I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

"But above all that, there is still a universal method..."

[“Ririko Tokugawa” is teaching you the “measure of technique and reason”...]

Uesugi Tetsu swallowed a dose of calming incense ash and sat up straight.

About twenty minutes later, the notification that he had successfully learned the skill popped up in front of him again.

Looking at the prompt in front of him, Uesugi Tetsuya understood everything.

A scale is a standard for measurement.

It is a tool that can be used to better understand one's spiritual progress and regression.

In this way, practitioners' motivation to practice can be stimulated to a greater extent.

[Your trait, Initial Sword Skill, has been changed to "Sword Skill (1%)"!]

[Your trait, Initial Understanding of Sword Principles, has been changed to "Sword Principles (1%)"!]

Two long, empty progress bars appeared before Uesugi Tetsuya's eyes; currently, only the very bottom of each bar was filled.

—From a vague "first acquaintance" to a game-like "1%", much of it has become more concrete.

Next, Uesugi Tetsuya only needs to fill both progress bars completely to complete his training in technique and reason at the expert level.

"This progress bar... it seems kind of familiar..."

Uesugi Tetsu thought for a moment, then brought up the panel for the Linzi Jue technique and found that the three were indeed quite similar.

"how do you feel?"

Ririko's voice came through.

Uesugi Tetsu answered truthfully: "It's exactly the same as playing an RPG game."

—Perhaps this scale theory is just a tool for others to more clearly measure progress and regression.

But for Uesugi Tetsuya, it was more than that.

Because the progress bar he sees never goes backwards...

"I wish I could help you."

Ririko smiled and said, "Hmm... Is there anything else you want to ask? If not, let's leave it at that."

She raised her finger and tapped her head.

"My inspiration is flowing."

In terms of spiritual practice, there is indeed none left.

Uesugi Tetsu asked directly, "Will Ririko participate in the Tokyo Seed Tournament?"

This question stumped Lilizi.

She hesitated for a long time, then shook her head: "Maybe not..."

Halfway through her sentence, Ririko raised her eyes alertly, stared at him, and asked in return,

"You want me to participate?"

Uesugi Tetsu hesitated for two seconds before cautiously replying, "I'm just looking forward to it."

So the girl nodded: "If you really want to see me up there, then I'll reluctantly sign up."

"Otherwise, forget it."

She spread her hands.

"why?"

Uesugi Tetsuya was somewhat puzzled.

He remembered that not long ago, Ririko had told him that she wanted to defeat those geniuses and stand at the highest point in Tokyo.

"Because the path of spiritual practice that I can see is still very, very long."

Ririko smiled and gestured, "Why waste time fighting those guys who aren't even real strongmen?"

This reason was something Uesugi Tetsu had not anticipated.

However, if you think about it carefully from her perspective, it makes perfect sense.

The only question is, doesn't Ririko care at all about fame, status, the approval of others, and rare material rewards?

Uesugi Tetsu didn't ask that question.

Because he knew that Ririko would definitely answer:

--Yes.

……

After being chased away by Ririko, who had begun meditating in the evening breeze, Uesugi Tetsu returned to the living room and took out his phone, which had been vibrating several times.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the special affairs officer from Shizuoka Prefecture that Nanjo had mentioned earlier who had added him.

When Uesugi Tetsu opened the add request, he found that the other party's black and white profile picture was a martial artist from a cheap fighting manga, who took the first step in 5,001 years of Chinese martial arts.

The line name is 【心如止水】.

Without much thought, Uesugi Tetsu accepted the friend request.

【Heart as Still Water: Hello.】

[Tsuki-suna-chan: Hello.]

[Heart as Still Water: Hello, Arakawa Ward Special Agent "Uesugi Tetsu", I am "Yagyu Akira" responsible for contacting you. Please address me as "Yagyu-kun".]

Yagyu?

Uesugi Tetsuichi raised an eyebrow.

This surname is truly renowned—Yagyu Shinkage-ryu is the largest and most complete branch of the Shinkage-ryu school, which originated from the sword saint "Kamizumi Nobutsuna" hundreds of years ago.

Its fame is almost on par with that of Hokushin Itto-ryu and Katori Shinto-ryu, which are almost universally known sword styles.

This kind of person is actually in charge of liaison work?

If there wasn't something fishy going on, only a fool would believe it.

In front of the screen, Uesugi Tetsu thought for a while, then asked the other person if they wanted to have a proper sparring match after the matter was over.

[Xinruzhishui:! 】

[A Mind as Still as Water: If I am fortunate enough, please allow me to have a fair and square battle with you! And to further hone my martial arts skills!]

happy.

Uesugi Tetsu didn't expect that his opponent would reveal his true colors with just the first probing move.

Now that we've achieved our goal, let's get back to the main topic.

[Tsuki-suna-chan: Let's try to talk about work [handshake.jpg]]

[Heart as Still Water: I'm sorry.]

[Peaceful Mind: Let's try to talk about work [handshake.jpg]]

Next, a Shizuoka Prefecture Special Affairs Department officer named Yagyu Akira gave Uesugi Tetsuya a detailed introduction to the situation there and his work for the next few days.

Of course, PDF files are also essential.

After quickly scanning the entire document with his gaze, Uesugi Tetsuya stroked his chin: "Seems like it's quite easy?"

At least the intensity was far less than when facing illness during the Warring States period.

[Tsuki-suna-chan: Understood, don't worry, I'll be there on time.]

[Heart as Still Water: Thank you [clasped hands.jpg]]

That concludes the discussion.

Because the work is finished.

Uesugi Tetsuya waited for a while but no new message came. He figured the person on the other end was probably the stubborn and old-fashioned type.

When we say we'll talk about work as much as possible, we really only talk about work.

Yes, he should be a classic disciple of the Yagyu Dojo.

"In that case..."

Uesugi Tetsu put down his phone and walked around the villa.

Inside the dojo on the first floor, three drunkards were still fast asleep; upstairs, Hiyoribou was actually playing a game with Kakashi using a controller.

Just watching Kaga Kiyomitsu awkwardly tapping the handle button with the hilt of his sword, Uesugi Tetsu couldn't help but chuckle.

In this way, it seems that there is no place in the villa where he is needed for the time being.

Then he should be able to lie in bed and return to Edo Castle after so long.

Uesugi Tetsuya hadn't forgotten.

—When I gave the Walking Token to the Nameless Swordsman last time, he said that I could come back to him again when I reached the expert level in the Natural Mind Style.

At that time, the nameless swordsman said he would teach him the true secrets of the Natural Rishin-ryu style.

"Then what am I still waiting for?"

In the darkness, Uesugi Tetsu closed his eyes with anticipation.

Wow.

The water pressure vanished in an instant.

Cold, gloomy, dilapidated, damp.

Uesugi Tetsu opened his eyes in the thatched hut and inhaled the familiar smell of rotten thatch deeply.

He looked around at the familiar furnishings in the thatched hut, then hung the travel permit at his waist and put on the white Prajna mask.

Uesugi Tetsuya pushed open the moldy door and strode onto the muddy road.

Not far away, two clusters of fire that happened to be parked here suddenly "looked" at Uesugi Tetsuya.

A scorching heat rose up, distorting the air.

But Uesugi Tetsuya didn't slip away silently like last time.

He is no longer the same person he used to be.

As the torrential rain poured down, the edge of Zibai Banruo's ferocious smile slipped away.

The demon grinned and opened its arms.

"Edo Castle, it's been a long time."

Chapter 210 The New Profound Technique: The Sword of No Ignorance! Fang Xiangshi reappears, the second effect of the Lin Word Technique!

In heavy rain.

Two balls of intensely hot flames hovered in mid-air, and the expression on the human head at the very center of the flames grew increasingly agonizing and painful, causing the crimson fire to blaze even brighter.

——【Cong Yuanhuo (two and a half stars)】.

"A two-and-a-half-star demon, how terrifying."

Uesugi Tetsu exclaimed in surprise, "If I had seen you guys at this close range before, I would have been roasted to a crisp."

The two clumps of primordial fire ignored him, simply floating over from the left and right, intending to surround and burn him, inflicting pain upon him.

The heat seeped through the rain and landed on Uesugi Tetsuya's skin.

"But it's a pity."

He reached out and grasped her hand, saying with utmost seriousness, "I am not the same person I used to be."

Boom!

The two clumps of primordial fire spun silently, and as if by prior arrangement, they pounced from ten meters away in an instant!

They evaporate all the moisture along the way, sending scalding steam soaring into the sky.

However, Uesugi Tetsuya, who was targeted by them, did not move.