Chapter 227: Two-and-a-half Star Gacha Pool Opens? Eightfold Fence’s First Use, Third Special Salvage, Activate!
But before that, he still had to finish reading the prompt that had popped up right in front of his eyes.
Earlier, Shangshan Che had thought that once the mastery of the Rin Character Technique reached “5%”, it would cause changes in the skill’s effects.
So, for “Sword Skill” and “Sword Principle,” which had similarly been converted to percentage progress, did they follow the same pattern?
Before, because Sword Skill and Sword Principle were “traits,” Shangshan Che wasn’t sure.
But now, the facts were laid out right in front of him—
Yes.
【Due to your trait·Sword Principle reaching 5%, your understanding of “Sword Principle” has deepened further!】
【Due to your trait·Sword Principle reaching 5%, your understanding of everything related to swords has deepened!】
【Due to your trait·Sword Principle reaching 5%, the damage of all your sword skills has received a slight increase!】
“Understanding, huh…”
Shangshan Che took in all three prompts, lowered his gaze, and looked at the Kaga Kiyomitsu in his hand for a moment.
The so-called Sword Principle and understanding of the sword were actually very esoteric things.
Compared to things that could be clearly described in words—like this stance is wrong, this sword angle is off—”Sword Skill” was far too abstract.
Yet for some reason, Shangshan Che felt that he had indeed taken a big step forward on this “ethereal” path of Sword Principle.
If he wanted truly massive changes, he would probably need much more, much deeper accumulation.
And if he wasn’t satisfied with just this “feeling” and insisted on manifesting it in reality, it would be…
“Little Jia, you’ve gotten even prettier.”
Shangshan Che examined the increasingly brilliant and eye-catching Kaga Kiyomitsu and smiled: “Now I get why Lili Zi was drooling back then.”
When his Sword Principle reached 8%, that feeling had intensified… and Lili Zi, who had already completed the Expert Level of Skill and Reason, went without saying.
Hearing the sudden compliment, Kaga Kiyomitsu naturally buzzed with a laugh, trembling her blade tip happily.
Shangshan Che let go of his hand, allowing Little Jia to float in midair.
“Take a stroll, feel the mountain peak air and scenery.”
“Understood! Master~”
Kaga Kiyomitsu continued flying toward the sky, basking in the warm sunlight.
After letting the child play on her own, Shangshan Che naturally freed up his hands and turned his gaze back to the front.
—Two-and-a-Half Star Gacha Pool, come out!
【Due to your Demon Incarnation·White Hannya reaching Two-and-a-Half Star, Two-and-a-Half Star limited Salvage is now…】
Shangshan Che was watching full of anticipation, but he noticed that this prompt stalled at the end.
A few seconds later, a new prompt replaced it.
【Note: Two-and-a-Half Star limited Salvage is Special Salvage, currently not open!】
【Two-and-a-Half Star Special Salvage opening countdown: 42:01:09】
The countdown that jumped right into the center of Shangshan Che’s vision made his mouth twitch involuntarily, suddenly giving him the urge to attack the prompt.
—He had waited over a hundred days for this new Gacha Pool, even ready to spend the Soul Ash, and it pulls this on him!?
—This is consumer fraud! Fraud!
The next second, the number ticked down.
【Two-and-a-Half Star Special Salvage opening countdown: 42:01:08】
The gritted-teeth momentum in Shangshan Che’s eyes immediately dissipated by half.
It turned out the countdown was forty-two hours, not forty-two days.
Less than two days—that wasn’t too bad to wait…
This Two-and-a-Half Star Special Salvage might have mechanisms completely different from normal Gacha Pools, or extremely rare materials.
Otherwise, if it was just an upgrade in quality for ordinary materials and equipment in the Gacha Pool, there’d be no need to make him wait these two days.
No rush, no rush.
Maybe after these forty-two hours, something big would come from the Two-and-a-Half Star Gacha Pool.
Shangshan Che spent a full minute convincing himself inwardly, then remembered something upon seeing the words “Special Salvage.”
The last time a Special Salvage Gacha Pool opened was at One-and-a-Half Star: 【Fishing Master】.
There were three chances total, and he had used two.
They were the orthodox one where you catch fish, “Fishing Master,” and due to the shocking change during the first fishing, the second entry into “Slasher Master.”
Both Special Gacha Pool openings had brought Shangshan Che considerable gains.
Now, there was one last chance left, requiring 2000 Soul Ash to open.
Shangshan Che glanced at his current Soul Ash.
—A little over 6400 points.
If it was to open the final One-and-a-Half Star Special Gacha Pool, that was more than enough.
As for plans after Soul Ash…
First, to pull for Hundred-Eyed Demon in Edo Castle.
Second, before Katsumi came looking for him again, leave enough Soul Ash—who knew if Katsumi would bring back a Rare Item valuable enough to directly awaken Two-Foot Adult.
And if he really wanted to spend time saving up Soul Ash, there were plenty of channels.
With Shangshan Che’s current strength, even without counting the Mokumokuren Labyrinth full of Mokumokuren in a few days, just clearing out that Eternal World Factory in Arakawa Village would yield plenty.
After a brief hesitation, Shangshan Che opened the Fishing Master interface first, planning to check it out.
【Special Salvage: Fishing Master!】
【Third Salvage requires 2000 Soul Ash! This Special Salvage will permanently close after completion!】
【Remaining Salvage attempts: One】
【Note: High-quality Item appearance rate greatly increased within this Special Salvage!】
【Consume 2000 Soul Ash to start Special Salvage: Fishing Master?】
【Note 1: This Salvage has high difficulty and may take considerable time; please reserve about 48 hours in advance.】
【Note 2: This Salvage can greatly increase State of Mind cultivation progress; your current State of Mind cultivation progress is “State of Mind Mid-Stage·Clear Mirror.”】
Hmm?
The Salvage prompts had changed.
Two “Notes” added at the end.
The second one was naturally good news, but the key was that this Salvage required him to reserve a full 48 hours.
That was a bit tricky.
If Shangshan Che were cultivating at home alone now, it would be fine.
But he was here on a mission, having come from Arakawa Ward to Shizuoka Prefecture as the Eldest Brother mercenary to help Tamamo and the others Strategy the Mokumokuren Labyrinth.
Thinking of this, Shangshan Che realized it was noon now.
Might as well ask Tamamo first if the Labyrinth Strategy time was set, so he could make his own arrangements accordingly.
Without delay, Shangshan Che made a call.
Answered instantly.
Tamamo was slurping noodles, her voice a bit muffled: “Mm… Elder Brother Shangshan, what’s up?”
“Has the Labyrinth Strategy date been set?”
After asking, Shangshan Che clearly heard Tamamo’s slurping stop, followed by clattering noises.
Ten seconds later, Tamamo, now in work mode with clear speech, immediately apologized.
“Sorry, sorry… Elder Brother Shangshan, we called you over so early, but dragged it out this long due to our own issues—really sorry!”
Her voice was extremely sincere, as if he could see Tamamo bowing a standard ninety degrees through the phone.
Shangshan Che chuckled helplessly.
Tamamo didn’t need to apologize to him at all—if not for her sharp info, he would have missed out on both the Projection Secret Realm and Black Phone Booth, two prime “hot cakes.”
He said: “It’s fine, just asking for a rough date.”
Instantly, intense screen-tapping sounds erupted—probably Tamamo on the other end opening the Special Affairs Office APP and frantically tapping the profile pictures of everyone related to the Labyrinth Strategy.
A minute later, Tamamo’s weak voice came through.
“Um… the Labyrinth side is still doing some final scouting…
Probably in two or three days? If you have things to do, go ahead; we’ll wait for you, it’s only right.”
Shangshan Che: “Oh, okay.”
“—Anyway, we’ll notify you as soon as it’s set, Eldest Brother!”
With a click, Tamamo, embarrassed to the point of feeling she’d lost all face, hung up.
—Tamamo said that, but he couldn’t really dive into the Special Gacha Pool for the next two days; it wouldn’t do.
That was basic mercenary professionalism.
Since that was the case, he might as well use the open-box phone to call Sister Nanjo first, confirm if it worked on Ghost God level, and it was noon anyway.
Taking out the exquisite red rotary phone again, Shangshan Che compared it to his mobile phone and accurately dialed the number digit by digit.
Then connected.
Beep—beep—beep—
The crisp ringtone echoed on the mountain peak for a good while.
Nearly three minutes later, it was finally answered.
At this point, Shangshan Che couldn’t help but marvel at the antique craftsmanship—if it were any modern mobile phone, he’d have to redial after a minute unanswered.
“Hello… who is it…”
Just as he put the phone to his ear, Shangshan Che heard a dazed, sleepy wake-up voice.
His brow twitched.
What big thing did Sister Nanjo do yesterday? Still not up at noon?
After becoming Onmyo Major Official, Nanjo Emi was nothing like her former slacker self; she was a complete workaholic.
So he spoke up.
“Sister Nanjo, you’re late for work.”
In an instant, Shangshan Che clearly felt the silence on the other end.
But the next moment, a much more awake Nanjo Emi yawned and shot back: “Late? I don’t recall getting a new superior…”
“But you’re right, Shangshan Jun; I should’ve been at my desk four hours ago.” Nanjo Emi sighed irritably. “Tch, the alarm clearly rang—who turned it off…”
Shangshan Che was also puzzled.
Clearly, Nanjo Emi had three Shikigami around her—even if Nure-onna got drunk with her, Hiyori Bo and the rarely seen Shadow Woman wouldn’t be affected.
Plus, there was Manatsu.
Shangshan Che hesitated a moment but didn’t ask further.
He got straight to the point: “Sister Nanjo, do you feel anything strange right now?”
“Strange feeling? You kid didn’t read a couple mangas and come up with some sensory sync… wait, there actually is a feeling?”
Nanjo Emi was teasing when her words suddenly stopped.
—The key part was coming.
Shangshan Che held his breath, saying nothing.
After a full few minutes, Nanjo Emi’s voice shifted rapidly from doubt to certainty: “Mm… Shangshan Jun, are you locating me?”
Still discovered.
Shangshan Che sighed regretfully but also noted the time from her silence to discovery.
—Four minutes and forty-three seconds.
He continued: “Didn’t we exorcise the Black Phone Booth before? This is its legacy to me—able to locate the person on the other end of the phone.”
Nanjo Emi let out an amazed “oh”: “If you hadn’t said so earlier, I really wouldn’t have noticed so easily… and tracing back wouldn’t be simple either.”
“This thing’s good.”
Nanjo Emi affirmed, then persuaded: “Wanna hand it to Special Affairs Office? The benefits won’t be few for you.”
Benefits or whatever, Shangshan Che didn’t need them for now.
But a phone that could successfully locate a Ghost God level powerhouse, and might even go unnoticed by weaker Ghost God levels, had endless uses.
Even renting it out would bring no small gains.
So Shangshan Che politely refused: “We’ll talk about that later.”
Hearing this, Nanjo Emi didn’t press, her tone turning indifferent as she said,
“Then that’s it, off to work.”
Click, the phone was hung up heavily.
Shangshan Che opened his mouth.
This morning temper…
He shook his head and looked above the rotary phone again.
Above the phone, two lines of text still displayed.
【Nanjo Emi】
And…
【Right behind you】
Shangshan Che jolted in shock and whipped around.
But found nothing.
Behind him was empty; at most, Little Jia was visible a bit farther away.
Pulling out his mobile phone, he saw a Line message pop up.
Tapping it, it was a “laughing till tears.jpg” from Nanjo Emi.
Shangshan Che: …
After casually replying with a smiley, Shangshan Che couldn’t resist glancing at the remaining time for the Two-and-a-Half Star Gacha Pool opening.
Over forty-one hours left.
“Gotta mark the time like that… what’s the difference from ‘xx hours till delivery’ for packages?”
Muttering unhappily, Shangshan Che, preparing to descend, noticed about a hundred steps down, a large circle of Demons and Monsters kneeling there, heads bowed, not daring to move.
He was puzzled: “So many ghosts on this mountain, and Special Affairs Office doesn’t care?”
But soon, scanning the tags above these ghosts’ heads, Shangshan Che understood.
This huge crowd of hundreds of various Demons and Monsters were mostly Zero-Star small fries that couldn’t even affect normal people much.
Among them, the few stronger ones were merely Half-Star Demons similar to Kitsune-dog.
Shangshan Che recalled further; the mountain boss that had followed behind him earlier, now vanished, was only around One-Star to One-and-a-Half Star.
All small-time roles not worth the stage.
If these Demons didn’t enter the city or cause deaths, Special Affairs Office indeed couldn’t easily intervene.
After a moment’s thought, Shangshan Che distinguished the harmless Yokai from the harmful Demons.
He waved Kaga Kiyomitsu back into the Scabbard, then passed over the group of Demons and Monsters frozen in place without a second glance.
Zap!
Fine purple-black Lightning flashed from the void, precisely eliminating all the harmful Demons.
This scared the nearby mountain wood Yokai that had started to rise, trembling as if they wanted to bury their heads in the ground.
…
Slow to go, but back in no time.
In under five minutes, Shangshan Che returned to the dojo front, now wrapped in a deep, dark Barrier—even normal people could see a faint Light Screen.
Sensing the Spiritual Energy Flow within faintly, Shangshan Che clicked his tongue.
“What a big operation…”
Just stepping through the entrance, Shangshan Che saw Yagyu Oshi still in the same spot, maintaining the exact same pose without the slightest change.
Looking at his feet, the floor tiles were stained deep black with sweat, like it had rained.
Without disturbing him, Shangshan Che quietly approached the Apprentice Master standing at the large dojo doorway, holding a Bamboo Sword.
The Old Man turned his head slightly, casting a sharp gaze.
“Young Friend… looks like this outing was quite fruitful.”
Shangshan Che shook his head: “Modest gains, nothing to boast about.”
“Then today, are you brimming with energy?”
“Naturally.”
“Excellent.”
The Apprentice Master nodded: “Then please wait a moment in the smallest dojo; this old man will join shortly.”
“Thanks for the trouble, Apprentice Master.”
After a brief exchange, Shangshan Che, intent on picking up the basics of this Footwork today, entered what seemed to be a deliberately cleared small dojo.
Finding the chandelier switch and turning it on, Shangshan Che sat cross-legged on the floor and pulled out his mobile phone that had only vibrated once.
Seeing the sender’s nickname, he paused.
—【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!】.
Looking at the profile picture, it was a close-up of a little doggo shoving its face at the lens.
This nickname… was it Chisa?
He hadn’t noticed before… now it seemed definitely Tamamo who picked it.
Shangshan Che shook his head, inwardly roasting her bad taste, then opened the messages.
【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!: Shangshan Bro, I’ve decided to join Arakawa Ward’s Special Affairs Office to get stronger after this period; family supports too. Okay if I come after?】
Finishing the multi-line message, Shangshan Che typed back directly.
【Moon Sand Sauce: Sure, welcome.】
Two seconds later, what seemed like a pre-typed message was sent.
【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!: Thanks, Shangshan Bro.】
【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!: Also, Shangshan Bro, what’s this?】
【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!: Picture.jpg.】
Shangshan Che’s attention was instantly drawn to the picture.
In the picture, a few thumb-sized Little Old Men were hiding in the shadows under the table, fiddling with cables, seemingly unaware of being photographed.
【Moon Sand Sauce: These are Little Old Men, a nearly harmless Supernatural Phenomenon miniboss… but Special Affairs Office usually doesn’t have them.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Chisa, better ask a uniformed Adult if they’re theirs.】
Shangshan Che examined the hard-to-spot Little Old Men a bit more and sent an “very important” emoji pack.
【Tamamo’s Sister is Me!: Got it!】
After that, Chisa didn’t reply, probably off doing as he said.
With the chat ended, that flat, elderly voice suddenly rang out again.
“Done?”
“Do…ne.” Shangshan Che exhaled, “Lord Saionji, could you make some noise before speaking?”
The Old Man walked noncommittally in front of him and asked flatly: “That just now was the first use of Eightfold Fence—did you see it clearly?”
Shangshan Che fell silent.
He quietly met the Old Man’s gaze, and after a long moment, chuckled.
“Lord Saionji, you really are…”
Shangshan Che consumed a serving of Soul Incense Ash, closed his eyes, and began searching in the afterimage memory for the Apprentice Master’s footsteps entering the small dojo.
Slow down, search, slow down, search…
Until everything else in the memory slowed to near stillness, Shangshan Che barely glimpsed the footsteps landing on the wooden floor in that split-second instant.
One step?
No… two… four steps!
Under the dual effects of Eye of Interpretation and Soul Incense Ash, Shangshan Che barely made out the footstep phantoms overlapping four times in such a short time!
Four overlaps allowed the Apprentice Master’s form to move precisely the desired distance forward while eliminating all sound.
What eerie Footwork!
Having gotten the answer, Shangshan Che opened his eyes and stated without hesitation.
“Four times.”
The Apprentice Master, who had waited a full half hour, showed an ugly, wrinkled smile and nodded approvingly.
“A teachable child.”
The Apprentice Master gripped the Bamboo Sword hilt again, prodding Shangshan Che with the cloth-wrapped round tip.
“Come, stand up.”
Shangshan Che stood.
The Apprentice Master said: “Next, I’ll attack you three times using the first form of Eightfold Fence Footwork—remember well.”
As the words fell, Shangshan Che stunnedly found the Old Man in his Eye of Interpretation had vanished.
And without any warning!
Moreover, even his inner Clear Mirror reflected nothing!
Smack!
The bone-deep dull pain from his waist interrupted Shangshan Che’s thoughts, making him instinctively gasp.
“First.”
The Apprentice Master’s elderly voice sounded, then cut off again.
“Second.”
“Third.”
The remaining two naturally landed on Shangshan Che without suspense, letting him relive the taste of being beaten by a Bamboo Sword after so long.
Of course, the Apprentice Master’s three strikes weren’t strong, yet felt far heavier than Lili Zi’s swords to Shangshan Che.
Practically painful enough to make him unable to walk.
In just ten seconds, the Old Man stood before the fallen Shangshan Che again and said flatly.
“Class dismissed.”
Enduring pain that would make a normal person roll from one end of the dojo to the other, Shangshan Che looked back at the Apprentice Master’s receding back.
He understood: the Apprentice Master had “left” these three strikes and related steps in his memory.
This way, Shangshan Che could feel and comprehend them at all times.
Almost like constant personal guidance from the Apprentice Master.
The fastest way to get started on this profound Footwork.
“But this teaching method is too hardcore…”
Shangshan Che grimaced, deciding not to stand.
He lay flat on the dojo floor, shifting to the wall.
No wonder he asked if he’d seen clearly… who normally cultivates through memory?
After resting a bit, Shangshan Che checked his phone for updates on Chisa.
Then saw an unexpected surprise.
—Tamamo messaged on Line that the Mokumokuren Labyrinth Strategy was set for three days later.
—So couldn’t he start the third Special Salvage right now?
Shangshan Che didn’t hesitate, acting on the thought.
Anyway, he had the excuse of “studying Eightfold Fence in his mind.”
Pulling up the 【One-and-a-Half Star Special Salvage: Fishing Master】 panel, Shangshan Che clicked with thought.
【Consume 2000 Soul Ash to start Special Salvage: Fishing Master?】
【Note 1: This Salvage has high difficulty and may take considerable time; please reserve about 48 hours in advance.】
【Note 2: This Salvage can greatly increase State of Mind cultivation progress; your current State of Mind cultivation progress is “State of Mind Mid-Stage·Clear Mirror.”】
“Yes.”
Follow-up prompts jumped out immediately—
【Special Salvage starting soon.】
【Welcome to Special Salvage·Fishing Master!】
【Here, you must catch the fish swimming in the pond within the time limit…】
【While ensuring you yourself aren’t fished away by the angler…】
In Shangshan Che’s eyes, the prompt suddenly froze.
He blinked, suddenly having a bad premonition.
【…】
【…】
【…】
【Attention!■■■■■■!】
【Your last randomized era detected…】
【You have been■■■■■■■■■—】
【Thus, Special Salvage·Fishing Master has been altered!】
【—You are entering Unique Salvage·Myriad Branches!】
