Chapter 89: As If Something Is Chasing You
Gently crushing the Jade Scroll, Shangshan Che instantly felt a brand new Technique knowledge surge into his mind.
In just a few short seconds, Shangshan Che felt his originally calm, lake-like state of mind become as immovable as if it were covered in a thick layer of ice.
It was as if he had single-mindedly cultivated this Technique for over a decade, perfectly mastering it and applying it to his spirit and state of mind.
【You have learned Technique·Afterimage.】
【Afterimage】
【Effect: Stabilizes spirit. Immune to most control and charm effects.】
【——A Swordsman should always be vigilant and alert at all times.】
No wonder Katsumi said this was what he needed—immunity to control skills is extremely important for Swordsmen like Shangshan Che who can only deal damage in close range.
“Katsumi Boss.”
Shangshan Che emphasized his tone: “I accept this kindness.”
Katsumi, as if performing a Noh Play, likewise cupped his hands: “In the future, I hope Adult will show more leniency.”
“However, this Technique can probably only prevent spirit attacks below Ghost God level,” Katsumi reminded, “Please do not rely on it too much or superstitiously, Adult; just take its essence and learn.”
Preventing below Four-Star……For the current him, that wasn’t basically equivalent to mental attacks being ineffective?
Now even Ai Bieli might not be able to do anything to him mentally, though the “might” was because Ai Bieli was one of the Eight Sufferings and couldn’t be lumped together with ordinary Supernatural Phenomena.
Shangshan Che secretly clicked his tongue; perhaps to Katsumi it was just some random adequate item tossed in the treasury, but this favor was indeed not light for him.
“Thanks for the reminder.” Shangshan Che bid farewell somewhat formally, “Katsumi Boss, see you another day.”
“Adult, see you.”
Katsumi gazed at Shangshan Che’s back as he turned away, humming a tune while hesitating over what blessing to give, then cheerfully snapped his fan against his palm upon seeing the pair of Cold Steel Armguards placed back on the table.
The next moment, his prolonged, lingering, mellifluous voice line slowly emanated from the Tiled House,
“——Then I wish Adult prosperity in wealth these few days!”
Shangshan Che, already far away, paused his steps slightly because a 【Next three days Soul Ash acquisition efficiency +2%, rare equipment drop rate +2%】 prompt suddenly popped up before his eyes.
“Prosperity……”
Shangshan Che repeated this phrase.
Was this the power of a Ghost God level existence? A single sentence could buff him like this.
Or was it actually unrelated to Ghost God level, and simply because Katsumi’s existence was special?
Aside from Katsumi, Shangshan Che hadn’t formally contacted a second Ghost God, so he couldn’t tell which explanation was correct.
But one thing was certain.
That was, his goal these few days was to earn enough Soul Ash to buy those two Cold Steel Armguards!
“Current Soul Ash is 533……Still short over four hundred.”
Such a massive Soul Ash deficit couldn’t be covered just by killing Chi in Kisaragi Station; as for High-Speed Grandpa on the other side, he had no absolute confidence and might just throw his life away in vain.
Supernatural commissions in the Mortal Realm weren’t something you could just pick up whenever; moreover, the target Demon might not appear directly, and communicating with the client first before exorcising it would be too slow.
The remaining option was only……
“Edo Castle.”
Shangshan Che pressed down on the Kaga Kiyomitsu at his waist.
He figured it was about time for him to return to that Four-Star map where any Demon could kick him to death, and this time, he absolutely wouldn’t be beheaded by that Wandering Samurai in one strike.
But before that, first try using the Life and Death Taiko Drum to attract a Chi swarm for slaying and see how much Soul Ash it yields, whether it’s different from naturally spawned Chi swarms.
Not calling out Two-Foot Adult, who was about to recover to One-Star strength; he could handle this simple matter alone.
Arriving beside the railroad tracks in the center of the main road, Shangshan Che sat cross-legged on the ground, placing the Life and Death Taiko Drum with its snow-white batter side up.
Then, he lightly tapped with fingertips wrapped in Corona Qi.
Dong……
In an instant, over a hundred drumbeats overlapped, drifting toward the Mountain Forest, the distance, and the sky.
Shangshan Che stowed the Life and Death Taiko Drum, closed his eyes, and placed his hand on the hilt to carefully sense the number of Chi appearing around.
Over a hundred, three hundred, seven hundred, over a thousand……
In just five or six minutes, the number of Chi Shangshan Che roughly sensed had reached four digits and was still growing rapidly.
And the nearest Half-Star Chi was only a few meters away from him.
“Knocking the drum once with Internal Qi can create such a spectacular scene; the Taiko Drum’s effect is truly beyond imagination.”
The Swordsman, who had just acquired Technique·Afterimage and Iaijutsu and was itching to use them, cheerfully stood up, slowly drawing the legendary Daito from history, exhaling his already scorching Qi.
Shangshan Che grinned: “Come, let me see if you qualify as wooden dummies.”
Thus, the Chi swarm surged forward.
Not far away, the disheveled Ye Chun in the car backseat heard the rustling sounds around, couldn’t help rolling down the window, and looked toward the source of the drumbeats.
Then, Ye Chun saw countless translucent monsters that nearly killed her rushing madly toward it, like surging tides,
For an instant, a gap opened between the trees, letting Ye Chun see the Hannya laughing loudly at the center of the Chi swarm, dancing like a soaring dragon,
She couldn’t help showing fear in her eyes: “If I ran into this Evil Spirit, I’d have no chance of survival.”
……
【You obtained 57 Soul Ash.】
Shangshan Che lightly exhaled, opened his eyes, and saw Lili Zi staring straight down at him in a daze.
She glanced at the sky outside the window and couldn’t help sighing: “Shangshan Jun, you sleep so soundly. Club Activity is about to start; if you don’t wake up, I’ll have to carry you out.”
The spirit stabilization effect from Afterimage was exceptionally good; Shangshan Che, who had just been drowned by the Chi swarm again, sat up with a calm expression: “If that’s the case, why are you still staring at me?”
“That’s because I heard your breathing suddenly get disordered.” Lili Zi giggled, “I thought you messed up your Luck while sleeping and was ready to save you.”
Shangshan Che was speechless: “Not everyone is like you……”
“I’m just afraid you’d try to force-learn it like me.”
Lili Zi stuck out her tongue, clicking her tongue unhappily: “Because every time I think about Runa studying next to me while I was napping before, I get annoyed, though my grades were a total mess back then.”
The so-called “roommate’s page-turning kept me up all night” was nothing more than this.
“Just had a Nightmare.”
Shangshan Che yawned, got annoyed seeing Lili Zi constantly spitting tiny Qi Swords in front of him, but still said: “Lili Zi, don’t push yourself too hard; you’ll burn out.”
“Then who will make up for my lack of Power? Will you compensate me, Shangshan Jun?”
Lili Zi huffed, poking Shangshan Che’s waist with her elbow.
Rudely returning a hellish head-chopping hand chop to Lili Zi, Shangshan Che pondered for a moment before casually saying:
“——It’s just a vague feeling, like something has been chasing after you from behind.”
Lili Zi’s steps stiffened abruptly.
