I'm a demon in Tokyo!

Chapter 207 Soul Ashes Surpass 10,000 for the First Time! The Limitless Potential of the "Lin" Technique! Arakawa Village... No Longer Exists.

The strength of using the fragments of the Totsuka Sword as the sole boundary of the Qi Sea is not low, and its future potential is also not low.

Because it is part of a mythical weapon.

Uesugi Tetsu could easily collect more fragments of the Totsuka Blade in the future, or even a complete Totsuka Blade, to complete the boundary marker.

Defined by a single Ten-Fist Sword, it is certain that it can create a vast sea of ​​qi that is among the most powerful and deadly in the world.

So, how do you choose?

Uesugi Tetsu gave the answer without hesitation.

"How can we be so short-sighted as to abandon the greater for the lesser?"

With a flick of his finger, he erased the "unique defining object" notification from his eyes.

Indeed, the prospect of instantly converting potential into strength and expanding one's Qi Sea by tens or hundreds of times is very tempting, and a clear path to advancement in the future is laid out before one's eyes.

However, this would mean losing its true potential.

For Uesugi Tetsuya, what is "true potential"?
"Demon Incarnation Cards"

There is no doubt about this.

Even his desire to define the Qi Sea using the Five Elements was due to the incompatibility between the two incarnation cards within the Qi Sea.

—The potential of establishing a stable cycle by defining objects based on the Five Elements, and then placing five avatar cards whose rank can be continuously increased within it, is simply immeasurable.

And currently...

Uesugi Tetsu stared at the fragments of the two avatar cards that were suspended in the air, ruthlessly suppressing them.

Hmm, the fragments of the Totsuka Blade don't seem to fit in very well with them.

Perhaps the moment it is confirmed as the unique defining element, it will kick both cards out of their dantian with a powerful flying kick.

This is something Uesugi Tetsuya didn't want to see.

"So, go down."

Uesugi Tetsu said softly, manipulating the qi generated by the cards within his dantian, forcefully pulling the fragment into the churning dantian.

The debris struggled for a moment, but was quickly engulfed by a large amount of gas.

As if knowing his thoughts, a second notification popped up—

Should the "fragments of the Ten-Fist Sword" be considered one of the five elements defining elements of the Void Qi Sea?

"Yes."

Uesugi Tetsu nodded.

The golden light that had enveloped the entire empty sea of ​​energy slowly faded away and instead gathered on the surface of the debris itself.

buzzing.

A moment later, the fragments, which had changed their previous domineering attitude, rose again from the sea of ​​qi, slowly surveying the area as if searching for a suitable avatar card.

Finally, the golden fragments landed on the top of the Prajna card, merging with it and giving the already luxurious card a shiny gold border.

This also caused the white Prajna in the card to move slightly, adding a touch of spirituality to her eyes.

Wow!

In an instant, the Qi Sea, which had been occupied by the four-tailed fox for two-thirds of its area, began to churn violently.

In a short while, the black and red Qi Sea part compressed the large pink and white Qi Sea back, turning the empty Qi Sea back into a scene where each half of it was yours and the other half was mine.

Although the overall portion occupied was compressed, the actual amount of "qi" was far greater than before.

Uesugi Tetsu roughly estimated that after the fragments merged with the Hannya card, the entire empty sea of ​​qi expanded by at least one or two times in a few seconds.

Moreover, it continues to expand at a rate more than ten times higher than before.

Unfortunately, the anticipated connection and cycle were not achieved—the parts of the Prajna and the four-tailed fox remained distinct, each doing its own thing.

"This is normal."

After all, this is something that can only be achieved through the cycle of the five elements, and currently he only possesses one of them in his Qi Sea.

However, it did manage to restrict the Four-Tailed Fox card.

—Moreover, the Prajna card does not have reverse pressure.

In addition, Uesugi Tetsu could clearly feel that the energy in the entire Qi Sea had gained a cold and sharp edge.

This should significantly improve the armor-piercing ability of these qi-based attacks.

Beyond that... there is nothing else.

The fragment was ultimately just a fragment, and Uesugi Tetsu refused to make it the only one, instead making it one-fifth of the defining element.

This is his choice.

Uesugi Tetsu quietly examined the two cards for a while, and nodded with a smile after discovering that they continued to expand peacefully.

He opened his eyes in the temple.

Soon, one can notice that the amount and quality of the internal energy are increasing at a rate that, though small, is clearly perceptible.

Going forward, both the intensity of the Qi circulation and the speed of refining the flesh palace will become stronger and faster.

The noise was exceptionally quiet.

It would be more accurate to say that changes in the Qi Sea have almost no impact on reality.

Uesugi Tetsu slowly exhaled: "Qi Sea, as expected of the noble output that can only be unlocked at the end of the first major stage of the Breathing Technique."

Compared to internal strengthening of the five internal organs and the free flow of Qi to the four corners of the body, Qihai completely surpasses it by countless times in terms of both sheer strength and functionality.

Just then, his nose twitched slightly as he caught a whiff of the aroma of bone broth wafting down from the third floor.

"Ririko, what are you doing? It smells so good..."

As Uesugi Tetsu wiped his mouth, he remembered what Ririko had said before: cooking is also a form of spiritual practice.

—It's Sword Principles, I added Sword Principles!

"Okay, no matter how outrageous the answer is, it shouldn't be this."

He listened intently to the sounds coming from upstairs and realized that there was still quite a bit of time before the meal was finished.

"Then let's take this opportunity to learn the nine-syllable mantra as well."

Anyway, all you need to do is tear open the scroll.

Uesugi Tetsuya took out a scroll from his storage backpack and examined it briefly. This ancient scroll contained one of the legendary Great Yin-Yang Techniques, the Nine Syllable Mantra.

Judging from its appearance alone, the scroll's value is completely unknown.

—An old, dusty, tattered scroll of unknown material, with blurred writing on it, making it impossible to appreciate its mystique.

Even Uesugi Tetsu is the same.

At first glance, all he saw was a piece of trash that had been found somewhere.

It must be said that a scroll containing the Great Yin-Yang Technique is extraordinary.

Uesugi Tetsu nodded noncommittally and exerted force with both hands.

tear--

The sensation felt on my hands wasn't the fragile feeling of tearing paper.

Rather, it is so strong that even the edges are not damaged in the slightest!

Ok?
Uesugi Tetsu raised an eyebrow, and a tangible aura immediately enveloped his palm.

Once again, exert all your strength from the center outwards to both sides!

wrong password.

The parchment scroll remained completely still.

Despite its apparent appearance, the reality is that even with all his might, Uesugi Tetsu couldn't tear it apart even a little bit.

"Perhaps... it's to prevent it from being torn apart by ordinary people or samurai who only practice breathing techniques."

The thought flashed through his mind, and Uesugi Tetsuya acted on it immediately.

Thus, the protective aura disappeared, replaced by a thick, almost liquefied spiritual energy that enveloped the body.

The immense spiritual power that had just flowed from Uesugi Tetsuya's hand was completely absorbed by the parchment scroll.

Uesugi Che's eyes lit up.

correct!

He grinned and immediately increased his spiritual energy output, wanting to see how much spiritual energy it would take to feed the little parchment scroll in his hand.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds...

After a minute, Uesugi Tetsuya, in his human form, was covered in sweat and his spiritual energy was almost depleted, so he had to transform into a four-tailed fox to continue.

Feeling his spiritual energy replenished once more, Uesugi Tetsu gripped the parchment scroll tightly and activated his Spirit Control Technique with all his might, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth while pouring it into the scroll.

Upstairs, Ririko, who was holding the handle of the pressure cooker that she almost tipped over, frowned.

—What is Uesugi-kun up to down there again?

On the first floor of the dojo, two minutes later, Uesugi Tetsuya was once again drenched in sweat, and even the spiritual power of his four-tailed fox form was almost completely depleted.

"But finally..."

Uesugi Tetsuya, panting heavily, held the slightly gleaming parchment scroll in his hand to either side—

Tear it in half!

stab.

The parchment, cleansed by a massive amount of spiritual energy until it was spotless, was easily torn open, and the ancient golden inscriptions stored inside immediately flew out.

With a whoosh, it shot straight into Uesugi Tetsuya's forehead.

In an instant, Uesugi Tetsuya suddenly realized that his five senses had been extracted from his body—he could still feel them, but he couldn't control them.

When he was in a daze again, his consciousness arrived in a black space that was neither high nor low, without boundaries, and almost devoid of everything.

Only before his eyes stood an ancient and imposing silver cryptic text.

Ancient, noble, and exuding a profound sense of majesty.

Although he couldn't understand it, Uesugi Tetsu thought it must be the character "临" (Lin).

He waited for a while, but the learning prompt did not appear.

Uesugi Tetsuya exclaimed "Ah!"

What happened to the promise that you could learn it just by tearing it open?

So you want me to come here and figure it out on my own?!
Just as he was thinking this, the character "临" in front of him suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light and crashed towards him.

Uesugi Tetsuya tried to avoid it.

After a brief moment of dizziness, he felt he could freely enter and exit the black space, and the learning prompt finally appeared before his eyes—

[You have mastered the Nine-Character Mantra - The Formula for the Character "Lin"!]

【The Secret of the Character "Lin"】

Mastery level: 1%

[Effect: After use, a barrier can be created at will.]

[—The beginning of all things, the ruler of all things.]

After looking at the Linzi Jue skill panel several times, Uesugi Tetsuya fell into deep thought.

The introduction sounds impressive, but the actual results are disappointing.

Creating barriers... There are countless types of this Yin-Yang technique in the special affairs department. If not a thousand, there are definitely hundreds.

Anyway, let's try it out first.

With a thought, Uesugi Tetsu returned to reality and used the Lin Word Technique to summon a semi-transparent barrier in front of him without warning.

He extended his fingers and began to tap, gradually increasing the force.

Finally, when he exerted only a fraction of his strength, the barrier shattered under the strain.

Uesugi Tetsu stroked his chin—this effect was only slightly more powerful than the earth barrier of basic Yin-Yang magic.

The Great Yin-Yang Technique?

That's it?

He then turned his attention to the "Mastery" section.

The low strength of the barrier may be related to the fact that the ultimate limit of this nine-character mantra is only 1%.

and many more.

Another barrier was summoned, and Uesugi Tetsuya, who was preparing for the test, suddenly realized something.

Since maintaining the circulation of internal energy requires internal energy, using Yin-Yang techniques consumes spiritual energy...

What is required to use this "Lin" technique?
His internal energy and spiritual power were not depleted at all!
At that moment, I felt a slight warmth on the back of my hand.

Uesugi Tetsu looked down and saw a faint, almost invisible mark on the back of his right hand that was exactly the same as the character "临" in the black space.

He then released several more barriers, and a burning sensation even stronger came from the back of his right hand. I understood.

This "Lin" technique is like a special skill. Releasing it does not require consuming any energy; it only consumes its own "use count"!
In all likelihood, this number of uses will continue to recover over time.

Uesugi Tetsu stared intently at the fading mark on the back of his right hand, his gaze equally intense.

—Now, it truly lives up to its name as the Great Yin-Yang Technique!
He closed his eyes and quickly re-entered the black space.

The majestic and ancient character "临" still stands in the darkness, as if it were eternal.

"If you want to improve your mastery, you'll probably have to come here to understand the meaning of the character '临' (lín)."

Uesugi Tetsu pondered, then focused his gaze upwards, trying to concentrate.

Eating the ash of the calming incense before meditating would surely have miraculous effects, but now he wants to test his strength without using the incense ash.

I don’t know how much time passed.

It seemed like a long time, or perhaps a moment, when a strong sense of dizziness appeared in Uesugi Tetsuya's mind, kicking him out of the black space.

In the dojo, Uesugi Tetsu shook his head and first glanced at the panel for the Lin character technique.

Mastery level: 1.005%.

A single moment of enlightenment actually increased the progress by a full 0.005%?
It's not so much that it's incredibly effective, but rather that it's completely ineffective.

It seems that when faced with such ancient characters, relying solely on one's personal understanding is quite ineffective.

He rubbed his throbbing temples: "This means we'll have to pay for more incense ash for pacifying the soul."

Looking up at the clock again, Uesugi Tetsu realized that almost an hour had passed.

His sensory experience only lasted for a few tens of seconds.

"Time really flies..."

"—Uesugi-kun, come eat!"

Ririko's shouts echoed across the floors, interrupting Uesugi Tetsu's thoughts along with the aroma of tonkotsu ramen.

Why did I immediately realize it was tonkotsu ramen...?

Uesugi Tetsuya, who had just stood up, shook his head, wondering if this was also part of the principles of swordsmanship.

As you walk up to the third floor, you can smell the rich, mouthwatering aroma emanating from the carefully simmered ramen broth.

He turned his head and saw two bowls of tonkotsu ramen, each the size of a hot pot, on the huge dining table.

The first thing that catches the eye is a mountain of char siu, piled high with sauce, as if they were afraid he wouldn't have enough to eat.

Two perfectly soft-boiled eggs are cut in half and neatly placed on the side, while tall seaweed is half placed in the soup base and half exposed to the air, offering a combination of two flavors.

Beneath the ingredients are noodles that exude a sense of "chewiness" at a glance.

Without a doubt, this "Ririko Ramen" is a hundred times, or even a thousand times, more authentic and delicious than any of the popular chain ramen on the street!
Uesugi Tetsu couldn't help but drool.

If I don't suck it in, the saliva will drip onto the floor.

—As for how Ririko managed to process so many ingredients into their current form in just one hour?
There's no need to ask such a question.

At the dining table, the girl, still wearing her apron, had already pulled out a chair and sat down.

She just didn't touch her chopsticks, probably waiting for him to arrive.

Uesugi Tetsu quickly sat down opposite Ririko, picked up his chopsticks, and said to the girl, "I'm starting to eat."

"I'm gonna start now."

Ririko replied, then paused just before inserting her chopsticks into the bowl, secretly glancing up at the bottom of her head.

I want to observe Uesugi Tetsu's expression when he takes his first bite.

Generally speaking, the first reaction when you are unaware that you are being watched is the most genuine.

This was her first time making such a complicated dish, so she didn't know how it would taste.

Suck it~
Under her gaze, Uesugi Tetsuya, who wrapped the ramen in char siu and put it in his mouth, smiled and showed a happy expression, and then continued to eat heartily.

Ririko looked away and ate in the same way.

After taking a bite, the girl was stunned for a moment.

Really delicious.

she thought.

As expected of me.

The two ate slowly, but neither of them spoke.

Aside from a few special cases, both Uesugi Tetsuya and Ririko are the type to quietly enjoy food.

But some people... or rather, some swordsmen don't think that way.

Just as Uesugi Tetsuya finished eating and was about to slam his fist on the table and order a second bowl, his heartstrings were already trembling uncontrollably.

Uesugi Tetsu couldn't hold on any longer and had to let the energetic Kaga Kiyomitsu out for some fresh air.

"Ok?"

Just as Kaga Kiyomitsu appeared at his waist, Ririko, who was slurping noodles, subconsciously cast her gaze over.

Because of a strange sword principle that suddenly appeared in the sword domain.

The unfamiliar principles of swordsmanship were more captivating to Ririko than a lighthouse in the darkness.

"Kaga Kiyomitsu?"

Upon seeing the person emanating the power of swordsmanship, Ririko stood there, stunned, letting the noodles dangle in mid-air.

Buzz?
Kaga Kiyomitsu, who had already extended most of his body in an instant, trembled and abruptly pulled back.

"I'm scared... Little Jia is scared!"

Hearing that sound, Uesugi Tetsu looked up and saw a girl standing up with her hands on the table and a lot of noodles hanging from her mouth.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

He chuckled and pulled Kaga Kiyomitsu, who had been feigning death, from his scabbard and placed him on the table.

—Finally, someone can properly discipline this brat, so he has to give him a good push from behind.

But feigning death won't fool Ririko.

Within the sword domain's perception, Kaga Kiyomitsu was radiant, shining brightly.

She slurped up a mouthful of noodles, chewing as she mumbled, "Your Kaga Kiyomitsu... has developed its own spirituality?"

Uesugi Tetsu nodded: "Yeah, I met a kind craftsman who forged it and it's done."

Upon hearing this, Ririko's gaze swept over Kaga Kiyomitsu from head to toe, detail by detail.

Finally, the girl sat back down with some regret, shaking her head: "To be honest, if it weren't yours, Uesugi-kun, I would have snatched it from you."

Kaga Kiyomitsu trembled.

But after sensing Ririko's gaze, she immediately stopped moving again.

Uesugi Tetsu could hear it trembling in his heartstrings as it spoke.

"Big...Big...Great Demon King...I'm scared, Master..."

However, Uesugi Tetsu, the owner, betrayed his own child without any mercy, saying, "Ririko, Kaga says you are a terrifying demon king, and it is very afraid of you."

After those words were spoken, Kaga Kiyomitsu remained completely still.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally felt at ease.

"Me?" Ririko asked strangely. "I don't know how to do anything."

She thought to herself that she hadn't even laid a hand on him yet, hadn't done anything.

Having swallowed the last bit of soup, Uesugi Tetsuya, who was about 80% full, looked at the girl whose gaze was fixed on Kaga Kiyomitsu for a moment, and thought with schadenfreude.
"For swordsmen and samurai, Little Jia is indeed an absolute succubus."

"Then you two should get to know each other better first."

Uesugi Tetsu put down his bowl, feeling a drowsy feeling as soon as he finished eating.

He tossed the scabbard to Ririko, winked at her, and said, "I'm going to take a nap. I'm leaving Xiao Jia to you today, Ririko."

Ririko, who was about to say something, paused, smiled, and raised her hands towards Kaga Kiyomitsu.
"I can't ask for it."

hum-

Ignoring the commotion coming from the living room, Uesugi Tetsuya plopped headfirst onto the tidy bed and closed his eyes without a second thought, succumbing to sleepiness.

He thought that he must have exhausted his energy trying to comprehend the "Lin" technique.

When I open my eyes again, I should be able to go directly into the ordinary world to find Sheng Hai.

That's why he left Kaga Kiyomitsu with Ririko for safekeeping—Katsukai's gaze towards Kaga was rather strange; heaven knows what the scales in a businessman's heart might make him do.

……

After sleeping until the next morning, Uesugi Tetsuya went straight into the Otherworld from his bed.

The transaction was to take place in Arakawa Village.

In this way, after buying and selling the goods, they can also get some relevant information from Sheng Hai for free.

Water pressure swept over it.

As soon as he entered Arakawa Village, Uesugi Tetsu sensed that something was wrong.

because……

He looked up but did not see the familiar thatched roof.

The damp, rotten smell of thatch and sulfur had completely dissipated.

The old shrine was casually stuck upside down in the soil, whether unnoticed or unseen by others.

When Uesugi Tetsu turned his head again, he found that the place where the Gassho-zukuri architecture should have been located was now empty.

Only wasteland remains.

Even the fields further away have been transformed into drainage ditches.

Arakawa Village is gone, and so is the shop that the foreman had placed so much hope in.

All that remains... is probably that blacksmith shop in the distance.

and also--

Uesugi Tetsu looked out and saw a steel forest rising from the ground at the edge of the horizon, shrouded in the deafening roar of machinery.

Thick black smoke billowed from dozens or even hundreds of chimneys, while the monotonous riveting of gears and the cacophony of cutting, friction, and quenching echoed in all directions across the desolate wasteland.

The sound was more than ten times louder than the previous factory.

After looking at it for a moment, Uesugi Tetsuya put on the black Wrath God Mask first—Katsumi said that using it would be faster for locating the target.

However, just over ten minutes later, that familiar tone reappeared out of nowhere.

"Wow—Master Walking is really punctual!"

The figure, roughly the same height as a normal person, is still a straw-made clone of Sheng Hai, waving a folding fan.

He also heard the rumbling noises coming from the factory, so he turned his head and said, "Hmm... it's those factory owners' doing again."

Sheng Hai muttered something to himself, then looked back with a smile without pausing: "Alright, sir, let me take inventory of the items you wish to sell."

Without wasting words, Uesugi Tetsuya waved his hand and summoned a pile of items that had been prepared beforehand.

Sheng Hai bent down and picked up each item one by one, examining them carefully.

Two minutes later, he snapped open his folding fan and pointed to the Plague God Bell, the Hata Crown, the Foot Garrison Armor, and some other miscellaneous props and materials, saying,
"My lord, how about these 1,800 portions of soul ash?"

"It's impossible."

Uesugi Tetsu nodded. Among these items, the Plague Bell was of the highest quality, but it was still only rare and its effects were relatively limited.

Selling nearly 2000 Soul Ash is already quite good.

Since we still need to inquire about Master Erchi's information later, there's no need to argue with Sheng Hai about a hundred or two points of gain or loss.

"What about it?"

Uesugi Tetsuya looked at the steel pestle again.

Sheng Hai smiled and held up three fingers: "Three thousand portions."

"On the other hand, this iron pestle perfectly met the needs of the wealthy Bull Demon customer, who said he could offer this price."

His footprints spanned the mortal and present worlds; a wealthy merchant with millions of clients sang, nodding his head and swaying.
"Therefore, choosing the right customers is very important."

A rare and high-quality iron pestle, which has no special features except for its hardness, can actually sell for a full 3000 Soul Ash!
He already had over 6000 Soul Ash points.

Uesugi Tetsuya did a quick mental calculation, then his pupils contracted slightly.

In this way, my Soul Ash reserves will exceed 10000 points!

　A reader previously pointed out that "Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi" should be "Totsuka-no-Tsurugi" (十拳剑), which is an error.
　　Thank you for pointing it out; it has now been revised.

　　Therefore, what Uesugi Tetsu previously obtained was "fragments of the Totsuka Blade".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)