I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

After observing and pondering for a moment, Uesugi Tetsuya asked,

"Is it heading towards becoming a ghost or a god?"

“I can’t hide it from you, Uesugi-kun.” Minamoto Shizumi let out a soft breath and turned to the side. “Let’s talk as we walk.”

"Very good."

Uesugi Tetsu followed beside her—as for the two-foot-tall man, he had already retreated into the Jizo statue to play a single-player game when the car turned into a sweltering hell.

"In the seeding battles of the past two days, although I gave up the wrong promotion that came from my older sister's help, I also gained some personal, superficial understanding of the 'Sea of ​​Calamity' because of it."

Yuan Jingshui's voice was very soft, but it was very clear to everyone.

"Because of this rather rare understanding, which is different from ordinary ghosts and gods, I began to slowly and carefully walk through the sea of ​​tribulations."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Tetsuya understood what that slightly familiar feeling he had sensed from Minamoto Shizumi was.

—During the seed battle finals, he also sensed the "Sea of ​​Calamity" from Gen Shizuku.

However, that time it was like a raging storm, but now it's calm and peaceful.

"sharp."

Uesugi Tetsuya exclaimed in admiration.

Therefore... the spirit that Minamoto no Shizumi achieved must be vastly different from other samurai, truly extraordinary.

Behind the two, a dozen or so bodyguards in black... or rather, burly men who were now acting as "errand runners" quietly followed.

After walking several dozen steps, Uesugi Tetsu looked up and gazed at the giant tree hanging overhead.

The dark, pale green trunk lay upside down on the ground like a giant wooden dragon, its dense branches intertwined like gnarled veins and muscles.

A gentle breeze blows, and thousands of tiny leaves sway and shatter the sunlight, rustling softly.

It looks like a living thing.

Just by looking at it, Uesugi Tetsu could feel the heavy, mottled marks of time and the ancient, profound "spirit" emanating from it.

The Spirit Control Technique was telling him that the "living things" he perceived were not an illusion, but real living fossils that would continue to exist.

"Ling ah..."

Uesugi Tetsu gestured slightly and found that the giant wooden gate was at least ten meters wide, and it was completely invisible from a distance.

Yuan Jingshui stood next to him without saying anything, probably because she was too used to it.

After sighing for a while, Uesugi Tetsuya took out his phone to take pictures but was stopped before finally taking a step with a sense of regret.

Not far ahead are the ninety-nine steps leading to the main road of the Yuan family.

The steps are all paved with gray stone slabs, and the length and height of each step are exactly the same, without the slightest error.

The two of them climbed up the stairs.

Yuan Jingshui walked on the same step as him the whole time, while also carefully observing him out of the corner of her eye.

Compared to before, Uesugi Tetsuya showed absolutely no signs of aggression, his demeanor had returned to its usual calm and ordinary state, and even his exposed body looked unremarkable, no different from an ordinary person.

If she didn't recognize Uesugi Tetsuya's face, she probably would have just glanced at him and ignored him like a random passerby.

Upon closer inspection, Yuan Jingshui discovered that Uesugi Tetsuya's seemingly ordinary skin was actually uneven and had no pores at all.

"Has his body reached a point of returning to its original, natural state...?"

This has nothing to do with the Palace of Flesh or the four ultimate forms, but rather it is a kind of physical "realm" that makes people look up to it with awe.

Thinking of this, Yuan Jingshui couldn't help but ask, "Speaking of which, Uesugi-kun, what was the method you used to promote the circulation of qi and blood just now..."

"Oh, that's a method of controlling qi and blood that Ririko taught me."

Uesugi Tetsu's thoughts drifted away from the steps beneath his feet, which resembled a copy-paste, and he and Minamoto Shizumi explained in great detail the "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound" and the "Method of Embracing the Elixir."

He did not keep anything from Yuan Jingshui or set a trap for her.

In Uesugi Tetsu's view, it is a good thing that everyone can exchange training and make progress together—the stronger Minamoto Shizumi becomes, the better they can become rivals and friends in the future.

"Been taught a lesson."

After slowly climbing the ninety-nine steps, Yuan Jingshui stopped and bowed deeply to Uesugi Tetsuya.

This action not only surprised the black-clad bodyguards who were about to ascend the steps, but also elicited quiet gasps from some teenagers peeking from a distance.

But only Minamoto Shizumi herself knew that her bow was not an exaggeration at all.

Originally, she was just asking out of curiosity... but who would have thought that Uesugi Tetsu would reveal this brand-new method of physical tempering without any reservations.

How generous!

“It’s nothing.” Uesugi Tetsu shook his head. “If you could innovate after you finish your training, that would be a good thing.”

"I'll try."

He responded and looked up, only to find that the main road connected by the steps seemed to stretch on forever.

The Yuan family's situation was somewhat unexpectedly large.

He had originally thought it was a small village with only a few hundred households; wasn't that how the plots of ancient families in novels were always described?

Scattered buildings line both sides of the main road, with more and more houses as you go deeper into the area.

The strange thing is...

Uesugi Tetsu blinked: "Miss Gen, why can't we see a single person on this main road?"

Yuan Jingshui explained,

"Because Uesugi-kun, the place you are going to is the deepest part of the mountains, and you have to walk straight from the entrance of the Minamoto family to the center."

Therefore, many of the younger generation and servants who were originally along the route were temporarily ushered inside.

"The older generation still cares a lot about etiquette and such when entertaining guests..."

Yuan Jingshui paused for a moment, then added, "Originally, I wasn't supposed to be the one to receive you, Uesugi-kun, but there just happened to be a small problem at home."

Uesugi Tetsuya was taken aback by these words, recalling what Nanjo Aimi had told him: "Speaking of which, is it about that Gen Shinsui-sama?"

Yuan Jingshui's expression stiffened slightly, and his face visibly turned ugly.

But she still shook her head: "My sister has just gone out to gain experience on her own. She will come back in a while."

"That's it."

Seeing this, Uesugi Tetsu didn't ask any further questions and continued walking forward.

In the slightly awkward silence, he took the opportunity to glance at the notification that the Core Formation was complete.

[Because you possess the "Heart of Eight Hundred Bhikkhunis" and have repeatedly transferred Qi and Blood, your skill, Core Formation progress, has increased by 32!]

[Embrace the Elixir (68/100) → Embrace the Elixir (100/100)]

You have achieved the "Realm of Embracing the Elixir"!

[Because you have completed the "Embracing the Core" realm, your physique has increased by 5, your control over your physical body has greatly improved, your control over your qi and blood has been greatly enhanced, and your speed in cultivating breathing techniques has been greatly increased!]

After a slight smile to himself, Uesugi Tetsuya looked straight ahead again.

No wonder breathing has become easier.

They can even do something as absurd as walking while simultaneously circulating qi and blood and exploring acupoints within the body.

But before they had gone far, Uesugi Tetsu heard a voice that was both strange and familiar from not far away.

"Let me go! Let me go! I've already said this has nothing to do with me..."

"I won't tell you anything, uhhhh..."

"My throat is bleeding, come save me..."

Uesugi Tetsu and Minamoto Shizumi looked over together.

They discovered that several bodyguards in black were politely and restrainedly "pushing" a beautiful woman in a kimono who was struggling against thin air towards the other side of the Yuan family's residence.

Just then, the kimono-clad beauty, who was practically throwing a tantrum, happened to glance over and meet the gaze of Uesugi Tetsu, who was standing in the middle of the road.

Uesugi Tetsu slowly raised an eyebrow, recognizing who this "beauty" was.

Nine Tribulations Courtyard Jin.

The chaotic noise that had been coming from one person vanished instantly. Kyuuketsuin Kin, with a speed that even Uesugi Tetsu could barely see, composed himself and stood still, walking obediently in place.

It was as if the shouts just now were an illusion.

Only the bewildered group of bodyguards in black and the grateful looks they cast at them proved that everything was real.

"what's the situation?"

Uesugi Tetsu asked, puzzled.

Yuan Jingshui paused for a moment before replying, "Actually, Jin has always had a better relationship with my older sister since childhood, so... well, she's more 'open' when she comes to the Yuan family."

That's how feelings are.

Uesugi Tetsu nodded and waved to Kyuuketsuin Kin, who was about to disappear from sight: "Thanks for the lemon tea last time—"

Upon hearing this, the latter lowered his head even further and quickly left.

Uesugi Tetsu:?

However, he didn't pay too much attention to this little incident and continued walking towards the deep mountains where Spider Cutter was.

Uesugi Tetsuya looked around.

“The style of the Yuan family’s houses is very contemporary, almost identical to those from one or two hundred years ago, or even three or four hundred years ago.”

Having personally experienced the Meiji Restoration, Edo, and Sengoku periods, Uesugi Tetsu remarked.

Moreover, apart from the cars parked outside, he didn't see any modern facilities along the way.

After walking for a few more minutes, Uesugi Tetsu suddenly felt countless eyes staring at him from behind the houses on both sides, through the gaps between the houses, and even further into the bushes.

He slowed his pace slightly, listening to the whispers of the "voyeurs".

"Hey, Jia, is this Uesugi Tetsuya, the guy who could break my phone's vibration motor from just one night of messages? Pfft, he's not that great, not even as good as Ayata and the others..."

"Nao-kun, you secretly bought another phone!? What if you get caught again and your butt gets a good spanking..."

"Wow! Is this the point?! I'm asking you, is this Uesugi Tetsuya?!"

……

"This Uesugi Tetsuya, how come he looks like an ordinary person in every way?"

"You mean even an ordinary person can defeat Sister Jing Shui?"

"Haohong, your reading comprehension is quite something... You should hurry up and go back to study Chinese ten times over."

I just think it's unlikely that a man like that could beat Sister Jing Shui. It would be great if there was a live recording of it.

……

"Ayata, is that Uesugi-sama, the champion of the first seeding tournament in the Eastern Region, next to Shizumi?"

"Yes."

"They are very strong. Even though they are all below the level of ghosts and gods, there is still a world of difference between them and us."

"Who says it isn't?"

……

After looking around, Uesugi Tetsuya noticed that the children on both sides of the road were secretly watching him, ranging from seven or eight years old to teenagers around the same age as Minamoto Shizumi.

Their ability to conceal themselves was vastly different; it's just that he discovered them all.

Uesugi Tetsuya's playful side began to stir.

So he twitched his fingers slightly, using his black and red aura to condense the word "Hello" in front of each person who had just praised him, and then condensed half a finger in front of the forehead of each person who questioned or slandered him.

Without exception, they all got a flick on the forehead.

Boom boom boom...

The crisp sounds rose and fell, and a series of exclamations suddenly came from the houses and bushes on both sides.

This completely shattered all the doubters.

Yuan Jingshui sighed helplessly.