Second Spirit

"Whoosh, whoosh."

In a small forest adjoining Emperor Soul Village.

A black figure wearing a hooded cloak darted swiftly through the woods. The crisscrossing branches seemed to automatically part for the black figure, leaving an unobstructed path.

Suddenly, the black figure stopped and crouched halfway down on a thick tree trunk. With a slight push from his feet, a sharp whoosh cut through the air. The figure vanished instantly, leaving only scattered leaves drifting from the trunk.

The next moment, the figure appeared in midair, hanging upside down as his body spun rapidly through a full three hundred and sixty degrees.

"Xiuxiu." Seven or eight black kunai shot from the figure's hands in an instant.

Several thuds rang out as they struck something.

At the same time, the figure landed on the ground with a backflip.

Looking again at the seven or eight kunai he had thrown, every single one was embedded in a tree trunk, pinned beneath leaves.

"Hehe, it's already been two months since I awakened my Martial Soul. I've more or less gotten used to this strength."

The black-clad figure lowered his hood, revealing a head of Blue Silver hair. Combined with his fair, delicate little face, he was exceptionally adorable.

Who else could it be but Zu Zong? Ever since he had stolen Uchiha Itachi's taijutsu and Chakra—Soul Power—control techniques two months ago, Zu Zong had trained in taijutsu every day, along with various Soul Power control techniques such as walking on water and climbing trees.

There was also a blacksmith in Emperor Soul Village. Zu Zong had asked Old Tom to custom-make the kunai for him.

At night, Zu Zong cultivated his Soul Power using the "Scumbag Version" Soul Power Meditation Method, while releasing his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul to sense the aura of the surrounding Blue Silver Grass. The results had to be said to be excellent. The Blue Silver Emperor truly deserved its title as the sole emperor among Blue Silver Grass.

Within the entirety of Emperor Soul Village, as long as there was Blue Silver Grass, Zu Zong could clearly sense the specific situation in every corner. If not for his wariness of Tang Hao, he could even sense Holy Soul Village whenever he wanted.

Letting out a soft breath of stale air, Zu Zong's lips curled upward slightly. He could clearly feel that over the past month, he had been growing stronger at a rate visible to the naked eye.

"System, show me my personal panel."

[Beep, the host's personal panel has been opened.]

[Beep, the system has detected that the host's Martial Soul has developed the embryonic form of a domain. A domain category has therefore been added to the host's personal panel.]

[Host: Zu Zong

Gender: Male

Age: Six years and two months old (25 years old)

Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor (Awakened)

Innate Soul Power: Level 10

Soul Power Level: Level 10 (Actually exceeds Level 10, but he cannot break through without absorbing a Soul Ring.)

Base Strength: 100 (An ordinary adult male is 10)

System Storage: Sharingan ×1 (both eyes), Gold Soul Coins ×50, Kunai ×9, Clothing ×1.

Overall Evaluation: Congratulations, Host, on escaping the ranks of trash.

Remaining Theft Attempts: 0

Hatred Points: 10,500

Theft Worlds: Douluo Continent, Naruto (Since the stolen target is already dead, the host cannot teleport.)

Domain: Blue Silver Domain (Embryonic Form).

]

Zu Zong nodded in satisfaction and called out in his mind, "Not bad. If we're talking about base strength alone, I remember I was only in the forties when I first stole Itachi's taijutsu. I didn't expect to reach 100 after just over two months of getting used to it and training."

[Beep, a pair of Sharingan has been detected in the system storage. Does the host wish to fuse them into a Second Spirit?]

"Fuse the Sharingan? It won't turn me blind, will it?!"

To be honest, Zu Zong was conflicted. When he had stolen Itachi's Sharingan, Itachi had seemed to be on the verge of going blind, hadn't he? In the original story, they had only gained eternal light after being transplanted into Uchiha Sasuke and having their Pupil Power fused. That was why Zu Zong had never fused them.

[Beep, the host need not worry. The Sharingan implanted by the system will be in the Three-Tomoe state and will have no side effects. There is no risk of blindness. It may also undergo a second awakening into the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future.]

"Damn it, you should've said so earlier! Stupid system, fuse them already."

[Beep, fusing Sharingan. Reminder: once a Martial Soul has been fused, there is no turning back.]

[Beep, Sharingan fusion complete. Congratulations, Host, on awakening your Second Spirit: Sharingan.]

Zu Zong slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. His eyes had turned blood-red, with three tomoe spinning counterclockwise within each pupil.

Taking out a kunai, Zu Zong looked at his reflection in its smooth surface. His handsome little face, paired with Blue Silver hair and crimson-red eyes, added a trace of wicked charm to his already handsome features.

Zu Zong slapped his thigh and could not help shouting, "Damn, this face could topple a nation!"

[Beep, it has been detected that the host possesses the Blue Silver Emperor and Sharingan Martial Souls. Due to the host's physical limitations, he cannot fuse a third Martial Soul!]

"Only two Martial Souls? What's the big deal?"

After all, whether you were powerful was only temporary. Whether you were handsome was for life.

Besides, even an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan could control some ordinary people. Once it underwent its second awakening into the Mangekyō Sharingan, its power would be insanely strong. Even more terrifyingly, it could produce strange eye techniques that were impossible to guard against!

Kotoamatsukami, awesome, right? It permanently altered someone's will. Did it hurt? Did it feel good? Be good now, call me Dad.

Kamui, awesome, right? A space ninjutsu combining offense and defense. Ahem! I'll let you run thirty-nine meters first—I guarantee I won't cut you down.

Tsukuyomi was pretty awesome too—a divine skill for extracting confessions. It would hurt so badly that you'd call me Dad immediately!

Amaterasu... sounded, probably, maybe awesome? The undying Black Flame known as the "strongest physical attack." It seemed like it had never burned anyone to death, though, so no comment!

There were all sorts of other powerful eye techniques as well. Most importantly, he could awaken the ultimate eye technique—Gundam, no! Susanoo. If he could evolve it to its complete form, hmph! He wouldn't trade it even for a Six-Winged Angel.

[Beep, the condition for the Sharingan's second awakening is: absorb a Soul Ring over one hundred thousand years old!]

Zu Zong, who was currently immersed in his fantasies, did not pay much attention to it.

Zu Zong casually replied in his mind, "It's fine, it's fine. It's just a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"

"Clang!" The kunai in Zu Zong's hand fell to the ground. Wait, it seemed he had overlooked something!

"System, if I may ask, can a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring be stolen?"

[Beep, the host can!]

Hearing that, Zu Zong let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good, that's good!"

As long as he could, it was fine. Otherwise, wouldn't the Sharingan be reduced to a Purple Demon Eye with a slightly higher realm for the next ten years?

That would be the same as wasting a Martial Soul for nothing. In ten years, he had no idea whether he would be able to defeat a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. How would he show off, pick up girls, and take down Tang San then?

[Beep, Soul Rings are the lives of Soul Beasts and cannot be directly stolen. Only Soul Rings currently being sacrificed, newly created God-Bestowed Soul Rings, unabsorbed Soul Rings, or Soul Rings already absorbed by Soul Masters can be stolen. The last has an extremely low probability and requires that Soul Master to be in their weakest state.]

"Fuck! Stupid system, you tricked me!"

Zu Zong spent the entire day familiarizing himself with the Sharingan's abilities. Its minor built-in Illusion Techniques were genuinely pretty good. He could casually take down ordinary people, and even opponents of the same level could be confused and briefly stunned.

By the time Zu Zong finished training and returned to Emperor Soul Village, it was already evening.

When he arrived at Old Tom's house, Old Tom had already prepared dinner.

Old Tom smiled as he served Zu Zong steaming-hot dishes, his heart brimming with happiness.

Old Tom said with a smile, "You little brat, you've really changed since awakening your Martial Soul. You train so diligently every day, but remember to balance work and rest!"

Zu Zong rolled his eyes. If I really slack off, I'll probably get beaten with your shoulder pole again.

You rotten old man are bad to the bone!

So Zu Zong replied somewhat perfunctorily, "Yes, yes. Please stop worrying about nothing, old man. I'll be careful."

Zu Zong then looked around. The interior had been completely renovated, and the furniture had all been replaced with new pieces. This was what Zu Zong had bought for Old Tom after stealing—no! Borrowing—one large and one small bag of Gold Soul Coins from Flender.

To keep Old Tom from becoming suspicious, Zu Zong changed into the "borrowed" expensive black training outfit—the one from the female shop owner's clothing store that weighed three hundred jin—then secretly ran to Nuoding City and pretended to be a rich second-generation heir. He intimidated the owner of a small renovation shop on the spot, then paid twenty extra Gold Soul Coins—since it was not his money, he did not feel bad spending it—to have the man cooperate in putting on an act.

The story was that Comrade Zu Zong had decided to join Spirit Hall in the future, and that these furnishings and renovation costs had all been subsidized by Spirit Hall for the "kind and amiable" village chief, Old Tom.

There was no helping it. Zu Zong was just such a filial good child.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, all the dishes were served. The old man and the young boy ate together in cheerful harmony.

"Grandpa Tom, what are we having today?"

"Nuoding Academy still has some time before it starts. Tonight, Grandpa made your favorite soft-shelled turtle soup!"