Chapter 209: Final Evaluation: SS

【Current stage quest completion: 101%.】

Four days later.

On the battlements of Nishio Castle, now settled.

Uesugi Toru, who was using Gang Qi to forcibly forge his bones halfway through, caught a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

His movement paused, and a raw, stinging pain surged from every joint and deep within his marrow.

Uesugi Toru immediately withdrew his focus, took a deep breath, and only after completing this round of bone forging did he heavily exhale,

"Finally finished……"

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique proficiency +6.】

【Corona Breathing Technique (Jade Bone 171/400)】

Uesugi Toru rose and stretched his muscles and bones, his gaze flatly sweeping over the pitifully small proficiency gain, thinking that without medicinal baths to assist, progress really was slow.

"Finally finished……"

Behind him, Kaga Kiyomitsu, trembling, uttered a sentence exactly the same in tone and rhythm as his.

Uesugi Toru curled his lip, speechless.

These past few days, whenever no one was around, Kaga Kiyomitsu, who had originally been quietly observing from the back seat, would start mimicking like a parrot, repeating everything he had just said.

To Uesugi Toru, it was like having a TXT game text open that kept "auto-reading."

And it couldn't be turned off, nor skipped, and what's more, Xiao Jia's speech had an AI flavor.

That's right, no matter how many times Uesugi Toru said it, Kaga Kiyomitsu couldn't break this bad habit……but he couldn't really do anything to Xiao Jia.

By now, Uesugi Toru was truly tormented to the point of being somewhat unhappy.

He silently punched in his heart: "Need to find a time to properly discipline this rebellious Xiao Jia."

At this moment, the footsteps of an armored person came from the stone stairs: "Toru-sama, a letter from the Head of Family—the purge within Mikawa Province has come to a close."

Uesugi Toru nodded: "Good."

As expected.

After all, the quest completion had reached 101%.

Speaking of this completion rate, Uesugi Toru had originally thought 100% was already the limit, never expecting it could continue to break through upward.

That is to say, theoretically this quest completion rate could continue to rise with the passage of time.

But how many days this "passage of time" would take, there was no set number.

After all, the foot soldiers beside him had said that the large-scale purge of Mikawa Province had already ended not long ago.

Next, the direction that Imagawa Yoshimoto and the Imagawa Clan valued was dealing with the coming Heaven and Earth Revival.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Toru turned his head, looking down at Nishio Castle below his feet where the plague was gone but which had become somewhat empty and desolate.

——Although Nishio Castle had completely settled, the yokai within the city had been purged until not one remained, and the environment was slowly returning to its original state.

Then, what was the price?

Uesugi Toru could see that on the streets once crowded with people, now at a glance he could only see a dozen or so figures moving slowly.

These past few days, Imagawa Yoshimoto had not only had Okabe Motonobu eradicate the yokai and everything related to the Pure Land True Sect.

Besides this, the vast majority of ordinary people who had been "brainwashed" by Wish Power until they lost their selves were also slain at Imagawa Yoshimoto's instigation.

——Acting as one favored by the Gods, he made his move only after a family member or relative with a clear self-consciousness agreed.

Although cruel, this was something that had to be done.

Because once thoughts were completely stained by Wish Power, there was no means of recovery.

Otherwise, Er Shaku-sama would have had no need to return to the Jizo Statue at all.

If these people were not killed, then within a few days, those "Wish Power flesh machines" who relied on instinct to pray and eat would starve to death on a large scale after finishing the food in their homes.

Finally, leading to another outbreak of plague and other large-scale epidemics within Nishio Castle.

Even, if they were casually incited and used by a remnant of the Pure Land True Sect, it could cause a small-scale riot.

Other regions, cities, and villages were exactly the same.

Only with such swift and decisive methods could the related impacts be reduced to the minimum, and then fully prepare for the coming of the Heaven and Earth Revival.

Uesugi Toru withdrew his gaze.

He hadn't smelled blood before, probably because Imagawa Yoshimoto had people bring them to the downwind outside the city to be disposed of uniformly.

Uesugi Toru recalled Imagawa Yoshimoto's expressionless face when she returned the previous two nights, and sighed softly: "She's not having it easy either……"

Therefore, although all of Mikawa Province had settled, it could still be said to be greatly weakened, not even reaching half of Mikawa Province before the arrival of sickness and suffering.

And the Imagawa Clan's army.

Whether Ashigaru or Samurai, under such efficient purge that almost disregarded losses, they must have suffered many casualties.

And the bodies of the Sickness Retainers were full of viruses and had to be disposed of, with no usable parts at all; they were not like himself, who could gain Soul Ash and Soul Spirit Points from killing yokai.

This wave was, for Imagawa Yoshimoto, a windfall disaster that caused great loss.

Fortunately he was there, which allowed the Imagawa Clan to advance rather than retreat.

——First, Imagawa Yoshimoto purged the Elders in the family, bringing all power into her hands.

——Then she subdued the Local Warlords within Mikawa Province who had originally been restless but now had no power to resist, using thunderous methods, and gained some of their loyalty because of this incident.

Most crucially, Imagawa Yoshimoto learned of the coming of the Heaven and Earth Revival a week in advance, and had already obtained a Basic Onmyo Technique that could absorb Spirit Qi.

At this time, the other Daimyo should still be finding the subtle changes around them strange, right?

In the wave of the new era, a step fast, step by step fast.

By the time the other Daimyo figured out what happened, the Imagawa Clan would probably have produced many Onmyoji seedlings.

"Uh……Toru-sama? Toru-sama?"

The calls of his name rang several times before Kaga Kiyomitsu poked Uesugi Toru out of his reverie.

Uesugi Toru turned his head to look and discovered it was still that same samurai from before: "Anything else?"

The samurai lowered his head and said: "The Head of Family also said, please make your way to Yoshida Castle today."

Uesugi Toru slapped his forehead after hearing this.

Oh, almost forgot about this.

Early yesterday morning, Imagawa Yoshimoto said she had to return to Yoshida Castle to discuss some matters with the Matsudaira Clan, and told him to just arrive before Heaven and Earth Revival.

"I understand, anything else?"

The samurai shook his head: "Nothing else, Adult."

Uesugi Toru waved his hand: "Then withdraw, I'll call others if there's need."

The samurai bowed and retreated, disappearing before Uesugi Toru's eyes without saying a word.

After the other party had completely left, Uesugi Toru looked at the numerous prompts that had popped up before him due to the quest completion reaching 101%.

【Detected that your quest completion has exceeded 100%!】

【You have gained, History Key Stasis (Special Prop)!】

Uesugi Toru blinked in puzzlement.

What the hell is this?

Another History Key with an unseen suffix actually popped out.

Let me see what this is about...

After gripping this History Key in hand, which had no difference in appearance except its color was gray, Uesugi Toru examined its panel.

【History Key Stasis (Special Prop)】

【Effect: When using History Key Stasis to return to Genjitsu, you will gain "History Key Anchor".】

【——Time, please stop for a moment.】

What is that thing behind it then?

Uesugi Toru moved his intention, and a second panel popped up.

【History Key Anchor】

【——After use, return to the time point when "History Key Stasis" was used.】

I see.

Uesugi Toru understood.

This newly gained History Key Stasis is equivalent to a save point that can be placed in the Sengoku Period at any time.

Simply put, he can return to Genjitsu whenever he wants, and afterwards just needs to use the History Key with the suffix "Anchor" to return to this save point.

That's pretty good.

Uesugi Toru tossed the History Key in his hand, revealing a smile.

He originally thought that after waiting for Genjitsu's one-point-five waves to arrive, he'd have to run between Sengoku and Genjitsu continuously, crazily reversing jet lag.

Now with this History Key, the pressure is significantly reduced.

He can completely put the unfinished Main Quest Second Ring aside for now, wait until Genjitsu's matters are handled seven-seven-eight-eight, then come back in.

Only, these two History Keys are most likely one-time props.

Then the timing of use...

Thinking of this, Uesugi Toru shook his head.

Isn't the timing of use already very obvious, does it still need more thought?

Tossing the History Key back into the Storage Backpack, Uesugi Toru used his mind to formally settle this Stage Quest.

The next moment, prompts kept popping up, squeezing the previous prompt to the back.

【Settling Stage Quest Mikawa Uprising completion...】

【You suppressed the yaoguai in the Mikawa Region together with Imagawa Yoshimoto, completion 101%, gained Basic Evaluation A.】

【Your Historical Influence Degree reached 3%, Basic Evaluation A→S-!】

【You alone killed all key figures of Stage Quest Mikawa Uprising — Sickness and Suffering Transform, Dharma Master Renko, Evaluation S-→S+!】

【Due to your actions, the name "Imagawa Yoshimoto" spread further under Tenka, causing her Sengoku Period Reputation to significantly increase, Evaluation S+→SS-!】

【You spread the name "Great Onmyoji Toru" further under Tenka, your Muromachi Late Period Sengoku Period Reputation exceeded 8000 points, Evaluation SS-→SS!】

【Settlement complete!】

【Your Stage Quest Mikawa Uprising final evaluation is: SS!】

【Your Main Quest Second Ring Lord of Tokaido evaluation increased!】

【Current evaluation is: A+!】

【Note! Rewards can only be distributed after using History Key Stasis to return to Genjitsu!】

Uesugi Toru first focused on the Historical Influence Degree that had actually reached 3%.

You must know that the last time he saw the exact numerical value, it was merely 1.5%, yet now it had actually doubled.

But in just a moment, Uesugi Toru's gaze was drawn by the following string of unseen quest ratings, looking directly to the end.

"SS-Rank evaluation..."

Uesugi Toru murmured, this counts as the highest rank evaluation he's ever gotten.

But not two seconds passed, Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes in contemplation again.

He felt he had done everything he could do, could be said to have exhausted his heart and strength and done all humanly possible, yet the evaluation was only SS?

Then how would SS+, or even higher SSS, be reached?

Could it be he has to locate Sickness and Suffering the moment he receives the quest, then descend from the heavens and slash them with one strike?

Or perhaps too many people died in Mikawa Province... this is possible, because at the very beginning neither he nor Imagawa Yoshimoto paid special attention to Mikawa's situation.

Uesugi Toru let out a light sigh, no longer thinking further.

Anyway, the task was already over; one had to look forward.

As long as he remembered this task's experience, he could just review it thoroughly from start to finish before sleeping afterwards.

He raised his head to glance at the sun already nearly overhead, and subconsciously called out: "Two-shaku Adult, we're walking..."

After waiting a full several seconds after speaking, Uesugi Toru only then suddenly reacted.

That girl wearing a white dress could now only seal herself inside the Jizo Statue.

He calmly turned back, greeting Kaga Kiyomitsu behind him — who for the first time in these two days did not repeat his words — to walk together toward the stables,

"Xiao Jia, let's go."

One person, one sword; they went to the stables, found a horse, and rushed toward Yoshida Castle.

The journey was unimpeded.

Not long after the sun sank in the west, Uesugi Toru could already see Yoshida Castle's silhouette far away at the horizon's end.

Walking closer, he could very clearly see rows of lit torches on Yoshida Castle's ramparts.

Draped in Black Armor, Imagawa Yoshimoto with a solemn complexion stood right in the center.

And by the time Uesugi Toru blinked again, he very obviously discovered that gaze silently lock onto him across the distant distance.

Even as he rode his horse galloping in the night.

He exclaimed in admiration: "This eyesight, others truly cannot envy."

Kaga Kiyomitsu inside the sword sheath also followed along repeating it once, with vivid emotion.

Uesugi Toru couldn't be bothered with it.

Shifting his gaze again, he saw Okabe Motonobu standing beside Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Matsudaira Motoyasu lowering his head, unknown what he was thinking.

Some armored samurai and hatamoto of higher status also stood on the ramparts behind them.

Uesugi Toru looked left and right, but saw no sign of Shiraishi — logically, as Okabe Motonobu's horse-leading boy, he was qualified to stand up there with the former.

I'll ask later.

Before long, Uesugi Toru arrived at Yoshida Castle's ramparts.

He sniffed the air, freshened by many times over compared to before, patted the warhorse beneath him after the castle gates opened wide, signaling it to walk in on its own.

As for Uesugi Toru himself, he stepped left foot on right foot in three-two steps and leapt onto the rampart's edge, standing firmly.

He patted the shoulder of the hatamoto blocking the way ahead, somewhat dazed, and said gently: "Please make way."

"Oh... oh! Toru-sama, sorry!"

The hatamoto startled quite badly by this scene trembled all over, retreating to the side with a reverent gaze.

The front-row samurai hatamoto all retreated in turn, using wordless tacit understanding to yield a straight path leading directly to the rampart's center for Uesugi Toru.

Uesugi Toru just wanted to wave at Okabe Motonobu, but saw the latter's taciturn appearance, then thought of the many samurai still here.

So he only said loudly: "Long time no see, Lord Okabe."

"Just several days, Mr. Toru."

After the greetings, the approaching Uesugi Toru condensed his Gang Qi into a thread, and asked softly: "Where's Shiraishi?"

Okabe Motonobu replied with the same method: "Still in the city training by himself."

Training? Training his stomach's endurance and digestion ability?

Uesugi Toru raised an eyebrow.

Seeing his expression, Okabe Motonobu seriously added: "These days, he's been very hardworking."

Uesugi Toru collected his expression... that brat Shiraishi actually took it seriously, could it be he's throwing a tantrum because I didn't bring him along and doesn't want to see me?

After a bout of contemplation, Uesugi Toru didn't ask further.

Shiraishi was holding a grudge in his heart, willing to go cultivate alone; this was a good thing.

This little thing definitely thinks: I'll cultivate fiercely, then show off astonishing cultivation results to shock him and slap his face...

Uesugi Toru was willing to let it happen.

Shiraishi becoming stronger surely only has benefits, no drawbacks.

He was still waiting to later see historical Shiraishi replace Hattori Hanzo's position, becoming a Great Ninja.

Hm?

Suddenly sensing a trace of spiritual power fluctuation rising from the surroundings, Uesugi Toru looked over, discovering it came from a samurai.

Though minuscule, it truly existed.

Uesugi Toru swept his gaze one by one over those surrounding samurai who mostly respected, revered, worshipped him, discovering they all coincidentally bore traces of absorbing spiritual power.

He looked comprehendingly at Imagawa Yoshimoto gazing into the distance.

— Probably, they all learned that Yin-Yang Technique she sought out.

As for her own body, there was none; presumably she had better choices?

"It's coming."

Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly spoke, making Uesugi Toru cast his gaze in the same direction as her.

The impending Heaven and Earth Revival let even her perceive a faint omen.

"Yeah."

Uesugi Toru listened to the tide sounds continuously echoing between heaven and earth, nodding: "It's coming."

Crash!

After his internal Qi Sea surged along with it for a while, Uesugi Toru spoke, which could be called the first time he made a request to Imagawa Yoshimoto,

"Lord Imagawa, could you help me find Five Elements... that is, Heavenly Materials Earthly Treasures related to Metal Wood Water Fire Earth afterwards?"

"Heavenly Materials Earthly Treasures?" Imagawa Yoshimoto's tone held some confusion.

It's metal, plants, or materials taken from yokai that contain rich spirit qi and look precious at a glance.

Imagawa Yoshimoto still didn't quite understand.

But she silently nodded her chin, counting it as memorized.

—Time here, it's about enough, right.

Uesugi Toru closed his eyes.

If he dragged it out a bit more, this Heaven and Earth Revival from five hundred years ago would truly arrive.

After this, the truly exciting Warring States chaotic age would open its curtain.

By then, could he really still bear to leave here for a very long time?

So, this time point was neither biased nor partial.

Just right.

Uesugi Toru exhaled lightly, turned around, and prepared to walk down from the watchtower to use the History Key.

And just as he lifted his foot, Imagawa Yoshimoto's voice came from beside him: "Toru... sir, a once-in-a-century scene is coming soon, won't you watch together?"

Uesugi Toru looked back and smiled at the armored girl watching him,

"I'll step away for a bit, I'll be back before this."

Imagawa Yoshimoto did not try to detain her again.

She made a sound of assent, and just like that gazed at Uesugi Toru's back until it disappeared at the corner of the crowd.

Imagawa Yoshimoto withdrew her gaze.

Without a word.

For some reason, a feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

A kind of...

【Confirm use of History Key Stasis?】

"Yes."

And so the whole world once again turned to colorless gray, and Uesugi Toru's consciousness began to detach and rise.

Rumble!

Before returning to Genjitsu, Uesugi Toru could hear the echo of the sky-topping giant waves above his head reaching the bottom of the water.

Different from the previous two times.

This time, the giant waves had already come to his back.

【You have temporarily left the Muromachi Shogunate Late Period, Sengoku Period Mid-to-Late Period.】

Uesugi Toru opened his eyes in the Mountain Forest under the fierce sun.

He narrowed his eyes and mumbled: "No matter how many times come, I can't get used to this feeling of day and night instantly reversing."

Subconsciously taking out his Mobile Phone, Uesugi Toru glanced at the date and found today was actually only May 27.

The early morning of May 27, 2024.

Only about four days had passed since before he encountered the Sanzhou Incident.

Uesugi Toru somewhat blankly rubbed his Sun Temple, his face showing fatigue,

"Always feel like a very long, very long time has passed."

But the next moment, a suddenly popping Prompt interrupted his lamentation and sorrow over spring and autumn, forcibly making Uesugi Toru lift his Spirit.

【Distributing Stage Quest Mikawa Uprising Reward...】

【You gained Great Yin-Yang Art Nine Syllables Mantra Scroll (Damaged)!】

【You gained "Tenken Shards"!】

The Reward was very simple, only two extremely short items.

Not even basic Soul Ash Pity System.

Uesugi Toru was stunned.

The fewer the words, the more it means big trouble, right.

After a long time, he smiled and split his mouth: "This is, truly heavyweight..."

A Great Yin-Yang Art Fragment of the same rank as Spirit Control Technique, and part of the weapon that Susanoo used in legend to slay the Yamata no Orochi.

Enough.

Completely enough.

This is way too enough!

He used his Mind to click two Items in succession, and the Panel popped up one after another.

【Great Yin-Yang Art Nine Syllables Mantra Scroll (Special Prop)】

【Effect: Tear open, learn Nine Syllables Rin.】

【——An ancient scroll storing the legendary Great Yin-Yang Art Nine Syllables Mantra. Due to too much time passed, its origin can no longer be verified.】

【Tenken Shards】

【Quality: Super Epic】

【——A blade shard blown off by the snake tail when Susanoo slashed the Yamata no Orochi with his sword.】

"Super Epic?"

Even though he was prepared in his heart, Uesugi Toru was still stunned for a good while when he saw such a Quality pop up above the metal grain that wasn't even half the size of a fingernail.

This works?

He raised the ordinary iron-gray fragments in his hand, aiming them at the sun: "Xiao Jia, this thing's quality is even higher than yours……"

Kaga Kiyomitsu: "!!!"

Xiao Jia said nothing, merely vibrating.

"Could this serve as a defining object for the Qi Sea?" Uesugi Toru tapped the metal grain in his palm with his finger. "If so, then the Metal attribute among the Five Elements will soon be done."

He immediately made up his mind to try it out after going home or entering the Special Affairs Division.

This mountain ridge wilderness isn't very safe.

——Putting a powerful defining object into the Qi Sea might possibly cause oneself to fall into a coma or lose control of one's body.

Heaven knows whether the yokai in the mountain forest have been cleaned up; if someone loots the corpse, it won't be good.

This prop storing the Great Yin-Yang Art won't be used for now either.

Same reasoning, just in case.

But there is one thing that can be done now.

Rather, it's something that can only be done in this uninhabited mountain area.

Uesugi Toru transformed into White Prajna, taking out the White Lady Mask that had gathered dust in his backpack for a long time from the backpack.

He put it on his face.

This is the cheapest of the three masks used to summon Katsumi, costing only 2000 points of Soul Ash.

But correspondingly, the speed at which Katsumi rushes over will also be relatively the slowest.

Sorting through the items and props prepared for sale, Uesugi Toru muttered to himself,

"I don't know how long I'll have to wait here……"

No more than a few seconds later, accompanied by the fading of illusion-like wave sounds, that long-absent rise and fall, with a drawn-out tone, rang out beside his ear,

"Oh my——long time no see, Walking Adult~"

Uesugi Toru, who had just put on the White Lady Mask, was shocked.

He looked toward the rustling movement beside him, as the tree grove fell apart to both sides.

Emerging from behind the green grass and trees was precisely a straw doll wearing a white-gold God of Wealth Hat, holding a Ukiyo-e Folding Fan, looking like Katsumi.

He was shaking the folding fan, rubbing his fingers, smiling as he looked at Uesugi Toru.

End of Chapter