Chapter 230: Two-and-a-half Star Special Salvage: The Demon King’s Paradise On Earth! Eightfold Fence Acquired! Entering The Mokumokuren Labyrinth
On the barren Eternal World Land where nothing remained, someone was walking aimlessly forward, measuring the distance of the land, time, history, and future with their legs.
The blazing sun was gone, the Silver Moon hidden.
All life and organisms had long since turned to nothingness.
Once, someone asked him, after everything vanished, what meaning was there in still maintaining clarity of self every moment and continuing to walk on?
But existence itself is meaning.
If someone remembers what once was, then that past existence is meaning.
Suddenly, the man stopped his footsteps that had been lifted and fallen countless years, and lifted his eyes toward the lightless sky.
Those pupils seemed to contain the ultimate of everything, as if all answers were written within.
The man sensed ripples from beyond the endless passage of time, branching myriadly, extending infinitely.
So he wondered.
“Possibilities…”
He murmured softly, his eyes dropping.
He glimpsed another self.
He glimpsed that beautiful past where so many things hadn’t happened yet, where there was still time to salvage.
After long silence and a fleeting envy, the man’s five fingers tightened, converging everything into “one.”
Infinite possibilities and branches ended here, countless lives and torments turning into nourishment for his state of mind.
He sighed calmly,
“Don’t become like me.”
……
“Don’t become like me.”
The sigh, lonely as an illusory dream, sank into the depths of memory.
Shangshan Che opened his dazed eyes, and the warm afternoon sunlight fell into his pupils, letting him see an unfamiliar ceiling.
“Shangshan Jun, you’re awake?”
Yagyu Oshi’s voice came from beside him.
Shangshan Che looked over and saw Yagyu Oshi wearing a dōgi, smiling, along with a plate of peeled and neatly sliced apple pieces.
A thoughtfully inserted toothpick with a rounded end was stuck in them.
As consciousness returned, the mountain of accumulated life experiences, piled up to millions of times, slipped away like sand through his fingers.
Impossible to grasp no matter what.
Shangshan Che only felt groggy, as if he had forgotten many very important things.
Just like waking from a dream and remembering nothing.
“After being taught by the Apprentice Master, you slept for a full two days.” Yagyu Oshi paused, asking curiously, “Shangshan Jun, what did he teach you?”
“Eightfold Fence.”
This, Shangshan Che remembered clearly.
Yagyu Oshi hummed, nodding, seemingly utterly calm.
“—Taught only once, and you learned Eightfold Fence in such a short time?”
In his heart, Yagyu Oshi fell into serious self-doubt.
Seeing the other’s concern, Shangshan Che didn’t say much, but first crunched several pieces of apple before asking Yagyu Oshi, who seemed to have mostly sorted out his mood,
“Mokumokuren Labyrinth, still starting the strategy tomorrow?”
Yagyu Oshi’s fist tightened slightly, nodding seriously: “Starting tomorrow morning.”
After exchanging a few more words with Shangshan Che and confirming the latter had no issues, Yagyu Oshi immediately stood up and said,
“Shangshan Jun, just come find me if you need anything.”
With that, he strode out of this ordinary house, probably located in a corner of the Yagyu Dojo.
Shangshan Che watched Yagyu Oshi’s back, popped another fresh piece of apple into his mouth, and didn’t quite understand.
Did I just provoke him?
Whatever.
For someone like Yagyu Jun, no matter how much you provoke him, it would only ignite even more drive.
—But since it’s starting the Mokumokuren Labyrinth strategy tomorrow, that means two days have already passed.
Forty-eight hours had gone by.
The Two-and-a-Half Star gacha pool opening countdown had run to zero.
Operating the Spirit Control Technique, he took a deep breath of abundant spiritual energy to flush his thoughts, and Shangshan Che instantly felt refreshed.
—But before that, he had to check the prompt about his state of mind.
【Due to experiencing immeasurable Branching Futures in Unique Salvage·Myriad Branches, your state of mind has greatly improved!】
Branching Futures…?
Shangshan Che stared at this prompt.
In a daze, several profound fragments flashed through his mind.
High school cherry blossom tree, the back of a white-haired woman, fan count over seven figures…
But when he focused his spirit to grasp and delve into these memories, he found he remembered nothing else.
Only these two or three fragmented snippets.
“So this special salvage that cost two thousand Soul Ash was just to make me dream?”
Feeling an inexplicable sourness at the tip of his nose, Shangshan Che raised a brow, and after fruitless pondering, he looked further down.
【Your willpower +10!】
【Your state of mind essence has reached mid-stage·Hundred Refinements peak, but since you lack “Heart Embryo,” your state of mind rank cannot improve.】
【Your state of mind rank unchanged.】
【Mid-stage·Unity of Man and Sword（Like a Mirror, Hundred Refinements, Return to One）.】
【Current state of mind rank: Mid-stage·Like a Mirror·Hundred Refinements】
【Note: State of mind rank cannot formally advance to “Hundred Refinements” until “Heart Embryo” is obtained.】
As expected.
Shangshan Che fully operated the Spirit Control Technique once more, feeling heaven and earth spiritual energy gather like threads at his fingertips, then obediently following his consciousness wherever he directed.
Nearly precise to the microscopic level.
Moreover, his control over his physical body and Qi Barrier had risen sharply, and he could even feel that cultivating the Breathing Technique would become much simpler.
The changes from this special salvage were far beyond just a mere ten points of willpower!
Shangshan Che spread his five fingers, carefully manipulating Qi Barrier and spiritual power to slowly intersect and fuse.
Minutes later, a Qi Circulation formed on his body surface, its strength orders of magnitude higher than before.
Shangshan Che’s eyes lit up.
No matter what important things he had forgotten…
Undoubtedly, the changes from spending two thousand Soul Ash this time were absolutely worth it!
“So, the Apprentice Master was right after all.”
After operating the Spirit Control Technique several times and further improving his perception, Shangshan Che finally sensed the ripples and movements in the qi of heaven and earth.
Though subtle, after repeated observation, he confirmed they indeed existed.
—The aftershocks of the Tide are coming.
But how did the Apprentice Master sense it?
That Old Man showed no spiritual power fluctuation at all, yet sensed it days earlier than him.
Days of time could accomplish so much.
Shangshan Che tossed the last piece of fruit into his mouth, rolled out of bed, and went to the wide-open window.
In his current state, he once again observed the pitch-black barrier already in operation.
“This barrier is truly a Master Craftsman’s work.”
In just minutes of fully sensing the barrier with the Spirit Control Technique, Shangshan Che learned two techniques from it—ones that could make spiritual power shields even tougher.
Qi Circulation strengthened once more.
Shangshan Che satisfiedly withdrew his gaze, basked in the warm sunlight, and opened the prompt for the Two-and-a-Half Star gacha pool.
【Two-and-a-Half Star special salvage opening countdown: 00:00:00.】
【Salvage opening countdown ended!】
【Two-and-a-Half Star special salvage now open!】
After a flash, a brand-new gacha pool page appeared before Shangshan Che.
New options lined up below 【Two-Star limited salvage: Edo Castle suburbs】.
—【Two-and-a-Half Star special salvage: Demon King’s earthly paradise!】
After fully reading the pool name, three question marks popped up on Shangshan Che’s forehead.
What the hell?
Compared to previous ones like “Deep Bamboo Forest” and “Abandoned Shrine,” this pool name was full of chuunibyou vibes.
Moreover, what did this pool have to do with the name?
Shangshan Che lowered his gaze.
The monotonous semi-transparent page had no moving creatures.
Only lead-gray skies, desolate land extending endlessly like scorched earth, and black blob-like things floating mid-air like impurities and dust—unclear if gaseous or liquid.
Where was the “Demon King”?
And how was this scene even remotely related to “earthly paradise”?
More like Hell.
Shangshan Che, who had hoped for a pool NPC like Hundred-Eyed Demon, waited a bit, searched back and forth for a long time, but found no trace of this “Demon King.”
The pool was a desolate, dead silence.
Only the 【Single Salvage】 and 【Tenfold Salvage】 buttons emitted eerie black glows.
【Each salvage fixed cost: 500 Soul Ash.】
【In this special salvage, you will obtain unknown quality unknown items.】
【Note: Performing tenfold salvage guarantees an item related to the “Demon King.”】
Five hundred Soul Ash per pull, no discount on first tenfold, no quality floor…
Shangshan Che’s mouth twitched after trying to long-press the black blob with thought for a simple panel, getting nothing.
Did they think his Soul Ash grew on trees?
“Aside from the tenfold costing five thousand Soul Ash, pure unknown…”
Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes, fingers itching.
Anyway, with a new pool open, he had to test the waters with a couple pulls.
He couldn’t afford a direct tenfold yet, but a single pull was no problem.
With a thought, the 【Single Salvage】 button glowed faintly.
Instantly, an indescribable black blob burst with a pop, splattering black across the pool page.
Under Shangshan Che’s gaze, the black-wrapped object emerged.
Seeing it clearly, Shangshan Che couldn’t help showing shock.
Huh?
A gray bento box plastered with a bunch of panda stickers?
He reached out, letting the not-too-light bento box fall into his hand, and fell into thought.
He spent five hundred precious Soul Ash for this thing?
But the next instant, the panel popping up above the bento box made him change his mind immediately.
Right, right!
At the same time, he quickly quelled the urge to open the bento box and check it out.
【Demon King’s handmade bento】
【Quality: Super Epic】
【Effect: After consumption, inflicts Panic, Terror, Spiritual Power Dissipation, Detachment…（and 78 other debuffs）. Excludes specific targets. Specific targets gain equivalent buffs upon use.】
【—An unremarkable bento, but trust me, you don’t want to know its taste.】
After fully reading the bento box panel, Shangshan Che’s gaze toward the desolate land on the pool page instantly heated up.
Five hundred Soul Ash for a Super Epic quality item…
Aside from in 【Two-and-a-Half Star special salvage: Demon King’s earthly paradise】, where else could you snag such a bargain?
Even if “specific targets” weren’t specified with no clues, treating it as pure poison made it totally worth it!
Rubbing the rough, peeling edges of the bento box, Shangshan Che’s gaze turned subtle.
This new pool had an unclear but cool-sounding name and poor visuals, but it really had something.
How about one more pull?
Before Shangshan Che decided, his itchy hand tapped the salvage button on its own.
Pop!
Another floating blob exploded, the gacha animation identical to before.
But this time, the item was completely different.
【Damaged big red button】
【Quality: Broken】
【Effect: None】
【—A red button made of ordinary engineering plastic. Pressing it does nothing.】
Shangshan Che held the half-palm-sized red button, examined it up close from all angles many times, found no tricks.
Even risking it by pressing hard twice, until the center caved in, nothing happened.
Shangshan Che was speechless.
This kind of toy, no kid would buy it even at a hundred-yen store.
Looking at his Soul Ash count change again, Shangshan Che grimaced.
Total loss.
He glanced at remaining Soul Ash—now about three thousand four hundred, and plenty more uses ahead.
Better to stop for now, restrain the gacha urge.
Continuing singles might yield six “big red buttons” in a row, leading to total wipeout.
Even if pulling, better save for a tenfold for cost-effectiveness.
If Shangshan Che named it—this Demon King pool should be called Gambler’s Ruin Pool.
“Can’t mess with it, can’t mess with it.”
After painfully closing the Demon King pool, Shangshan Che realized there was no prompt for learning Eightfold Fence.
He recalled the Apprentice Master’s ghostly steps again, falling into contemplation.
This footwork was indeed difficult.
Before entering special salvage, Shangshan Che had only grasped the prototype of the first step.
Probably needed to complete the first step for the proficiency panel to appear.
No big deal.
The footwork was deeply imprinted in his memory; just needed more observation and study later to master.
Just a matter of two or three Soul Incense Ash.
He took a couple steps, picked up the mobile phone by the fruit plate to unlock, and didn’t forget to clear the red dots on Line as usual.
—In these turbulent times, checking more and replying to messages was always smart.
Skimming a pile of meaningless messages and emojis, Shangshan Che looked at the puppy profile picture.
The message was sent a day ago.
【Tamamo’s Little Sister here!: Shangshan bro! You were right, those two hiding in the shadows were bad guys!】
【Tamamo’s Little Sister here!: Agent uncle said they’re not “Little Old Men,” but machinery disguised as Little Old Men.】
【Tamamo’s Little Sister here!: Hehe, thanks to you, I made merit again!】
Chisa’s messages were simple, just reporting progress on the Little Old Man matter.
But the information density was explosive.
Machinery…?
Shangshan Che keenly caught the keyword, immediately associating with “Eternal World Factory.”
Katsumi had said before that Eternal World Factory Owners would probe the Mortal Realm during Tide aftershocks; these disguised as harmless miniboss supernatural phenomena might be their advance scouts.
More crucially, these scouts infiltrated Special Affairs Office headquarters undetected—even if just Shizuoka City’s branch!
“This does need watching.”
He immediately informed Nanjo Emi, Kitano Runa, Tamamo, and other relevant Special Affairs Office personnel, then replied to Chisa with 【Impressive!】 before setting down the phone.
Feeling the increasingly intense “qi” surging in heaven and earth, Shangshan Che exhaled,
“Demon Guide Association, Sengoku Daimyo, Eternal World Factory Owners… and perhaps more unknown influences reaching toward the Mortal Realm in the shadows.”
After a simple sigh, Shangshan Che’s pupils showed no tremor, only growing firmer.
Mortal Realm unrest rampant, crisis perhaps imminent.
But amid the chaos lay rare, near-monopolized opportunities unimaginable before.
To seize them in such turmoil… only charge forward!
Only power stronger than anyone’s could stand unyielding amid chaotic tides.
Inside the Yagyu Dojo barrier spanning over ten thousand square meters, most spiritual energy instantly shifted flow, surging madly toward a single point on the ground.
Like being whale-swallowed.
Numerous dojo disciples drew sharp swords, eyes sharp.
“Stay calm.”
The Apprentice Master’s aged voice reached every disciple’s ear; he glanced in a direction, smiled faintly with surprise: “This is normal.”
……
Next day.
【You have learned secret art·Eightfold Fence!】
【Eightfold Fence（Beginner 0/800）】
【Effect: Fast as lightning, form like a ghost.】
【—Mastering one-eighth already stands out from the crowd.】
Whoosh!
Gale winds rose abruptly, scattering fallen leaves across the floor.
Only the thin bluish-green leaves ten meters from Shangshan Che remained utterly still.
Perhaps in the blink of an eye, or perhaps Shangshan Che was always there.
Silently, without a sound, Shangshan Che had already pinned the root of that bluish-green leaf with his toe.
He bent down to pick it up.
“Eightfold Fence lives up to ‘secret art.'”
Examining the leaf veins, Shangshan Che wrapped it in Qi Barrier, flicked it with a finger toward nearby Yagyu Oshi.
But before the leaf reached halfway, it was caught between the two fingers that had flicked it.
Again, without warning, without sound.
Shangshan Che panted slightly, praising: “Indeed well-deserved.”
He nodded to Yagyu Oshi, who had instinctively reached out but grasped nothing,
“Yagyu Jun, let’s go.”
“Alright.”
Amid the wind, Yagyu Oshi, who had only learned the first step of Eightfold Fence, clenched his fist tightly in secret.
……
Picked up by Tamamo in a Special Affairs Office shuttle, in under two hours, Shangshan Che and the group of three reached a secluded mountain forest.
Stepping out, Shangshan Che immediately saw the Special Affairs Office emblem hung high.
Surrounding trees cleared clean, dozens of tents pitched in the clearing, complex scents of shikigami and barriers filling his senses.
Plenty of shikigami, diverse barrier types.
Tamamo hopped out behind: “This is the temporary camp for the labyrinth strategy!”
Tamamo shouted toward the camp, waving.
Immediately, a Special Affairs Office female agent slightly older than Tamamo, wearing black-rimmed glasses, approached.
“Tamamo, Yagyu Jun, long time no see! This is…”
The agent, who had only practiced basic Breathing Technique, looked at Shangshan Che with no strong aura, hesitating slightly.
“This is Elder Brother Shangshan who soloed the Black Phone Booth!”
Tamamo slapped Shangshan Che’s back hard, but got repelled by Qi Circulation, her little hand stinging.
She hissed through gritted teeth in pain.
“Also the absolute main force for this Mokumokuren Labyrinth strategy!”
“Agent Shangshan!”
Hearing the name, the agent’s brows and eyes, previously tinged with worry, lit up excitedly.
She stepped aside: “Please enter the camp first, meet all agents for this strategy, then we’ll brief you on the current labyrinth.”
“Thanks.”
Shangshan Che nodded, saw the barrier open, and followed her into the camp’s largest tent.
Tent flap opened, a dozen gazes—scrutinizing or surprised—fell on the central Shangshan Che.
His gaze swept their faces in an instant, gauging everyone’s strength in a blink.
Not strong, not weak, passably decent.
Two or three mains, the rest like Tamamo, here for intel and prep.
So Shangshan Che walked to the table amid the gazes, retracted Jade Heart Incantation and Spirit Condensing Technique, letting his qi overflow the tent, and spoke softly,
“I’m Agent Shangshan Che from Arakawa Ward. From now on, I’m in full charge of the Mokumokuren Labyrinth strategy.”
Scanning around, Shangshan Che knocked the table with his knuckles,
“Anyone object?”
No one spoke; their gazes said it all.
Under vast strength gap, all Special Affairs Office agents knowing basics knew what to do.
Shangshan Che nodded satisfied,
“Let’s sync our intel first.”
Fifteen minutes later.
“—That’s the gist of all prior labyrinth intel.”
The middle-aged man with slicked-back hair paused, continuing: “But under the impending Tide’s influence, no one knows how this newly formed supernatural phenomenon labyrinth will change.”
Shangshan Che hummed: “Pull the labyrinth, sooner the better?”
The middle-aged man nodded.
“Then now.” Shangshan Che instantly reined in his qi, “Roster check, then move out.”
“Yes!” Everyone responded.
Leading five agents out of the tent, in two or three minutes, Shangshan Che passed layers of barriers to the real Mokumokuren Labyrinth.
—Its entrance was an unremarkable cave.
But Shangshan Che halted, instinctively sensing eerie chill from within.
Something off.
Supernatural phenomenon cluster…
He narrowed his eyes: “Ghost God level?”
The nearest burly agent said gravely: “Ghost God levels have more important tasks; Mokumokuren Labyrinth isn’t priority.”
Staring at the dark, lightless cave mouth like an abyss devouring all, Shangshan Che placed his hand on Kaga Kiyomitsu,
“Then, let’s enter.”
