts had already sneaked behind the two high schoolers, but with Shangshan Che’s arrival, they warily retreated and began watching.
The mountain was very quiet, so a third person’s unmasked footsteps were easy to hear.
The high school boy turned back in surprise: “Hey bro! You here to climb too?”
The high school girl beside him noticed that aside from a cosplay item on his waist, he had no other hiking gear.
She was a bit puzzled,
“Not even a Flashlight—can he see the path?”
Shangshan Che ignored them and walked past slowly.
Only, brushing past the high school boy, he gave him a flat glance.
The latter immediately bristled.
He grabbed the high school girl’s hand: “Fujita! This guy’s definitely trying to race us—let’s follow!”
“Eh?! Won’t that be dangerous?”
Fujita hesitated a bit.
The boy gauged Shangshan Che’s climbing speed and patted his chest: “What’re you afraid of? He’s not fast, just a One-and-a-Half Star faster than us.”
“Then… okay…”
Hand in hand, they gripped their cheap hiking poles, sped up slightly, drawing venomous glares from the Monsters staring at their backs.
Another half hour plus, face unflushed and breathing steady, Shangshan Che passed the last rest pavilion and easily reached the top of this small mountain.
Dozens of steps away, the two high schoolers, drenched in sweat and panting like oxen, lifted their leaden legs for another arduous step.
The boy stammered: “This… this guy a Robot or what? Climbs without resting!”
Fujita rolled her eyes: “Ōtomo… it’s your fault; he was climbing fine alone, and you had to chase…”
Ōtomo’s voice was hoarse, breathing like an old bellows,
“You don’t get it, Fujita! He glanced at me when passing—like issuing a challenge!”
“—Anyway, if I get up early next time to climb with you, Ōtomo, I’m a total fool!”
Ignoring the high schoolers’ flirting and bickering.
Shangshan Che withdrew his gaze from the color-shifted sky, lowered his eyes, and stared at the progress bar that had finally inched forward the last bit with great difficulty.
【”White Hannya（Adult Body）” upgrading: 100%!】
【Your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya（Adult Body） has finished upgrading!】
【You have obtained, Demon Incarnation·White Hannya（Complete Body）!】
After twenty days in the Mortal Realm, nearly a hundred days in Shangshan Che’s subjective time, the Demon Incarnation White Hannya finally promoted from Two-Star to Two-and-a-Half Star!
“Quite a few things happened these days.”
He sighed slightly, then looked at the brand-new White Hannya Panel that popped up—
【Demon Incarnation·White Hannya（Complete Body）】
【Quality: Epic】
【Rank: Two-and-a-Half Star】
【Rank Cap: Three-and-a-Half Star】
【Talent: Ghost God, Greed Anger Ignorance, Berserk, Fear of White】
This White Hannya promotion didn’t change much; aside from a massive surge in felt Attributes, no new Talents.
Of course, the key was—
“Ghost God Talent, changed.”
From the original “Ghost God（Weak）” to “Ghost God”.
Clicking it revealed a more precise description: only Ghost God’s Might（Weak） had become Complete Body.
The other two remained unchanged.
【Ghost God: Ghost God’s Might, Ghost God Power（Weak）, Ghost God’s Appearance（Weak）.】
Reasonable.
Ghost God Ghost God…
Unlike before, Shangshan Che now knew what “Ghost God” meant and had witnessed over a dozen different Ghost God level powerhouses.
The weight and value of those two words were beyond doubt.
A Half-Star Rank leap changing one-third of it was already a big improvement.
—The instant White Hannya promoted, Shangshan Che’s aura on the Mountain Peak suddenly transformed.
From an ordinary tempting human to a terrifying Great Demon, Ghost God!!!
The numerous Demons and Monsters, Ghosts and Yokai of varying strengths that had followed from the Foot of the Mountain all instantly comprehended…
What true power was.
The weak trembled in fear, kneeling in submission.
The strong were horrified and immediately retreated.
All Ghosts subdued!
In a blink, the only ones left on the small mountain were Shangshan Che and the two high schoolers who had finally climbed the last dozens of steps to the top.
“Fujita, why do I feel this guy’s aura changed.” Ōtomo wiped sweat from his face. “Feels like he became the focus of the whole mountain.”
“Seems… like it.”
Fujita stared at Shangshan Che’s back for a bit, then felt the grip on her hand tighten.
The girl blushed and spat: “We’ve reached the top—time to let go!”
Ōtomo immediately released, scratching his hair: “Ah haha, sorry…”
The two laughed and bantered, unaware the youth ahead had just saved their lives.
Shangshan Che heard the noise behind but didn’t pay much mind.
First thing: immediately promote White Hannya to Three-Star.
With last time’s lesson, Shangshan Che wouldn’t waste a single moment this time.
“Requires 400 portions of Soul Incense Ash, and necessarily one 【Soul Incense Ash（Large）】.”
Conveniently, he had one Large Soul Incense Ash in his pocket.
As for the remaining 150 portions of Soul Incense Ash, three Medium Soul Incense Ash） could easily cover it.
Shangshan Che spent just over 200 Soul Ash to draw the needed Soul Incense Ash, then immediately set White Hannya to promoting to Three-Star.
Prompt popped up.
【”White Hannya（Complete Body）” promoting: 0%（Remaining time 30 days）】
“A month… wonder if it’ll finish before the Seed Tournament starts.”
Time not doubling directly let Shangshan Che breathe easier; if this upgrade took 40 days, next would be ridiculous 80 days.
Shangshan Che waved away the prompt and turned his gaze.
Next, his own changed personal Attribute Panel—
【Shangshan Che】
【Physique: 59→62】
【Willpower: 41→43】
【Charm: 12】
【Spiritual Arts: 44→46】
Minimal gains in three dimensions… but this was the Demon Incarnation’s effect weakened several times.
Shangshan Che used Internal Vision on the White Hannya Incarnation Card rising from his Sea of Qi, floating mid-air with black-red glow, and grinned.
In truth, the Demon Incarnation’s Attribute changes were massive!
But before that, there seemed to be some new change.
Shangshan Che dismissed the Panel; the pleasant surprise made his Pupils contract slightly.
【Attention! Due to your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya reaching Two-and-a-Half Star, your special gear·Hannya Mask has changed!】
Originally, Shangshan Che thought as long as the White Hannya Incarnation’s Quality didn’t change, this special gear wouldn’t evolve further.
But now reality showed otherwise.
【Hannya Mask】
【Quality: Epic】
【Effect: Stores two “Demon Incarnation·White Hannya” Talents, retaining 60% effect. No Equipment Slot consumed when worn.】
【—The flawless Evil Spirit Mask has evolved again due to its host’s change!】
Hannya Mask’s changes were outrageous!
Effect retention from 50% to 60% was standard, but outrageous was doubling from one to two storable Talents!
White Hannya Incarnation had only four Talents total; now one Mask granted two.
Playing with the Hannya Mask whose sheen was brighter by a shade, Shangshan Che set its stored Talents to the more versatile “Ghost God” and “Berserk”.
Just as he was about to don the Mask, he remembered the high school couple behind him.
Simple enough.
He first transformed into Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation, slightly used “Mirage” Talent to twist their Cognition of him a bit, then fastened the Mask on.
In an instant, unprecedented explosive power filled every corner of Shangshan Che’s Body!
【Shangshan Che（Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation）】
【Physique: 62→95】
【Willpower: 43→55】
【Charm: 21】
【Spiritual Arts: 78】
Exhaling a pure white Qi Sword that lingered dozens of meters, Shangshan Che couldn’t help grinning to himself: “Just a Mask, and Physique is about to break 100.”
And 55 Willpower… enough for “Clear Mirror” State of Mind to surpass most practitioners before late Hundred Refinements.
Pure numerical beauty.
Shangshan Che looked down at his arm—surface unchanged, but power multiplied who-knows-how-many times.
Flexing his fingers, easily disrupting surrounding air, he couldn’t help wondering what delightful effect triggering Berserk with a self-inflicted slash would bring now?
But better not.
Not home now, and heavy injuries in Mortal Realm were inconvenient.
Tomorrow, the Sword Saint in Projection Secret Realm should clarify that.
Shangshan Che thought, then dispelled Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation, switching to pure White Hannya Incarnation.
In a flash, the World changed.
Wind flowed hundreds of meters away, insect chirps at mountain foot crisp, light at horizon shifting angles in refraction, pores of a jogging youth kilometers away in vivid detail…
Next instant, Shangshan Che nearly stumbled flat on the ground.
All because…
After incarnating as White Hannya, his Body’s intensity had become far too formidable!
Be it sensitivity of five senses, Muscle strength, Heart pounding, or blood surging like mighty rivers in his veins.
Simply like instantly modding a thin-skinned armored car into a thick-skinned, heavy yet equally agile Tiger tank!
【Shangshan Che（White Hannya Incarnation）】
【Physique: 95→117】
【Willpower: 55→63】
【Charm: 21→12】
【Spiritual Arts: 78→59】
“This Physique intensity used to require ‘Wrathful Gaze’ to achieve.”
Shangshan Che thoughtfully withdrew his gaze from the three-digit Physique, inhaled slightly, and exhaled toward a nearby tree trunk.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
So casual, without Qi Barrier, the breath pierced through over a dozen tree trunks at once.
Seeing this, Shangshan Che stopped random movements and stood still, carefully savoring the massive changes throughout his body.
With these numbers, facing Ootama Hoshi again wouldn’t be as tough as last time.
Perhaps he could even spar a good while with his 40th Floor self.
As for slaying the 40th Floor Projection, Shangshan Che wasn’t sure.
Life or death required real blades clashing once to know; pity Projection Secret Realm couldn’t be challenged repeatedly.
After minutes adapting to White Hannya’s extreme Physique, Shangshan Che used Internal Vision and found his Sea of Qi had expanded partly due to the White Hannya Card’s promotion.
The previously slowed expansion sped up two notches, even slightly surpassing when using Uguisudori’s Feather to define boundaries.
But the black-red Sea of Qi portion stirred restlessly, grown stronger and craving to encroach on the other two sides.
Shangshan Che brought down a tangible hand, smacked the Hannya Card twice, sending it to expand outside the Sea of Qi.
What bullying at home?
Thus, Sea of Qi expansion sped up a bit more.
Shangshan Che nodded satisfied, withdrawing his focus.
At the same time, the brilliant golden sun rose over the horizon.
Soft yet dazzling sunlight gradually spread between heaven and earth, illuminating his Pupils.
Shangshan Che suddenly lost focus, eyes losing definite focus, entering epiphany like before World Revival in Sengoku Period.
This time, not a weak ordinary body after using Wrath.
But a true body capable of uprooting mountains and covering the world with Qi, supporting Spirit and consciousness to roam freely between heaven and earth.
Subconsciously, he drew Kaga Kiyomitsu from his waist, assuming simple or complex stances one after another.
Impossibly slow under sunlight, he executed countless flawless Sword Techniques.
Swing sword, swing sword, swing sword.
Kaga Kiyomitsu silent, following Shangshan Che’s intent like an extension of his arm.
Until the handsome high school couple finished photos and descended, until the golden sun shifted color and position overhead.
He suddenly startled, eyes focusing, seeing everything clearly again.
Two pale golden settlement prompts popped up—
【Witnessed sunrise, entered Heaven-Human Resonance, Natural Reason School Proficiency +300!】
【Witnessed sunrise, entered Heaven-Human Resonance, your trait·Sword Principle（4%） now Sword Principle（8%）!】
Kaga Kiyomitsu buzzed with applause-like onomatopoeia, celebrating its master’s epiphany, a step forward in Kendo in such short time.
“Noon already… and I’m not even satisfied yet.”
Shangshan Che recalled the water-like fading memory, the pleasure of swinging just now: “If only it could last a day or two.”
Kaga Kiyomitsu buzzed, saying I think so too.
“So, if the sun just stayed there forever…”
Casual complaint, Shangshan Che wasn’t too disappointed.
Such sudden, inexplicable epiphanies were chance encounters.
Shangshan Che stretched, joints crackling.
“Alright, time to check the new shady Gacha Pool.”
He hadn’t forgotten: after first Demon Incarnation hit Two-and-a-Half Star, the Two-and-a-Half Star limited Gacha Pool would unlock!
7.2k!
Early June, brothers seek Monthly votes!
