Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

Kyoko Nohara was busy in the kitchen, standing on a small stool. Hearing the door open, she hurriedly turned around and, seeing the face she wanted to see, gave Kiyoshi Uesugi a sweet smile and said softly, "Welcome back, Uesugi-kun—dinner will be ready soon, please wait a moment."

Uesugi Kiyoshi looked at Nohara Kyoko with some doubt, then glanced at the wall clock and asked suspiciously, "Kyoko, did school end so early today?"

He has no plans to go to school recently and is taking the opportunity of his injury to recuperate at home. Although he is still somewhat obsessed with his diploma, his memory, which has been enhanced by the mirage, makes him fearless of any exam.

Kyoko Nohara is different; this little girl is determined to go to school.

What Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't know was that in Nohara Kyoko's heart, only by becoming better could she be worthy of the outstanding Uesugi-kun—a degree from a prestigious university was also indispensable.

This wasn't an unreasonable request, so Uesugi Kiyoshi thought about it for a while and made a decision. He asked Akutagawa Ryunosuke to find someone to transfer Nohara Kyoko to the girls' school where Kamiizumi Rin was, and asked Rin to help look after her.

After all, Nohara Kyoko possesses a demon soul, so who knows what strange things might attract to her?

With Ah Lin looking after us, nothing should happen.

Kamiizumi Rin readily agreed. In her eyes, Nohara Kyoko was now a walking gourmet food maker. Over the past few days, her palate had been spoiled by Nohara Kyoko, and she kept complaining that she had contracted a disease that would kill her if she didn't eat Kyoko's cooking. She cared more about Nohara Kyoko's safety than anyone else.

Naturally, getting a free meal became her reason for staying there and refusing to leave.

Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't feel anything was wrong. This apartment was very large, unlike his previous cramped living space. There were plenty of rooms, so there wouldn't be any awkward cohabitation scenarios. Rin had also helped him ward off many demons and gods, and even managed to cleave Ibaraki-dōji's possessed body in two. Feeding her some good food was the proper thing to do.

"Ah, school is closed because of the heavy rain. We don't need to go to school next week either. We'll have to wait for further notice when classes will resume."

Sitting on the sofa watching TV, Izumi Rin in the kitchen eagerly answered the question.

"Has it affected regular classes?"

Uesugi Kiyoshi nodded thoughtfully.

No wonder the government is getting impatient. Schools have been forced to close due to the torrential rain. If this continues, factories and businesses will have to shut down as well. Tokyo won't be able to hold out for long.

Moreover, if the water level in the Arakawa River were to rise and cause a flood, it would be a rare disaster for the entire Kanto Plain.

His expression grew somewhat somber, and Uesugi Kiyoshi habitually sat down on the sofa.

Kamiizumi Rin held up a plate of sweets and presented it to Uesugi Kiyoshi like a treasure.

"Qing, try this, it tastes really good!"

"It was a gift from my white-haired grandfather."

The image of Ueno Mitsuishi flashed before Uesugi Kiyoshi's eyes.

"Did Ueno-senpai send this?" He casually picked one up and popped it into his mouth; it did taste quite good.

Kyoko Nohara, who was already setting the table, quietly chimed in, "Yes, Uesugi-kun, Ueno-san is a very kind person. He often gives us gifts, and he helps us buy the daily necessities we lack. He also took care of the transfer."

Uesugi Kiyoshi nodded thoughtfully, but did not delve into the topic further.

After dinner, he sat cross-legged in front of the French windows, his mind gradually sinking into a dream.

Back in the familiar mirage, he stood before his own statue, racking his brains for a long time, but still couldn't figure out how to use the "Stairway to Godhood".

"I could clearly feel that unusual power within it."

"But why can't I use it?"

He muttered to himself, staring blankly at the Scroll of One Hundred Demons, then at his own statue, his expression troubled.

"What? You don't know how to use this thing?"

Didn't he leave you an instruction manual?

A slightly sarcastic male voice echoed in the mirage. Uesugi Kiyoshi had gotten somewhat used to this unpredictable interruption over the past few days.

Without even turning his head, the red-haired demon king stepped out of the painting, walked a few steps to Uesugi Kiyoshi, stood side by side with him, and looked at Uesugi Kiyoshi's statue with a very deep smile.

Uesugi Kiyoshi shrugged and sighed, "I have no interest in arguing with you. If you know anything, just say it. If you don't want to say anything, go back to your room."

"You know, although I can't completely destroy you, I can still seal you in the painting."

Shuten-dōji frowned, somewhat helpless. He had never experienced this feeling of being dependent on others.

However, for some reason, he can only maintain the status quo for now.

"This statue is meant to be used in conjunction with the Hundred Demons Scroll."

"Hey, Uesugi, let's make a deal."

"I've been here for a few days, and I'm practically rusting. -- Let me tell you how to use this. If you run into an enemy, you might want to let me go out for some fresh air."

"Summon my true form, guide my spirit—can you do that?"

Uesugi Kiyoshi could do it, but it would be very dangerous.

After absorbing Shuten-dōji's soul, Uesugi Kiyoshi can briefly summon Shuten-dōji to descend upon him, thereby using a portion of his power.

But he never tried this ability.

Too dangerous

That was the Ghost King who had once been his enemy. If he acted rashly, who knew if something might go wrong?

Uesugi Kiyoshi frowned and thought for a long time before shaking his head slightly.

"I can't let you possess me, but I have other ways."

"I can make you appear in the present world to fight."

"If you trust me, the deal is done; if you don't, there's nothing to discuss."

Shuten-dōji nodded indifferently.

"You don't seem like a liar."

"Listen carefully, this is the stairway to godhood."

"A so-called deity must have the support of believers; a deity without believers is incomplete."

"This statue is like a beacon."

"In the ocean of dreams, a beacon guides the believer's thoughts to come to you."

"However, your statue must have another purpose."

"Logically speaking, you inherited the Scroll of One Hundred Demons, and you also inherited the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons behind that person."

“Then, the ghosts and gods in this painting should all be your followers.”

"Calm your mind and use the statue as a medium to contact the demon's soul."

You'll understand then.

"Why is this called the Steps to Godhood!"

Chapter 160 Star Sea

Looking at the red-haired demon king speaking with conviction, Uesugi Kiyoshi stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He is thinking.

According to Shuten-dōji, this statue is a tool used by "gods" to gather faith, and it is also the biggest difference between "gods" and ordinary ghosts and gods.

Uesugi Kiyoshi is now quite interested in "gods"—for example, Tosho Shinkun is a far cry from ordinary ghosts and gods.

Judging from how well Shuten-dōji knew all about it, he was probably a "god" in some sense.

The endless demons of Mount Ooe are the source of his faith.

This might be the secret to how he was able to remain in solitude in the dream world for hundreds or thousands of years and still keep his soul intact.

He frowned and shook his head, saying, "But I don't have any followers."

Shuten-dōji glanced at Uesugi Kiyoshi, his face showing an expression that said, "This kid is hopeless."

"No, you do."

"What do you think this so-called 'faith' really is?"

"Love, worship, gratitude, trust, kinship, and so on—these are the emotional fluctuations between humans, no, between living beings. These are the 'bonds' you speak of, and that is the source of faith."

"The spirits and deities that can be called gods have all mastered the method of transforming this emotion into power."

"The awakening of your so-called supernatural power has one necessary condition: intense emotional fluctuations. Under such emotional conditions, a person's mental power can break through a certain barrier, transcend the mundane, and become extraordinary."

"The biggest difference between extraordinary individuals and ordinary people lies in their beliefs and awareness, which are the basic conditions for wielding extraordinary power."

"You are a swordsman, you should understand that the so-called 'sword heart' is also a way to strengthen one's beliefs and break through to the extraordinary."

Shuten-dōji took a few steps back, then sat down cross-legged without any regard for etiquette. He pulled out a wine bowl from somewhere, and the gourd behind him seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of orange-red wine.

"The more powerful the soul, the greater and more useful the faith it provides."

"If it weren't for the support of the demons of Mount Ooe, I wouldn't be considered a demon king."

"Uesugi, you have quite a few superhuman souls connected to you."

Shuten-dōji downed the wine in one gulp, exhaled a refreshing breath of alcohol, and looked up with a hazy, drunken gaze.

"Go, imagine yourself becoming one with this idol, feel those complex but inseparable thoughts, accept them, distinguish them, and then condense them into your power!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi was somewhat skeptical, but he didn't actually believe that Shuten-dōji was lying to him.

This demon king of Mount Ooe is currently imprisoned in the Hundred Demon Scroll. With just a thought, I can send him into the mural and lock him up. He poses no threat to me.

And this statue shouldn't be harmful to him, as the Hundred Demons Scroll has never done anything detrimental to him.

Uesugi Kiyoshi planned to give it a try, but only for a short while, as this stalemate couldn't continue.

He glanced at Shuten-dōji without avoiding him, and slowly closed his eyes.

Following the method described by the Demon King, Uesugi Kiyoshi slowly connected his "thoughts" with the statue.

He was imagining himself on that high platform, existing eternally, enjoying the worship of mortals and the incense offerings of devout men and women.

In that instant of soul connection, Uesugi Kiyoshi's vision went black.

He felt as if he were sinking, a sense of weightlessness washing over him, making him feel irritable and nauseous.

An invisible sense of oppression came from all directions, like water pressure, but not quite.

I don’t know how long it took.

It could be a second, or it could be an eternity.

The inexplicable pressure from all around suddenly dissipated.