Training

"Ding. Master, a mission has now been issued: venture out for training. Location: Black Demon Forest. Reward: Space Law."

"Since that was the case, I might as well make the trip. I could also see just how terrifying the legendary Black Demon Forest really was." Shangguan Ye created a clone.

"Take Ning'er and the others into the Mountains and Rivers Painting to cultivate. I'm heading out for a while." Shangguan Ye handed over the Mountains and Rivers Painting.

"Alright."

With that, Shangguan Ye vanished from where he stood.

With the system's help, Shangguan Ye arrived outside the Black Demon Forest. Merely standing outside, he could sense many powerful presences within. He exhaled a breath of stale air and resolutely stepped inside.

The moment he entered, Shangguan Ye's visibility dropped sharply. Fortunately, neither his Rinnegan nor his Reincarnation Eye was affected. He walked while extending his senses, but the surroundings were strangely silent. He continued deeper, and before long, rustling came from the bushes ahead.

"Hm? It actually avoided my senses?" A figure slowly emerged from the bushes. Once he saw its face clearly, even Shangguan Ye was shocked. The person before him was actually himself!

"A disguise? Let's see you reveal your true form!" Without another word, Shangguan Ye charged forward. The other Shangguan Ye charged as well, and the two began fighting hand-to-hand.

Their fists collided. The battle between Legendary Rank experts was terrifying indeed. Every clash sent powerful shockwaves spreading outward. They attacked without pause, yet each other's defenses were flawless, and the battle showed no sign of stopping.

Seeing that he could not take down his opponent anytime soon, Shangguan Ye immediately opened the Gate of Death. To his surprise, the other Shangguan Ye opened the Gate of Death as well. With that alone, Shangguan Ye identified the other's origin. It was not a disguise, but an illusionary reflection. Yet he had no idea who had cast it.

"Looks like I can only deal with you first." Shangguan Ye charged forward again. The two fought for a day and a night, and the entire Black Demon Forest was covered in a sea of blood-red light. They used nearly every move they had, yet neither could break the other's techniques.

"Stop wasting your strength. I am you. Everything you know, I know too."

The impostor finally spoke.

"We possess such tremendous power. Why should we remain beneath others for so long? We should become the rulers of this world, controlling Glory City, the Little Exquisite World, and even the Dragon Void Realm."

The impostor began trying to brainwash Shangguan Ye. Its words truly lingered endlessly, like an unbroken melody.

Shangguan Ye felt speechless as he listened to that nonsense.

"You sure do talk a lot. Can't you let me have some peace and quiet?" Shangguan Ye muttered.

"Peace and quiet?"

Shangguan Ye suddenly thought of something. He immediately sat cross-legged and began entering Sage Mode. At an astonishing speed, he sensed the power of nature and entered Sage Mode. Shangguan Ye's Sage Mode was extremely simple; only the markings around his eyes had turned silver.

"Hmph! It's useless!"

The impostor also sat down and began sensing. After a long while, it still had not entered Sage Mode, and it finally panicked.

"Why?"

"Though you are me, you are the me from the past, not the me of the present. You are that restless and impulsive me from before. You cannot imagine how much effort I spent back then to enter Sage Mode, much less combine three kinds of senjutsu into one." Shangguan Ye slowly rose to his feet.

"With how long-winded you are, how could you possibly enter Sage Mode? So just wait for death!"

Shangguan Ye rushed forward and sent the impostor flying with a punch. This time, no matter how the impostor responded, it could never catch Shangguan Ye's movements. At this moment, Shangguan Ye had become one with nature. Only someone in Sage Mode could sense him, so naturally, the impostor had no hope of catching him.

At last, under Shangguan Ye's fierce assault, the impostor shattered with a bang. Shangguan Ye finally found the caster as well. He tilted his head slightly and saw that all the eyes atop a tiny spider on a leaf had turned into Rinnegan.

"Such a tiny thing has such an incredible ability. Let me give you a taste of my illusion too."

A month after entering the forest, Shangguan Ye finally reached its central region. Along the way, he encountered all kinds of Monster Beasts, and some had even injured him. He continued onward when a burst of light suddenly appeared ahead.

"It's pitch-black in here. How could there be light?"

Even with his Rinnegan and Reincarnation Eye, Shangguan Ye could not make sense of it. He could only steel himself and walk forward. Passing through the blinding radiance, he finally saw the scene before him clearly.

Before him was a lake brimming with life. In the middle of the lake stood a small island, upon which a silver-white Spear stood erect. Powerful energy continuously erupted from the Spear, stirring waves across the lake's surface.

"I never expected there to be such a hidden paradise here. The energy emitted by that Spear is powerful; it must be a treasure. It seems this is fate, so I'll take it." Shangguan Ye looked at the entirely silver-white Spear, his heart burning with excitement.

For safety's sake, Shangguan Ye left several Flying Thunder God markings along the shore.

Only after doing so did he confidently step onto the water. After walking a short distance, Shangguan Ye suddenly felt that something was wrong. Looking down, he discovered a massive figure rushing up from beneath the water. He quickly leaped backward as the enormous creature burst from the lake, sending huge sprays of water into the air. Shangguan Ye steadied himself and finally saw what stood before him: a Silver Flood Dragon.

The Silver Flood Dragon's large, bell-like eyes stared fixedly at Shangguan Ye. In the next instant, it actually spoke human words.

"Human brat, it is no easy feat for one so young to possess such cultivation. This is not a place you should be. Leave immediately!" the Silver Flood Dragon said in a deep, booming voice.

A powerful pressure radiated from the Silver Flood Dragon's body. Even Shangguan Ye found it difficult to breathe. He clasped his hands together and spoke respectfully.

"Senior, I have set my heart on this Spear. Perhaps it is the weapon best suited to me. I hope Senior will grant my request."

"That is your business and has nothing to do with me. I am only responsible for guarding it. Only one chosen by Heaven can wield it!" the Silver Flood Dragon sternly refused.

Chosen by Heaven? Back in the Naruto World, what didn't I seize for myself? If I had to rely on some damn Heavenly Fate, would there be anything left for a transmigrator like me to do? I refuse to believe in anything predestined.

"Senior, forgive my offense!" Shangguan Ye formed a hand seal with one hand and directly summoned the Four Red Yang Formation to trap the Silver Flood Dragon, while he himself dashed toward the Spear at top speed.

"You don't know what's good for you." The Silver Flood Dragon snorted coldly. With a sweep of its massive tail, it shattered the formation in a single strike, then smashed down viciously toward Shangguan Ye. It moved so fast that he could not evade in time and could only use Flying Thunder God to return to the shore.

"So strong. The Four Red Yang Formation couldn't even withstand one move from it. Looks like I can't test it with minor techniques. I'll go straight for a killing move!"

Shangguan Ye instantly entered Sage Mode.

Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands.

A gigantic Thousand-Hand Guanyin rose from the ground, though it was still far smaller than the Silver Flood Dragon.

Susanoo.

The jet-black Susanoo instantly covered the Thousand-Hand Guanyin's entire body.

Eight Inner Gates. Gate of Death. Night Guy.

Blood-red steam continuously poured from Shangguan Ye's body. The bloody vapor covered the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, and all thousand hands behind it gathered blood-vapor dragons.

Reincarnation Eye Mode.

Shangguan Ye exerted himself again, silver-green radiance shining from his body as Truth-Seeking Orbs continuously appeared behind him. The orbs rapidly fused into a Spear.

"My buffs should all be stacked now, right?" Shangguan Ye panted heavily. This was the first time he had gone all out.

The Thousand-Hand Guanyin stood up, its height surging dramatically once more.

"Take this!"

Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.

The Thousand-Hand Guanyin raised its Spear and slashed down fiercely. Golden light tore through the sky.

The blood-vapor dragons behind the Thousand-Hand Susanoo followed after it, and space warped for a moment.

"I can't take this head-on!" The Silver Flood Dragon lowered its body, intending to plunge into the water.