Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

He drank the wine in one gulp and exhaled a breath of wine.

"I've said it before, I'm not that easy to die."

"Ghosts and spirits are not as simple as you think."

"."

"Although I'd like to say that."

"But I am still alive this time, which is actually thanks to you. Your Hundred Ghosts Scroll is extremely strange. It can even make the soul of the Tosho Shinjun, who still has believers, disappear and disrupt his divine soul, and take all his divine power for his own use."

"I have never seen such a terrifying ability before."

“Logically speaking, as long as there is one person in this world who knows the name of Tosho no Shinjun, he will not perish, but this rule does not seem to apply to you.”

"I thought I would suffer the same fate, but the scroll spared me and simply sealed me away."

“It didn’t even imprison my freedom; look, I can still appear before you.”

Uesugi Kiyoshi remained outwardly calm, but his mind was in turmoil.

"What exactly is going on?"

He was extremely puzzled, but he couldn't bring himself to ask the question.

What exactly is the "List of Yokai, Scroll of One Hundred Demons"?

Uesugi Seiichi waved his hand, and the Hell Hand, tightly gripping Onikiri, quietly appeared behind him. He stared at Shuten-dōji with a wary expression, as if facing a formidable enemy, and asked a question.

Shuten-dōji drank another bowl of sake, showing no intention of making a move.

"Save your breath. I am now powerless, with only a wisp of my soul remaining, which is sealed within your Hundred Ghosts Scroll. I pose no threat to you."

"But likewise, you can't kill me."

"Unless you can destroy your Hundred Demons Scroll, you can't hurt me."

Shuten-dōji was drinking alone, and Uesugi Kiyoshi was skeptical; he wouldn't easily believe the words of his former enemy.

After a moment of contemplation, his eyes flashed with a fierce light. He pointed his finger, and flames roared on the Hell Hand. Dojigiri Yasutsuna swiftly slashed down at Shuten-dōji.

Shuten-dōji showed no surprise, merely raising his head slightly, appearing ready to face death.

Dojigiri Yasutsuna easily cleaved him in two, but the next second, his body turned into mirage and reassembled.

Without stopping pouring and drinking, Shuten-dōji curled his lip and said dismissively, "Do you believe me now?"

Uesugi Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow, his thoughts unreadable, then gathered the Onikiri on his back and forced a smile.

"I'm asking you, what exactly is this 'List of Yokai' or 'Scroll of One Hundred Demons' that you mentioned?"

"And what is the 'Stage to Godhood'?"

Shuten-dōji gave Uesugi Kiyoshi a meaningful look and put down his sake bowl.

"Judging from your expression, you really don't seem to know what this is."

"That's interesting. I originally thought you were the reincarnation of that person, but it seems there's more to the story."

"Could you be his successor?"

"."

"Fine, I might as well tell you."

Shuten-dōji stood up and strolled leisurely through the Mirage Tower, admiring the murals on the walls, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes.

"Monsters are a type of ghost or deity, but they are also somewhat different from ghosts and deities."

“Japanese yokai are basically social animals—they form groups or gangs to gather strength and fight against humans or hostile yokai forces.”

"It is easier to survive in chaotic times if we stick together and keep warm."

"Over time, a roster of monsters appeared among the monsters. This was actually a register that recorded the names of all the monsters that had submitted to a certain monster king."

"Gradually, as time went by, the Demon King's power grew day by day, and the monsters' awe of their leader, the Demon King, gradually transformed into habitual faith."

"Like believers and gods."

"At this time, the register of yokai, imbued with the power of faith and the breath of the yokai king, will grow into the [Scroll of One Hundred Demons].

"Once someone is depicted in the Hundred Demons Scroll, it means that they belong to the power of a certain great demon and will receive power from him, but at the same time they must be loyal to him."

As Shuten-dōji finished speaking, he flicked his hand.

Behind him, a slightly yellowed and tattered scroll also appeared.

In the scroll, the red-haired Shuten-dōji stands proudly, with Ibaraki-dōji and Hoshiguma-dōji standing on his left and right respectively. Kuma-dōji, Ishi-kuma-dōji, and Kin-kuma-dōji each lead countless oni in formation. Before the oni soldiers are arrayed, the red oni and the blue oni lead the way.

"This is my Scroll of One Hundred Demons, which records the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons under my command."

"The scroll of a hundred demons on this wall belongs to you."

"Hmph, you spared my remnant soul because you want me to submit to you and become one of your Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?"

"So you're actually thinking of making the Ghost King your slave?"

"If you really are that person, it's not impossible."

Shuten-dōji glanced at the statue of Uesugi Kiyoshi with a complicated expression, then turned his head and spoke somewhat solemnly.

"Hey, kid, what exactly are you?"

"Is it a person? Or a ghost?"

"Or...a god?"

Chapter 149 The Ghost King Enters the Painting, the Viper Entrusts His Orphan

Having answered Uesugi Kiyoshi's questions truthfully, Shuten-dōji no longer bothered with being mysterious or secretive.

But this question, which sounds like a swearing match, is indeed quite sharp.

He couldn't very well say that he was a time traveler—subconsciously, he always felt that this was his biggest secret.

If I say it out loud, something very ominous might happen.

This wasn't him being overly sensitive or paranoid; he had a sixth sense or psychological suggestion constantly reminding him of this.

Integrate into this world.

Just like you were born here.

So he straightened his expression.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Uesugi Kiyoshi."

"Swordsman, master of the Shinkage-ryu style, newly entered the extraordinary realm, currently the fourth collector in the Collectors Association."

"Please give me your guidance, Your Majesty the Ghost King."

Shuten-dōji frowned, somewhat impatiently saying, "You know that's not what I'm asking you."

Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't mind that his attitude was a bit rude, and pointed to the mural on the wall.

"I know what you want to ask, but I can't give you an answer."

"Everything here appeared naturally after I awakened to the extraordinary. This is my dream, my world. They seem to have always been here until I discovered him."

"The Register of Monsters, the Scroll of a Hundred Demons, the Steps to Godhood."

"It's always like that."

“You speak frankly to me, and I will not hide it from you. I can draw power from this, but I am indeed a human being.”

"I am neither a ghost nor a god."

If I absolutely have to say something...

Uesugi Kiyoshi recalled tonight's battle, first slaying the Demon King, then the God, and a confident and unrestrained smile appeared on his lips.

Cultivation makes one's body stronger, and victory makes one's spirit stronger.

"I am the one who slays demons and gods!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi looked at Shuten-dōji with a serious expression, and his words were resounding, not just an answer, but more like a grand vow.

Upon hearing this, Shuten-dōji was stunned for a moment.

Immediately afterward, in an attempt to cover up his lapse in composure, he took a sip of wine.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again in a low voice.

"That sounds familiar. Do you know who said that last time?"

Before Uesugi Kiyoshi could speak, Shuten-dōji answered his own question.

"The first owner of the Hundred Demons Scroll behind you."

Hearing this, Uesugi Kiyoshi became interested.

Without him needing to ask, Shuten-dōji started talking on his own.

"I recognize too many of the demons and gods on the scroll of a hundred demons behind you."

“During the Heian period, they all belonged to someone’s subordinates—you heard right, these yokai were under the command of a human and were considered part of his Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons).

"You know what, Uesugi Kiyoshi, my first thought when I got here was..."

"Could you be his reincarnation?"

"Although he should have ended up with his soul scattered, I always felt that the kind of person wouldn't die so easily."

"Using the same sword, you can use Onikiri and wield the Hell Hand of Mount Oe, which makes you very popular with yokai—that little girl who carries the soul of the Yoto Hime seems to rely on you a lot."

"And the Lord of a Hundred Tales"

"Back then, she was a great demon who showed no respect to anyone. She used a green lamp to gather the souls of the dead. She was the master of the green lamp who dared to challenge the King of Hell in the underworld. She was proud and arrogant, and there were not many ghosts or gods who could catch her eye."

"The owner of this scroll depicting a hundred demons is one of them."

After drinking, Shuten-dōji became rather talkative. His eyes were somewhat glazed over, whether he was thinking of the sword fights of yesteryear or of his old friends who were now separated from him by death was unknown.

"I want to know his name."

Uesugi Kiyoshi asked the question directly.