Chapter 171: Copper Skin Body, One of the Four Ultimate Forms! (6.1k)

In the spacious Quiet Room, Uesugi Toru did not immediately choose to learn the Miura Breathing Technique.

Instead, he tried opening and flipping through each breathing technique, and then saw an identical prompt pop up before his eyes.

Nine breathing techniques, naturally nine prompts popped up.

"However, aside from the different names of the breathing techniques, these prompts are completely identical in every other respect."

Uesugi Toru carefully browsed through all nine prompts, confirming one thing.

——They can all only complete the Palace of Flesh stage of the Corona Breathing Technique.

Moreover, these breathing techniques are not named after their own characteristics, but rather confusingly named after the families that possess them.

It seems the breathing techniques of the Sengoku Period differ somewhat from those of the present Genjitsu.

But this is normal, after all the two eras are separated by five or six hundred years.

And since these breathing techniques were obtained with almost no effort, why demand so much?

Rather than worrying about these trivialities, it is more practical to quickly learn them all.

"Learn!"

Uesugi Toru said silently in his heart.

The next moment, a huge pile of prompts sprayed forth before his eyes like a screen-filling barrage.

Along with them came knowledge of the breathing techniques, vast as a sea of smoke, obscure and complex, violently infusing into his brain.

【You are learning "Miura Breathing Technique"……】

【You are learning "Udono Breathing Technique"……】

【You are learning "Sena Breathing Technique"……】

【You are learning……】

Uesugi Toru's face twitched, he gritted his teeth and sharply sucked in a cold breath, only feeling his skull was almost about to burst from the frantically surging new knowledge in this instant.

He immediately opened his Storage Backpack, and upon seeing the faintly glowing 【Soul Incense Ash (Small)】, clicked use without hesitation.

In an instant, the thoughts churning like magma in his skull were forcibly calmed down,

The vast amount of new knowledge seemed to have all "quieted down" in this moment, being browsed and absorbed by Uesugi Toru in an orderly fashion.

He withdrew his gaze from the few remaining portions of Soul Incense Ash, thinking that whether it was Soul Incense Ash or Soul Ash reserves, both needed replenishment.

Even though he had previously slain the Red Oni, Uesugi Toru had barely less than 700 points of Soul Ash in hand.

And this bit of Soul Ash, how many weeks of cultivation in the Sengoku Period could it support?

Although there are few yokai in the Sengoku Period, and yaoguai are rarely seen, isn't there that Great Demon in Mikawa Province…… just right to fill his Soul Ash reserves.

But these are all for later.

Right now, he should focus on absorbing the breathing techniques before him.

Uesugi Toru held his breath and concentrated, his thoughts operating at high speed as if cooled by liquid nitrogen, understanding and absorbing the key essence of the nine breathing techniques at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people, not letting a single word slip by.

Then the prompt popped up again.

【Your Corona Breathing Technique is being completed……】

Unknown how much time passed, until the duration of the Soul Incense Ash had passed for a while.

Uesugi Toru, no longer feeling new knowledge surging into his brain, only then heavily let out a breath of relief.

He sat down somewhat wearily on the ground deliberately covered with a Bamboo Mat, rested a moment, wiped away the hot sweat on his forehead from thinking, then raised his head.

【This completion is finished!】

【Your Corona Breathing Technique has manifested the brand new "Mastery Level" stage "Tendon Casting"!】

【Because you learned the "Miura Breathing Technique" and eight other breathing techniques, the proficiency required for your Corona Breathing Technique at Mastery Level is reduced by 10%!】

Uesugi Toru let out a breath of relief, revealing a smile.

After the three stages of Skin Tempering, Bone Forging, and Muscle Forging, the "Tendon Casting" that Shizuku sought but could not obtain has finally appeared.

Now, he can return to Reality and rarely teach Shizuku.

Not only that, browsing and learning these nine breathing techniques also additionally reduced the proficiency requirement for Palace of Flesh Cultivation by 10%.

He looked at the Proficiency Panel before him——

【Corona Breathing Technique (Copper Skin 311/450)】

But before Uesugi Toru could look for two seconds, a flashing prompt suddenly sprang out from within.

【Because you learned many breathing techniques, your understanding of breathing techniques has significantly increased! Your Corona Breathing Technique proficiency is rapidly growing……】

Just looking at other breathing techniques can actually increase the progress of body tempering?

There's even such a good thing?

Uesugi Toru froze for a moment, unable to react for a time.

Until the large amount of knowledge churning in his brain and the spicy-hot pain on his skin membrane simultaneously transmitted from the depths, Uesugi Toru immediately sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, immersing his mind into his own skin.

As before, he sent strands of Gang Qi deep into the skin that had already transformed into Tough Skin, and then ruthlessly subjected it to violent tempering.

The tearing agony that had become daily routine emerged all over his body, scalding steam slowly rising above his head, yet Uesugi Toru remained motionless like an old monk in meditation.

Because, at this time, even the slightest movement would cause the current position of the Gang Qi to shift, thereby greatly reducing the efficiency of Skin Tempering, and thus greatly wasting this hard-won opportunity.

Pain, scorching heat, endless darkness.

A full hour and more later, his whole body's skin temperature so high it caused the surrounding air to faintly distort, yet not a single drop of sweat flowing out, Uesugi Toru slowly opened his eyes.

"Finally, it's over."

He whispered softly.

Like ten million fine needles, the Gang Qi carefully withdrew from the tough skin membrane…… no, now it should be said to be the Copper Skin, gleaming with a metallic luster, hard as iron.

That's right, Uesugi Toru nearly perfectly seized this sudden opportunity.

Thus, he gained a rich reward!

【Due to your significantly increased understanding of the Breathing Technique, and after undergoing the arduous Qi Coating muscle forging, your Skill, Corona Breathing Technique Proficiency +339!】

【You have completed Flesh Palace Cultivation · Copper Skin Stage!】

【Your Skin strength has slightly risen!】

【Your Physique +2!】

"Copper Skin, huh."

Uesugi Toru spread his still-scalding Five Fingers, gazing at the specks of luster at his Fingertips, feeling his Full Body gradually being "Wrapped" into a cluster, a more rounded power.

He casually reached out, and without using Qi Coating, effortlessly crushed the rounded corner of the wooden platform.

Uesugi Toru rubbed his Fingertips, watching these fine wood chips fall from between his fingers, couldn't help but grin,

"This effect... is truly not bad."

If the Tough Skin Stage could prevent ordinary slashes, then the Copper Skin Stage already lets the practitioner's Skin strength rival, even surpass, those ordinary blades and swords.

Skin alone can be as hard as Metal!

Not to mention if Qi Coating is infused — shattering those Excellent Quality weapons and armor barehanded isn't an Impossibility!

"Also, after achieving Copper Skin, my Physique Attribute has also reached 48 points."

Uesugi Toru casually glanced at the Attribute Panel, nodding in satisfaction.

This is still without wearing the Hannya Mask.

If he wore the mask, his Physique Attribute could even skyrocket to 68 points, nearly rivalling his Spirit Technique Attribute of 78 points in this Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation state.

Uesugi Toru looked again at the Corona Breathing Technique, which was about to complete the entire Skin Tempering Stage, revealing a harvest-like joyful smile.

【Corona Breathing Technique (Skin Tempering 200/360)】

【Effect: Like tough membrane, like refined copper, like Qi Coating.】

【——Tough Skin, Copper Skin, Skin Tempering!】

Merely 160 Proficiency points short, and he could step into the Bone Forging Stage, catch up to or even surpass Shizuku!

"Not bad, really not bad."

Uesugi Toru was just preparing to rise, flip through these Nine Breathing Methods to see what content he might have missed.

The next Prompt that popped up before his eyes, however, made his movement involuntarily stagnate.

【Because you have learned many Breathing Techniques! Your Corona Breathing Technique has manifested one of the four Ultimate Forms after "Refining Flesh" — "Flesh Palace"!】

Flesh Palace?

Isn't this the designation for the "Mastery Level" tier of a Breathing Technique?

And what are the four Ultimate Forms...

Uesugi Toru wordlessly continued looking down.

【Flesh Palace (0/4500)】

【Flesh Palace: Ultimate Form of Refining Flesh. Absolutely perfect muscle control power, absolutely tyrannical physical power. Upon completion, the flesh body will be magnificent like a palace.】

【Note: Before completing "Skin Tempering", "Bone Forging", "Refining Flesh" stages, temporarily unable to cultivate.】

After reading, Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes, fell into silence.

An Ultimate Form requiring a full 4500 Proficiency points to complete cultivation — how powerful would it be?

And this Flesh Palace is only one-fourth of the Ultimate Forms.

Meaning, there are three other incomparably powerful Ultimate Forms corresponding to the three stages of Skin Tempering, Bone Forging, Tendon Casting, just not yet unlocked.

In other words, these Nine Breathing Methods, like the current Corona Breathing Technique, are all incomplete.

They merely help fill in a portion of the gaps.

Being able to unlock one of the four Ultimate Forms, "Flesh Palace", already counts as the effect of the nine merging into one.

It seems, a mere Nine Breathing Methods are still not enough.

And not high-grade enough either.

"The Breathing Path, truly vast as the sea..."

Uesugi Toru sighed in his heart, but didn't overly worry about the Corona Breathing Technique still being incomplete.

After all, just the four major stages of skin, bone, flesh, tendon, plus this Refining Flesh Ultimate Form · Flesh Palace, who knows how long they'll let him cultivate.

By the time he grinds those tens of thousands of Proficiency points full, this bit of incompleteness should long have been easily resolved.

But just as Uesugi Toru thought this, the final prompt swayed into view.

【Because you learned many Breathing Techniques, your Corona Breathing Technique has completed the important "Stage Classification"! Please check!】

"Stage Classification..."

Uesugi Toru roughly scanned it, quickly understanding what this meant.

Simply put, the Corona Breathing Technique's "Not Entry Level, Entry Level, Proficiency" three grades correspond to Breathing Technique Stage · Sea of Qi.

Mastery, which is his current grade, corresponds to Breathing Technique Stage · Flesh Palace.

And after Mastery — the Breathing Technique Stage corresponding to Expert Level is.

——"Five Viscera Immortals"!

Originally, merely matching Proficiency grades with the Breathing Technique stages the masses cultivate wasn't anything.

The Flag Bearer Key Point lies in...

Uesugi Toru silently stared at the two-red-one-yellow completion prompts.

【Sea of Qi (Incomplete 60%)】

【Flesh Palace (Incomplete 10%)】

【Five Viscera Immortals (Incomplete 50%)】

Incomplete, incomplete, all incomplete!

Uesugi Toru could understand that the higher, profound realms had gaps.

But the Gang Qi cycle he had cultivated from zero all this way actually had gaps too, and the gap degree reached 60%?

He cultivated day and night until now yet hadn't discovered... wait, no.

Uesugi Toru stared at the three words "Sea of Qi", recalled once, and discovered that before this he had never heard of these three words.

Regarding Internal Qi, Gang Qi cultivation ended at "Zhou Tian Bu Xi, Gang Qi Cycle", and there was absolutely no mention of any Qi Sea issue.

So it turns out, from beginning to end, what he cultivated was a severely incomplete Breathing Technique.

Put that way, this should not be an isolated case, but an extremely common phenomenon.

Because Okabe Motonobu likewise showed no doubt about the Gang Qi cycle on him, and the former Onmyo Daizoku Kondo Tomoya also cultivated this Corona Breathing Technique...

Uesugi Toru murmured: "So, the completely complete Breathing Technique... perhaps only the 'Four Extremities Breathing Technique' in the hands of the Four Great Families?"

With this, many things could be explained.

For example, why the young talents of the Four Great Families would be much stronger than the geniuses of small places, small dojos.

Because they cultivate the complete Breathing Technique, while you cultivate the incomplete one!

Even if everyone's talent is exactly the same, the latter would definitely be a head shorter.

"Four Great Families..."

At this time, Matsudaira Motoyasu's voice came from outside the Quiet Room, neither light nor heavy,

"Toru-sama, the appointed hour has arrived, please slowly pack up and come out..."

Uesugi Toru immediately turned his head, a beam of essence light flashing in his eyes.

Right, the Tokugawa ancestor is standing right outside now, could there be a simpler chance to contact the Four Extremities Breathing Technique than this?

Of course, one must also consider the situation that the Four Extremities Breathing Technique is not currently in Matsudaira Motoyasu's hands.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Toru calmed his mood, pushed open the door and walked out.

Outside the door, Matsudaira Motoyasu, who had just finished calling out and thought Uesugi Toru would deliberately delay a while before coming out, froze for an instant, his face revealing a stunned expression.

Uesugi Toru pretended to shake his head regretfully: "What a pity, only a single short hour, the vast majority of the content I still didn't have time to read."

Matsudaira Motoyasu said respectfully: "Toru-sama is already very amazing, as an Onmyoji who can summon powerful Shikigami, yet still willing to go read, and also able to understand the Breathing Technique that only Samurai cultivate."

He had just finished speaking when Hanzō's extremely faint words rang by his ear,

"—Motonobu-sama, during this one hour of entering the Quiet Room, Toru's Breathing Technique broke through."

Onmyoji Toru, he actually knows Breathing Technique!?

Matsudaira Motoyasu's pupils suddenly contracted, but he still maintained a smile on his face, walking in front leading Uesugi Toru toward the previous room.

By his ear, Hanzō continued whispering softly: "Moreover, Toru has at least already completed the Gang Qi Cycle. In terms of Breathing Technique attainment, he is even higher than me, and is at the same stage as that Lord Okabe."

Gang Qi Cycle!?

Isn't this the goal I determined to reach before twenty years of age!

Matsudaira Motoyasu, who had just touched the "Kishaku" stage, body slightly stiffened, footsteps involuntarily paused, almost falling flat on the ground.

Fortunately Uesugi Toru following behind grabbed his collar, concerned: "Lord Matsudaira, be careful when walking."

"Ah... thank you."

Matsudaira Motoyasu forced a smile, walking somewhat absent-mindedly.

—Onmyoji Toru concealed from the outside that he knows Breathing Technique, what does he want to do?

—Actually, it's just that Uesugi Toru upholds the mindset of "if others don't ask me, why should I say", and didn't go specially announce to the world "how do you know my Breathing Technique cultivation reached Gang Qi Cycle" this matter.

But having wandered in displacement since childhood, experienced countless matters big and small, at only twelve or thirteen years old yet already meticulous in thought, Matsudaira Motoyasu immediately reacted and made a determination.

Must get on good terms with this Onmyoji Toru!

Absolutely must get on good terms!

Originally, just being able to control Heavenly Thunder, summon Shikigami was already shocking enough, let alone Toru actually also ranks in the top tier on the Breathing Technique path!

This represents that he is not only powerful, but has almost no weaknesses!

If such a person becomes his own enemy, even Hanzō would probably...

Matsudaira Motoyasu's whole body trembled, didn't dare continue thinking further.

The youth's thoughts turned sharply, already having considered in this short journey what attitude and what way to face Uesugi Toru in the future.

But his attitude right now is no different from usual.

Getting closer, must be gradual.

Matsudaira Motoyasu understands this point most clearly.

Moreover Onmyoji Toru spends all day with the Imagawa Clan Head, and it's not easy to approach him directly...

In that case, better to first get familiar with Toru's little follower?

—Shiraishi hung far behind the two, carefully peeking out his skyward braid and eyes from behind a thick pillar.

He silently watched Uesugi Toru and Matsudaira Motoyasu's figures leave his vision.

Finally, he took out dried fish from his bosom and bit down hard two mouthfuls.

After returning to the side of the room where Imagawa Yoshimoto reviewed documents earlier, Uesugi Toru did not discover her and Okabe Motonobu's figures.

Probably they left temporarily due to some matter.

But anyway he has no urgent matters needing to report now, so after greeting Matsudaira Motoyasu, he returned to his own courtyard.

Although deep autumn is cold, the afternoon sunlight shining on the body makes one feel warm and cozy.

Uesugi Toru took out the tea set Imagawa Yoshimoto left for him, poured tea powder into hot water, stirred casually and drank it down in one gulp.

"Hmm, flavor is about the same."

A certain someone chewing peonies like a cow evaluated thus, bathing in the warm sunlight, beginning to calculate future plans, counting it as rest between cultivation.

——The closest to me should be Matsudaira Motoyasu, and the Imagawa Clan's Breathing Technique.

These two Breathing Techniques should be quite a bit stronger than those nine "Families Under Daimyo" Breathing Techniques I saw just now.

Especially the Breathing Technique held by the Imagawa Clan.

Uesugi Toru has a perfectly reasonable reason to suspect that the Four Extremities Breathing Technique passed down by the future Tokugawa Ieyasu wasn't the one he started Cultivating.

Rather, it was one of the Breathing Techniques of the Imagawa Clan, Oda Clan, or Toyotomi clan that he got his hands on later.

After all, the Matsudaira Clan isn't that powerful right now——if the Matsudaira Clan possessed the complete Four Extremities Breathing Technique right now, why would they still be willing to submit under the Imagawa Clan's rule?

But wanting to get these two Breathing Techniques in hand, should……no, it should be said it definitely won't be as easy as this time.

Building a good relationship with a little turtle like Matsudaira Motoyasu will definitely take a very long time.

As for the Imagawa Clan's Breathing Technique, getting it for free using the excuse of "Spectating" like this time is definitely impossible, because of Okabe Motonobu's existence.

But it's not completely without clues.

Uesugi Toru drank the hot tea in one gulp again, feeling a warm current flow from his stomach to his four limbs and hundred bones, and couldn't help but let out a comfortable breath.

——As long as I can perfectly solve the matter of the Mikawa Uprising, with Imagawa Yoshimoto's Attitude toward me, getting this Breathing Technique absolutely won't have too much Difficulty.

Ah right, those Elders might still be hiding some key parts and not showing them to me.

When the time comes, I'll definitely dig out all these little secrets clean.

Uesugi Toru lightly tapped the Stone Table with his Finger, making a crisp sound.

He grinned happily.

Anyway, it's just a matter of doing it incidentally.

——Imagawa Yoshimoto will definitely make a move on these good-for-nothing Elders before long.

——She absolutely cannot leave an already obviously Unstable Rear, and then go far away with me and Okabe Motonobu to Suppress Mikawa Province's rebellion.

If that happens, the front foot just suppresses Mikawa, the back foot the old nest might be stolen by these old things.

So she absolutely cannot allow such a thing to happen.

And how to "Divine Transformation" Imagawa Yoshimoto when killing the Great Demon, that needs a good think……

Uesugi Toru's Finger tapping the Stone Table suddenly paused, he turned his Gaze, looking toward the big tree behind the corner Not Far away.

He said indifferently: "Come out."

Not seeing anyone Appear, Uesugi Toru sighed, raised his voice a bit,

"I discovered long ago that you've been following me in the Back Seat, Shiraishi."

As these words were spoken, a sneaky, short and small, skinny figure finally poked out from behind the tree.

Even though Shiraishi has been eating and drinking his fill of carbs+carbs at the Imagawa Residence for over half a month, Meat isn't something that can grow that fast.

He walked over silently with his head lowered, as if he had done something wrong.

Until he reached the Stone Table, Shiraishi only then discovered a Small Bottle holding Konpeitō extended to his face.

Uesugi Toru's light voice came,

"Here, this is what I had Lord Imagawa buy for you to eat. Remember to thank her when you see her later."

"Oh……oh, okay Boss."

Shiraishi dazedly took the Small Bottle.

His Pupil reflected the Candy he once dreamed of eating, but now he somewhat didn't dare open it.

Shiraishi Raised Head, opened his mouth to ask: "Boss, compared to others I'm this useless, will you abandon me in the future?"

"Hm?" Uesugi Toru shook his head, then answered immediately: "Of course not."

Staring at the stunned Shiraishi, Uesugi Toru thought for Two Seconds then gave an apt analogy,

"Me raising you now, is like Lord Okabe raising Gu Chang……that little Rat clinging to her shoulder, you should have seen it before.

It's that kind of feeling, the same mood."

"Is that so……"

Shiraishi oh-ed, thought for a long time then unscrewed the cap, pinched a Konpeitō and stuffed it into his Mouth.

The Konpeitō melted in the mouth.

Very sweet and Delicious, yet with an unexpected sour astringency.

Just as Shiraishi wanted to reach out and eat the Konpeitō one by one until finished, Uesugi Toru's happy voice came.

"Alright, questions asked, candy eaten."

Uesugi Toru took out that Ninja Secret Manual specifically sought for Shiraishi from the Storage Backpack, and threw it before Shiraishi.

He laughed, clapped his hands, and said to Shiraishi whose mouth was slightly open,

"Didn't you say you're an Iga Group Expert? So I thought I'd give this Secret Manual to you to practice, it'll be very powerful once mastered, so……"

Uesugi Toru gazed down at the frail youth from above, asking seriously Word By Word,

"Shiraishi, can you become a Great Ninja renowned throughout the world?"

(End of Chapter)