Chapter 303: Nishaku Takes The Stage, Justice’s 2v1! Overmatched By Minamoto Shizuka, Overlimit State Activated!
“Lord Che, please let me on the field.”
This time, as Shangshan Che stood up, a small, smooth, white hand, almost like raw jade, grabbed his hem.
He turned back and saw Two-Foot Adult, her face solemn.
“Is that so?”
Shangshan Che smiled and, before the beam of light fell, took her hand.
“—Then I’ll be counting on you, Nishaku.”
“Nishaku will not fail Lord Che.”
……
The tip of the cross spear, emitting a cold glint, hung down, reflecting the blinding arena lights along with the shimmering silver leg armor.
On the arena stage, a woman who stood a full eight feet tall wielded a cross spear several meters long, blocking Shangshan Che like an armored mountain.
Her gaze was sharp, her eyebrows like knives.
The Life Protection Aura extended, causing Kitada Kei, who had only drawn his sword from a distance and hadn’t even released his Qi Barrier, to frown slightly.
“I’m very sorry, Kitada Jun.”
Shangshan Che’s voice came from behind Hachishaku Bodhisattva: “I am not Minamoto Shizuka, nor am I as broad-minded as she is.”
Without hesitation, Shangshan Che directly rejected Kitada Kei’s request for a sword clash.
As his master’s voice fell, the cross great spear tore through the air, raised high and aimed directly at Kitada Kei’s eye sockets.
With positioning locked onto Kitada Kei, then shared with Nishaku via heartstring communication.
Kitada Kei blinked, smiled helplessly, and his powerful Qi Barrier dispersed like flowing water threads across the arena floor.
“Shangshan Jun, you really are…”
Boom!
Before he could finish that sentence, a deep purple lightning bolt exploded in front of Kitada Kei, and thick smoke billowed up.
The next instant, the heavy cross spear, with a violent whistling sound, shredded the smoke and clashed with the three-foot blade in Kitada Kei’s hand.
Kitada Kei looked up.
His pupils reflected Hachishaku Bodhisattva, who had, at some point, again gripped a second cross great spear and charged towards him, and the dense lightning that rose beside the distant Evil Spirit.
Weapons clashed, lightning raged!
—Next, it was time for a fair and square two-on-one.
……
Kitada Kei, who only practiced Kendo and nothing else, logically lost in a two-on-one situation with one opponent close and the other far.
—After exhausting his Qi Barrier, he was knocked out by an Ordinary Plain Spear filled with the Five Thunder Technique.
Shangshan Che won by only using a few Ordinary Plain Spears, with Nishaku losing 80% of her health and himself sustaining minor injuries.
He lowered his head and wiped away the faint blood streak on his chest with his fingertip.
If Nishaku hadn’t stepped in this time, this sword would have at least dug three inches deep into his flesh, possibly even leaving him with only skin and bones.
At that point, it would have been another series of “fatal grazes.”
At this moment, Two-Foot Adult, her body semi-transparent, hurried over, her lips pursed with self-reproach.
“Lord Che… I didn’t protect you properly.”
“No, Nishaku.”
Shangshan Che intended to pat her head as usual but found that at his current height, his hand only reached her chest.
So he could only praise her verbally,
“You did very well.”
Facing Two-Foot Adult, whose eyes conveyed disbelief, Shangshan Che glanced at the flashing prompt beside him and said solemnly,
“—Without you, I might have had to reveal another trump card.”
“Phew… as long as I was useful to you, Lord Che, that’s fine.”
After distinguishing that his words were true, Two-Foot Adult chuckled, and a hint of coyness emerged from her previously heroic demeanor.
—Shangshan Che defeating Kitada Kei was, in the eyes of the Audience, a foregone conclusion.
Therefore, there was no great roar of cheers in the arena after this victory, but rather worried whispers spread.
“He even brought in a Shikigami for a two-on-one on their first appearance and still got injured… Minamoto Shizuka didn’t get injured at all just now.”
“Yeah, it might be hard to win now.”
“Alas, indeed.”
The Audience sighed.
But soon, someone else viewed the situation from another angle.
“Forget it, forget it. That Minamoto Shizuka is from the Minamoto Family. The Minamoto Family, the one that produced Minamoto no Yoshitsune of the Heian Period!
They are a legitimate, ancient aristocratic family with thousands of years of inheritance. Hmph, the blood flowing in their veins is incredibly noble, completely unrelated to us commoners for generations!
It’s already quite good that Shangshan Jun can even stand against her!”
This insight quickly gained widespread agreement.
“Exactly!”
“Glorious!”
“Huh? Right… Shangshan Che’s Shikigami looks so much like Supernatural Phenomenon Hachishaku-sama, we’re in for a treat tonight…”
“Go, Shangshan Jun! It’s okay to lose!”
“Go! Don’t worry about winning or losing!”
The slightly strange remarks were soon drowned out by a tidal wave of cheers.
These cheers grew more and more numerous and louder, eventually converging into a rhythm that shook the entire arena.
“—Go, Shangshan Jun!”
Listening to the bursts of encouragement in her headphones, Ye Chun was displeased.
They were already thinking about him losing before the match even started?
Did they look down on him so much?
Ye Chun’s face turned cold, and she began to contact the meager connections she had accumulated over the years.
Although, for personal reasons, it was inconvenient for Ye Chun to directly contact Shangshan Che or to give him Soul Ash, not wanting the other party to be entangled in unnecessary karma.
However, it was fine to indirectly use money in the Mortal Realm to do some trivial, inconsequential things.
After a few minutes of operation, Ye Chun unhappily placed her phone face down on the desktop and then opened the official live stream of the Seed Battle.
Soon, the director switched the camera to the footage being live-streamed by numerous reporters.
Throughout the entirety of Tokyo, on streets, commercial districts, and public screens that could or could not be influenced by money, the same phrase appeared at this moment.
【—Shangshan Che, certain victory! 】
Seeing this, Ye Chun propped her legs up and hummed with satisfaction.
—In the vast arena, the audience, who had been shouting encouragement, suddenly fell silent, speechless.
C-certain victory?
That’s quite a grand gesture.
Nanjo Emi from below the stage looked up and clicked her tongue in amazement: “When did this kid get involved with a rich woman?”
The entire arena was eerily quiet under the weight of the phrase “certain victory,” but all live streams—whether official or personal.
As long as they were tagged with “Seed Battle,” the viewership was increasing at an explosive rate.
In the silence, Minamoto Shizuka, who had previously stood high on the stage, walked onto the arena. Across the Ghost God Judge, she ignored Two-Foot Adult beside him and looked at Shangshan Che.
“I knew I would face you in the end, Shangshan Jun.”
Minamoto Shizuka said softly, “That night in the mountains, I was certain.”
In the silence, Minamoto Shizuka’s voice carried far.
Shangshan Che did not respond, merely pressing down Kaga Kiyomitsu, whose blade was frequently popping out of its scabbard, provoked by Hotarumaru on the opposite side.
He and Minamoto Shizuka had met many times.
But standing on the arena as enemies for the first time.
If Lili Zi, as an opponent, was like a blazing sun displaying brilliant radiance at all times, then Minamoto Shizuka was like a bottomless, dark pool.
At a glance, one could vaguely see Minamoto Shizuka… one could tell she was very strong.
But one could only glimpse the surface, as smooth as a mirror.
Even after clashing with Kitada Kei for over a thousand strikes, one could only discern that her sword technique was also superb, but not her depth.
Even so, Shangshan Che saw traces of the New Shadow School, the One-Sword School… various schools, and even the Natural Reason School in Minamoto Shizuka’s movements.
There was no need to say more; Minamoto Shizuka’s swordsmanship level was definitely higher than his.
Expert peak?
Or newly entered Master, already on the same level as Lili Zi?
And what about the Sword Domain… he didn’t know if she had mastered it yet.
Besides that, Shangshan Che also remembered Minamoto Shizuka telling him that she practiced the Minamoto Family’s Four Extremes Breathing Technique, Guī Yuān.
The last time he saw her, Minamoto Shizuka was still in the 【Sea of Qi】 stage.
However, there were differences between seas of Qi; there was the ordinary Sea of Qi defined as normal, and there were also Star River Qi Seas that seemed endless, like Tokugawa Yugoro’s…
He figured Minamoto Shizuka must be leaning towards the latter.
Also, he had to be wary of the sword strike that instantly killed the Great Demon that night.
For Shangshan Che, most of Minamoto Shizuka’s aspects were unknown.
Before the match began, Two-Foot Adult gripped her new cross great spear tightly, staring intently at that extremely dangerous woman.
Positioning locked, heartstrings connected.
The thoughts of master and servant merged.
Thus, Hachishaku’s figure shifted sideways, completely shielding Shangshan Che.
Two-Foot Adult already understood that her primary duty later would be to buy her master as much time as possible for information gathering and thinking.
“Shangshan Jun, I will win.”
Minamoto Shizuka spoke, as if stating a truth.
Hotarumaru, who could no longer wait, sprang from its scabbard on its own, eagerly falling into her hand.
A scent of blood, so thick it was almost pungent, spread out.
Two-Foot Adult’s gaze was stern, and a weightless, high-strength shield appeared on her left arm.
At this moment, she was Lord Che’s “shield.”
The Ghost God Judge had also waited for a while, feeling that the atmosphere for this battle to decide the Seed Battle Champion had been sufficiently built up. He looked left and right, confirming that both were ready.
He heavily swung his hand down.
“Match—begin!”
Shangshan Che had already drawn Kaga Kiyomitsu but did not charge forward rashly.
Minamoto Shizuka also did not advance.
He frowned.
Regardless, he would try a probe first.
If Minamoto Shizuka couldn’t use Onmyōdō, dealing with Lightning Magic should be quite difficult for her.
Shangshan Che conjured lightning at his fingertips and, just before flicking it out, had Two-Foot Adult shift her stance slightly.
The lightning, which possessed virtually no killing power, acted as a scout faster than any other attack method.
It could be said that it was almost impossible for anyone below the Ghost God level to react to it.
But under Shangshan Che’s Eye of Interpretation, the faint lightning disappeared the moment it neared Minamoto Shizuka.
That’s right.
Without any warning, it disappeared.
Minamoto Shizuka’s expression was blank.
A second bolt of lightning shot out, and then it disappeared again.
Shangshan Che’s pupils contracted.
This time, he was certain that the lightning disappeared when it was twenty meters away from Minamoto Shizuka.
There was no Spiritual Power fluctuation, nor was it intercepted by any means; it simply vanished.
Could the Guī Yuān Breathing Technique achieve this?
Or was it Minamoto Shizuka’s personal ability…
Shangshan Che did not know the answer.
Regardless, long-range attacks and Onmyōdō should pose no threat to Minamoto Shizuka.
Curses might, but he had never learned curses.
“Troublesome.”
Shangshan Che looked up again and, through the gaps in Two-Foot’s armor, discovered that Minamoto Shizuka still showed no intention of attacking.
“Since she’s not coming, then I’ll go.”
After a moment of heartstring communication, an Ordinary Plain Spear silently floated behind Nishaku and was then grasped by her as if she were taking another summoned weapon.
Towards Minamoto Shizuka, it was thrown with full force!
—Since long-range attacks were ineffective, let it become a barrier that shortened the distance!
—At twenty-two meters from Minamoto Shizuka, the Ordinary Plain Spear, infused with Lightning and chaotic Gang Qi Spiritual Power, exploded!
Shangshan Che’s feet pushed off the ground, about to activate Eightfold Fence.
But his connection with the Ordinary Plain Spear suddenly broke.
A pale blue blade light flashed, bisecting the Ordinary Plain Spear that had flown less than half a meter.
Boom!
A deep purple mushroom cloud rose towards the sky, leaving Two-Foot momentarily stunned.
Appearing without any warning?!
But she didn’t even see the sonic boom!
Minamoto Shizuka hadn’t shown the slightest sign of movement just now, and her position in his mind had been completely still.
But why had she suddenly appeared before him now—
No, she disappeared again!
As soon as Nishaku stirred her heartstrings, Shangshan Che, sensing something was wrong, immediately changed the direction of the Eightfold Fence movement, intending to create distance.
*Screech!*
A azure blade attacked from behind, piercing the Flame Armor as if tearing paper, penetrating the Qi Circulation, and then passing through the edge of Shangshan Che’s heart with a mere millimeter to spare.
It missed.
Minamoto Shizuka, holding the Demonic Sword Hotarumaru, which let out a pleasant groan as it drank the remaining blood, frowned slightly.
The Eightfold Fence, its path forcibly changed once more, allowed Shangshan Che to reach the other end of the Arena in the blink of an eye.
The roaring white sound wave erupted moments later.
Shangshan Che panted heavily.
He felt the xuyên piercing wound on his chest, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
Just now, how exactly did Minamoto Shizuka bypass Nishaku and appear directly behind him?
Teleportation?
Spatial movement?
Otherwise, her phantom-like movements couldn’t be explained.
Yet, he couldn’t sense even the slightest Spiritual Power Fluctuation from Minamoto Shizuka, making it clear she didn’t know Onmyōdō.
After a brief Heartstring Communication with Nishaku, who had quickly arrived, Shangshan Che confirmed his thoughts.
Minamoto Shizuka had indeed moved directly without any process.
“Che Adult, let me try.”
“Alright.”
After a question and answer, Nishaku Adult, wielding a cross Great Spear, charged towards Minamoto Shizuka like a cannonball.
Compared to Shangshan Che, she had the advantage of Distance!
Shangshan Che would cover her rear.
*Clang!*
Weapons clashed.
With just one strike, the cross Great Spear in Nishaku’s hand, whose Strength was unimaginably high for an ordinary person, broke in the middle, and her entire arm was also rendered useless by the shock.
Shangshan Che merged the Three-stage Thrust in silence, only to find that Minamoto Shizuka, who had no new force generating, had vanished from her original position.
Looking back, Minamoto Shizuka, holding the Demonic Sword, was quietly observing him from dozens of meters away.
Like an old hunter waiting for the perfect moment, unhurried.
Tsk.
At this rate, it was impossible to fight.
Not only could he not touch the opponent, but he would also sink deeper into her rhythm.
But Shangshan Che was almost certain—this Teleportation without any warning was definitely not infinite.
Moreover, Teleportation must have precursors; it was just that his current perception ability wasn’t sufficient to detect them.
However, he couldn’t take the gamble.
If he gambled, he might fall into the trap the opponent was waiting for.
Shangshan Che fell silent, his gaze falling on the Prompt that had long since popped up.
【Your Limit Breaking Value is full; you can currently choose to enter Overlimit State · Cultivation / Overlimit State · Combat.】
【—In Overlimit State · Combat, your all Attributes are greatly increased, your State of Mind is greatly increased, your perception ability is greatly increased, and your recovery ability is extremely greatly increased.
Simultaneously gain the timed state “Future Sight”: Obtain the situation of the current battle from this moment onward, for the next one second.】
