Chapter 282: Rooftop, Needles At Each Other’s Throats! Water-carrying Master Shangshan Che! Elimination Tournament Eve Before White Hannya’s Promotion!
On the rooftop.
At some unknown time, a figure in a white dress, over eight feet tall, appeared beside Shangshan Che and took his hand with her large, soft palm.
Two-Foot Adult, maintaining her Hachishaku form, looked up blankly at the winding, brilliant galaxy in the sky for a long while before being drawn to the voice of the girl, who couldn’t be seen without looking up.
Two-Foot Adult looked down and saw that the girl, whom she had once called “Great Demon King,” was holding Shangshan Che’s Kaga Kiyomitsu.
Looking down further, she could see the Ksitigarbha Statue placed in front of Shangshan Che.
After a moment of thought, she understood what was happening.
Thus, Two-Foot Adult tightened her grip on the palm in her hand with a little more force, and amidst the visible embrace and the restless rubbing of her fingers, she smiled and said,
“Thank you for protecting Che Adult for so long, Miss Lili Zi.”
No longer calling Lili Zi “Great Demon King” with that tone of amazement and fear, Two-Foot Adult believed her current strength was now on par with hers.
After withdrawing her gaze, Lili Zi looked up and calmly met the gaze of the enormous Two-Foot Adult.
Shangshan Che was about to speak when he felt invisible, sharp chills emanating from the point where their gazes met on the rooftop.
At such times, he felt it was better for him not to say anything.
After a long pause, the girl said faintly,
“It’s been a while, Nishaku.”
Two-Foot Adult, who had prepared a whole host of responses, was taken aback by this greeting.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally responded in kind,
“It has been a while, Miss Lili Zi.”
“Regardless, it’s good that you two are alright.”
Lili Zi, displaying a remarkable magnanimity, casually tossed Kaga Kiyomitsu back to Shangshan Che.
She sat down cross-legged again, exhaled,
“After all, Shangshan Jun went to great lengths to find many people to get you out of the Ksitigarbha Statue, and wouldn’t even let me, who was theoretically safer, come to find you.”
From this short sentence alone, Two-Foot Adult could discern an incredibly difficult and winding path.
—The preparations Che Adult made to save her were undoubtedly no less arduous than the trials she endured in the recurring dreamscape of the Ksitigarbha Statue.
Two-Foot Adult pursed her lips and nodded heavily at Lili Zi: “I know, so this matter… I will properly compensate Che Adult.”
She emphasized the word “compensate” with a slight pause and a heavier tone.
Shangshan Che’s gripped fingertip twitched, and his eyebrows involuntarily rose.
This compensation… though he didn’t know what it entailed, he was absolutely not going to let Two-Foot Adult have her way.
Yes, absolutely not.
Unless it was truly a very green and healthy compensation.
Lili Zi said nothing upon hearing this, merely narrowing her eyes.
In the past, Shangshan Jun’s Shikigami, named Nishaku, who was in reality the supernatural phenomenon “Hachishaku-sama,” would not have spoken to her like this.
Lili Zi looked up and down at Two-Foot Adult, whose appearance hadn’t changed much, and carefully sensed the aura emanating from her.
Soon, she understood in her heart.
No wonder her presence had grown so much.
So, her strength had indeed increased considerably.
This was a good thing.
Lili Zi nodded imperceptibly with understanding.
However, she didn’t need to compete with his mere Shikigami.
There was no need for that.
Identifying the objective and not wasting energy on trivial matters was more important.
Understanding this, Lili Zi stopped staring at Two-Foot Adult, who seemed to be on high alert, and turned her gaze to Shangshan Che, who had been silent since the beginning.
“Shangshan Jun, are you tired now?”
Shangshan Che, having been called by name, could no longer remain discreetly absent.
He coughed lightly and, without leaving a trace, enveloped his palm with Spiritual Power, withdrawing it from Two-Foot Adult’s grasp.
Facing Lili Zi, Two-Foot Adult said nothing more, merely rubbing her fingertips with a touch of disappointment and possessiveness.
“Thanks to the Soul Incense Candle and the moonlight, I’m actually okay.”
Using his Qi Barrier to collect the remnants of the burned-out incense candle, which had turned into a pile of Soul Incense Ash, into his Storage Bag, Shangshan Che shook his head, feeling no significant dizziness or pain.
Despite experiencing a dozen false lives within the Ksitigarbha Statue, his five senses remained as clear as ever.
It proved that the Soul Incense Candle was quite effective.
Lili Zi nodded: “Very well, then I will continue to personally guide your Dan Embracing Cultivation.”
She stated nonchalantly,
“With Shangshan Jun’s comprehension over these past few days, you should have a deep understanding by now.”
Lili Zi’s expression remained unchanged, seemingly just discussing the training arrangements for the evening.
But this time was different.
This time, she was speaking in front of Two-Foot Adult, who had already undergone countless experiences and achieved ascension.
The latter, naturally extremely sharp, caught the keywords and her pupils contracted and expanded.
However, upon hearing the subsequent word “cultivation,” Two-Foot Adult reluctantly closed her mouth, not saying another word.
—She knew that for Shangshan Che, “cultivation,” or rather “becoming stronger,” was always the top priority.
Having followed Shangshan Che for so long, Two-Foot Adult understood this principle better than anyone.
Therefore, she held back a chest full of anger with nowhere to release it, causing her chest to heave.
“Just have Two-Foot Adult patrol the vicinity, don’t let any passersby disturb us.”
Lili Zi casually said, “Since we both have moonlight acupoints, it’s better to replenish our Spirit on the rooftop, and it won’t delay our progress.”
Lili Zi’s logic was almost irrefutable, effectively dismissing Two-Foot Adult with just a few words.
And yet, the latter couldn’t argue back at all.
Just as Two-Foot Adult’s CPU was running at full speed and she was about to speak, Lili Zi said seriously,
“The Seed Battle elimination rounds are just a few days away, so we need to seize every minute and second.”
This statement, filled with significant information, caused Two-Foot Adult to close her mouth again, her usually gentle face creased in frustration.
—Lili Zi, is this the kind of person you usually are?
Shangshan Che was speechless for a moment.
And then Two-Foot Adult realized.
Before, there were only hints, but the “Seed Battle,” which sounded very important, was actually starting in a few days.
How much time had passed in real-time?
Two-Foot Adult quickly grabbed Shangshan Che’s shoulder and asked, “By the way, Che Adult, how long has it been since I self-sealed myself and entered the Ksitigarbha Statue?”
Shangshan Che pondered for a moment,
“About a month.”
A month?
Had that much time really passed?
A slight unease rose in Two-Foot Adult’s heart.
She hadn’t met Shangshan Che for that long… and now a whole month had passed, Lili Zi must have already made significant progress.
Two-Foot Adult gritted her teeth in secret.
Could it be that during her slumber, Che Adult had already been… by her?
No!
Two-Foot Adult shook her head forcefully in her mind, vehemently denying it.
Impossible!
Lili Zi, that cultivation fanatic, had no time to care about Che Adult’s trivial matters, nor would she focus her energy elsewhere!
Having achieved mental victory, Two-Foot Adult pondered.
No…
Regardless, she had to find a way to prevent Che Adult and Lili Zi from being alone during this time.
However, the Seed Battle was definitely very important to Che Adult.
Completely outmaneuvered, Two-Foot Adult gritted her teeth in anger, wanting to immediately pull Shangshan Che into her arms and hold him tightly to declare her claim.
But in reality, she was already looking outside the villa, preparing to float into the air to patrol.
Useless, I am too useless…
But at this moment, Shangshan Che suddenly spoke: “The elimination rounds are about four or five days away, aren’t they? Dan Embracing likely won’t be completed in a few days.”
He reasonably suggested: “Why don’t we each continue to open the acupoints of our Minor DivineTreasury, and also complete the Muscle Refining · Heavy Blood stage.”
“Nishaku, I’ll also ask you to patrol around the villa during this time, to confirm the integrity of the Barrier, alright?”
“Mission guaranteed to be completed! Che Adult!”
Two-Foot Adult’s eyes lit up, and she responded cheerfully.
Lili Zi looked at the fleeting beads of sweat on Shangshan Che’s forehead and chuckled inwardly, thinking that he was balancing things very evenly, his hand not even trembling.
—I wonder if your hand is that steady when you wield a sword.
She nodded: “That’s right, then let’s proceed with opening acupoints as Shangshan Jun suggested, aiming to open twenty acupoints before the elimination rounds begin.”
“Alright!”
Shangshan Che exhaled with relief, discarding extraneous thoughts from his mind, and entered the state of flow for Breathing Technique cultivation.
Lili Zi also closed her eyes.
The long night stretched on, but in their subjective time, it was merely a few pieced-together moments.
…
【 You have completed Sea of Qi Cultivation · Cyan Vein Acupoint… 】
【 You have completed Sea of Qi Cultivation · Silent Breath Acupoint… 】
【 Your Palace of Flesh Cultivation · Muscle Refining Stage · Heavy Blood progress has been boosted! 】
After sunrise, an extremely fatigued Shangshan Che slowly exhaled, a smile appearing as he saw the prompts before him and felt the two new acupoints within his body.
The first new acupoint allows him to passively absorb a small amount of external energy for recovery, while the second can completely eliminate all sounds emanating from the physical body.
Of course, they can also store Qi Barrier.
With the current four acupoints combined, if the Void Qi Sea is not taken into account, they have increased Shangshan Che’s Qi Barrier reserves by one-tenth.
This amount is considerable.
If all one hundred and eight acupoints were opened, the Qi Barrier reserves alone would multiply several times, and the recovery rate would also multiply several times, and this is purely the effect of blank acupoints.
Shangshan Che stood up and stretched his slightly stiff body. Sensing a warm, sticky gaze upon him, he felt as if his entire body was soaking in a hot spring.
“Hoo…”
He smiled at Two-Foot Adult, who had returned to her more mobile Nishaku form, and continued to sort through the night’s gains.
The progress in Heavy Blood had also advanced by about one-third. Once ten acupoints were opened, he could roughly enter the third stage of Muscle Refining.
If the situation were ideal, the remaining Muscle Refining and Muscle Casting parts could be completed before the seventy-two acupoints were opened.
The future is promising.
After the two went downstairs, they met Lili Zi, who had just placed three steaming hot breakfasts with fragrant aromas on the dining table.
Without needing further communication, they naturally sat down obediently in front of the breakfast — Two-Foot Adult, having tasted Lili Zi’s cooking, had no reason for further doubt.
After thanking Lili Zi and being told by the latter that it wasn’t necessary in the future, Two-Foot Adult began to eat.
Midway through the meal, Shangshan Che suddenly blinked, bit his half-eaten fried egg, and asked Two-Foot Adult,
“By the way, Nishaku, do you know how you can ascend to Ghost God?”
After all, the current rank cap for “Hachishaku Bodhisattva” is a five-star Wild God!
…
Tokyo, Shibuya Ward.
“Do I really have to use… ‘mobile scan code payment’?”
The little monk, draped in a Kesa, accepted two cotton candies, one blue and one red, scratched his chin curiously, and pulled out two crumpled bills from his pocket.
“Young Master Yin Li! Young Master Yin Li— please don’t run off again! There are too many people here, we’ll get separated!”
From the distant crowd, a man’s voice seemed to call out.
The little monk, with his red lips and white teeth, blinked at the shop assistant and put on a pitiful expression: “Sister, I only have this, can I buy it…”
The shop assistant, who disliked trouble, hesitated, but upon seeing the little monk’s expression, she reluctantly nodded.
“Hooray! Thank you, sister.”
“Young Master Yin…”
After a slight bow, the little monk snatched the two cotton candies and, at the opportune moment when the man behind him arrived, placed the red cotton candy in front of him.
A smiling face peeked out from behind the cotton candy, waved it at the man, who was sweating profusely,
“Senior Brother Enshō, aren’t you going to eat? I bought this specially for you.”
The man who strode over was also a bald monk.
The young man called Enshō sighed helplessly and still accepted the cotton candy: “Young Master… please be obedient, stop running around, alright?”
The little monk, as if he hadn’t heard, took a bite of the cotton candy, his eyes curving with sweetness.
He exclaimed,
“I haven’t been to a big city for a long, long time. It’s so lively here!”
Saying this, he looked up at the clear blue sky, the little monk with the blue cotton candy in his mouth walked forward again, causing the Ensho Monk behind him to follow with a weary sigh.
A few steps behind the two, a woman dressed ordinarily, with a blank expression, maintained a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
At the same time, she silently watched the little monk without pause.
As he walked, the little monk got lost for a moment, so he casually asked a passerby wearing a baseball cap,
“Big sister, do you know which way to go if I want to watch the Seed Battle elimination rounds?”
The passerby was stunned and pointed a finger towards the sky.
——The floating city, suspended in the sky!
“No wonder I couldn’t find it… Ah, here it is. Thanks, Big Sister.”
The Little Monk thanked her.
The passerby was about to leave, but discovered their wrist had been grabbed at some point.
“But Big Sister, aren’t you a contestant?”
The Little Monk said with a smile, his voice gentle,
“Because you… seem very strong.”
A disciple of Hozoin-ryu?
Okabe Motonobu, her wrist grabbed, squinted beneath her sunglasses. After her Inner Force was continuously countered three times, she temporarily abandoned the thought of breaking free.
This child is strong.
“No.”
She shook her head. “I’m just here to spectate.”
“What a coincidence?” the Little Monk said, surprised. “I’m here to spectate too!”
“——Then, Big Sister, why don’t we go watch together!”
“Do you have a ticket?” Okabe Motonobu countered.
“If it’s me, I can definitely get in no matter how many people I bring!”
The Little Monk said with a grin.
“In that case… alright.”
Okabe Motonobu, who had been troubled by the lack of tickets and had no way to get to the floating city for days, relented, and felt the grip on her wrist suddenly loosen.
The Little Monk’s eyes lit up, and he said with pleasantness, “Thank you for gracing me with your presence, Big Sister.”
Okabe Motonobu was about to speak again when she saw the expressionless woman a bit further away.
Her gaze swept over the shoulder of the other’s clothes, and her pupils contracted slightly.
This insignia is somewhat familiar.
Right.
She remembered seeing it before.
It’s from the Sword Saint’s side…
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