I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

This was more than enough to convince ordinary people who had little knowledge and couldn't even read.

So soon, the lord of Mikawa, Imagawa Yoshimoto, head of the Imagawa family, arrived with a physician, and the news that the plague and demons would disappear quickly spread throughout eastern Mikawa.

This reputation and news naturally spread quickly to Yoshida Castle.

……

Five days later.

Above the Matsudaira family home, the sun hangs high in the sky.

The somewhat dull-looking monk sat in the main seat, gently stroking the trained homing pigeon perched on his arm, a pigeon that could be sold in the markets of Dongsanhe.

He read the contents of the scroll again, muttering to himself.

"It seems that the rumors circulating outside were not false information used to deceive this humble monk."

The wooden fish beside the monk suddenly vibrated and emitted a laughing sound, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the teacup.

"Hahaha! Bodhidharma, you've finally become shrewd!"

This old man is greatly relieved!

Bodhidharma gently rubbed his fingertips, turning the paper roll into dust, then spread his palm and used a breath to return it to the world.

The simply dressed monk calmly replied, "Master, I am no longer just a wooden fish that can be struck loudly. All those trials and tribulations were not for nothing."

Bodhidharma carefully picked up the teacup, nodded slightly to it with his chin, drank it, and then continued speaking.

"Being deceived teaches one to be wise and to remember it, so that one will not be deceived again. If any link in this process is missing, the disciple will not grow."

Behind Daruma, the elderly men and women whose clothes were printed with the Matsudaira family crest all lowered their heads, clenched their fists, and dared not utter a sound.

Because those most spirited, pure warriors who dared to draw their swords had already been smashed into a pile of minced meat by the seated monk-like monster in just a few punches.

Fundamentally, we cannot resist it.

The Hatamoto Guard, who should have been mobilized at this time, was delayed in arriving for unknown reasons.

In reality, this was not the reason for the anger of the Matsudaira family's elders and samurai.

Their anger stemmed from the fact that they were only alive thanks to this monstrous monk!

This is an absolute humiliation!

Some wanted to roar and draw their swords, vowing to die to prove their innocence.

Those who remain here are likely not easy to deal with.

Once they thought that if they all died, the Matsudaira family, which had been passed down for more than a hundred years, would be destroyed, their anger subsided.

What followed was even greater humiliation.

Daruma was unaware of the various thoughts in the minds of the Matsudaira family members behind him.

He doesn't care either.

In Damo's view, they were not fundamentally different from the ordinary people in Yoshida Castle.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, this tea has a new flavor."

After swallowing the tea leaves along with the tea, Bodhidharma put his hands together and sincerely bowed slightly to the empty teacup once again.

Then, he slowly spoke, addressing the empty air, "Esteemed benefactors, which of you is the most skilled at disguise?"

In the silence, a withered old man carrying a medicine chest on his back, hunched over, suddenly stepped forward and spoke hoarsely to Bodhidharma.

“Master, I am skilled in this art.”

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd behind him, the old man who had originally exuded an ominous and putrid aura transformed into a kind-faced old herb-gathering man with white hair and beard.

If they saw this person normally, they wouldn't find anything wrong with it at all, and might even think that the person was some kind of barefoot doctor.

Bodhidharma rose and bowed to the kind and gentle old man suffering from karmic illness.

"Then, I'll trouble you, benefactor."

……

As evening fell, the sun began to set.

Not far from Yoshida Castle, in a small village with a population of only about one hundred.

Uesugi Tetsu tied the two horses to the village chief's door.

As for the three of them, they took over the original village chief's house—at the latter's insistence.

The shrunken mountain whale king was sunbathing by the door, while Yoshimoto Imagawa, who had just given a short speech, was taking a nap against the wall.

Uesugi Tetsuya also sat on the ground, placing Kaga Kiyomitsu in front of him and examining its panel.

Soul Points: 812

During these five days of continuous clearing, Uesugi Tetsuya, who had slaughtered countless weak and sick relatives, finally accumulated enough...

However, over the past few days, Uesugi Tetsu discovered that compared to a few scattered demons, he could also get a dozen or even dozens of Soul Ashes.

The Soul Points they drop are generally between 1 and 9.

It can be said that when only slaying weak demons, Soul Points are more valuable than Soul Ashes.

—Let's not delay, let's strengthen one side and see the effect.

Uesugi Tetsu stroked the hilt of Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword and whispered to it, "Kaga, it might hurt a little later, so bear with it."

Buzz?

Kaga Kiyomitsu was startled and shook.

Uesugi Tetsuya looked at the three effects that could only be enhanced and made his decision without much thought.

—Enhance [Thrust Enhancement - Extreme].

Because there's simply no need to think too much about it.

The Hundred Refinements technique is of no help to the current situation, and his most proficient technique, the Three-Stage Thrust of the Natural Mind Flow, is the "Thrust".

Compared to basic attacks, increasing the damage of special moves is definitely more important.

[Do you wish to consume 500 Soul Points to enhance "Thrust Enhancement - Extreme"?]

"Yes."

Uesugi Tetsu muttered to himself.

Then, in an instant, I saw my Soul Points decrease by 500.

Using this as fuel, the exposed part of Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword blade immediately emitted a faint glow.

Kaga Kiyomitsu himself started swaying from side to side, and if you added some "uh-uh-uh-oh-oh-oh" sounds, it would be even more vivid.

But in less than ten seconds, the radiance vanished with a snap, and Kaga Kiyomitsu lay motionless on the spot.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Uesugi Tetsu raised an eyebrow.

That's it?

However, the upgrade completion notification did pop up properly.

[Your Kaga Kiyomitsu: Parting Blade's effect "Thrust Enhancement - Extreme" has been enhanced!]

[Your Kaga Kiyomitsu has gained a new effect—Thrust Specialization!]

"Thrust...specialization?"

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the newly popped-up effect explanation with some confusion.

[Thrust Specialization: When using thrusting sword techniques, you will deal massive additional damage, and Kaga Kiyomitsu will also have a better understanding of "how to perform a thrust."]

Uesugi Tetsu stroked his chin.

"You mean, Xiao Jia, you now understand what a thrust is in swordsmanship, and can help me perform better and faster thrusts?"

hum!

Kaga Kiyomitsu responded approvingly, stood up on his own two feet, and swayed slightly, eager for Uesugi Tetsu to use it and test its effects.

Uesugi Tetsu:?

No?

Are weapons now capable of swordsmanship?

If things continue like this, what will become of his Kaga Kiyomitsu?

Is the Demon Blade Princess skilled in all eighteen sword techniques?

Uesugi Tetsuya was somewhat speechless.

To be fair, if this description is true, then spending those 500 Soul Points was definitely worth it.

Because it allows the weapon in one's hand to fully understand and comprehend the master's intentions in making a move... the effect of this is not as simple as one plus one equals two.

hum~

buzz~

Uesugi Tetsu slapped Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword butt and shoved it back in: "Stop messing around. Can't you see everyone is resting? It's not too late to try again when we encounter demons later."

Imagawa Yoshimoto was indeed resting nearby.

So Kaga Kiyomitsu obediently shrank back into his scabbard and remained motionless.

Uesugi Tetsu placed it on his crossed legs and smiled.

This first enhancement effect of Soul Points... is a good start.

—During these five days of clearing out, the proficiency of the other two skills besides the Corona Breathing Technique also improved significantly.

[Your skill, Natural Rational Flow proficiency +335! ]

[Your skill, Five Thunder Method: Qi Combination Proficiency +240!]

Both are now on the verge of a breakthrough.

【Natural Rational Flow (Mastery 2680/3000)】

[Five Thunder Method: Qi Combination (Proficiency 1241/1400)]

Uesugi Tetsuya rubbed his inner energy and lightning in his palms, silently assessing his proficiency with both.

Although the Five Thunder Technique is about to break through, it is currently only at the proficient level, and its upper limit is very high. Even if it breaks through to the master level, there probably won't be any significant changes...

All I can say is that I hope the Five Thunder Method will give me an extra surprise.

The key is that I am about to break through to the [expert level] of the natural flow of reason.

Expert level.

Uesugi Tetsu recalled the knowledge that Ririko had instilled in him in the past, and made a rough comparison between this knowledge and the proficiency level.

The expert level can be considered the true dividing line between "ordinary" and "extraordinary" in swordsmanship. It is the starting point for swordsmanship to transform into the extraordinary and a fundamental change in the "sword" of a swordsman.

If it's just about mastering swordsmanship, then many dojos have it, and even highly talented high school students in their teens might be able to learn it.

In previous Jade Dragon Flag competitions, Ririko defeated many of her opponents who were proficient swordsmen.

But it's different at the expert level.

There are far too many seasoned swordsmen and young geniuses who are stuck outside this extraordinary threshold, unable to make any progress.

In all the temples, regardless of the school of practice, the vast majority of those who are granted permission to transmit the teachings, and even the teachers in some small temples, are only at the level of beginner experts.

The expert level also encompasses countless kendo geniuses who have overcome numerous obstacles to cross the chasm, starting from the bottom up.

The gap between these two is also enormous.

Even before the wave arrived, Ririko, who had already attained a clear understanding of swordsmanship and had come into contact with the Corona Breathing Technique, was only at the peak of the expert level in the field of swordsmanship.

For thousands of days and nights, there was no progress.

It can be said that expert-level swordsmanship is the pinnacle that ordinary people can reach.

Because above that, one would find legendary swordsmen who would be renowned throughout the land.

So Uesugi Tetsuya was also very confused at the time.