Chapter 156: Third Match Arrives! Gang Qi Circulates, Zhou Tian Never Ceases! (5.5k)

Ga! Ga! Ga!

Countless pitch-black crows surged forth, emitting dry, hoarse cries at the same frequency, swallowing all the chatter in the arena.

Then, the numerous crows stepped one by one onto the edge fence of the arena, falling silent like guards lining a welcome path, then raised their short beaks and heads.

Uesugi Toru, who had Ni-shaku-sama sitting on his lap, silently raised his eyes, reflecting in their depths the pair of cold, indifferent purple pupils in the darkness.

He slowly stood up, letting Ni-shaku-sama lightly step to his side, and raised his shield and "hand" gun toward the darkness.

After only a few minutes, under the dual effect of Ni-shaku-sama's enhanced healing and the Awakening Spirit Mist, most of his consumed Internal Qi and injuries had recovered and healed.

Ni-shaku-sama was the same.

Her originally translucent body, made so by manifesting many "Fantasy Tools," once again solidified.

Among them, Ni-shaku-sama's "Bidirectional Healing" and his current Spirit Technique Attribute of up to 48 points accounted for most of the credit.

As for the effect of the Awakening Spirit Mist, once the Physique exceeded 50 points, it was relatively weak.

Not long after, it should truly fall out of the meta, becoming a tool that only shortens respawn time.

Uesugi Toru did not pick up the plain spear beside him, stained with blood or broken, but instead placed his hand on Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword hilt, stepping one by one to the center of the arena under the crows' gaze.

Facing a vast flock of crows, a plain spear that could only kill or injure single or a few individuals was obviously not as good as the wide-area effect of "Separation Sorrow Domain."

Inside the arena, which had gradually quieted down, the sound of boots colliding with the cement ground gradually rang out.

Clap.

Footsteps stopped, then Crow Takes Time Rain walked out from the darkness, his whole body wrapped in pale bandages, revealing only a pair of extremely cold purple pupils.

On his shoulder stood a tall crow standing upright, its pupils lively like red rubies.

The crow stared fixedly at Ni-shaku-sama, emitting low gaga roars, as if issuing a battle invitation.

Judging by the aura it emitted, it was at least a Two-Star Half demonic beast shikigami, half a star higher than Ni-shaku-sama.

Ni-shaku-sama pouted and coldly snorted, moving closer to Uesugi Toru.

—I'm not falling for your trick!

Inside the arena, the two silently observed each other.

Crow Takes Time Rain revealed nothing except a black robe and bandages; presumably unknown weapons and hidden projectiles were concealed within the robe, giving an invisible pressure.

Uesugi Toru, on the other hand, generously revealed the Cold Steel Arm Guard and all the ornaments at his waist, causing Crow Takes Time Rain's gaze to shift continuously, revealing a solemn look.

Although their methods were completely different, they achieved the same purpose.

Namely, to divert part of the opponent's attention elsewhere.

Kujou Rōya, in a high position, felt both were in place and slowly opened his mouth,

"I declare, Shinken Shiai second match, now open——"

"——Ga!"

Without waiting for Kujou Rōya's words to finish, the crow standing on Crow Takes Time Rain's shoulder flapped its wings and charged straight toward Ni-shaku-sama.

Following that, ordinary crows that had probably been touched by a bit of Spirit Power and demonic energy rose up.

Countless black feathers fell from midair; the flock of crows swept in like a black flood, instantly scattering Uesugi Toru and Ni-shaku-sama.

Popo's gunfire immediately rang out, but besides shooting down over a dozen crows, it had no effect.

"Toru-sama!"

Ni-shaku-sama's somewhat panicked cry rang out, but she immediately plucked the heartstring and calmly transmitted information amidst the chaos.

—"That crow is going for you!"

Perhaps this was the fundamental reason for Ni-shaku-sama's panic.

Because if that big crow wasn't with her, it would prove Uesugi Toru could fight two against one, and she would be completely unable to help!

On the other side, Uesugi Toru did not immediately draw his sword to shatter the crow barrier.

Because Crow Takes Time Rain, who had originally stood opposite, had already disappeared, replaced by an indifferent gaze darting in all directions at extreme speed.

He was waiting to draw his sword, wanting to seize the flaw in the instant of drawing.

And then, to end the battle with a single strike.

Uesugi Toru sank his shoulders and exhaled, gripping Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword hilt and drawing it, assuming the Three-Stage Thrust stance before everyone's eyes.

The Separation Sorrow Domain spread, instantly swallowing several crows that approached.

The remaining crows immediately flapped their wings, scattering around unable to avoid it, allowing the audience to see through the gaps.

Uesugi Toru raised Kaga Kiyomitsu to a height level with his gaze, letting the pale color fall drop by drop onto the arena's sandy ground.

—Since that's the case, then let's see whose sword is faster and sharper!

"Crows, give it your all for me! Can't so many crows beat one person!? Why don't you dare even approach! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

On the Notary Seat, Tokugawa Hoshi, who had originally stood up clenching his fist to cheer, deflated seeing the crows merely circling without taking actual action, and boredly sat back down in his chair.

Huijue beside him smiled and said, "Tokugawa benefactor, you are attached to appearances."

"You bald donkey——!"

Tokugawa Hoshi was about to raise his eyebrows and retort a couple of times, but she suddenly seemed to remember something, so she immediately closed her mouth.

Because previously whenever she encountered situations of trading barbs with Buddhist monks, the other side could say ten sentences for every one of hers, and crucially she couldn't find the logical loopholes.

And in the end, she was often so infuriated by these bald donkeys that she couldn't say a word, standing in the corner alone, fuming.

"Can't be bothered to talk to you bald donkey, watch the match."

Tokugawa Hoshi placed her gaze on Uesugi Toru, who was assuming the Three-Stage Thrust stance.

She could of course see Uesugi Toru and Crow Takes Time Rain's intentions; from the very first moment Crow Takes Time Rain mixed into the flock of crows, she had guessed what he wanted to do.

However, Uesugi Toru's response made her think slightly more highly of him.

But Tokugawa Hoshi actually couldn't be bothered with these things; she just wanted to see Uesugi Toru get beaten up badly.

Anyone beating him would do, that would vent the anger in her heart.

——Because she had originally been thinking about when to secretly go see her little sister, but halfway there, a dog of a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and snatched Shizuku away!

And it's said Shizuku is even paying him to take her!

This way, her most beloved little sister's favorite person in the future won't be her anymore.

And judging by Shizuku's personality, when she sees her, she'll definitely bring that guy named Uesugi Toru along.

Tokugawa Ryuuji thought of this scene, and his blood pressure was about to rise.

"But this sword... why is it so similar to Kaga Kiyomitsu?"

Tokugawa Ryuuji's gaze turned subtle; she stared at the pale sword blade and muttered in her heart: "It indeed looks extraordinary. Could he be Okita Soji's successor?"

Tokugawa Ryuuji fell into thought.

——If this Uesugi Toru's strength can exceed "that line" in the future, and his background is decent, then he and Shizuku still have a chance to be together openly and aboveboard.

Otherwise, she wouldn't even have a chance to fight for them.

She slightly shifted her gaze and caught sight of the person standing behind Rituna Minami, wearing a hood and mask, revealing only a pair of unremarkable, peaceful eyebrows.

"Little sister..."

Tokugawa Ryuuji sighed in her heart.

Actually, when Tokugawa Ryuuji first scanned the entire venue, she had already discovered Shizuku standing there.

Even if Shizuku had disguised herself so well, how could she possibly fool her?

But Tokugawa Ryuuji simply pretended not to see.

Because she had a task entrusted by her great-grandfather——if she saw Shizuku outside, she had to bring her back no matter what.

But the Tokugawa family treated the little sister so badly; how could they have the face to go find her?

Her great-grandfather wanted her to return, nothing more than wanting to use Shizuku as a high-quality marriage alliance tool——even though Shizuku's currently revealed potential was already very high.

But her great-grandfather wouldn't value that.

Because this generation already had "Tokugawa Ryuuji" existing; his talent and current strength were enough to support the Tokugawa family maintaining its position among the Four Great Families, and even take the lead among them.

After all, "No matter how high Shizuku's talent is, could it be higher than Big Brother's"?

Everyone in the family said so.

Then Shizuku returning would only be bad.

But Tokugawa Ryuuji wanted her little sister to gain happiness.

So even if she stayed with that dog of a man she had never met before downstairs for a lifetime, it was fine; even if she didn't walk the path of becoming number one under heaven as she had imagined in the future, it didn't matter.

Tokugawa Ryuuji would support them.

But such a beautiful fantasy would eventually come to an end.

"No matter what, little sister. I will try my best to win more time for you to make your own choice."

Tokugawa Ryuuji closed her eyes and heard the clear sword cry transmitted by Kaga Kiyomitsu within the arena.

——Among the flock of crows, a giant crow with a wingspan exceeding three meters let out a sharp cry, charging out from the constantly rotating black storm.

Uesugi Toru's face was like a still pond; until the giant crow came within two meters of him did he suddenly widen his eyes, causing scorching internal qi to spurt out.

Not retreating but advancing!

In a flash of electric light and stone fire, the sharp black feathers splashing from the giant crow were swallowed by the pale flood in an instant.

Next, Kaga Kiyomitsu, who had just exhausted the Separation Sorrow Domain at this exact moment, precisely sliced across the giant crow's left half.

Cutting off its entire wing, yet not injuring its fundamental life.

This was Uesugi Toru's "winning beautifully"!

——Under the cruel rules of the Shinken Shiai, I not only want to win, but also guarantee not to kill any disciple of Oboro Moon Hall or their shikigami!

There was no better method to prove Uesugi Toru had held back.

Just as Uesugi Toru's slash ended, a chill suddenly arose at the back of his neck and chest.

One front, one back!

Uesugi Toru's Mirror Heart suddenly reflected two Crow Takes Time Rain holding short swords attacking him.

"Good timing!"

Uesugi Toru shouted loudly.

He subconsciously curled the corners of his mouth, and rings of pure white qi waves immediately surged beneath his feet.

Kaga Kiyomitsu suddenly thrust forward, smashing the short dagger in front of him along with the Crow Takes Time Rain formed from shadows into pieces.

The next moment, Uesugi Toru's tendons and bones throughout his body emitted explosion sounds, and internal qi sprayed out from his pores like a waterfall.

Kaga Kiyomitsu immediately twisted to behind him at an extremely unreasonable angle, perfectly parrying the short sword and immediately corroding it to exhaustion.

The Separation Sorrow Domain had just spread onto Crow Takes Time Rain's palm when he used his other palm to draw the short sword and mercilessly slash it off without hesitation.

Fresh blood had not yet sprayed out before Crow Takes Time Rain merged back into the flock of crows.

As if they had gained the upper hand, they leisurely regrouped, waiting for an opportunity to move.

Numerous gazes in the audience stand fell upon the Corona Qi that had spread across nearly half the arena, immediately erupting into intense discussion.

"Using internal qi so extravagantly and wastefully... this Uesugi Toru must be at his wit's end!"

"This way, even if Uesugi Toru can barely defeat Crow Takes Time Rain, he, with almost no internal qi left, can directly admit defeat against Kuzuha Chihaya."

The audience member holding a camera, but completely unable to photograph the two-shaku Adult surrounded and harassed by the flock of crows, silently sighed and began organizing his photos.

"Hoo—inhale—"

Uesugi Toru poured the last small half of the Corona Qi within his body entirely into his four limbs; he could clearly smell the bloody smell almost disappearing completely a few seconds later.

"The flock of crows can assist him in healing injuries... just like the two-shaku Adult and me."

If comparing consumption, Uesugi Toru boasted he was inferior to the other party——nowadays the two-shaku Adult had already separated from him; if he wanted to forcibly find her, who knew how many flaws he would expose.

"Then, let's end the battle with this one sword!"

"Xiao Jia."

He flicked the hilt of Kaga Kiyomitsu with his finger, and the latter understood at once, causing the pale color on the blade to surge out like a fountain.

"Inhale—exhale—"

Spirit Power was rapidly consumed, and fragmented lightning surged onto the blade, transforming into a frenzied Lightning Dragon in just an instant.

Uesugi Toru once again assumed the stance of the Three-Stage Thrust.

There was no need to find Crow Takes Time Rain's position.

He only needed to strike down every crow in the sky, and Crow Takes Time Rain would naturally appear.

Boom!

Sky-filling dust and sand shot up into the air, then were immediately torn apart by lightning and Qi Coating, and carried into the flock of crows.

Crackle!

In an instant, blue-purple lightning, as if triggering a chain reaction, spread from a single point to all the crows above the Arena in a flash.

"Caw—!"

The crows' shrieks had only just been uttered for an instant when the sky above the Arena suddenly became empty.

But the next moment, dozens of Crow Takes Time Rain figures appeared all over the Arena.

On the ground, in midair, before and behind Uesugi Toru.

These Crow Takes Time Rain condensed from shadows replaced the positions of the falling crows.

They held various types of weapons.

Then, they launched their attacks all at once!

"Come, get, good!"

Uesugi Toru roared, swinging Kaga Kiyomitsu to annihilate all the attacks coming from Four Directions Eight Sides together.

Crow Takes Time Rain standing among the unconscious crows squinted, withdrew all his Shadow Clones, and drew two crystal-clear rapiers from behind his waist.

The rapiers crossed, drawing a string of dazzling sparks.

He looked straight at Uesugi Toru in midair and said softly: "Come."

"Good!"

Uesugi Toru raised Kaga Kiyomitsu with all his might, carrying lightning as he descended from the sky like a meteor!

Boom boom boom!

Terrifying loud noises erupted one after another.

Kuzuha Chihaya at the side of the arena raised an eyebrow; she recognized this as the sound of the foundation stones at the bottom of the Arena shattering.

A few seconds later.

The last of the smoke and dust dissipated, revealing Uesugi Toru slowly standing up.

Uesugi Toru raised his hand and slowly drew the rapier that was only half an inch from his heart, then sheathed Kaga Kiyomitsu.

He looked at Crow Takes Time Rain, whose chest was completely caved in beneath his feet and who had not yet exhaled after inhaling, and grinned,

"That last move, not bad."

Then Uesugi Toru raised his foot, dragging his body exhausted from depleted Internal Qi to the center of the Arena, where he was supported by the hastily arriving Toru-sama just before he almost fell.

"Toru-sama." The girl couldn't help but show a self-reproachful expression. "It's because I didn't react at first that I let you..."

"No."

Uesugi Toru rubbed Toru-sama's head and smiled. "I was able to discover that giant crow immediately, also thanks to you, Toru-sama."

Toru-sama didn't reply, just hugged Uesugi Toru tightly, wanting him to recover faster.

Then Uesugi Toru looked toward Kujou Rōya's direction, closed his eyes, and made a listening gesture.

"Second match, Special Affairs Division Uesugi Toru, wins."

Kujou Rōya's voice remained unhurried as ever.

As if Akatsuki Ran and Crow Takes Time Rain, who had lost to the point of near-death, were not her disciples at all.

"—Good! Uesugi-kun won well!"

Hattori Ayako's applause broke the silence of the Arena immediately, causing many shocked and disbelieving voices to surge out together.

The Local Dojo Master gaped: "He could still win!? Is this Uesugi Toru truly not afraid of death? Why go all out when he knows he can't win the third match?!"

The Three-Star Onmyoji beside him frowned instead: "This lightning... is it Yin-Yang Technique? Is his attainment in Yin-Yang Technique not weak either?"

Maki Hitomi didn't say much, but borrowed Uesugi Toru's line from Hattori Ayako beside her and directly sent a friend request.

Shizuku closed her eyes to recall every detail of Uesugi Toru's performance just now, then set him as an imaginary enemy in her mind to fight a battle.

A moment later, she opened her eyes and sighed with delight,

"It turns out that in just this short time, Uesugi-kun has become this much stronger."

Who knows how much force in koku it would take to slash Zanshigimaru with all his might now.

Before the suspense-free third match began, the discussion at the side of the arena continued.

"Pity, after probing in the first two matches, Uesugi Toru's methods have been figured out."

The Three-Star Onmyoji stared at the ornament at Uesugi Toru's waist and spoke: "I don't think so; this Uesugi-kun still holds several Shinrei Kobutsu, and might even be a qualified Onmyoji."

Someone immediately retorted: "Onmyoji? Don't joke! He is a rising star after Wave Coming, and has practiced Breathing Technique so deeply—how could he possibly learn Yin-Yang Technique..."

"Wait, wait! Look at that Uesugi Toru!"

The audience's gazes instantly gathered on Uesugi Toru in the center of the Arena, whose body was beginning to emit Internal Qi.

Rituna Minami also blinked slightly in surprise: "She actually chose to break through Corona Breathing Technique at this time."

Immediately, she smiled and shook her head.

—Now that things have come to this, why should she still be surprised by such things.

But the surrounding audience was seeing this scene for the first time, and even the two on the Notary Seat had never seen someone in such a terrible state who still dared to attempt a Breathing Technique breakthrough mid-battle.

You must understand that the further one goes, the more a Breathing Technique breakthrough concerns every part of the physical body.

If one missteps by even half a step during the breakthrough process, it will lead to mild cases of Meridian Chaos and Five Organ Damage, or severe cases of direct death.

Therefore, usually before a Breathing Technique breakthrough, everyone seeks out a Quiet Room.

Then they have an elder who cultivates the same Breathing Technique and has progressed further stand behind them as Dharma Protector, so that if something goes wrong it can be promptly remedied.

Moreover, perhaps in a few minutes or even a few dozen seconds, Kuzuha Chihaya, who is far, far stronger than the previous two, will take the stage.

Kuzuha Chihaya wouldn't even need to lift a hand; just making a bit of commotion would be enough to easily strangle him on the spot.

Yet this Uesugi Toru now actually dares to...

"Inhale— Exhale—"

Uesugi Toru breathed deeply, eyes lowered, gazing at the Panel that had popped up after the battle with Crow Takes Time Rain, revealing a faint look of delight.

【After intense life-and-death struggle, your Skill, Corona Breathing Technique Proficiency +372!】

【Your Skill, Corona Breathing Technique has risen to Mastery Level!】

【Corona Breathing Technique (Mastery 272/10000)】

【Effect: Internal Organs Fortification, Kishaku, Zhou Tian Unceasing!

Thus, you have completed the most basic "Gang Qi Circulation", achieving true minor accomplishment in the Breathing Path!

From now on, you too will become one of the All Beings climbing the first towering peak of the Breathing Path, the "Flesh Palace"!】

But slightly different from what these audience members thought, he was not seeking a breakthrough under such dangerous circumstances.

Rather, he had already completed the breakthrough.

(End of Chapter)