Chapter 212

One hand pays the money, the other hand receives the goods.

Even though he was about to spend at Katsumi's place, before taking delivery he would first hand over the Soul Ash due to be sold to Uesugi Toru.

As a major merchant who had done business for several hundred years, Katsumi's reputation could not be called anything but strong.

"Adult, please verify the amount."

【Soul Ash: 6122+4800=10922】

Uesugi Toru looked at the Soul Ash column where the number had broken five digits for the first time, and in his heart rose a harvest-like joy.

A full ten thousand nine hundred points of Soul Ash.

Before hearing Katsumi quote the figure of three thousand points, Uesugi Toru had never imagined his Soul Ash reserves could break five digits.

Five digits, equivalent to being able to pull the Edo Castle Gacha Pool seventy times and then some.

If he recklessly pulled now, seventy pulls would smash the Hundred-Eyed Demon's little treasury clean empty!

"Since Adult you are satisfied with this price……"

Katsumi's laughter-filled voice pulled Uesugi Toru's thoughts back.

Just hearing this voice, Uesugi Toru could tell he had earned quite a lot.

He received 4800 points of Soul Ash, and when Katsumi resold…… at minimum he could sell for 6,000 or 7,000 points of Soul Ash or more.

Back and forth, a spread of over 50%.

But Uesugi Toru had no extra thoughts on this, rather he was willing to see it succeed.

Merchants, always have to make money.

And if not for Katsumi, these miscellaneous props and materials in his hand would definitely be smashed onto his hands.

——Even if sold to the Special Affairs Division, most likely they would only exchange for some other props that couldn't be used immediately.

Large amounts of high-purity Soul Ash that can be used immediately, are not available just anywhere.

Not to mention Katsumi spent who knows how much time, used who knows how many means, to establish a client circle with sufficient sales channels.

"Five Elements Materials appear!"

Katsumi snapped his folding fan open with a swish, causing two somewhat illusory shelves to appear behind him.

A few seconds later, accompanied by two pattering sounds, they transformed into solid wooden shelves falling before Uesugi Toru's eyes.

"Adult, please look."

Katsumi turned sideways, smiling as he retreated to the side of the shelves, letting Uesugi Toru scan every layer from bottom to top in detail.

According to his requirement of "both low quality and high quality must be present", the shelves were divided into a full four layers.

The very bottom, a large quantity of gray-white materials, such as 【Metal: A Blacksmith Shop's Quenching Dregs】, 【Water: Well-bottom Sludge】, 【Wood: Ten-year Willow Branch】 — cheap goods that appear endlessly even in Genjitsu.

Average price does not exceed 5 points of Soul Ash.

This trash, relying on his Seed Identity he could casually grab handfuls from the Special Affairs Division's ordinary warehouse.

Uesugi Toru just looking at the trash piling up the bottom shelf felt his scalp go numb.

——Katsumi actually really bore to let this trash occupy his warehouse, truly too dedicated.

And Katsumi even labeled every material with Five Elements Attribute tags…… serves him right that he earns Soul Ash.

Further up, relatively rarer blue-green quality materials, average price reaching around 200 points of Soul Ash.

But this still wasn't what he wanted.

Third layer, purple light of varying depths spread, lighting up Uesugi Toru's pupils.

【Wood: Eight Hundred Bhikkhuni's Tea Branch】, 【Metal: Yamata no Orochi's Shed Scale】……

Right, brother right.

This is it.

But when Uesugi Toru turned his head to look at the price, the expression under his mask froze.

Because, compared to the commoner-priced Excellent and Rare materials, even the cheapest Epic Level materials started at 2800 points of Soul Ash and up.

Epic Level materials generally sold for three thousand points and up, and once reaching Epic+ quality, prices were terrifying, heading straight for the five thousand mark.

Super Epic materials were even generally above a full ten thousand points of Soul Ash!

Katsumi's eye was also extremely sharp; among the dozens of Epic-grade materials not a single one was priced low.

This also completely cut off Uesugi Toru's thoughts of picking up a bargain.

As for further up…… Uesugi Toru already didn't dare look more.

This isn't a realm a mere "ten-thousand-household" can touch.

Uesugi Toru's gaze swept over this string of zeros on the third shelf layer, and in his heart he helplessly sighed.

——Thought he was already wealthy and imposing, didn't expect he was still a Kokara.

——Current Soul Ash reserves just over ten thousand points, so Super Epic materials need not be considered.

"Epic+ quality materials, can still take a look……"

Because the Qi Sea Defining Object isn't irreplaceable either — just that if the Defining Object is changed, everything in the Qi Sea gained from that Defining Object will vanish clean sweep.

Therefore, cultivators who usually use Uniqueness Defining Objects will empty their family assets before Defining, exhaust all means to find the best materials they can obtain.

From start to finish.

But for Uesugi Toru who will use five Defining Objects to construct a Five Elements cycle in the future, this isn't a big deal.

Because even if one is replaced, four-fifths remain unchanged, the influence brought is not too great.

Just need to spend a bit of time.

Thinking this, Uesugi Toru asked: "Boss Katsumi, can I touch the materials to feel them?"

Katsumi bowed and nodded: "Adult please feel free, as long as you don't damage them."

So Uesugi Toru wrapped a thin layer of Gang Qi around his hand, to prevent his fingers from directly touching these precious materials.

Since Katsumi was so generous, he naturally had to do what a customer ought to do in politeness.

"Then... which one should I buy?"

Uesugi Toru thought silently — he had the Metal attribute, and the Water attribute Defining Object would soon be obtainable in Genjitsu.

Then these two attributes could be excluded.

After a careful selection, only three items remained on the wooden counter Katsumi had set out, which Uesugi Toru specially took from the shelves.

One each of Earth, Wood, and Fire attributes.

A handful of loose soil emitting a bone-chilling aura that made Uesugi Toru's spine turn cold, a withered skinny branch filled with astonishing vitality, and a long feather pitch-black throughout that caused the surrounding air to twist slightly.

They were respectively 【Earth: Yomotsuhirasaka's Returning Soul Soil】, 【Wood: Yaobikuni's Tea Branch】, 【Fire: Feather of Ubume】.

Among them, the Returning Soul Soil, also commonly known as "Underworld", was of 【Epic】 quality, priced at 3600 Soul Ash.

The other two materials were both 【Epic+】 quality; the Tea Branch sold for 4800 Soul Ash, and the Feather's price reached as high as 6000!

The latter's selling price ranked at the ceiling even among the entire Epic+ quality.

Uesugi Toru naturally wanted to buy all three, then complete the Five Elements cycle of his Qi Sea in one go.

But whether it was his insufficiently thick Soul Ash reserves, or the feedback from his body's Void Qi Sea, both were plainly telling him he could currently only purchase one of the three.

The former was because afterward, whether for Gacha Pull, opening the third Fishing Master, or guaranteeing sufficient String Hun Xiang Hui supply, he needed to keep relatively sufficient Soul Ash.

The latter was because the current Void Qi Sea seemed not yet fully adapted to the Tenken Fragments' definition; it would likely take several days just to let a second Defining Object enter the Qi Sea.

Let alone a third.

Matters must always be prioritized by urgency and importance.

Some Soul Ash can exert greater effect at the right time.

"Then, I'll buy this one."

Without much hesitation, Uesugi Toru pinched the darkly black scorching long feather among the three rare materials.

Because of its panel —

【Ubume's Feather】

【Quality: Epic+】

【— One of the three feathers from Ubume's neck, containing the powers of life, destruction, and curse, extremely rare. Legend says it can only be taken intact when it falls into the boundary between life and death.】

As for the other two materials, their descriptions did not explicitly indicate rarity or scarcity.

Since that was the case, there was no need for further hesitation.

Moreover, this feather came from Ubume, also a Yokai; it might have even stronger compatibility with his current or future Incarnation Cards.

"Is Adult certain?"

Katsumi's gaze held a touch of surprise.

"Certain."

Uesugi Toru nodded, then immediately waved to manifest 6000 Soul Ash and poured it into the special gray jar Katsumi had prepared long ago.

Slap.

The jar, having received the Soul Ash, closed automatically, representing the transaction's completion.

Seeing Uesugi Toru's decisive manner, Katsumi couldn't help but laugh loudly, drawing out his tone: "Worthy of a Walker Adult who has seen myriad things; truly a good eye."

【Soul Ash: 4922】

Uesugi Toru watched the Soul Ash decrease by more than half in an instant, his heart feeling as if it were bleeding.

Heartache.

But all of this was worth it.

Katsumi's voice rose and fell with emotion: "This Ubume Feather is a treasure I've cherished for a full two hundred and nineteen years, and it was only because I saw Walker Adult's need that I placed it on the shelf."

The gold ingots on his God of Wealth Hat swayed, making a crisp ringing sound: "Never expected it would be taken a fancy to at a glance by Adult."

"— For my own feather to fall into the hands of a noble Constant World Walker, that old friend of mine would surely smile in the Yellow Springs upon knowing."

Uesugi Toru, whose hands were about to be scalded cooked, first put the feather back into his Backpack, then cupped his fists,

"Many thanks, Boss Katsumi."

"Not at all, not at all!" Katsumi shook his fan, his gaze sweeping over Uesugi Toru's empty waist.

His tone revealed a trace of regret: "Everything is fate."

Pausing a moment, Katsumi was about to ask if there were other needs when he heard Uesugi Toru's questioning voice,

"Boss Katsumi, I wonder how much you know about that Factory in the distance."

He asked directly: "If I want a 【Factory Core】, can I obtain it from that Factory?"

Katsumi rarely froze for a moment.

He looked back at the rumbling Factory, his voice lowering: "Adult, you want to provoke those Factory Masters?"

"Doesn't count as..."

Uesugi Toru thought a moment, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind.

He said faintly: "Just a Gathering task."

— The Walker Gathering hundreds or even thousands of years ago should have been renowned, after all it was the gathering place of so many Walkers.

— And the Gathering has been closed for a long time; Walkers on the Joto Land are few and far between.

These two pieces of news, Katsumi surely knows.

And who manages the Walker Gathering, Katsumi who personally experienced the eras before and after the Gathering could not possibly be ignorant.

Uesugi Toru's this sentence was tantamount to releasing a message to Katsumi.

— I have someone behind me.

So, you don't need to be afraid.

Sure enough, the next moment Katsumi, who had been fanning himself, froze.

Even he took a full several seconds to digest this most heavyweight piece of recent news.

As for the truth or falsehood of this news, that was no longer so important...

Even if it's fake, it has to be treated as real.

So Katsumi immediately put on a serious expression and said: "Adult, please convey my greetings to that one on my behalf."

Uesugi Toru nodded slowly: "I will."

Having said that, Katsumi's chatterbox opened right up,

"That factory not far away is an outpost built by the Factory Masters to welcome the 'Second Wave' that will arrive before long, and it belongs to one of the 【Logistics Sequence】 factories."

Uesugi Toru seized the key point: "Logistics Sequence?"

"Yes." Katsumi explained, "In other words, it is a specialized modular factory dedicated to producing and guaranteeing the supply of war resources for the frontline armies."

Katsumi put away his fan and summarized: "Since it is a newly built important factory, it naturally possesses a 【Factory Core】 — this new type of power source."

"—And a logistics factory in a remote place like this is certainly not equipped with a large garrison force."

He shrugged: "At least, for a Walking Adult it doesn't amount to much."

After hearing Katsumi's series of detailed explanations, Uesugi Toru's gaze toward that factory had also become completely different.

Not only did he now have the key to unlock that Super Epic Quality map...

More importantly, he learned part of the Common World Factory Masters' plans from Katsumi's mouth.

Katsumi pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and summoned a map of the Genjitsu.

He pointed at a spot on it,

"Before long, a certain Factory Master plans to attempt landing an army in the Genjitsu here first, and Adult can also take the opportunity to..."

Katsumi's words were not finished.

At this moment, the complexion beneath Uesugi Toru's mask had already become stern.

Because the place Katsumi pointed to was none other than... Shizuoka Prefecture!

In the news from two days ago, Nanjo Sister said the place she told me to go was there.

It seems this trip to Shizuoka Prefecture absolutely will not be simple.

However, this suits him perfectly!

If there aren't many Yokai, where would the Soul Ash come from?

He nodded expressionlessly: "I understand."

"Besides that, Boss Katsumi."

Uesugi Toru directly manifested 500 points of Soul Ash, shoved it into Katsumi's hand without further ado, and asked: "May I ask, do you have a method to solve a Mononoke whose thinking has been polluted by Wish Power?"

"This... is a somewhat rare question."

Katsumi accepted the Soul Ash,

"Wish Power is no good thing; normally I avoid it like the plague and haven't seen much of it."

He pondered for a moment, tapping his palm with his fan: "How about this, I'll go ask around."

"Adult, how about we meet again in half a month?"

Uesugi Toru knew this was Katsumi preparing to use his connections to find an answer for him.

"Much obliged." He lowered his head slightly.

The man shaking the Ukiyo-e Folding Fan shook his head and smiled: "I also look forward to the next transaction with Adult."

A gentle breeze blew past, and Katsumi along with all the merchandise shelves disappeared without a trace.

Uesugi Toru stood in place, looking at his Storage Backpack which was already considerably emptier.

This time, the harvest was quite bountiful.

He raised his head, fixing his gaze on the distant factory.

—Next time, I'll come and pull out this factory.

The water pressure was quiet and stable.

Near noon, sunlight had already spread unreservedly over Uesugi Toru's body.

He yawned, suddenly discovering that the Spirit Power in his body had increased a bit after sleeping.

Strange.

Clearly I didn't circulate the Spirit Control Technique at all; the fact that Proficiency didn't change at all is the best proof.

Not bothering with this small matter, Uesugi Toru turned his head and discovered Kaga Kiyomitsu was not in the Room.

"Looks like Xiao Jia and Shizuku are getting along pretty well."

After a simple wash-up, Uesugi Toru pushed open the door and walked into the Living Room, seeing Kaga Kiyomitsu leaning against the wall meditating and cultivating...

Huh?

Uesugi Toru blinked, discovering Kaga Kiyomitsu, sword and scabbard together, was being held motionless in Shizuku's arms.

As for the principal who was holding Xiao Jia, she was actually leaning there asleep just like that.

The girl was still tilting her head, crystal-clear drool almost dripping down.

This is truly rare.

Uesugi Toru immediately silently took out his Mobile Phone, using the native Camera to click-click 360° record this rare moment.

Buzz buzz buzz.

He was still taking photos when a plea for help from Kaga Kiyomitsu instantly came through his Heartstring.

Uesugi Toru stood to the side, returning a cold smile: "Xiao Jia, you're still a red-haired tsundere."

——If Kaga Kiyomitsu truly disliked Shizuku, then how could she possibly hold the entire sword tightly in her arms.

Just a case of saying one thing but meaning another.

He didn't disturb Shizuku who had finally gotten a good sleep, but lay down on the sofa nearby, picked up his mobile phone which had long been charged to one hundred percent, and pulled out the charging cable.

Nothing to do anyway, might as well idle in the group chat for a bit.

After idling for a while in the Arakawa Ward Potential group, Uesugi Toru, scrolling up through the messages, discovered a strange phenomenon.

——Rituna Minami had initiated a vote in the group the day before yesterday: 【Who volunteers to go support Shizuoka Prefecture】, and the result was zero votes willing to go.

"Such a good thing and nobody's fighting to go?"

Uesugi Toru read a few A-rank and B-rank Potential newcomers' chat, and let out an "oh".

Turns out they were afraid of getting hurt, also afraid of dying; if they went to an unfamiliar place, who knows, they might get their brains eaten by some Yokai that popped out from somewhere.

This time it was truly human nature.

He touched his chin.

It seems, people who chase after Yokai to kill them are mostly not quite right in the head.

Whether it's him, Minamoto Shizumi, or Akatsuki Ran and those few...

Uesugi Toru still wanted to continue looking at the history messages to see if there was anything interesting, when a new message popped up at the top of the screen.

【Rituna Minami: Free? Get out here and treat us to a meal!】

?

Did she eat gunpowder or something, why is her tone so aggressive?

But with Rituna Minami saying this, Uesugi Toru did recall that he had previously said he would treat Rituna Minami to a big meal.

【Tsukisuna-chan: Nanjo Sister, you definitely drank yourself into a stupor yesterday and got carried home, and just woke up and had Nure Onna fish out your phone from who knows where, then messaged me wanting to drink heavily and scrounge a meal.】

【Rituna Minami:?】

The next second, a Line call came in.

Uesugi Toru answered.

"——You brat! Did you install a camera in my house?!"

Rituna Minami's voice was groggy, shocked, and unbelieving.

Uesugi Toru was at a loss for words.

For a drunkard who just woke up from a hangover and was still out of it, there really wasn't anything to say.

After listening to a whole pile of questions with subjects, objects, and predicates all mixed up and out of order, Uesugi Toru gave a hehe smile,

"Speaking objectively, Nanjo Sister, I even feel like you've bound a 'Drink Heavily System', where the more you drink and the more hyped you get, the faster your strength grows."

Rituna Minami seemed not to have heard his words, just mumbled: "You... where are you, I'm coming!"

"At home."

Uesugi Toru could hear, after he said those two words, a chaotic mess of sounds came from the other end; just judging roughly by the voices there were two or three people.

Slap.

The call was then inexplicably hung up.

Uesugi Toru put down the phone speechlessly, estimating it wouldn't be long before she dragged the whole family over.

Because Nure Onna and Kohinata Bozu definitely couldn't stop her, and they definitely wouldn't feel at ease letting Rituna Minami in this state go out alone.

Looks like his wallet was going to have a "Danger" sign hovering over it.

Uesugi Toru chuckled and shook his head, just about to wake Shizuku, but discovered she had already opened her eyes and was looking over.

The girl wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, somewhat embarrassed: "Going out?"

"I'm treating Nanjo Sister and them to a meal, you coming?"

Shizuku yawned with full satisfaction: "Free food to scrounge, why wouldn't I come?"

She was just about to open her hand and return Kaga Kiyomitsu, which she had hugged all night, to Uesugi Toru, but discovered this sword seemed to have suddenly stuck to her palm.

Clearly she had opened her hand in midair, yet Kaga Kiyomitsu didn't budge an inch.

If Newton saw this scene, he'd definitely blow the lid off his coffin.

Uesugi Toru turned his head to observe for a moment, laughed out loud: "Xiao Jia, you're quite enjoying this, aren't you!"

Hum...

Kaga Kiyomitsu was powerless to refute, couldn't even speak anymore.

Uesugi Toru estimated, probably because Shizuku's Swordsmanship attainment was too strong and she even possessed a Sword Domain, it made Xiao Jia, also a "Thrust Expert", unable to help but want to get close to her.

He gave a dry laugh, and let the now quiet Kaga Kiyomitsu be.

Before long, a classic bread van that made creaking sounds when started arrived at the doorway of Uesugi Toru's home.

After pulling open the car door, Shizuku, hugging the sword, turned her head, looking somewhat puzzled,

"Where's Manatsu?"

In the driver's seat, Akatsuki Ran, who had long since forced the alcohol out of her body and had a determined look in her eyes, twitched the corner of her mouth.

Beside her, Rituna Minami, whose clothes had buttons done up wrong, inside-out and backwards, lying spread-eagled, burped and said,

"On leave! She's still lying at my place..."

The two who just got in the car: "..."

Definitely got force-fed alcohol all night.

"Also!" She suddenly raised her head to look at Uesugi Toru, haltingly said, "This time looking for you, it's not purely just to drink heavily and scrounge a meal."

Uesugi Toru: "So where are we going to eat."

Rituna Minami gave a hehe laugh.

Nure Onna in the back seat raised her mobile phone, letting Uesugi Toru see the all-you-can-eat price reaching six digits.

He opened his mouth: "Classic doesn't know where the expensive yakitori is..."

Uesugi Toru sighed, but didn't say much more — truth be told, he normally didn't spend much money anyway; the extra money sitting in his card was just numbers.

If spending a bit of money could make everyone happy, that was fine too.

So he waved his hand: "Let's go..."

After being stuck in traffic for about an hour, the group finally arrived at the packed yakitori shop.

However, although there were many people, the interior consisted entirely of private rooms, offering sufficient protection for guests' privacy.

Shizuku, hugging her sword, coldly snorted: "All big spenders."

Kaga Kiyomitsu agreed with a resonant hum, causing the two shikigami and Akatsuki Ran to simultaneously cast shocked gazes.

Just now... what did they hear?

A sword, a sword became a spirit?!

"Don't forget, if you wanted to, you could become a big spender in an instant."

Uesugi Toru shoved Shizuku into the shop, and the three of them staring dazedly at Xiao Jia could only follow inside.

Nanjo Rituna, sobered up for an hour with a much clearer head but still a flushed red face, entered the reserved private room last: "What are you looking at, never seen a cursed blade princess?"

After letting Nure-onna, Hiyobou, and Kaga Kiyomitsu go to the corner together, Nanjo Rituna plopped down on the soft sofa.

She rested her chin on the spotless marble tabletop and said: "The food will take a bit, so let's talk a little business first."

The moment the words "business" were mentioned, Nanjo Rituna's expression immediately turned serious,

"Uesugi-kun, you should know that Special Agent Kujo Tsubaki previously encountered a train shuttling back and forth between the Everlasting World and the Present World, right?"

"I know."

More than know — he had experienced it firsthand, and even seen the incomparably prosperous Heian-kyo in the Everlasting World.

"Then it's simple, this train..."

Nanjo Rituna said,

"Seems to be related to a famous mononoke called 'Kisaragi Station' that hadn't been seen for a long time but suddenly reappeared recently in Shizuoka Prefecture."

(End of Chapter)