Sealing the Source of Life

"Take the old man outside. Leave the rest to me." As he spoke, Yamei began using Timsi's blood to form runes across his body.

Although his physical body had been tempered through the Art of a Hundred Refinements and fused with several bloodlines, making him far stronger than an ordinary person,

he knew that he could never withstand such overwhelmingly powerful energy.

So, like a Jinchuriki, all he could do was seal this terrifying energy within his body and draw upon it whenever needed, until he became capable of bearing it.

As for whether he could seal this energy... Yamei had absolute confidence in the Myriad Gods Seal he had developed through fusion.

The reason he had drawn Timsi's blood was that Timsi's clan possessed an unusual suppressive effect on the Source of Life, allowing it to better assist him in completing the seal.

"Can you handle it?" Timsi remained doubtful. After all, he already knew how terrifying that energy was...

"Actually... there is a way to resolve this..."

At that moment, the old man hesitantly spoke again.

His gaze shifted from the vortex pattern to Timsi.

"Those with royal blood can use that totem to activate the ancient spiritual summoning seal and absorb the Source of Life into a rift in space-time, thus resolving the problem."

"However, if this method is used, the person who activates the formation cannot possibly survive."

A resolute look flashed through Timsi's eyes. He looked at Yamei and said, "You should leave instead. This disaster began because of me, so naturally I should be the one to resolve—"

Boom!

Before he could finish speaking, the enormous vortex pattern suddenly exploded!

Timsi and the old man looked over in horror, only to see that the central section of the totem had cracked.

"It's over! This time, it's completely over!" The old man stared blankly at the sight before him.

"Heide!!"

Timsi glared furiously at Heide, whose body had swollen another circle, wishing he could kill him on the spot.

Ignoring Timsi's furious glare, Heide burst into wild laughter. "With me here, don't even think about destroying the Source of Life!"

"Damn it!"

Timsi clenched his fists in fury, feeling utterly stifled! He could not even kill Heide, or the Source of Life would immediately erupt!

"Are you done making a scene?" By then, Yamei had completely finished drawing the sealing runes across his upper body. He frowned and glanced at them. "Get out of here. I'll handle what remains!"

"How are you going to handle it?"

"Seal it inside my body." As Yamei spoke, he began walking slowly toward the center of the Source of Life.

Timsi froze, but he knew that there was no choice now but to trust Yamei. He could only grit his teeth and leave the stone chamber with the old man.

The moment the two emerged, they saw Kakashi and the others approaching them.

They had completely dealt with their opponents and were preparing to enter the stone chamber to find Yamei, but the massive underground cavern had suddenly begun collapsing! Left with no choice, they had fled from the cave.

The moment they came out, they saw that the site of the underground cavern had become a pitch-black, unfathomable space!

Just as they were panicking, Timsi and the old man were spat out of that dark space.

"Where's Yamei!?"

Ino and Hinata hurried forward, their faces full of anxiety.

Yūhi Kurenai was not as visibly distraught, but the way she fixed her gaze on Timsi and the old man clearly revealed her nervousness and concern.

"Yamei... he chose to seal the Source of Life down there..."

Timsi's voice was filled with guilt and apology as he recounted everything from beginning to end.

"So you're saying... Yamei is going to use his physical body to seal that terrifying energy capable of destroying half the continent!?" No longer caring about anything else, Yūhi Kurenai stepped forward and grabbed Timsi by the collar as she demanded an answer.

"Y-Yes."

Seeing the look in those ruby-like eyes, Timsi could not help turning his head away, unable to meet her gaze.

"No... he'll be fine... Lord Yamei will definitely be fine!"

Ino and Hinata's eyes lost focus. As they murmured, their bodies went limp...

"Hinata! Ino!"

Sakura and the others cried out in alarm and hurried forward to support them.

Although no one else spoke, the oppressive atmosphere weighed on everyone.

Naruto and Sasuke clenched their fists, hating their own weakness.

After a moment of silence, Kakashi saw how heavy the mood had become and could not help trying to comfort them. "We have to believe in Yamei!"

"Since Yamei dared to make this decision, he must be confident. Besides, the outcome still isn't known yet, is it!?"

"Instead of grieving and worrying here, we should pray for and believe in Yamei! He's our companion!"

Kakashi's words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. Yūhi Kurenai gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

"That's right! Yamei isn't as weak as we imagine!"

Her eyes were full of hope. The panic born from excessive worry had vanished, replaced by unwavering trust in Yamei.

With Yūhi Kurenai and Kakashi speaking up, everyone's spirits recovered somewhat. They all looked toward the dark space with anxiety and anticipation.

Inside the stone chamber.

Watching Yamei approach step by step, Heide's face was filled with rage and killing intent. "Brat! Get lost! Don't interfere with me accepting the power of the Source of Life!"

"Can you do nothing but rage helplessly? It seems that such bloated power has left you unable to move at all." Yamei came before Heide and looked at him mockingly.

"Y-You're talking nonsense! I could kill you with a single breath right now! Do you believe that!?" Heide snarled viciously.

"Oh? I don't. So go ahead and kill me with a breath." Yamei smiled and reached out to touch him.

"Y-What are you doing!?"

Heide's pupils shrank as the threat of death engulfed him.

"Kill you, of course. How could the power I have set my sights on be allowed to remain defiled by you?"

Yamei smiled as crack, crack echoed without end!

"The power you set your sights on!?"

Heide's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, he felt his lower body completely lose all sensation.

Looking down, he saw that his lower body had completely turned into ice! Then, under the impact of the violent energy, it broke down into energy and returned to the Source of Life.

"No! I'm the master of this power! You can't kill me! You'll suffer retribution!"

Heide's expression was filled with terror, yet he could not stop the frost from spreading.

The Source of Life continuously replenished him, making even death difficult. He could only watch helplessly as his body gradually turned into icy powder... before returning to the Source of Life.

Only after watching Heide completely dissipate did Yamei nod in satisfaction.

An ordinary person could not kill Heide while he was immersed in the Source of Life. Unless his physical body was completely annihilated in one blow, he could rapidly regenerate.

But Yamei's Ice Release and Scorch Shield could solve that problem, which was why it had been so easy.

Watching the Source of Life's energy gradually grow violent after losing Heide as its nexus, Yamei formed a lotus hand seal.

Myriad Gods Seal!

With a low shout, the runes on Yamei's body began to shine with waves of blood-red light! An incomparably terrifying force of attraction suddenly spread outward from Yamei's body!

The dense power of the Source of Life surged in like a tide, eventually completely submerging Yamei.