I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

Because the vast majority of swordsmen who can reach the threshold of extraordinary sword skills have gone through countless days and nights of training, countless battles, and have reached this point only after being soaked in sweat and blood.

That's why they are more aware than anyone else of how much talent they have, how much they have sacrificed to get to where they are today, and how much more they can still take on.

Aside from a very few swordsmen who harbored unrealistic dreams and were subsequently trapped in their current situation, living a life of frustration and unfulfilled potential because of this choice.

Almost everyone is only capable of standing at the threshold of expert level, looking up at the path of swordsmanship, which seems to have no end in sight.

After all, they might not even make it halfway down this path in their entire lives.

Geniuses are few and far between.

Acknowledging one's own mediocrity is the first cruel reality that swordsmen who have reached the pinnacle of skill must face.

This selection is extremely important; please choose carefully!

The yellow caution warning popped up a second time, wanting Uesugi Tetsu to think things through before making a choice.

Even if you choose only one of skill or principle, you might one day become a true swordsman admired by all, perhaps due to good luck or hard work.

"But that's all."

Choosing only one option may make the journey easier and faster, but it won't allow you to go far.

Even among all the great swordsmen, he would be classified as the lowest tier.

To think that you could climb any higher is utter nonsense.

However, if one fails to properly assess their own talents and acts impulsively in a moment of passion, it is easy to fall into a situation where it becomes difficult to make any progress from then on.

Finally, he watched helplessly as people who were once far inferior to him left him behind, and then committed suicide in despair.

Historically, there have been quite a few swordsmen like this.

The gains and losses involved are a matter of personal choice.

"But if you want to become a true strongman, how can you make choices?"

Uesugi Tetsuya swiped the cautious prompt aside and clicked on the colorful [Skill and Reason] without hesitation: "The strong are always somewhat greedy."

[If you choose "Focus on Direction: Technique and Reason," the difficulty of practicing the Natural Reason Mind Style will increase significantly. Please choose carefully!]

【Please choose carefully! 】

Two confirmation prompts popped up again, attempting a final interception.

Uesugi Tetsu reached out and crushed the two lines of text in one swift motion.

Then, the colorful words shone brightly in his palm!

[You have chosen the future focus of your swordsmanship, the Natural Reason Style: Technique and Reason!]

【Natural Mind-Body Flow: Technique and Reason (Expert 198/10000)】

[Effect: The path to enlightenment begins here.]

"What my heart desires, though I die nine times, I will not regret."

With the choice of a more focused path, the original 198 points of proficiency were invested, and the effects and descriptions of the Natural Mind Flow also changed.

Uesugi Tetsu calmly watched the notifications that popped up one by one.

[The effect of your swordsmanship, Natural Mindfulness Style, has undergone a major change!]

From this day forward, every improvement in your proficiency will deepen your understanding of swordsmanship and its principles, allowing you to take a further step on the path of the sword!

[—Seek the truth! Seek the truth! Seek the truth!]

Uesugi Tetsu stroked his chin with great interest.

This means that, even without accumulating a full 10,000 proficiency points to break through to the master level, one can still achieve this level on the original basis.

You can also benefit from every bit of proficiency gained through daily practice and combat.

This feeling is good.

However, the statement that "the difficulty of cultivation will increase significantly" is probably not just a joke.

I don't know how many proficiency points each daily practice session will grant.

Even now, the notifications continue to flood in.

[You have gained a new feature: First Impression of Swordsmanship!]

[You have gained a new feature: First Encounter with Sword Principles!]

[First Impression of Swordsmanship]

[Effect: Your understanding of swordsmanship far surpasses that of the average swordsman... but that's all.]

A true master always retains the heart of a student.

[Note: As the proficiency of the swordsmanship style "Natural Mind Style" increases, the trait "Initial Understanding of Swordsmanship/Sword Principles" will change.]

The effect of first understanding the principles of swordsmanship is quite similar to that of the introduction and sword techniques.

Uesugi Tetsu glanced at it at a glance.

—Expert-level swordsmanship has already surpassed the imagination of countless mortals. All sword moves, stances, and actions below it are nothing more than jokes that can be seen through at a glance.

This is why Ririko, who was holding a bamboo sword, was able to easily use it as a ball to hit him.

Because if it were the current Uesugi Tetsuya, even if all other conditions were exactly the same, he could still beat both of his predecessors so badly they couldn't get up.

Having traversed such a long journey, I have only reached the threshold of extraordinary swordsmanship.

"A new beginning..."

Just staring at the five-figure proficiency requirement, Uesugi Tetsuya felt as if he were seeing the longest progress bar he had ever seen.

But he smiled, overjoyed.

Because a long, unseen road lay ahead, awaiting his journey.

Along this journey, there were countless others who, like him, stubbornly chose the path of "skill versus reason."

"That's wonderful, that's great."

Uesugi Tetsuya exhaled and calmed himself down for a moment.

But not long after, he was somewhat surprised to find that he did not seem to have changed much before and after choosing "skill and reason".

Whether it's the mastery of stances and techniques in swordsmanship, or the understanding of the somewhat mysterious principles of swordsmanship.

strangeness.

Uesugi Tetsu squinted and explored for a while, and found that it was indeed true.

How could it be like...

Just as he was thinking this, he saw the description of the effects of Natural Mind Flow.

—"The path to enlightenment begins here."

Uesugi Che was slightly stunned.

Yes, the decision has only just been made, and everything is just beginning.

Why demand immediate change?

Whether it was Ririko or so many other hints, they all repeatedly reminded her that the path of skill and reason cannot be taken quickly.

But I seem to have been a bit too impatient.

"These days, I have indeed become a bit impatient and restless."

Uesugi Tetsu changed his position to avoid his back being pressed too hard and hurting.

He took two slow, deep breaths and thought, "It's time to make some adjustments."

There's no need to rush.

Even if 1.5 waves and seed battles are not far off.

But since he entered the Warring States period for the second time, only a few days have passed in the present world.

Three days.

Less than seventy-two hours.

In that short time, some lazybones could drink heavily, sprawl on the floor, and sleep soundly for two days straight.

So there's no need to rush.

Sometimes, slowing down the pace a bit can actually make you go faster.

Just like he once said to Ririko—

"Take it slow, it'll be faster."

Uesugi Tetsu patted his cheeks, and only after feeling much more relaxed did he continue thinking.

Before choosing between technique and reason, the changes brought about by simply breaking through to the expert level in Natural Reason Flow are still enormous.

The changes in technique are so obvious they couldn't be more obvious.

He has improved significantly in all aspects of swordsmanship, becoming like a large wooden barrel without any weaknesses.

Just as Uesugi Tetsu had thought, the change in technique alone was enough to completely crush the two versions of himself from before.

As for sword theory... that's really quite mysterious.

Uesugi Tetsu could clearly sense that something about him had changed, and he had indeed become stronger.

But when asked what his specific strengths were, he was speechless.

It seems like "lv+1" is popping up above my head, but my attributes don't change at all.

Uesugi Tetsu rubbed the small blanket covering him, wanting to continue pondering what Kenryu was and how he had become stronger.

But as soon as he raised his hand, he noticed with his sharp eyes that a perfectly smooth tear had suddenly appeared on the once clean blanket.

Or rather, a slash mark.

It felt like being cut by an extremely sharp knife.

"what?"

Uesugi Tetsuya confirmed that the blanket was perfectly intact just seconds before.

He wasn't so bored as to release any spiritual power or qi to his fingertips and deliberately ruin his own blanket.

"Could it be that……"

Uesugi Tetsu recalled the feeling from just now, and once again lightly brushed his fingers along the edge of the blanket.

pat.

Under his gaze, the upper right corner of the blanket silently separated from the main body and fell onto the smooth wooden floor.

real or fake.

Uesugi Tetsu stared at his fingers and found that they were no different from usual.

Yet, without exerting any force, she could cut through the soft, expensive blanket covering him.

It was as if an invisible, extremely sharp blade had sprung out from between my fingers.

Uesugi Tetsu waved his hand, then reached out and grasped, feeling an invisible "Kaga Kiyomitsu" in his palm.

"Is this a side effect of comprehending the principles of swordsmanship?"

Can't figure it out.

As he opened his hands to let "Kaga Kiyomitsu" dissipate, Uesugi Tetsu fell into deep thought once again.

This sword principle, like the Void Qi Sea that was recently opened up, definitely has many effects that I haven't yet discovered.

The only definite effect at present is that it allows one to grasp an invisible, sharp blade that is not visible to the naked eye and can be changed at will.

That way, I won't die from being unarmed in the future.

Uesugi Tetsu casually moved his five fingers, feeling the invisible blade grow larger and smaller at his fingertips: "After all, I'm not an academic, and my knowledge in this area is somewhat lacking."

After this, I still need to learn more from the seniors in related fields.

Thinking this, Uesugi Tetsu turned his gaze back to Kaga Kiyomitsu, who was leaning against the wall, a faint black light emanating from the gap in his scabbard.

After Kaga Kiyomitsu slayed the embodiment of illness and settled down, he began the same evolution as after slaying the embodiment of love and separation.