Incomplete Ki-ai Technique, Proficient!

Uesugi Tetsu hadn't expected there to be items that could directly increase skill proficiency.

That was great news.

Although a scroll could only increase proficiency by a mere 100 points, it perfectly matched the Ki-ai Technique he was about to upgrade.

Without any hesitation, Uesugi Tetsu directly used the scroll, selecting the skill "Incomplete Ki-ai Technique."

He was about to attempt to subdue the legendary Yao-Shaku-Sama soon, so any increase in combat power, no matter how small, was welcome.

After all, subduing was far more difficult than killing.

[You used, Scroll of Cultivation (Incomplete).]

[Your skill, Incomplete Ki-ai Technique proficiency +100!]

[Your skill, Incomplete Ki-ai Technique has been upgraded to Master level!]

Since this proficiency increase came from an item rather than his own breakthrough, it gave Uesugi Tetsu a novel experience.

It felt as if a pair of invisible hands had suddenly appeared within him, expertly guiding all his internal energy, and then practicing it countless times in an extremely short period.

Thus, the breakthrough was completed in an instant.

[Incomplete Ki-ai Technique (Master 1/600)]

[Effects: Qi flows through meridians, steps are like a swimming dragon, voice is like a lion's roar.]

[The amount of Qi within your body has decreased, but its quality has greatly improved!]

[Due to your Incomplete Ki-ai Technique reaching Master level, your Physique +2!]

After the Ki-ai Technique broke through to Master level, aside from the basic physique bonus and the change in descriptive terms, Uesugi Tetsu also felt a strange transformation in his internal energy.

He raised his hand, attempting to guide some Qi to his fingertip.

The next moment, a section of milky white Qi, about half an inch long, suddenly appeared at his fingertip.

This sudden change caused Uesugi Tetsu's pupils to contract. He maintained the current flow of the Ki-ai Technique and brought his fingertip closer to his eyes.

Is this... internal energy can now be projected outside the body?

Uesugi Tetsu blinked, suddenly recalling a term from novels in his previous life: "Qi Gang."

Qi Gang, as the name suggested, was a layer of "Qi armor" that could form both inside and on the surface of the body, providing a great advantage in both offense and defense.

Although Uesugi Tetsu was still far from being able to project Qi to cover his entire body, and his current Qi couldn't be as hard as iron, he could now project his internal energy about half an inch from his body. It was like a "youth edition" of Qi Gang.

Uesugi Tetsu tried again and found that he could indeed wrap his Qi Gang around the blade of Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword.

However, doing so consumed a tremendous amount of energy, and the sharpness of the Qi Gang was far inferior to the sword's. It was more of a hindrance than a help.

After some experimentation, Uesugi Tetsu discovered that while the Master level of Ki-ai Technique had many uses, its new functions didn't seem very practical.

He sighed, "I still need to continue increasing the level of Ki-ai Technique."

However, for the time being, the Master level of Ki-ai Technique had already boosted his explosive growth in strength once more.

It was time to go find Yao-Shaku-Sama.

Although he hadn't spotted Yao-Shaku-Sama during his previous reconnaissance, Uesugi Tetsu already knew the specific location.

--It was in a dilapidated temple south of the village. The Ksitigarbha statue in the center of the temple had long since fallen and shattered.

As for why Yao-Shaku-Sama hadn't appeared, he guessed it was because he had gone there in his Laughing Brahma form last time, and his charm wasn't high enough.

This time, Uesugi Tetsu decided to use a sting operation.

He wouldn't transform into the Laughing Brahma first. Instead, he would enter the temple in his original form, pretending to be an ignorant intruder. Once Yao-Shaku-Sama was lured out by his charm of 9 points, he would capture it in one fell swoop.

This plan, though simple, should be very effective against paranormal entities like Yao-Shaku-Sama, who are attracted to looks.

Along the way, Uesugi Tetsu noticed the unusual absence of farmers or laborers, which put him on alert.

Perhaps there were other dangers besides Yao-Shaku-Sama. He couldn't afford to be careless just because his strength had increased.

After reminding himself a few times, Uesugi Tetsu, who had arrived in front of the dilapidated temple, looked left and right, and said loudly to himself:

"There's a temple here? The heavens must be looking out for my difficult cultivation! I finally have a place to stay tonight."

With that, Uesugi Tetsu swaggered into the temple, picked up a worn-out prayer mat to sit on, and closed his eyes to meditate.

He looked like a traveling swordsman who had come across this place.

And not just any swordsman, but a young swordsman with a charm of 9 points!

Thus, about ten minutes after Uesugi Tetsu closed his eyes, a snow-white hat brim quietly appeared at the edge of the temple's outer wall.

--Uesugi Tetsu raised an eyebrow. He had waited here for half an hour in his Laughing Brahma form last time and there hadn't been any activity.

This rural area in the Meiji era, truly a decline in public morals!

A pair of dark eyes peered through the gaps in the wall, sizing up the careless and handsome swordsman.

This remote Arakawa Village... how long had it been since such a handsome youth had appeared?

Yao-Shaku-Sama's eyes burned with desire. She paced restlessly outside the wall, wishing she could rush in right now, pin the swordsman down, and have a thorough and in-depth "exchange" with him.

However, she suppressed this immature thought.

Her extensive experience told her that those who could travel alone were mostly strong.

Although this young swordsman looked delicate and fair-skinned, she would wait until he fell asleep before sneaking over.

After all—

The Yao-Shaku-Sama looked down at her own semi-transparent hands.

In many years, few people in Arakawa Village remembered her. And after the factory was built, there weren't many living people left in the village, let alone energetic young men.

As a earthbound spirit of Arakawa Village, the Yao-Shaku-Sama was trapped here, growing weaker day by day.

So, she would wait until the young man fell asleep. It would be better for everyone.

The Yao-Shaku-Sama waited patiently.

—Uesugi Tetsu was getting impatient.

He wondered what the Yao-Shaku-Sama was waiting for. She had been secretly observing him dozens, even hundreds, of times, yet she was still squatting outside the wall. Was she not going to eat the meat that came to her?

Strange, strange… Could the Yao-Shaku-Sama be a monster with its own intelligence, like the foreman before?

He decided to test it.

Uesugi Tetsu suddenly stood up, drew Kaga Kiyomitsu, and roared in the opposite direction of the Yao-Shaku-Sama: "Bold demon! Let's see where you run!"

Swish, swish, swish—

He swung his sword in the air dozens of times, then pretended to be satisfied as he sheathed it, muttering loudly to himself, "If I encounter demons on the road in the future, I'll do this."

Afterward, Uesugi Tetsu sat back down on the futon. However, this time he didn't practice the Ki-ai Technique. Instead, he lay down on the ground and pretended to be asleep.

This was because Uesugi Tetsu had clearly felt the change in the Yao-Shaku-Sama's gaze—it disappeared first, then reappeared secretly, and finally, after confirming that he hadn't noticed her, she continued to scan him wantonly.

A few minutes later, Uesugi Tetsu, who was breathing steadily, waited leisurely.

—The trap is set, now I just wait for the big fish to take the bait.

As expected.

About ten minutes after Uesugi Tetsu "fell asleep," the brim of a hat reappeared by the wall. After confirming several times that Uesugi Tetsu was truly asleep, she tiptoed to his side.

The Yao-Shaku-Sama gazed at the handsome young man enveloped in her tall shadow and finally couldn't help but make her signature "popopo" sound.

She slowly bent down, about to do something, when she suddenly saw the young man turn over, facing her.

Uesugi Tetsu met her gaze, and the Yao-Shaku-Sama was momentarily captivated by his handsome face.

The next moment, the Laughing Brahma grinned, and with the Ki-ai Technique pushed to its limit, let out a thunderous roar:

"Bold demon! Let's see where you run!"