Chapter 98: 2144 Soul Ash, the Wealthiest Episode! (5k, please subscribe!)

The Soul Ash Conversion Box in Uesugi Toru's hand looked no different on the surface from the one he had previously obtained by slaying a living being.

But the weight was different—

【Soul Ash Conversion Box filled with Soul Ash (Special Prop)】

【Effect: After use, gain 1000 Soul Ash.】

【——Filled with ten thousand portions of crude Soul Ash converted from Stranger Souls, it can hold no more.】

The description was brief, but extremely practical.

"But ten thousand portions……"

Uesugi Toru silently used it, and the Soul Ash Conversion Box in his hand instantly lightened.

【You have obtained Soul Ash ×1000!】

Now, Uesugi Toru's Soul Ash reserve had leapt to an exaggerated "2144"!

Not only could he easily buy two Cold Steel Arm Guards, he could even pull two more Ten-Pulls, truly unprecedented wealth.

With the peace of mind brought by ample Soul Ash, Uesugi Toru exhaled, then took out the Yatagarasu's Heart that had just dropped.

A dark red heart as large as two of Uesugi Toru's fists fell into his hand, its surface flowing with scalding blood, and as it slowly throbbed, blue-green veins were clearly visible.

【Yatagarasu's Heart】

【Quality: Rare】

【Effect: After consumption, randomly comprehend one talent related to "Wind".】

【——Yatagarasu, wingless yet soaring.】

"Consume……?"

Uesugi Toru stared for a good while at the stinking heart in his hand that was bigger than his mouth, his expression troubled.

But not eating it was impossible.

"There's no need to wait until later to eat it."

Uesugi Toru muttered softly, tilted his head back, and then in two or three bites chewed the Yatagarasu's Heart into pieces and swallowed it down.

He could clearly feel that after his teeth broke through the relatively tough outer skin, the stinking yet scalding blood poured into his mouth like flowing water, followed by the heart muscle and blood vessels with a texture like jelly gelatin……

Creak creak.

After a round of chewing sounds, the extremely nauseated Uesugi Toru looked at the Panel—

【You have consumed Yatagarasu's Heart!】

【You have comprehended a new talent, Vortex!】

【Vortex】

【Effect: You will be able to clearly perceive the flow of Qi, and consume Spirit Power to change it.】

【——To you, Qi is equivalent to water.】

After reading through the Prompt in no more than a few seconds, Uesugi Toru extremely clearly felt the "flow of Qi" mentioned in the talent effect.

Not only the speed and direction of wind blowing from the outside world, but also its effect on himself.

More importantly, Uesugi Toru could now even while just standing there, discern the position, flow speed, and amount of all Corona Qi within his body, and control it.

If before practicing the Breathing Technique required guiding Corona Qi to circulate again and again within his body to grow stronger.

Then after awakening the talent "Vortex", all his Internal Qi seemed to have become an extension of Uesugi Toru's limbs, flowing unimpeded through his four limbs and hundreds of bones.

For example, right now, Uesugi Toru could tear a mass of Corona Qi apart and divert it into dozens or even hundreds of portions, letting just the right amount fall onto a minor wound to treat it.

This was something he, who previously would only spread a large mass of Internal Qi over a wound to stop bleeding and disinfect, could never do before.

"Truly, an unexpected surprise."

Uesugi Toru curled his lips, he believed the utility of this talent was by no means limited to this, there must be many more magical uses waiting for him to deeply explore.

But for now, he should first carry the Yatagarasu that was still dripping blood back.

……

Just after four in the morning, Parking Lot.

Nanjo Ai, Kurosaki Akira, who had rushed over in an emergency, along with a treatment-specialized Onmyoji, jumped down from the back of the Black Truck together.

As soon as she landed, Nanjo Ai felt the shadow beneath her feet beginning to stir restlessly.

She looked around, but only saw the figures of Shizuka Mafuyu and Shizuku.

"You go first and carry her up." Nanjo Ai pointed at Shizuka Mafuyu, the middle-aged uncle-like Onmyoji behind her nodded, summoned a strange little monk with a Straw Hat on his head, and ran up.

"Shadow Girl was deliberately left here by him?"

Nanjo Ai frowned, a translucent Spirit Thread shot from her fingertip and drilled into Shizuka Mafuyu's shadow, forcibly hoisting out that viscous shadow.

A pained voice as if about to suffocate echoed within the Parking Lot: "Oy oy oy! Little Love, don't strangle my neck, I'm going to die!"

Nanjo Ai remained indifferent, hoisting that wriggling shadow that dared not Transform before herself, and coldly interrogated: "I told you to come out and not leave Uesugi Toru's side to protect him, what have you done?"

"He himself said to let me stay here, he alone……it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

The shadow twisted violently in midair, causing Kurosaki Akira watching from behind to involuntarily touch his neck.

The next instant, he took out a Mirror, and after a few seconds said: "There are no Yokai around, but there is an Abnormal Situation."

Nanjo Ai nodded to show she understood, then pulled that mass of shadow before herself, and firmly gripped its upper end with her five fingers,

"Come, explain."

Her own shadow danced wildly, as if mocking Shadow Girl.

Shadow Girl let out a faint cry, then tremulously uttered bubble sounds: "I've been with him for a long time, I feel he's no different from you, Little Love, so listening to his orders also……"

Nanjo Ai frowned as she listened, this was also one of the bad habits of stuffing Shadow Girl into the Ghost Old Man's Puppet to give to others.

——You never know what that separated Shadow Girl has experienced, how much her cognition has changed, and whether she will still firmly execute the command you first issued.

"Remelt her."

Nanjo Ai was about to throw the shadow into her own shadow when she smelled the thick, bloody stench unique to demons.

She looked up and saw a boy, covered in wounds and carrying a sturdy demon corpse under the cluster of dim yellow street lamps, flashing a scissors hand toward her with an expressionless face.

"Glad you're still alive..."

Nanjo Ai let go, letting the shadow girl in her hand fall to the side, and the two shadows immediately erupted into a fierce argument and brawl on the ground.

Kurosaki Akira, who had been very vigilant on the side, also raised an eyebrow and yawned after seeing the demon corpse: "Looks like I made a wasted trip, Nanjo Shao Shu."

Kurosaki Akira waved his hand: "I'll have Right Bow keep alert around us; ask him if anything comes up. I'm going back to the carriage to catch up on sleep."

Nanjo Ai grunted in acknowledgment, seeing Uesugi Toru grab Shizuku and throw the Nue's corpse in front of her.

She stared at the Nue's corpse, separated and miserable in appearance, then glanced at Uesugi Toru whose clothes were almost reduced to rags, and asked: "How are your injuries?"

Uesugi Toru shrugged: "I won't die."

"Then let's go; I'll treat you later. Specialists will investigate the abnormal events here tomorrow."

Since everyone had come back alive, Nanjo Ai couldn't be bothered with what had happened before: "The commission rating for this mission was wrong; it's dereliction of duty by the Special Affairs Division. They'll compensate you in a couple of days."

She grabbed the Nue's corpse and threw it into the side opening of the truck, then called for the two to enter the carriage at the rear.

One could see Shizuka Mafuyu lying pale on a stretcher in the center of the carriage, while a strange-looking little monk was treating her beside her.

Kurosaki Akira sat with his eyes closed in the corner, breathing steadily.

The truck started slowly.

"By the way, Nanjo Sister." Uesugi Toru recalled what the Nue said before dying, and at the same time took out the Soul Ash Conversion Box: "While fighting this Nue, I made a new discovery."

Nanjo Ai took the box and narrowed her eyes to examine the patterns on it: "This is?"

Uesugi Toru: "The Nue said before dying that it could convert human souls into a substance called Soul Ash—it had living beings carry this thing around just to do that."

"There's still a living being carrying this box wandering around this area, not yet eliminated."

He pushed all the source of the information onto the Nue; after all, dead demons can't speak.

"Soul Ash..."

Nanjo Ai opened the conversion box, and after seeing the two or three crude soul ashes inside, clicked her tongue displeasedly: "Anything else?"

"The Youdo Society." Uesugi Toru emphasized: "It said all this was done at the behest of the so-called Master of the Youdo Society."

A few seconds later, Uesugi Toru, not getting a definite response, asked in surprise: "Nanjo Sister, haven't you heard of this organization?"

Nanjo Ai shook her head and asked: "Kurosaki, do you have any impression of these three words?"

Kurosaki Akira opened the mirror and murmured something, then clicked his tongue: "Never heard of it."

The carriage fell into silence for a moment.

And at this moment, Nanjo Ai's shadow writhed and ran to the center, and the shadow girl's voice came out: "I know, I know! I think I know! Ouch, stop hitting me... is hitting the left hand with the right hand that interesting!?"

Nanjo Ai pressed down with her palm, ending the shadow girl's fight with herself.

The next moment, two black small statues resembling thinkers rose up.

The shadow girl on the left spoke lively: "Youdo Society! Is that the name!"

The shadow girl on the right narrated coldly: "Probably three or four hundred years ago, when I was playing with my companions, I heard the Head of Household repeatedly mutter this word."

Three, three or four hundred years ago? That would have to go back to the Edo Period or even further!

Everyone present except Nanjo Ai showed different expressions.

Nanjo Ai tapped her knee with her fingertip, regardless of letting the blood that had stained her wet her trouser leg: "Specifically?"

The two shadow girls shook their heads at the same time: "I only remember that the current Head of Household had a conversation with some existence of the Youdo Society; besides that, I'm not too clear."

"—After all, we were young back then!"

Head of Household?

Uesugi Toru chewed on this word; Nanjo Sister actually came from an ancient Onmyoji family?

This was easy to guess; from being able to raise a demon like a shadow girl for hundreds of years and keep it alive to now, and signing a contract with Nanjo Ai to make it a Shikigami, one could tell.

But Nanjo Sister looked like an ordinary corporate slave from every angle, completely lacking the bearing and habits of a great family heir.

—Could it be another dog-blood drama of being kicked out of the family due to poor talent or carrying demon blood?

Uesugi Toru touched his chin—wouldn't that mean maybe he could one day witness Nanjo Ai personally staging the drama of the Dragon King's Return?

That would be interesting.

Shizuku sitting beside him had a slight flicker in her eyes, showing a trace of utter confusion in her expression, without saying much more.

"I understand, thanks for recalling, both of you." Nanjo Ai's palm technique flashed, and she took out a brand new exquisite doll, pointing to the shadow girl on the left: "You, go in."

The shadow girl, as if pardoned, zoomed in with a swoosh, giving the lifeless Nanjo Doll spirituality and liveliness.

"Uesugi-kun, catch."

Holding the Nanjo Doll that began to dance its short arms and legs wildly, as if making a victory declaration, Uesugi Toru heard Nanjo Ai say,

"This is the last doll; once used, there won't be any more."

Uesugi Toru, who was worrying about whether to move house or have the Special Affairs Division deal with his old man, gazed at the doll and sincerely said thanks,

"Nanjo Sister, thank you."

After casually pointing her chin at Uesugi Toru, Nanjo Ai kicked the stretcher leg in the middle with her toe, causing Shizuka Mafuyu, whose eyes were hazy, to jump in surprise,

"Mami, don't sleep; if you fall asleep now, it'll be two or three days." Nanjo Ai crossed her arms, looking a bit embarrassed, "Do you want me to burn out?"

"Ah haha... sorry."

On the stretcher, Shizuka Mafuyu, whose fingers trembled uncontrollably after the adrenaline faded, smiled bitterly; she quickly clenched her fist to prevent small movements from being discovered.

Nanjo Ai rubbed her fingers on the corner of her white shirt: "To prevent falling asleep, let's chat for a while."

"Okay, okay!"

Shizuka Mafuyu tried not to let tears of fear and lingering terror fall from her eye sockets; she took two deep breaths to suppress her painful and trembling voice, and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, where is Manatsu..."

Inside the carriage, the relaxed and happy laughter of the two continued to ring out.

Ten minutes later, Shizuka Mafuyu seemed to suddenly remember something and suggested, "Nanjou-sama! I remember there will be a meteor shower in a week; if you have time, would you like to go to the mountain peak to see it?"

She then turned to look at Uesugi Toru and Shizuku: "Miss Shizuku, Uesugi-kun, do you want to come too?"

Rituna Minami chuckled lightly: "Of course after work."

Shizuku: "I don't mind."

Uesugi Toru blinked, feeling that a week was a bit delicate, so he said: "I'll come if I have time."

"Good! Then it's decided." Shizuka Mafuyu seemed unexpectedly lively after being injured, "I'll bring Manatsu too."

The truck first drove to the hospital, and the accompanying Onmyoji took Shizuka Mafuyu to the hospital, while Kurosaki Akira also got out of the car, saying he was going home to sleep.

Uesugi Toru asked: "Nanjo Sister, do you still have overtime?"

"I need to report today's events and check the archives by the way." Seeing the injured leave, Rituna Minami immediately pulled out a cigarette irritably, "The Demon Guide Association, that doesn't sound like a good name... Also, is your injury really fine with just some powder?"

During the temporary treatment on the car just now, the little monk took a gourd and poured some white powder that could stop bleeding and heal injuries onto his wound.

Uesugi Toru thought the effect was unexpectedly good.

If he hugs Adult Ni Shaku and sleeps for one night later, these injuries should heal about seventy or eighty percent, and won't delay his time to enter Chang Shi.

So he asked: "Does the Special Affairs Division have any vacant beds?"

"The Special Affairs Division is packed at dawn recently, people have to squeeze together even to sleep on the floor." Rituna Minami pointed at Shizuku, "But Miss Tokugawa is staying in a single room."

Shizuku said: "I'll sleep on the floor, the injured have priority."

"Uh..."

Thinking that he would have to sleep with Adult Ni Shaku in front of Shizuku for a night, Uesugi Toru didn't know how to say this.

Forget it, having a place to stay is not bad, let's take it one step at a time.

Just as Uesugi Toru was thinking this, he heard Shizuku say: "If Uesugi-kun your injury can heal by tomorrow, I'll teach you those two tricks, the earlier you learn the earlier you master them."

"—Wait until I sleep, full health revival!"

Uesugi Toru patted his chest, then sucked in a breath of cold air from the pain.

The three got off the car and entered the Special Affairs Division, Rituna Minami first separated from them and dove into the sea of archives to search, while Uesugi Toru followed Shizuku to the upper floors and entered her room together.

After turning on the light, it could be discovered that the room was very spacious, not counting the bathroom it had thirty or forty square meters.

But in such a large space, except for a bed with gray quilts folded on it, a desk and a cabinet, there was nothing else.

Uesugi Toru would call it, prison style!

A huge empty space stretched across the center of the room, Uesugi Toru didn't need to think to know this was where Shizuku cultivated in the room.

"Shizuku, your room is quite... simple."

"Just simply no time to play with other things." Shizuku shook her head, pointed at the bed, "Uesugi-kun you sleep directly, no need to bathe, I'll go get another quilt."

After speaking, without waiting for Uesugi Toru to explain to her about the existence of Adult Ni Shaku later, Shizuku had already walked out of the room.

"Alright..."

Smiling awkwardly, Uesugi Toru summoned Adult Ni Shaku.

After explaining the current situation to her, Adult Ni Shaku, who was originally full of worry, immediately turned sorrow into joy, hanging on his waist like a koala.

Looking at Adult Ni Shaku who had already restored her young girl body type, Uesugi Toru poked her hat: "Adult Ni Shaku, don't be like this..."

"Popo... Adult Toru, are you unwilling to satisfy even this small request of ours?"

Adult Ni Shaku raised her face pitifully, tears about to gurgle out.

This time, let it go first.

Uesugi Toru's mouth corner twitched slightly, lying on Shizuku's bed he closed his eyes.

After tonight's events, the opportunity to enter Chang Shi just finished its cooldown once.

The water pressure came fast, and left fast.

Uesugi Toru directly ran towards Katsumi's shop.

Gacha pulls can be done anytime, but that random mysterious shop owner won't always be there.

Although the other party said three days, who knows when they might disappear like the blacksmith.

This time when passing through the Isanuki Tunnel, Uesugi Toru discovered that the Chi Swarm originally gathered at the tunnel entrance had all disappeared.

"Strange..."

But he didn't stop because of this, soon, following the route in his memory, he came to the shop with the sign "Tenka's Strange Things, Everything Included".

He pulled open the door and walked in, the sound of the wind chimes shaking interrupted Katsumi who was singing a solo opera.

"Yo—Welcome..."

Halfway through speaking, Katsumi froze, his tone unable to hide surprise: "How much time has passed, Adult, this is..."

Uesugi Toru didn't speak, directly slapped one thousand Soul Ash on the table, making Katsumi completely stunned on the spot.

End of Chapter