Chapter 207: Focus Direction · Technique and Principle, the Invisible Blade

Since the River God was so kind as to place both the gold and silver axes before him.

Did Uesugi Toru have any reason to refuse "take them all"?

"Clearly two options were presented, yet only one choice is allowed—isn't that a bit too petty?"

So Uesugi Toru gazed at the gold and silver 【Sword Technique】 and 【Sword Principle】 options, and quite naturally said: "The path of Sword Technique and Sword Principle—I don't want to give up either."

"I want to walk both."

A moment later, his vision flashed, and a prompt popped up again—

【Detected: You have met the hidden condition for Swordsmanship · Tennen Rishin-ryu.】

【You triggered the hidden choice · Technique and Principle!】

【Technique and Principle】

Colorful, radiant options floated above the gold and silver, finally bringing a satisfied expression to Uesugi Toru's face.

That's more like it.

——Shizuku once said that the vast majority of Menkyo Kaiden holders, Master Instructors, and even instructors at small dojos were only at the Expert Level of swordsmanship.

——And they, the vast majority, would choose only one of Sword Technique or Sword Principle as the path they would continue forward on from then on.

This was the most unwilling, the most resigned, yet also the most down-to-earth choice.

Because the vast majority of Sword Saints who could step into the supernatural threshold of Sword Technique had reached this point only after countless days and nights of tempering, untold battles, soaked in sweat and blood.

And precisely for this reason, they knew better than anyone how much talent they had, how much they had paid to get where they were, and how much more they could bear.

Except for the very few Sword Saints who harbored unrealistic dreams and were then stuck in place for life by this choice, depressed and unfulfilled.

Nearly everyone could only bear one sword path—standing at this Expert Level threshold, looking up, still unable to see the end in the far distance.

After all, they might not even walk half of this path in their entire lives.

Geniuses were only a minority.

Admitting one's mediocrity was the first cruel fact Sword Saints who had entered the supernatural had to face.

【This focus choice is extremely important, please choose carefully!】

The yellow caution prompt popped up a second time, wanting Uesugi Toru to make his choice after deep thought.

——Even if choosing only one of Technique and Principle, perhaps one day in the future, due to good luck or sufficient effort, one could become a true Sword Saint admired by all.

——"But that would be all."

Choosing only one naturally meant walking easily and quickly, but one could not walk far.

Even among all Sword Saints, one would be classified in the lowest tier.

To climb higher after that was sheer nonsense.

But if one did not correctly judge one's talent, and acted on a momentary impulse, it was also easy to fall into a state where one could not advance an inch from then on.

Finally, watching helplessly as those once far inferior to oneself left one behind, and then committing suicide after falling into despair.

Historically, such Sword Saints were not few.

The gains and losses, the choices and sacrifices, were one's own choice.

"But if one wants to become a true strong person, how could one make choices and sacrifices?"

Uesugi Toru pushed the caution prompt aside and without hesitation clicked the colorful 【Technique and Principle】 with his mind: "The strong are always somewhat greedy."

【If choosing "Focus Direction · Technique and Principle", the cultivation difficulty of Tennen Rishin-ryu will significantly increase, please choose carefully!】

【Please choose carefully!】

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

Uesugi Toru reached out and crushed those two lines of text in one grip.

Then, colorful text radiated light in his palm!

【You have chosen the future Focus Direction · Technique and Principle for Swordsmanship · Tennen Rishin-ryu!】

【Tennen Rishin-ryu · Technique and Principle (Expert 198/10000)】

【Effect: The path of seeking the Dao begins here.】

【——"That which my heart deems good, even if I die nine times I would not regret."】

With the choice of focus direction, the original 198 points of Proficiency were infused into it, and the effects and introduction of Tennen Rishin-ryu also changed.

Uesugi Toru calmly watched the prompts that popped up one after another.

【The effect of your Swordsmanship · Tennen Rishin-ryu has undergone a major change!】

【——From now on, every increase in Proficiency will deepen your understanding of Sword Technique and Sword Principle by a fraction, and let you take a further step on the path of the "Sword"!】

【——Seek! Seek! Seek!】

Uesugi Toru touched his chin with interest.

This meant that, on the original basis, even without accumulating the full ten thousand Proficiency points to break through to Master Level.

One could still benefit from every Proficiency point gained from daily cultivation and combat slaughter?

That felt good.

However, this "cultivation difficulty will significantly increase" probably wasn't just talk.

He didn't know how many Proficiency points a single daily cultivation session would bring afterward.

By this point, the prompts still did not stop pouring out.

【You gained a new trait · Initial Knowledge of Sword Technique!】

【You gained a new trait · Initial Knowledge of Sword Principle!】

【Initial Knowledge of Sword Technique】

【Effect: Your understanding of Sword Technique far exceeds that of ordinary Sword Saints……but that is all.】

【——True Masters always carry the heart of an apprentice.】

【Note: When the proficiency of Sword Art · Tennen Rishin-ryu improves, the trait · Initial Sword Technique / Sword Principle will change.】

The effect of Initial Sword Principle is not much different from the introduction of Sword Technique.

Uesugi Toru merely glanced at it.

——Expert-level sword art has already surpassed what countless mortals can imagine; under it, every sword move, stance, and motion is nothing but a joke that can be seen through at a glance.

This is why Shizuku, wielding a bamboo sword back then, could easily treat him like a ball.

Because if it were the current Uesugi Toru, even with all other conditions exactly the same, he could beat his two previous selves so badly they couldn't get up.

After walking such a long road, he had merely stood upon the threshold of the supernatural sword art.

"A new beginning……"

Simply gazing at the proficiency requirement reaching five digits, Uesugi Toru felt as if he saw the longest progress bar yet.

But he smiled, extremely happy.

Because ahead lay a road so long its end could not be seen, waiting for his journey.

And along this road, there were countless companions who, like him, stubbornly chose "Technique and Principle,"

"That really is, wonderful."

Uesugi Toru exhaled a breath, calming his mind for a moment.

But not long after, he was somewhat surprised to discover that before and after choosing "Technique and Principle," he himself seemed to have undergone no great change.

Whether it was his mastery of stances and moves in sword art, or his understanding of that somewhat mysterious Sword Principle.

Strange.

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes and fumbled for a good while, discovering that the fact was indeed so.

How could it be……

Just as he was thinking this, he saw the effect description of Tennen Rishin-ryu.

——"The path of seeking the Dao begins here."

Uesugi Toru was slightly stunned.

Yes, he had just made his choice, and everything had just begun.

Why demand immediate change?

Whether it was Shizuku, or so many prompts, they had repeatedly reminded him many times——the path of Technique and Principle cannot be walked quickly.

And he himself seemed to have been too impatient.

"These past days, my mindset has indeed been somewhat impatient and restless."

Uesugi Toru changed his posture, so his back wouldn't be pressed too painfully.

He slowly, extremely calmly, took two deep breaths, thinking: "It's also time to adjust."

No need to be so urgent.

Even though the 1.5th Wave and the Seed War are not far off.

But since his second entry into the Warring States Period, how many days have actually passed in Genjitsu?

Three days.

Less than seventy-two hours.

In this amount of time, some lazy bug could drink heavily, lie on the ground snoring for two days, and it would all be over.

So, no need to rush.

Sometimes slowing the pace appropriately can actually make one go faster.

Just as he once told Shizuku——

"Take it slow, it's faster."

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

Before choosing Technique and Principle, the changes brought by simply breaking through Tennen Rishin-ryu to Expert Level were still very great.

The changes in technique were obvious to the extreme.

All aspects of sword art had improved by a large margin, simply like a large wooden bucket with no weak points.

Just as Uesugi Toru had thought before, just the changes in technique alone could already hang his two previous selves up and beat them senseless.

As for Sword Principle……this thing really is quite mysterious.

Uesugi Toru clearly felt that something about himself had changed, and he had indeed become stronger.

But if asked specifically where he was stronger, he would be speechless.

As if "lv+1" popped up above his head, but his attributes had not changed at all.

Uesugi Toru rubbed the small blanket covering him, wanting to ponder for a while what Sword Principle was and where he had become stronger.

But just as he raised his hand, he sharply noticed that on the originally clean blanket, a perfectly smooth crack suddenly appeared.

Or rather, a slash mark.

As if cut by an extremely sharp blade.

"Ah?"

Uesugi Toru was certain that just a few seconds ago, this blanket had been intact as new.

He was not bored enough to release Spirit Power or Gang Qi to his fingertips, and ruin his own blanket for no reason.

"Could it be……"

Uesugi Toru recalled the feeling just now, and once again lightly brushed his finger over the corner of the blanket.

Pa-da.

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

Really or fake.

Uesugi Toru stared at his fingers, discovering they had changed not at all compared to usual.

Yet they could slice through that soft, expensive blanket on his body without any force at all.

As if an invisible, extremely sharp blade had sprung from his finger.

Uesugi Toru waved his hand, then reached out with a phantom grip, feeling an invisible "Kaga Kiyomitsu" in his palm.

"Is this a side effect of comprehending Sword Principle?"

He couldn't figure it out.

Opening his hand to let "Kaga Kiyomitsu" dissipate, Uesugi Toru sank into thought once more.

This Sword Principle, like the Void Qi Sea opened not long ago, surely had many effects yet to be discovered by him.

The only clear effect for now was being able to hold an invisible, formless sharp blade that could change at will, unseen by the naked eye.

This way, he wouldn't die unarmed in the future.

Uesugi Toru casually moved his five fingers, feeling the invisible blade grow and shrink at his fingertips: "After all, I'm not from the academy; at this stage, my related knowledge is rather lacking."

After this, he still needed to learn more from seniors in the relevant fields.

Thinking thus, Uesugi Toru turned his gaze again toward Kaga Kiyomitsu leaning by the wall, faint black light seeping from the seam of its sword sheath.

After slaying the Sickness and Suffering incarnation and settling down, Kaga Kiyomitsu began evolving exactly as it had after slaying Love and Separation last time.

Only this time it was faster; in this short time, the progress bar had already jumped to over 40%.

By the time he slept, Xiao Jia should have woken up long ago.

It was normal, after all, Sickness and Suffering was just an incarnation, while Love and Separation was the main body.

He thought: "Once Xiao Jia wakes up, I'll discuss with it which direction to strengthen..."

In non-essential situations, respecting and listening to the "child" itself was also a very important part of cultivating feelings.

By now, the accumulated prompts had finally all vanished.

Uesugi Toru stretched comfortably, listening to the rustling noisy sounds outside the house, and shrank back into his not very thick quilt.

Anyway, he was currently in a state of aftereffects where he could do nothing.

Since that was the case, he might as well continue sleeping soundly and make up for the sleep he'd missed.

Thinking so, Uesugi Toru closed his eyes and entered a dreamless sweet sleep in one second.

What woke Uesugi Toru again was the warm scent of food.

"It's been so long since I've slept so soundly..."

Uesugi Toru yawned, and as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw miso soup, tofu, refined rice, and fish neatly arranged before him.

It could be called the classic four-piece set of Japan's Warring States period.

But the fish was a little different.

Not that dry, terribly salty wind-dried small salted fish, but one clearly killed not long ago, emitting a faint fresh scent.

Looking closely, the fish bones had all been deliberately removed.

Not one left.

Not only that, beside this four-piece set were two more four-piece sets placed—the different dishes included kombu, white radish, and other classic dishes.

It seemed they were afraid it wouldn't suit his taste or that he wouldn't eat enough.

Such careful arrangement, Uesugi Toru knew without thinking whose hand it was from.

His gaze passed over the food; further away was Kaga Kiyomitsu, already out of its sword sheath and catching the breeze.

It hung on the windowsill looking at the outside environment, the hanging blade tip swaying slowly with the breeze, like two small feet swinging.

Uesugi Toru plucked his heartstring and confirmed with Kaga Kiyomitsu about the visitor from earlier.

Then he received an affirmative answer from the latter.

—Mm-hmm! Of course!

—That woman, Xiao Jia feels she's pretty good!

Uesugi Toru, level ten in Kaga language, went "huh" in his heart.

Clearly before, he had made Kaga Kiyomitsu and Imagawa Yoshimoto face off, hadn't he?

Their relationship shouldn't be good, so how did it suddenly change?

Who knew what love potion Imagawa Yoshimoto secretly fed it while he was asleep to buy this guy...

Uesugi Toru wasn't in a hurry to see Kaga Kiyomitsu's new effects; instead, he first sat before the three portions of food, put his palms together in prayer, and softly said, "I'll dig in."

He picked up his chopsticks with some effort, clamped up food, and sent it into his mouth.

Although his body was still very weak, because his Qi Sea was constantly generating nourishment, Uesugi Toru had currently recovered relatively normal mobility.

Uesugi Toru ate very slowly, spending nearly thirty full minutes to eat the three portions of food grain by grain, not a single grain of rice left.

"I'm finished eating."

After saying that to himself, Uesugi Toru waved at Kaga Kiyomitsu, who had watched the unchanging scenery for so long without getting tired of it.

"Xiao Jia, come."

So Kaga Kiyomitsu hopped over happily, pattering along.

It controlled its strength extremely well, not even leaving a small dent on the wooden floor.

Hum~

Kaga Kiyomitsu stood straight before Uesugi Toru.

"You must be bored after such a long time, Xiao Jia." Uesugi Toru patted its sword hilt. "Why not go outside for a while to relax?"

Hum?

Kaga Kiyomitsu shook in confusion, not understanding why its owner would ask such a question with an obvious answer, a rather silly question.

"Master, aren't you always very smart?"

But it still answered.

Hum.

"—I'm leaving, who will protect you, Master?"

Feeling the thoughtless answer in his heartstring, Uesugi Toru couldn't help but be speechless.

He sat cross-legged, placing Kaga Kiyomitsu on his lap, gently stroking its blade,

"You've worked hard, Xiao Jia."

Hum.

Kaga Kiyomitsu itself didn't mind; it could stay in the sword sheath for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven days straight, and never say anything.

After it quieted down, Uesugi Toru looked at its new panel after slaying the Sickness and Suffering incarnations.

The quality remained unchanged, but an additional effect had been added.

【Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting】

【Quality: Epic+++】

【Soul Spirit Points: 2188】

【……】

【Effect Eight: Epidemic. When Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting strikes an enemy, the more negative effects the enemy carries, the more plague-related negative effects are inflicted.】

【—This blade once severed Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri, once severed the incarnation of Eight Sufferings·Sickness and Suffering. Speaking only of the past hundred years, it can already be called a legend existing in the world.】

After reading Effect Eight carefully, Uesugi Toru's hand gripping the sword hilt couldn't help but tighten.

That is to say, will the four layers of debuff—Lightning, Qi, Shiretsu, and Separation Sorrow Domain—originally placed on the enemy be doubled, becoming eight layers of debuff?

Although the doubled debuffs must all be related to plague and are easy to target and remove, it is still quite exaggerated.

Truly a special effect dropped by Eight Sufferings.

Now with this slash of his, how many yokai can withstand it?

Yokai below one star probably wouldn't even survive being nicked by Kaga Kiyomitsu's oil-skin before turning into a handful of Soul Ash from the torment of eight layers of debuff.

The current Kaga Kiyomitsu fully deserves the name "Demon Blade."

Uesugi Toru sighed emotionally: "Xiao Jia, you've become stronger again."

Kaga Kiyomitsu disagreed, instead proudly raising the tip of its other side, showing the strands of black qi flowing within the purely pale Separation Sorrow Domain.

As if saying,

"—Handsome, right!"

After that, it swayed its sword hilt, as if begging for praise.

So Uesugi Toru quickly nodded: "Looks good, looks good, my Xiao Jia looks the best."

Actually, it didn't.

This black qi related to Sickness and Suffering gave people an ominous feeling just by looking at it.

Uesugi Toru's mood was complicated at this moment, like an old father suddenly seeing his own child dressed as a killing-matte, and deliberately running to the front asking, "Old timer, do I look good in this!"

And the most laughable thing was, he still had to insincerely give a thumbs up, saying, "Oh my, kid, you're really so trendy!"

In short, his mood was complicated.

Better change the subject first.

"Xiao Jia."

Uesugi Toru flicked his finger against the blade: "Strengthening slashes or your IQ, do you have any ideas?"

Hum hum?

Kaga Kiyomitsu hummed in confusion, indicating that such matters should be decided by you, Master; I can't manage it and don't want to manage it.

Now the burden was thrown back onto Uesugi Toru.

But Uesugi Toru was a bit conflicted.

On one hand was the slashing effect that could link with "Thrust Expert" after improvement, clicking to gain a boost in hard power.

On the other hand, it could make Xiao Jia smarter, with higher potential, maybe even let it squeak a few words.

If only there were a few hundred more Soul Spirit Points...

Unfortunately, if he waited until his body fully recovered before going out to search, the Sickness Retainers of the entire Mikawa Province would probably be purged clean.

For example, now.

【Current Stage Task Completion: 71%.】

In a day or two, this 71% would probably become 91%.

"No rush, let me be conflicted for a while first."

Uesugi Toru smacked his lips twice, picked up Kaga Kiyomitsu and sat at the room doorway, raising his head.

One person and one sword stayed at the doorway like that, silently watching the sunset and moonrise, calmly feeling the changes of heaven and earth.

Time trickled by.

No one knew how long had passed, Imagawa Yoshimoto wearing Twelve-Layered Robe walked over from behind the tree grove, a sentence waking Uesugi Toru from this mysterious state,

"Tetsu-kun..."

【Because you comprehended the changes of heaven and earth, Spirit Control Technique·Qi proficiency +300!】

She hadn't finished speaking before she immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth, stuffing the remaining words back in.

Imagawa Yoshimoto stared at Uesugi Toru looking at her, opened her mouth, and only after a while said: "Did I interrupt you?"

"No."

Uesugi Toru, slightly dizzy, shook his head, feeling darkness before his eyes.

If Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't arrive soon, his life would likely end right at the doorway.

After all, his body was still weak.

If that happened, things would become troublesome.

"Sorry."

Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed her lips.

Uesugi Toru, having recovered, noticed beads of sweat on her forehead and asked strangely, "Lord Imagawa, did something happen?"

"Nothing."

She shook her head, walked inside first, and removed the Twelve-Layered Robe layer by layer, folding it and placing it in a clean corner.

Before long, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had been wrapped in layers of luxurious clothing, was left wearing only a relatively thin pure white shirt.

Her chest rose and fell as she took several deep breaths in relief, then bent down and pulled something out from the pile of clothing.

Under Uesugi Toru's gaze, one unknown booklet after another appeared in the girl's hands.

Then Imagawa Yoshimoto carried this stack of booklets to his front and slapped them down on the wooden floor with a slap.

She lifted her chin,

"Here, the breathing technique you wanted, the rest are all here."

In his astonishment, Uesugi Toru nodded at the number of booklets before him,

A full...

Nine books.

(End of Chapter)