I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

He said calmly with a serious expression.

“My intention is very simple—I want to find out where my current limits are.”

—Of course, the main reason is to exploit talent.

He silently added in his mind.

To conquer every martial arts dojo in Edo and exploit every talent he could get his hands on—this was a thought and plan that Qing Deng had kept deep in his mind ever since he transmigrated to this world.

Those who can open a martial arts dojo in a place like Edo, a place teeming with hidden talents, must have some skill to them.

The owners of each venue and the top performers in each venue all possess extraordinary talent!

Throughout Edo, there are no fewer than a hundred martial arts dojos with names and titles. If he could challenge them all... Qing Deng couldn't even imagine how much his talent would expand!

Unfortunately... he had never had the opportunity or ability to turn this idea into reality.

He used to be weak and powerless.

In the Edo period, challenging a dojo was no easy feat.

Most martial arts dojos do not welcome challengers.

Whenever someone comes to challenge them, they'll either give you some money to send you away, or they'll swarm you and cripple you.

But now, times have changed.

Qingdeng is no longer the unknown nobody he once was.

Who dares to ignore Nioh's challenge?

Who dares to slight the King of Benevolence?

After Aoto led the Shinsengumi to Kyoto, even if he wanted to return to Edo, he would find it difficult to find the time.

If not now, when will I put this long-held "talent-cultivating plan" into practice while I'm still here?

Moreover, the outcome of this trip to Kyoto is uncertain.

Although Qing Deng is now very powerful, he is not so arrogant as to think that he is invincible.

There are people outside people, and there are days outside the sky.

Regardless of the fact that in such a low-level martial arts world, it would not be surprising to see any kind of abnormally strong person.

The increasingly advanced firearms and artillery alone were enough to make Qing Deng feel powerless.

No matter how powerful Qingdeng was, or how fast he wielded his sword, he could not withstand the roar of guns and cannons and the fury of warships.

In any case, before going to Luoyang, it's always a good idea to copy as many talents as possible and enhance one's own strength!

Of course, what he just said to everyone—that he wanted to confirm where his current limits were—was not a lie.

Qingdeng has forgotten exactly when it started.

In short, he hadn't experienced the feeling of "fighting all-out against an equally matched opponent" for a long time.

Those people he used to think were out of reach are now no match for him.

Looking around Qing Deng, among all the people he knew, the only one he could give his all for was probably Kiryu-sensei.

Unfortunately, ever since Kiryu passed on "Breath of the Source" to Aoto, he has never sparred with Aoto again.

On the one hand, its own strength is constantly growing.

On the other hand, he has yet to find an opponent who can force him to use his full strength.

This made Qingdeng feel a little... lonely.

So, with Sanako's help, he sent a letter to that man in the Mito Domain... to that man who was known as "the strongest in Edo"!

Aoto had already copied Chiba Eijiro's talent.

From the perspective of "exploiting talent", he has no need to compete against Chiba Eijiro anymore.

But... he really wanted to figure it out.

Figure out where your current limits are.

Figure out who is stronger between yourself and the famous figures of Edo!

Are we already stronger than them?

Is there still some distance to go?

To leave Edo without any regrets—that was the thought that Aoto was determined to have.

After getting dressed and putting on his snow hat, Qingdeng stood up slowly.

Are you coming home for dinner tonight?

While fiddling with his smooth chin, Kondo Shusuke asked a question that seemed completely out of place with the current atmosphere.

"I will be back for dinner on time tonight."

After saying that, he pushed open the door in front of him.

As soon as Qingdeng stepped out of the test hall, he felt the warm sunshine and the gazes of various emotions.

Looking around, there were many unfamiliar faces around the Shiwei Hall.

They were all busybodies who came after hearing the news and wanted to join in the fun.

Ignoring their stares and scrutiny, Qingdeng walked alone onto the street, which was covered in a blanket of white snowflakes, with a blank expression.

Heavy snow fell suddenly the day before yesterday.

The snow-covered road stretched into the distance, gradually becoming shrouded in a pale mist.

Qingdeng felt extremely happy.

The thought of facing all the strongest warriors of Edo... instantly sent shivers down his spine, and an indescribable excitement coursed through his veins.

His sturdy body pushed through the layers of mist, and he stood tall and forward.

……

……

Edo, Seigakukan —

"I would like to have a match with Master Nakamura Ichiro!"

Qing Deng stood outside the gate of the Jingxue Hall and shouted loudly.

Thanks to his innate ability to "read ten lines at a glance," Aoto already knew the names of all the martial arts dojo masters in Edo by heart.

Those curious onlookers followed Qingdeng closely, keeping a certain distance from him for fear of disturbing him.

Thus, a strange sight appeared—wherever Qingdeng went, he was followed by a large group of people, just like a mother duck leading her ducklings on a walk.

Incidentally, among the group of idlers who followed Aoto closely were Souji, Kinoshita Mai, and Sanako.

Ironically, even though there was no prior agreement, the three of them made the same decision.

As Aoto set off for the various martial arts dojos, Souji, who was half a step behind Aoto, and Kinoshita Mai and Sanako, who had been waiting outside the Shieikan for a long time, naturally merged into the crowd.

They worried that Aoto would be injured in this unprecedented "Edo Conquest," and out of strong anxiety, they were unwilling to leave Aoto's side—this statement seems to be incorrect.

They appeared calm, with no trace of worry or fear on their faces.

Even Kinoshita Mai, who is the most emotional and sentimental, remained completely calm.

Their opposition to Aoto launching the "Edo Conquest"—this viewpoint also seems inaccurate.

Several days have passed since the challenge was sent out.

That's a long time, enough for them to nag Qingdeng hundreds or thousands of times.

Moreover, Souji was the one who helped Aoto send out the challenge letter.

Although one could see helplessness and melancholy in the expressions and eyes of the three women, none of them stepped forward to dissuade Qingdeng.

They quietly and silently followed the flow of people, always staying in a place where they could see Qingdeng at a glance, and Qingdeng could also see them at a glance.

It was as if they simply wanted to accompany Qingdeng and help him do whatever he wanted.

Besides the three of them, among the crowd were Aoto's relatives and friends, including Harada Sanosuke and Todo Heisuke.

The reason they were here was quite simple—they just wanted to join in the fun.

Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, a short while later, a loud "bang" was heard, and the sound of the door being pushed open came from behind the main gate of the Jingxue Hall.

Then, with a series of creaking sounds, the originally closed door gradually opened into a figure-eight shape.

The two young apprentices who pushed open the door bowed to Qingdeng and said respectfully and solemnly:

"Your Highness, please come in!"

Qingdeng took off his snow hat, drew the Dingguishen and Piluchana from his left waist, and carried them in his right hand. Led by the two young apprentices, he stepped over the threshold and strode towards the magnificent building.

For the rest of the journey, the onlookers could no longer accompany him; they could only wait outside the museum, watching Qingdeng's retreating figure and then quietly awaiting his return.

……

……

The headmaster of the Seigakukan school, Nakamura Ichiro, sat upright in the main seat of the dojo, his face tense. His students sat nervously on either side of him.

Qing Deng strode swiftly to the center of the apprentices, directly in front of Nakamura Ichiro, and sat down with his knees bent.

"Master Nakamura Ichiro, I wish to have a match with you!"

There was no nonsense, no unnecessary small talk, only an almost uncontrollable fighting spirit!

Ichiro Nakamura pursed his lips, then let out a long sigh.

His expression seemed to say: It's finally here...

"I accept your challenge..."

At that moment, a loud shout interrupted Ichiro Nakamura's words.

“师傅，且慢！”

A sturdy apprentice suddenly stood up and quickly stepped out of line.

"Your Excellency Niou, I am Nakano Jiro, the third seat of the Seigakukan!"