I'm a demon in Tokyo!

Chapter 173 This strike will make him famous throughout the five provinces and seven regions! The method of Zanzemaru's advancement: Hyakume-ki - Quality Improvement!

Uesugi Tetsu quickly scanned his surroundings, but found nothing.

It was as if what I had just experienced was merely an illusion.

Strange, how did it suddenly disappear?
Fujikichiro, who had just stepped back behind Shibata Katsuie, raised his hand and patted his chest with a hint of lingering fear.

"I was just observing from within the crowd... and I almost got caught."

Seeing that Shibata Katsuie seemed oblivious, Fujikichiro didn't say anything more, but continued thinking about the previous topic:
Is Che over fifty years old?
This is of course impossible.

Judging from the vibrant energy emanating from Che, he figured the other person was at most around twenty years old.

According to Shibata-sama, Tetsu's achievements in breathing techniques are about the same as his own, and he can only win about a thousand kan (a unit of currency).

But... if Che could only cut this little bit, then there was no reason for him to make such a big commotion in Junfu City.

So Fujikichiro clenched his fist and said in a low voice,
"Lord Shibata, I still stand by my opinion."

"Ah."

Shibata Katsuie couldn't help but sneer. He patted the short Fujikichiro on the shoulder, making the latter tremble slightly: "Hey monkey, how about we make a bet?"

"If this Onmyoji Che is largely correct as I described, then you can also warm up my straw sandals for the next month."

Fujikichiro was taken aback by these words. He knew that Shibata Katsuie's true intentions lay elsewhere, but rather with Lord Nobunaga.

Since his job was to fetch straw sandals for Lord Nobunaga, and now that the weather was getting cold, he was naturally responsible for keeping the sandals warm.

He proposed this bet to Lord Shibata simply to find an excuse to spend more time with Lord Nobunaga.

As for why Fujikichiro thought that way...

Of course, it was Nobunaga who, as a page (personal attendant) who spent every day by Nobunaga's side, was most able to feel his charm.

Whether it's strategy, martial arts, beauty... or anything else, aside from being a little irritable at times, she is simply the most perfect being in the world.

The nickname "Big Fool" given to Lord Nobunaga by outsiders is completely nonsensical.

Seeing that the monkey didn't object, Shibata Katsuie smiled and continued, "If he can earn ten or twenty thousand kan, then..."

The burly general scratched his head and shrugged: "Make whatever demands you want, monkey. It's impossible anyway."

Fujikichiro slowly nodded, recalling the moment he almost got discovered.
"Then, Lord Shibata, we look forward to it."

……

In less than half an hour, the long, winding queue had completely disappeared.

Because of Uesugi Tetsu's immense reputation, many samurai ahead of them gave up queuing, wanting to satisfy their curiosity as soon as possible.

Of course, this is also to avoid becoming famous in reverse by striking with less power than "Onmyoji Che".

Stirring up a nerve, the two-foot-tall man pulled the bloated Shiroishi back from his meal, and Uesugi Tetsu calmly walked into the testing area.

Then he nodded to the recorder, whose hands were trembling with nervousness.

He turned his head and looked at the samurai Zanzemaru in the center of the test ground, whose body was covered with faint sword marks, but whose spirit and energy had changed somewhat. He widened his eyes in surprise.

Because a long, narrow progress bar suddenly appeared above its head!
【Samurai Zanzemaru (Promotion Progress 0.1%)】

It turns out that the Samurai Zanzemaru, which was originally equivalent to a four-star demon god-level weapon, can still be upgraded.

However, unlike the three paths that ordinary shikigami follow, such as divine inspiration, the condition for triggering the advancement of samurai Zanzemaru is actually "being killed".

Moreover, based on previous experience, it needs to be killed by a large number of different people with certain strength.

Otherwise, with Ririko wielding her sword at it a thousand times a day, its advancement bar would have appeared above its head long ago.

"This is rather novel..."

Uesugi Tetsuya's lips curled slightly, thinking to himself that he had really struck it lucky by sheer chance.

The four-star samurai Zanzemaru can be promoted to five stars if he continues to advance.

This is someone on par with Z, the factory owner who killed him with a single glance.

Although Zanzemaru himself has little offensive capability, he will definitely gain several amazing auxiliary functions after promotion.

More importantly, he doesn't need to give anything in return.

As long as you place the Zanzemaru here, samurai will continuously come to fill its progress bar every day.

Feeling that all eyes, both inside and outside the testing ground, were on him, Uesugi Tetsu raised his hand and pressed down on the trembling Kaga Kiyomitsu.

"Xiao Jia, don't worry."

He chuckled.

Then, under the astonished gazes of busybodies, curious onlookers, disdainful onlookers, and countless others, he slowly and methodically removed his palace robe and loosened the sash of his upper garment.

He boldly displayed his bare upper body to everyone, letting his muscular physique bask in the sparse sunlight filtering through the gaps in the thatch.

He had no scars that symbolized glory, nor did he have muscles that were surprisingly full; instead, his skin was the pale white that warriors despised the most.

Anyone who sees this body with their own eyes can absolutely understand what kind of explosive yet perfectly coordinated power it contains.

"Because I have to wield a sword, I always feel a bit restricted when I'm wearing a long robe."

The Onmyoji smiled warmly at everyone.

"Please forgive me, everyone."

In the suddenly quiet testing ground, Fujikichiro asked a somewhat hoarse question.

"My lord, what is the situation now?"

Shibata Katsuie was speechless.

Because the body displayed before him was simply flawless.

And the sense of power that he inadvertently exudes in his every move is almost comparable to his.

Even if we don't mention 20,000 strings of cash, a single strike could yield at least 6,000 to 8,000 strings.

How could a young man famous for his Yin-Yang skills possibly reach the threshold of immense wealth?
What a joke... There aren't many people in the entire Oda clan who could do something like this.

Beneath his straw hat, Shibata Katsuie's eyes were indifferent.

This news absolutely must be brought back to our lord!
The surrounding area was a mixed bag, so there were quite a few spies with similar ideas—this was exactly the effect Uesugi Tetsu wanted.

Through these people, the scene unfolding in Junpu City will be spread outwards, allowing various regions to corroborate each other and turn the rumors into facts.

Conversely, even under these circumstances, some people stubbornly insist that it's nothing more than a showy facade.

One of them was the ronin who had trained for over ten years since childhood and fought on the battlefield for over ten years.

He simply cannot accept this fact.

If he accepts it, his previous worldview will be shattered.

So the ronin stared wide-eyed, bloodshot eyes, muttering repeatedly, "Failure, failure, give me failure, failure, failure..."

"Oh, it's finally here."

Uesugi Tetsu turned around and waved to Shiraishi, who had been forcibly dragged to the edge of the field by the two-foot-tall man: "Shiraishi, you go first."

Following his words, countless eyes focused on Shiraishi, who was still holding a half-eaten pastry in his hand and had his mouth agape.

He spoke as if no one else was around.
"Isn't this a good opportunity to test the results of my training these past few days?"

"Ugh?"

Shiraishi, who had been wanting to bury himself in the crowd and continue slacking off, got goosebumps all over from all those stares. His hand trembled involuntarily, causing the pastries to fall to the ground.

But he quickly squatted down, picked up the pastry, and popped it into his mouth.

In any case, the food itself is not wrong, and it should not be wasted!
After munching on the pastries, Shiraishi suddenly realized what Uesugi Tetsu had just said to him.

Then, he was pinned to the spot by the malicious gazes coming from all directions, unable to move.

"Let...let me try my hand at slashing? Now?!"

He stammered, racking his brains to come up with an excuse: "But boss, I don't have a knife."

"It's okay if you don't have a sword, just throw punches." Uesugi Tetsu asked the samurai Zanzemaru, "Is that right?"

Samurai Zanzemaru swayed, and replied in a deep voice.

"That is indeed the case."

Shiraishi stood there, drenched in sweat, wishing he could go back and slap his past self from a few hours earlier.

You, what kind of bullshit opinion did you come up with out of nowhere!
It's okay now!
Uesugi Tetsuya scrutinized the motionless Shiraishi and asked with a hint of doubt, "Shiraishi, are you scared just because there are so few people watching over you?"

"Afraid? What's there to be afraid of!"

Even though his fingers were so stiff he couldn't move them at all, Shiraishi still stubbornly kept calling out.
"Boss, don't underestimate me! I'm not afraid!"

"I think the toughest thing about you is your mouth."

Uesugi Tetsu walked over with a smile and a shake of his head, grabbed Shiraishi's slender wrist, and brought him in front of the samurai Zanzemaru.

Just as Shiraishi was about to turn and run away under so many stares, a gentle voice entered his ears.

"Come on, take a deep breath."

Shiraishi subconsciously followed suit.

Uesugi Tetsu said calmly, "If you can't even withstand this much pressure, how will you become a great ninja in the future?"

"A true ninja is one who remains unmoved even when a mountain collapses before him. Whether it is contempt, praise, or criticism and disdain from the outside world, it will only pass by like a gentle breeze, having no effect on him whatsoever."

In the heart of a great ninja, there is only a goal.

The warm, comforting energy traveled along with the words to Bai Shi's hands, easing the coldness and stiffness in him.

Uesugi Tetsu continued softly, "So, Shiraishi, what is your goal now?"

Shiraishi did not reply.

But Uesugi Tetsu felt the little hand slip out of his palm.

Immediately afterwards, Shiraishi's voice, which had gradually relaxed, rang out.
"Boss, I've noticed that you speak with such eloquence. People who are literate and educated are definitely different from a wild kid like me."

As he spoke, he took a step and walked up to the samurai Zanzemaru.

Shiraishi looked up at the samurai Zanzemaru, who was taller than two of him combined, and remained silent for a moment.

But the samurai Zanzemaru greeted him first, his voice calm.

"Greetings, Mr. Shiraishi."

"Forehead……"

Shiraishi, caught off guard, paused for a moment before quickly bowing and saying, "Lord Zanzemaru! Please enlighten me!"

"Lord Shiroishi, please feel free to use your full strength to verify yourself and set the standard for your path."

Samurai Zanzemaru gave a somewhat awkward chuckle.
"After all, my existence is for this purpose."

"Okay... okay."

For some reason, a strange sense of security welled up in Shiraishi's heart.

He glanced back at Uesugi Tetsuya standing behind him, took another deep breath, and used his Qi Gathering Technique to control his violently beating heartbeat.

Shiraishi clenched his fist tightly and struck a very strange pose according to the pattern in the manual.

"drink!"

A loud, energetic shout rang out, and Shiraishi's small fist landed at a tricky angle beneath Samurai Zanzemaru.

Samurai Zanzemaru swayed almost imperceptibly before truthfully reporting the number, "Slashing power, 206 kan—that's right!"

Uesugi Tetsuya, standing behind, blinked in surprise, thinking to himself, "Not bad."

After only a few days of training, his fist strength has increased from a few guan (a unit of weight) for an ordinary child to almost half the initial strength of a two-foot-tall adult.

But the samurai around him who could easily slay hundreds or thousands of kan did not think so at all.

Then, wave after wave of laughter rose up.

Even the ronin who had been glaring with bloodshot eyes was now laughing, after all, he could cut down nearly a thousand kan with his eyes closed.

Shiraishi, who had just snapped out of his full-force punch, paused for a moment, then heard a deafening burst of laughter.

He blinked, looked down at his small, thin fists, and wondered to himself—

Am I... really nothing at all?
"Humph, a bunch of trash."

Shibata Katsuie snorted coldly, already gripping the hilt of his sword.

If it weren't for the Onmyoji Che in front of him, he would have definitely shouted angrily at those useless samurai who only dared to mock children.

This child looks pale and thin, probably not long ago he couldn't even get enough to eat... but now he can do 200 guan with one punch.

Shibata Katsuie couldn't help but mutter to himself, drawing the attention of the samurai in front who were bursting into laughter: "You think you can achieve this level after ten or fifteen days of training?"

He clicked his tongue, then reached out and gripped the samurai's shoulder tightly, causing the bones to crack and pop.

Shibata Katsuie said coldly,
Before you laugh at others, ask yourself if you deserve it!

……

"Will they still be able to laugh later?"

Uesugi Tetsu patted Shiraishi's slightly trembling head and said gently, "Two hundred kan is a very good result, even better than two feet."

"But don't get arrogant yet... Now, take two steps back."

As Shiraishi retreated to the edge of the arena without turning around, Uesugi Tetsu calmly drew Kaga Kiyomitsu, a sword that had been sealed in its crimson scabbard for a long time, from his waist.

"Xiao Jia, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Kaga Kiyomitsu, whose surface was covered in a viscous, pale color, trembled happily and emitted a clear, crisp sword sound.

The sound of the blades rippled like water, calming the restless atmosphere.

Stab it!

Then, blinding lightning emerged from Uesugi Tetsuya's hand, surged forth, and spread across the blade amidst a rumbling sound, illuminating every pair of eyes that looked in this direction.

In an instant, no one spoke, and no one laughed anymore.

The only sound in the air was the faint crackling of thunder.

Thunder, a terrifying force that has belonged only to nature since ancient times.

At this moment, it is being controlled by humans in the palm of their hands!

Every single person's face was filled with shock.

Because hearsay and seeing things with your own eyes are two completely different things!

pat.

The pale and austere Hannya mask appeared out of nowhere and landed on Uesugi Tetsuya's waist, making the samurai who were staring at him feel as if their hearts were being squeezed tightly at that moment.

A silent aura of authority spread.

'Onmyoji Che... truly lives up to his reputation.'

Uesugi Tetsu's face remained completely still, like a rock.

Uesugi Tetsuya, feeling his physical strength had been greatly enhanced once again, took three breaths to adjust.

Then, he once again adopted the classic three-stage thrust stance towards the samurai Zanzemaru, who was standing close at hand.

The Qi circulation suddenly erupted and spread, no longer hiding and clinging to the skin.

The intense, scorching aura surrounded Uesugi Tetsuya, rustling and crackling.

Crack!

As his spiritual energy rapidly depleted, the lightning surging on Kaga Kiyomitsu's blade grew thicker and brighter.

Shibata Katsuie stared at the scene, his back, also enveloped by the circulating qi, was already unknowingly covered in cold sweat.

"monkey."

His voice was dry.
"Now, I somewhat believe what you said about him being able to do it."

Fujikichiro simply stared blankly without replying.

He was so stunned by the sight before him that he couldn't move freely.

"breathe--"

The enormous breathing sounds, like those of a dragon and a tiger, grew increasingly intense.

Uesugi Tetsu lowered his eyes, recalling everything he had learned so far.

Ki Harmony Technique, Natural Mind-Control Flow, Corona Breathing Method, Five Thunder Techniques - Ki Harmony, Spirit Control Technique...

Countless fragments and memories flooded my mind.

Uesugi Tetsu gently placed them, drop by drop, along with his inner energy, onto Kaga Kiyomitsu's blade.

Only after personally standing before the samurai's sword, Zetsu, did Uesugi Tetsu realize that this was not a simple test of swordsmanship.

And just as the samurai Zanzemaru said—use it to prove oneself and set a guiding principle!
Put everything into this one strike!
Uesugi Tetsuya suddenly opened his eyes and took a step forward.

In that instant, the violent energy and lightning all contracted to the seventy-two-centimeter-long pale blade!
cut!
The dazzling light, so bright it was impossible to look directly at, transformed into a thin line of white light that flashed past and landed on the massive samurai Zanzemaru.

Then, it exploded with a bang!

The surging lightning and qi completely filled all vision, leaving not even a sliver of space.

Samurai Zanzemaru fell backward in an instant, unable to contain his joy as he roared and shouted amidst the rumbling sound.
"Slashing power, 30,011 guan—that's right!"

[Your skill, Spirit Controlling Skill proficiency +100! ]

[Your skill, Natural Rational Flow proficiency +300! ]

[Your skill, Five Thunder Method: Qi Combination Proficiency +300!]

[Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique, will have a slightly faster training speed in the future!]

Uesugi Tetsu slowly exhaled, sheathed the Kaga Kiyomitsu, who was so comfortable he couldn't move, and nodded slightly to the samurai Zanzemaru.

Then, with a calm expression, he turned around, retrieved his clothes from the recorder, and left the trial execution site without saying a word, accompanied by the two equally dazed children.

Only a group of wooden-faced warriors and merchants remained to watch.

silence.

Shocked.

asphyxia.

At this moment, the crowded trial execution ground was completely silent, so quiet that even the shouts of vendors on another street could be heard clearly.

Three... thirty thousand strings of cash?

What does 30,000 strings of cash mean?
Almost no samurai had a clear impression of this; in their eyes, 10,000 kan was already an unattainable goal, something only a renowned military commander could achieve.

Thirty thousand...

Perhaps it has already reached the legendary realm of gods and demons?
And this was actually a strike from a great Onmyoji.

That's right, this kind of thing, this legendary event, just happened right before their eyes!

The people present came from all over the country, from different families and forces, but without exception, they all had the same thought in their minds...

This knife,

It will become famous throughout Tokaido and even the entire Goki and Shichido provinces!

"Go back! We must go back now! Lord Shibata! We must inform the lord of this news as quickly as possible!"

After a long while, Fujikichiro finally emerged from the lingering effects of the sword strike, and with trembling hands, he grabbed Shibata Katsuie's sleeve.
"—The threat level posed by the Imagawa clan has increased by a whole new level!"

Shibata Katsuie blinked, but he still couldn't erase the cold, white glint of light that lingered in his eyes.

"Che... Onmyoji Che."

He murmured softly, but an uncontrollable joy, unlike anything seen on others, appeared on his rough face.

—To be able to engage in a life-or-death battle with such a powerful figure would surely be the most exhilarating thing in one's life.

Shibata Katsuie thought so.

……

[Your Late Muromachi Period/Warring States Period reputation +500! ]

Your reputation during the late Muromachi and Sengoku periods is steadily increasing...

After leaving for a while, Uesugi Tetsu recalled the test site where no one had made a move, and mentally snapped his fingers in satisfaction.

That was a very good cut.

it's actually very good!
Not only did I perfectly achieve my pre-set goals, but I also validated all that I had learned so far—the improved proficiency in many skills is a good example.

Moreover, it amounted to 30,000 strings of cash.

This number was something even Uesugi Tetsu hadn't anticipated before he drew his sword.

He thought that he could only manage to collect 26,000 or 27,000 strings of cash at most.

Uesugi Tetsu ran his fingertips along the hilt of Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword, which was throbbing with excitement.

—Next, we just need to wait and see how things unfold over time.

Then, after Imagawa Yoshimoto led his army out to war—

At that time, those incompetent elders who occupy high positions in the Imagawa family can be dealt with...

Remove them all!

Just as Uesugi Tetsu was about to return to the Imagawa Mansion, a large notification suddenly popped up in front of him.

[Unusual activity has occurred in Edo Castle during the 2-star gacha pool...]

Card pool changes?

What the hell?

Haven't I even drawn any cards during this period?

As he walked, Uesugi Tetsu opened the gacha page, guessing that the "resurrected" Hyakume had caused some trouble again.

popping.

Uesugi Tetsuya suddenly stopped.

Because, after the card pool was opened, a dark purple notification suddenly popped up!
[Haumei's quality has been improved due to absorbing a large amount of the material "Hyakumei's Eyeballs"!]

[The quality of the Demon Incarnation - Hyakume has been upgraded from "Rare+" to "Epic"!]

Uesugi Tetsuya looked up in a daze and met the gaze of the black-haired loli who was sitting on the scarlet throne, lazily yawning.

(End of this chapter)