Senjutsu Maniac (Two-in-One Chapter)

"Biu~"

"Biubiu~"

However... Hermit Caolu had misunderstood. The truth was that a group of patients had surrounded him, making finger guns and supplying their own sound effects as they played house like little kids.

"Ah!! The she-devil's here! Everybody, run!"

Someone shouted from the outer circle.

The patients who had been pretending to be judges, wearing white mop heads and clutching rag dolls, immediately put everything away and hid their props carefully.

A group of psychiatric patients began pretending to sleep.

And in the silence, the door opened.

Wang Xiuzhi walked in wearing a white lab coat. Her beautiful eyes swept over the psychiatric patients pretending to sleep, and she sighed inwardly. She couldn't be bothered to call them out.

"Only they're more innocent than children."

As she murmured to herself, the tall Dr. Wang came over to Hermit Caolu and ripped off the tape binding him. She remembered to put on a gentle smile so she wouldn't scare the homeless old patient.

"Miss Shishi!" Having survived the ordeal, Hermit Caolu looked astonished. "So you didn't die after all."

Shishi?

Wang Xiuzhi paused, but didn't take it to heart. Patients talking nonsense was perfectly normal, after all. She kept smiling and was just about to comfort him when—

Hermit Caolu suddenly frowned and spoke in a neurotic tone:

"You're not Shishi. You're Yaoji!"

"Hmph! Since you've captured me with your demonic arts, there's nothing more to say. Kill me if you must. There's no point in talking!"

"Don't be afraid. Getting so worked up isn't good for your sleep. I'm not Yaoji, and even if I were, I wouldn't kill you. Be a good man and go to bed, all right?"

As she gently reassured him, a figure suddenly appeared.

It was a young man.

He had handsome, refined features and wore a loose robe. His thick black hair was tied at the ends with a red cord, and his bearing was exceptionally composed. Wang Xiuzhi, who had been startled by the ghostly figure, immediately calmed down and looked him over curiously.

The next moment, Hermit Caolu, still tied to his chair, exclaimed in surprise, "Are you a plant spirit?"

"..." Fang Xiu.

That wasn't entirely wrong, actually.

Wood Release: Wood Clone.

—It created a Wood Release clone identical to the user and was harder to distinguish than a Shadow Clone. It was mainly used for reconnaissance. Though it wasn't as capable in combat as the original, it still had some strength. When the clone was dispelled, it could instantly turn into branches that wrapped around or attacked the enemy.

This was one of the results of his special training.

"More or less."

As he spoke, the ropes binding Hermit Caolu snapped. Fang Xiu, who had been created with Wood Release, couldn't be bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Senior, come with me. We'll meet up with your two disciples."

"The Fusang Ghost King has emerged. We need to get rid of him as soon as possible..."

Meanwhile.

Ma Shangfeng and Xiaogui, two oddly dressed men from ancient times wearing armor, were wolfing down food on the street.

The former grabbed a large rack of lamb, took a hearty bite, then downed a bottle of Bingkuoluo. He tilted his head back and burped as he exclaimed, "I never thought water from five hundred years in the future could have such a kick! That's the stuff!"

"Hey, waiter! Bring me another jar!"

With that, he picked up the bottle of Fanta beside him and gulped it down.

"What a disgrace."

Silver-Armored Divine General Xiaogui licked the sauce from the lamb chops off his fingers and burped. Then, eyeing the grilled lamb chops in his junior brother's hands, he habitually mocked him before pounding the table. "Waiter, bring us two more plates of lamb ribs!"

The owner, the other customers, and the passersby were all immersed in the Mangekyō Genjutsu and ignored the strange scene.

With his terrifying ocular power, combined with the simple Sage Body granted by Hashirama Cells, Fang Xiu had every right to indulge himself. Temporarily controlling ordinary people's perceptions barely counted as a burden.

At that moment, his thoughts had already flown far away. He hoped the Wood Release Clone could get some guidance from Hermit Caolu.

"Chakra has one special advantage: it can merge with other energies to form corresponding xx Chakra Modes."

"Also, once you enter the corresponding mode, you gain many of the external energy's properties on top of the enhancements Chakra already provides."

Those were some of the ideas Fang Xiu had come up with—or, rather, confirmed—during his special training.

At this stage, whether he used the five basic elemental ninjutsu or his Mangekyō abilities, Fang Xiu was ultimately relying on the Chakra within his body.

Ocular power—more or less fixed.

Yang Release Chakra—more or less fixed.

Yin Release Chakra—more or less fixed.

It was true that his reserves were vast and could recover through rest and other means. But unlike ordinary Chakra, which was formed by combining physical and mental energy, they couldn't keep breaking through their limits in capacity.

Under the circumstances, Fang Xiu had inevitably turned his attention to Senjutsu Chakra Mode. The principle behind it was actually simple—

Absorb Natural Energy from the outside world while practicing as usual—or, in other words, absorb the special energy circulating under the laws of a different world—and efficiently fuse it with one's own Chakra.

But how could he maintain the balance?

If he went past the critical point, he would be devoured by the power of nature. If he didn't reach it, he couldn't enter Sage Mode.

Even Uzumaki Naruto, the child of destiny and master of the Talk no Jutsu, had needed careful guidance through several stages before he could fully master it.

And what about Fang Xiu?

He lacked the resources to exchange for the relevant techniques.

And he was especially short on time.

His foundations were inadequate and his reserves shallow! If he had awakened his Mangekyō in the Naruto World rather than in the worlds he wandered through, he could have found a way to learn the three practical ocular techniques:

Transcription Seal.

A Sharingan wielder could use their Sharingan to lock eyes with a target and seal a "technique" into their own eye or the target's. When the "condition" was met, the seal would automatically release, activating the "technique" and completing its corresponding sequence.

During the battle at the Valley of the End, Madara had used this technique to seal "Izanagi" into his right eye, allowing him to come back to life after the battle.

Izanagi.

One of the Uchiha Clan's ultimate ocular techniques.

A Sharingan wielder could form hand seals and use a special Chakra circulation pattern to completely erase events that had happened within a certain period, provided they were unfavorable to the user. Only favorable developments would be chosen and made real.

While it was active, the user could alter reality even after dying. It was a terrifying ocular technique that could make its user temporarily invincible! The price was the loss of one eye.

Then there was Izanami, the opposite of Izanagi. Using it also caused blindness—

Once cast, it recorded a sequence of events involving the user and their opponent, then made them play out over and over, trapping the opponent in an endless cycle. To break free of this Genjutsu, the opponent had to accept their true fate.

"Whatever else you say, the bigger problem is that I lack someone to show me the way and demonstrate it for me."

During his special training in the Main God Space, he'd spent most of his remaining reward points. All he had to show for it was improved use of the four basic elements—Fire, Earth, Water, and Lightning—along with a deeper understanding of Wood Release and greater familiarity with the abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan. "I hope Hermit Caolu can point me in the right direction and give me something to work with."

As the thought crossed his mind, he glanced at the Gold and Silver Generals, who were busy eating, then looked into the distance. The Mangekyō in his eyes seemed to pierce the boundless void, allowing him to see his Wood Release Clone and the True Immortal on land.

"People who cultivate the Dao in my time can no longer ascend."

"If they want to keep their lifespan from declining, the only way is the Earth Immortal Method. In other words, they must stay in the mortal world instead of ascending, find a treasured site with good feng shui, and use a special technique to attune themselves to it."

Lüshui Psychiatric Hospital.

Hermit Caolu, wearing striped pajamas, sat cross-legged and had already begun expounding the Dao. His audience consisted of the Wood Release Clone and Miss Wang Xiuzhi, a psychiatrist.

In the past, Dr. Wang would have thought she'd gone completely mad if she ever found herself doing this. But now...

Inside the hospital grounds, a tree that had once taken several people to encircle had grown even thicker. It radiated a dense green glow, bright enough for an ordinary person like her to see with the naked eye.

This was just too mystical!

"When one first begins practicing the Earth Immortal Method, they can establish a preliminary connection with a small world and cultivate by drawing on the aura of the earth's veins." Hermit Caolu had suggested recovering their strength here before setting out later. As he spoke, he enjoyed the healing treatment provided by Yang Release.

Just as Fang Xiu had hoped!

"Of course, in my era, no cultivation method was without its weaknesses, not even the Earth Immortal Method, which is said to offer eternal life."

"To be attuned to a small world is to bear its karma. The Fusang Ghost King is wreaking havoc here, and I swear to slay him!"

As he spoke, Hermit Caolu rose into the air, his whole body glowing gold. At times the light was brilliant and dazzling; at others it was as weighty as ochre earth.

"Since you're interested, fellow Daoist, feel free to observe as I circulate my cultivation method and draw on the earth's veins to heal my injuries. Whether you gain any insight is up to your own fate."

With that, the old Daoist closed his eyes and focused on himself.

In truth, he had already decided that Fang Xiu was a friend, not an enemy, though there had been some mistaken assumptions along the way: Wood Release Clone = plant spirit.

The little Yin Release ocular power from the Mangekyō was easy enough to explain, too. He guessed that Fang Xiu's true form was some kind of Yin-aligned plant, such as a locust tree, following a path of balancing Yin and Yang. In any case, as long as he didn't take on a bloodthirsty aura, he was a good demon.

Besides, if Fang Xiu had been an enemy, he would have taken advantage of Hermit Caolu's weakened state and killed him already!

For that reason, Hermit Caolu decided to let him observe his cultivation method, without revealing the secrets of his sect's teachings.

The Tomoe spun!

It was true that Fang Xiu wouldn't give a clone much ocular power, but it should still be enough to see through meridians and observe their underlying nature.

No matter how much he managed to understand, he would first record the entire process in his mind, then transmit it to his original body!

With that thought in mind, the Wood Release Clone didn't dare let his attention wander for even a moment. He watched Hermit Caolu's meridians circulate with complete concentration. The latter, for his part, was perfectly open about it, making no attempt to conceal anything. He might as well have been personally explaining his sect's secret teachings.

Everything was going smoothly.

Except that the Ghost King had escaped.

And the Fusang Ghost King had similar ideas.

Only when he had just been released had he encountered an unknown enemy who tried to kill him...

Xiangjiang.

The Kowloon Peninsula.

A spacious villa stood alone in the suburbs, with nothing around it and not a sound to be heard.

A chrysanthemum was carved into the front of the stone pillar beside the gate, representing the cultivation method of the place's owner: Spirit Realm Demon Transformation Path.

In the terms of Chinese feng shui: two snakes coiled before the gate, while two pillars stood opposite, reaching for the sky, and sunlight could barely get in.

Mist gathered and refused to disperse, while Yin energy piled up in pools. Yin energy combined with dampness, making the place both Yin and damp, forming the Extreme Fierce Burial Pavilion.

It was the hiding place of the Nine Chrysanthemums' current miko! Having briefly made contact with the heretical cultivator who had driven the car, the Fusang Ghost King had secretly read his memories and made his way here without a hitch.

At that moment, he lay on his back in the hot spring, looking thoroughly content as he loudly praised his descendants in Japanese for their thoughtfulness.

The essential elements of a Japanese garden were all there: gravel, deadwood, green moss, stone lanterns, and red maples. Elegant lanterns illuminated the garden, and there was none of the miserable air of someone fleeing and hiding. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought a nobleman was enjoying himself.

In addition, four young women were serving him attentively in the hot spring. They seemed to be wearing clothes, but what could loose, sheer bathrobes possibly conceal? Their curves rose like mountains, their bodies undulating like waves.

To be honest, when the Fusang Ghost King had arrived, he had expected his descendants to worship him like an ancestor. But he truly hadn't expected them to go this far...

"Sir, please enjoy them as you wish."

"For the descendants of the Nine Chrysanthemums to reunite with you after five hundred years is truly cause for celebration."

Nishiwaki Michiko, wearing a loose kimono, showed no sign of anything amiss. Through the thick steam, she performed a dogeza outside the hot spring.

Hong Kong Island.

The land of the people of Ming.

Having read the relevant memories by spirit possession, the Fusang Ghost King already had a general understanding of the current situation. It was the year 1983 AD. The English red-haired barbarians were temporarily administering this land, and it would be more than a decade before it was returned to Ming.

The woman outside was of the same clan as him and practiced the Nine Chrysanthemums' tradition.

That was the Ghost King's understanding.

"Hahahaha! It's a crime for such a vast and fertile land to be inhabited by the people of Ming, let alone ruled by foreign red-haired barbarians now."

"What a waste!"

As he spoke, the Fusang Ghost King pulled a crowd of seductive demonesses into his arms. The sake on the tray before him floated into the air, and he threw his head back and drained it.

Amid his wild laughter, he declared:

"Conquer it! We'll start here."

"An Eternal Combat sent me here. It's destiny! As an old saying from Huaxia goes...

'If Heaven gives you an opportunity and you don't take it, you'll suffer for it; if the time comes and you don't act, you'll invite disaster!'"

Five hundred years ago.

Back then, the Ming Dynasty was beautiful and prosperous, and its technology was highly advanced, far beyond Fusang's. It could produce countless exquisite goods that Japan couldn't even imagine, yet its military defenses across the land were decrepit.

Before the Ming armies surrounded and massacred him, he had led a band of Ronin warriors, peasants, and pirates across several cities and over a thousand miles. They had plundered wealth along the southeastern coast, slaughtered villages, and stolen their women.

After his death, his killing intent refused to disperse. He became a Ghost King, grew ever stronger, and recruited his old followers. Together, they had accomplished several satisfying deeds...

Now he had escaped and recovered most of his strength. With the help of his descendants in later generations, he would surely be able to kill Hermit Caolu, the Gold and Silver Generals, and the mysterious man who used Fire Release. He would seize a territory and establish himself as its ruler!

As the thought crossed his mind, the women's coquettish giggles and playful laughter drifted through the thick steam.

Amid the seductive sounds, a complex Tomoe faintly appeared in Nishiwaki Michiko's lowered eyes. Even now, she hadn't realized she was under Genjutsu, and much of what she did was beyond her control.

"I'll serve you too, sir."

Her kimono fell to the ground, and another smooth-skinned fish slipped into the pool. The Ghost King laughed even more wantonly.

I have to work overtime, and I have to work overtime again tomorrow.

So this update is a little late. I'm posting a longer two-in-one chapter. Thank you all for your support!