Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Jiang Taigong's Tenacity
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Many people were curious.
Calling Wakamo "Dalg-i" was practically a foregone conclusion.
There were stories that she was the black fox, Seimei's mother, and rumors that she was close to the fox god of Inari Shrine, so maybe the Japanese had arbitrarily altered the White-Faced Golden Fur legend.
That would mean they had to discuss Seimei's patricide—or matricide, rather.
After all, if his own mother was the White-Faced Golden Fur, then he'd helped take her down.
There were theories that they couldn't be the same person, but Dalg-i had been branded by the Korean tower, making it all but confirmed.
As a result, many were wondering: "Just how strong is Jiang Taigong?"
And they were witnessing it firsthand.
He wielded Taoist spells, talismans, magic that surpassed the norm, and martial prowess that held its own against Wakamo without faltering.
Even the believers watching were entranced; cheers flooded the chat just from the handsome young man's smile.
A few screamed that he was the enemy and to snap out of it, but hadn't a fan club formed for the handsome Seimei too?
Historians were shocked and appalled by Seimei's fox ears, though some nodded as if it made perfect sense.
Wouldn't someone living among humans need to hide their fox bloodline?
In a twist, the Kyoto tower battle had accidentally become a tragic tale of a mother and son slaughtering each other.
And now—another tragedy seemed about to unfold.
"[You're not the type to enjoy having your head chopped off, are you? Feel free to run. I can't chase you.]"
Did he have memories of getting his head cut off in the Chinese tower? Lately, the climbs had been so intense that his recollections were fuzzy.
If she gave up the climb and fled, Jiang Taigong told Wakamo he couldn't pursue.
-One win and he's cocky as hell.
-You're total dog food~
-Got your ass handed to you!
-Hey, whose side are you even on?
-Wakamo can't lose!!
-Hold up, you guys have no idea!
-You lack faith lololol
Wakamo, in Mei's form, calmly gauged the distance to Jiang Taigong.
The talisman in her hand conjured a blade of light that ignored "armor" and sliced flesh effortlessly.
Which meant conventional defenses wouldn't block it.
It was time to choose.
Should she channel [Qi] to explode her life force into a berserk state?
Or leverage speed with [Idol's Thunder] to overwhelm him?
The deliberation lasted a split second.
Mei lunged silently, swinging her sword, as a talisman whipped toward her blade.
Ziiing—!!
The clash rang out like glass on glass, pushing back the blade.
It hadn't cut... or rather, it hadn't penetrated.
Jiang Taigong, surprised by that, flashed a dashing smile and shifted his grip on the sword.
"[Is that so!! You learn and master after one look! What unreasonable talent!! Sly as can be, little miss fox!]"
"Then be born a genius yourself!!"
Not gripping the hilt like a sword, but holding it like a fan.
With one hand behind his back, side-stanced and arm extended, Jiang Taigong prompted Mei to adjust her sword stance too.
The Heaven's Total Cloud Sword traced arcs of light, golden sheen crystallizing along its edge.
Powder fell from the blade like stardust.
She was coating the entire sword in [Holiness] to counter the talismans.
At the moment of clash, injecting mana between holiness layers sparked fierce repulsion.
As the mana expanded, holiness reacted oppositely, infusing explosive force into the downward strike—Jiang Taigong's body lurched heavily.
"[You wouldn't!]"
She cloaked her entire body in [Idol's Thunder], transforming into lightning.
Then used [Mana Manipulation] to supplant it with [Holiness].
Partially [Liquefying] her [Idol's Body] to channel mana.
Exploding liquid mana with [Idol's Flames] to stimulate and release holiness—
When the explosion's propagation speed exceeds the medium's sound speed, generating a powerful shockwave.
They called it 【Detonation】.
Mei, capable of 【Lightning Speed】, assumed a dashing pose.
She called it light speed, but it was really only about 33% of true lightspeed.
Adding supersonic thrust on top of that acceleration...
A flashing streak pierced in, her sword strikes evoking spreading lightning bolts, slashing fiercely at Jiang Taigong.
Only after Mei passed did the grass at her feet realize it was sliced and fall.
Chaeng chaeng chaeng—!!
Light burst in empty air.
Sparks flew from lightning; shattered light fragments rained like mirror shards.
Jiang Taigong retreated busily, hands flashing, as Mei relentlessly pursued, swinging to dismember him.
—It was certain now.
Wakamo had suspected it against 【Inari God】, confirmed it against 【Wuzun】.
Against the truly strong on high floors, unforeseen variables might tilt the scales slightly.
But against genuine top-tiers, raw "competence" decided everything.
"[You seem impatient, Wakamo!]"
"Don't call me that!!"
"[Should I say Dalg-i then?]"
-Taunting her mid-fight, savage.
-Jiang Taigong's banter is insane.
-Wow, I can't see shit. 'Cause I'm normie?
-Even climbers can't follow.
-This is peak master duel...!!
The fierce exchanges showed no sign of tipping either way.
"Sadako!! The President can win, right?!"
"Shapeshifting casts fast. He's definitely stronger than me... but he still has to land hits, and it's still magic. A holiness-wrapped sword is tricky to counter, but..."
Even Sadako, observing Jiang Taigong, couldn't predict the razor-thin fight's outcome amid Yu Ying's frantic question.
With each step, the meadow-like ground rippled like liquid where his foot touched.
He seemed to turn it into a swamp to sink her, but Mei strode over it like flat ground.
Sliced grass shot upward, sucked into wind currents; leaves faded in color.
He deformed air into poison, pulling every trick.
A normal climber might suffocate unwittingly or pass out from oxygen poisoning.
Even a shapeshifting wizard at Jiang Taigong's level couldn't craft anything too complex.
So the variable would be talismans...!!
"[Talisman! Six Souls Banner!]"
As fluttering sleeves scattered blades to halt Mei's sword, Jiang Taigong activated another talisman.
Before she could react to the erupting light, her swing bisected it—but the light persisted, unvanquished by the talisman's destruction, piercing straight through Mei.
The sensation of her [Soul] fleeing her [Idol's Body]—consciousness fading into the distance.
Her body remained, but something inside was sucked away; Mei's sword arm went limp.
"Ancestor!!"
Xiao Liang leaped to deflect the neck-aimed sword, but the qi-wrapped blade sheared it on contact, turning to wood splinters.
"[It extracts the soul from the body to knock out. Even your vaunted tricks won't work?]"
Loss of control over her Idol's Body.
Yet Wakamo's mind stayed conscious. A bit dreamlike, but she could endure.
Xiao Liang couldn't.
—She'd tried [Idol's Lion], but Yu Ying, Sadako, and Asuka watched from beyond the barrier.
She hadn't anticipated being unable to summon something already summoned and nearby.
No choice then.
Chaeng—!!
A sharp famous sword parried the talisman smoothly, pointing its tip at Jiang Taigong.
Its wielder: a fox god with stark white hair and sharp fox eyes.
[Idol's Lion] was a familiar. Unlike climbers, it didn't recover on ascent.
Wakamo hated using it in battle if possible, but no options left.
"Don't get pushed by that scrub. And you call yourself an Idol... warrior!!"
-Main wife arrived?
-Damn, wild lololol
-"Japanese PM descends"
-In crisis, to protect Mei... the Fox God appears!
"[A shikigami!]"
Inari God ignored him, [Jujutsu] enchanting her blade.
Raging white flames coiled around the two swords in her hands—Inari God, burning mana, charged Jiang Taigong.
Her movement level dwarfed Mei's; the meadow froze the instant she stepped.
She slid back like a skating pro, but Jiang Taigong's shrinking-earth step countered with a waist-slashing talisman.
Yet with vanishing afterimage, she split into nine via cloning jutsu, unleashing [Jujutsu] infused with flame, ice, lightning, wind.
Jiang Taigong recalled his talisman blades, sleeves enveloping the jutsu orbs, morphing them into four elemental spheres.
Sadako could barely handle two post-third-job; he fused four at once.
"[Time for some rough play! 『Wind-Forest-Fire-Mountain』!!]"
"You think I'll let you?! [Seimei-Style Jujutsu Binding Five Elements]!!"
Talismans unfurled a pentagram trapping Jiang Taigong; he startled as golden chains bound him.
Squish—!
Inari God's head-chopping strike bounced off an air-barrier shapeshift.
Recoiling, she frowned at her famous sword.
"[Heh—how pathetic the fall of one once called a god.]"
"Mocking my weapon? You strutted like hot shit, but you're scraping bottom already?"
"[Too weak to gauge me? Want to die first and greet me? Quite the attitude shift.]"
"Naturally. Wakamo Inarizushi owns all of me. We vowed to stay together till death."
-Gasp.
-Polar bear...!
-Zoo's got one... we're good!!
-Unicorns won't die... right?
-They'd rage more over no fox-eared beauty heirs.
-Wtf is even happening???
Inari God phrased her [Idol's Lion] contract evasively, bantering leisurely with Jiang Taigong.
He sneered at the tower apostle's misery, vowing he wouldn't end that way.
"[Me? Bad personality. Can't be a servant.]"
"No surprise your nation's like this."
"[—Someone talks like they did well...? ]"
They bickered over Chinese and Japanese climbers' levels and fates.
Inari God critiqued China itself; Jiang Taigong noted most 【Legendary Classes】 were heinous criminals.
To outsiders, it just looked like squabbling over Wakamo!!
Inari God loosed flashy jujutsu; Jiang Taigong parried and dismantled with magic.
A pride clash between Japan and China, escalating fiercely.
Inari God unleashed skills and stats begged from Wakamo without restraint.
"I gave everything to Wakamo!! Your defeat is sealed!!"
—Yeah, dumped all costs into Wakamo. Just lose already.
"[Foolish choice made you fall, fox god!!]"
—Bankrupted by Korean tower whims, learned nothing?
"You're the one sounding urgent despite the talk!!"
—Yep~ Got fleeced once~ Scared shitless?
"[For Dalg-i's sake... sorry, gotta pose!!]"
—Pulled Jiang Taigong to beat Dalg-i; won't lose this time.
Somehow, Wakamo understood their subtext amid the fight.
-Kick her out my Wakamo~
-Lmao true love kiss sealed~
-Unicorns concede the pure love...
-But married VTuber = NTR vibes?
-Call it Wakamo-mom's maternal love?
-UwU...
-These guys can't be serious ever.
To believers, Inari Fox God confessed total devotion, body and soul, to Wakamo—true love.
She fought to protect her beloved from harm, pure passion.
Jiang Taigong became the scum trying to shatter that love and flee with Dalg-i.
"[【Reality Marble】]"
After grueling exchanges, Jiang Taigong finally played his trump, widening the gap.
Scenery warped instantly—towering crags pierced clouds, an immortal paradise unfolding.
Unlike its beauty, everything within became Jiang Taigong's domain.
He conjured a shapeshift zone like Sadako's, blanketing all.
Mana around him shifted to [Holiness], gleaming gold.
To an idol like Inari God, Jiang Taigong would be fatal!!
"[【Investiture of the Gods】!]"
Jiang Taigong's thrilling shapeshift devoured [My Worlds] in an instant.
Sadako struggled to sustain it; he swallowed Wakamo's vast world whole.
"Honestly, surprised!"
"[Surrender?]"
"Wrong, you old lech!! Surprised your pea brain thought this could beat me!!"
Inari God formed seals; a radiant halo manifested behind her, beaming light.
Whirling light blades scattered, but lost power entering his domain, shadowing into wisps.
It was mere stalling.
"【Idol's World】!!"
Like Wakamo opening a portal, space trembled— the entire 『Layer』 transformed.
"Silence of stillness" "Winter's seep" "Fox's howl"
"Nyaa... poetic!!"
Asuka swooned at the superb 『Haiku』.
With Inari God's chant, winter crashed in, blanketing the world white.
All froze in the blizzard, but Jiang Taigong repelled the cold with shapeshifts.
Inari God's garb evoked a snow woman, fluttering in the gale.
Ice swords gripped, she became the wind, whirling.
Their domain tug-of-war was beyond climber interference.
"Amazing... same idols, yet this gap...!!"
"Because it's a [Combat-Class Idol]."
"Huh?"
"Precisely, Wakamo's [Idol's Flames] etc. align with that lineage."
"...Combat classes exist? Why hear this now?"
"Humans can't do it anyway. Wakamo's an Idol (VTuber). Cute character hooks fans. Content's optional sometimes."
"Nyarubi packs 3 personalities per model!! Don't diss VTubers, punk!!!"
"Asuka's baffled her master fights sans combat skills!!"
No wonder same idols, but Asuka/Inari strong while Wakamo's weird—different classes!!
Thought same class, but lied!!
Separated by the transparent barrier, Mei and Xiao Liang watched; behind it, the 0th gen trio observed.
Crack—!!
[Reality Marble] and [Idol's World] reached limits in their clash, shattering mutually.
Inari God landed, gripping her half-sword, garb reverting.
Opposite, frost-covered Jiang Taigong brushed snow from his eyes.
"Now, Wakamo!!!"
"【Idol's Light】1 million power!!!"
While Inari God bought time, Mei compressed mana to extremes with [Idol's Light], wrapping [Holiness] to contain it, waiting in the corner.
At the signal, she unleashed full-force at Jiang Taigong.
Palms clapped forward; a thick light beam silently lit everything, hurtling toward him.
Even blocking would shunt him to the domain's edge, crushed—guaranteed kill!!
But Jiang Taigong produced a talisman.
"[Knew it, Dalg-i!!]"
The talisman's barrier sucked in [Idol's Light], absorbing and redirecting at Mei threefold.
"[Returning it 3x over—!!!]"
A talisman that amplified foe magic manifold!!
Space filled with blinding white; nothing else visible.
No escape.
Barrier endurance irrelevant in this frenzy.
Behind Mei: her lifelong home, stocked with cherished merch.
"Uoooooooh—!!!!"
Mei's hair blazed red.
Full-throttle red mana output, compressing [Nansae]-drawn mana, pumping more—she fired [Idol's Light] again.
"3x this side too!!!"
Over 1 million to 3 million!!
Sustained mana infusion turned white light red, berserk like an unchained bull.
Shattering the reflected light, overwhelming the talisman—Jiang Taigong drew 『Iron Fan』.
One swing snapped its momentum like a broken neck, smashing the barrier; [My Worlds] quaked like an earthquake.
"Master!! Any rougher and the figures aren't safe!!"
"Grk...!!"
-Otaku's ultimate threat.
-My figures dearer than life!!!
-Scumbag using hostages!!
-Jiang Taigong! Dirty! Don't stoop like Wakamo!!
-lolololololol
-Buy new figures!! Rerelease!!
-Tough...
-But wait, that's...?!
-Tashinbian!!
Red-haired blazing Mei recovered mana, circulating qi.
Tossed Heaven's Total Cloud Sword to Inari God; she hefted [Extendable Staff], prepping.
"[You know what it is, right?]"
Against them, an iron fan from his sleeve.
The confidently drawn weapon oozed ominous aura.
Who wouldn't recognize!
The 『Tashinbian』!
Jiang Taigong's most famed talisman!
【God-Smiter Fan】—his aura transformed gripping it.
Mana overflow induced cold sweats just viewing.
Their gazes locked.
"[【Investiture of the Gods】!]"
"【Idol's World】!"
"[Domain Expansion—Evil Path Naraka]!"
Perfectly synced, they cast field-altering skills.
Jiang Taigong devoured all mana-touched via [Shapeshift].
Inari God flexed apostle might, reshaping the layer root and branch.
Mei/Shao Long Bao felt the strain as mere climber riffraff.
But Wakamo's domain overpowered, devouring and repelling!!
"[Holiness-wrapped?!]"
Wakamo's job-exclusive [Virtual World]'s flaw: the whole domain counted as her body.
Thus, coating inside with [Holiness] filled it entirely!!
[Mana] repelled violently; both skills canceled.
"Hold 30 seconds!!"
Inari God leaped back desperately; Jiang Taigong blinked forward like shrinking-earth.
Mei [Teleported] within his domain, reaching him—then he backstepped, taking a full kick.
Unbalanced, Mei sidestepped, hammering fists down his centerline: face, chest, gut.
Perp-perp—!!
Kicked his back, then pummeled.
Transparent strikes hiked his arms via kicks, preventing counters.
With [Extendable Staff] and [Dragon General God], [VTuber Model] for White-Faced Golden Fur, [Projection Setup] for invisibility.
Invisible allies + teleport: Mei hounded Jiang Taigong relentlessly.
Meanwhile, Inari God formed seals, powering up.
"【Heroic Spirit Possession】...!!"
"Dunno what, but badass!! Visible from here! Why lose to President?!"
"30-sec cast means eating hits meanwhile!! Ice skills bad matchup too!!"
"Quiet in the stands!!"
Inari God focused, invoking [Heroic Spirit] into herself.
Mei overwhelmed with 3-on-1 combo.
But it didn't last.
Even weakened by [Holiness], stats down, Jiang Taigong was strong.
Precisely, the God-Smiter was cheat-tier.
It battered Idol Body and psyche, vision blurring in agony.
"Grraaah!! Still green, Inari!!!"
"Think about it: holiness swords, VR games, romance-chasing. Kayaba Akihiko vibes?! Show some grit!"
"Asuka—!!"
Mei, never beaten like this, screamed hoarsely.
Asuka tumbled from Sadako's kick mid-cheer.
Eons-like 30 seconds passed; Inari God eyes flashed.
"Switch!!"
As if [Jujutsu Skill] ready, she charged at Mei's scream.
"【Ittō-ryū Formless Sword: Goryū Draw】!!"
One sword—but sheathed Heaven's Total Cloud Sword drew with light, slashing space.
Ignoring intervening Mei, intent sliced only what Inari willed.
Insight-driven, thought-speed blade as formless sword ignored distance, crossing once more inversely.
X-slash wounds bled profusely; Mei pierced his heart unrelentingly.
Sadako cheered as collapsing Jiang Taigong bled.
"Outmatched in options, alone vs. team, slowed, fatally struck—isolated warrior!!"
"...This is"
"Yeah! Boss's win!!"
Mei exploded her arm-hand through his heart, blasting half his torso.
Arm flew too, ignored; she twisted aside as Inari hurled Heaven's Total Cloud Sword, piercing his forehead.
Blood fountained—crimson streamed from head.
Clutching God-Smiter, his body toppled into rising water.
Sinking to drown in his own blood-puddle, Mei exhaled heavily.
"Got him?"
Inari God sounded drained too.
Demoted from 100th boss to mere apostle, lacking old dominance—burdensome.
Thus, even more so.
"For real?"
"[Yeah! Totally real!! Fit as a fiddle!!]"
He rose.
Jiang Taigong rose.
Talisman dissolved into light; his aura matched the [Dalg-i] Wakamo felled.
Couldn't inspect then, but now confirmed.
Time rewound: sword pulled from head; he tapped the fading wound casually.
"[Your fails: sparing my neck, not destroying talismans.]"
Crack—!!
Mei ate a direct God-Smiter swing, sent flying.
Domain gone; eyes open but truly knocked out, whites showing, unmoving.
Non-physical [Faint] from psyche-smashing God-Smiter.
"[Heaven above, heaven below! I alone am supreme! Told you! Strongest!]"
......"That 100th floor me too?"
"Play the clip?"
"Asuka, shut up please"
"Talking back to senior!"
Inari God yanked fallen Heaven's Total Cloud Sword, gripping tight.
This was Chinese tower 98th boss. —Annoying as hell, but...
Momentum hadn't vanished yet!