A tremendous sense of danger descended.
When Fang Xiu said that this was merely a clone and that he could fight without holding back, the atmosphere changed at once.
Even under Susanoo's tight protection, he could still sense that something was wrong. Something like an instinct was screaming warnings at him.
A Corpse-Dissection Immortal? He really had underestimated her before—
Only those who tempered both body and spirit to their utmost, ascended amid the clouds, endured every hardship that followed through their own strength, and achieved the immortal fruit were worthy of being called immortals.
But now that he saw her in action, he realized how shallow his understanding had been.
Or perhaps, after gaining a simple Sage Body and eyes similar to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, his confidence had quietly become inflated. Like Uchiha Sasuke, he'd started to think he could handle anything.
At the same time, Yanxu Daoji stood opposite him, calmly forming a hand seal without the slightest hint of worldly affectation. A transparent dragon-shaped apparition surged forth and coiled toward Fang Xiu.
Wood Release: Hōbi Technique.
A huge shield adorned with a demon's fangs formed instantly. Susanoo gripped it in its right hand, while its interior was filled with Earth Release Senjutsu Chakra.
Maximum defense!
Both sides moved incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, their forces collided.
The outer layer of Wood Release, fused from Earth, Water, and Yang, held out for only a moment before the dragon-shaped apparition pierced straight through it. Only the interior, filled with pure Senjutsu Chakra, proved as solid as a rock!
"As expected of Senjutsu Chakra—the power in the Naruto World capable of harming Six Paths beings..."
Ordinary shinobi condensed Chakra within themselves by combining spiritual and physical energy. Senjutsu, on the other hand, drew upon nature—the power of this world, of the planet itself—and its theoretical limits were far higher.
As his thoughts raced, Fang Xiu decided to use Genjutsu. He'd found a worthy opponent and wanted to test his other abilities.
After all, among his standard six-dimensional stats, his spiritual power stood out even without deliberate enhancement. And now, he was using the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yanxu Daoji, who had become an immortal through Corpse-Dissection, stiffened. A dazed expression appeared on her face.
But before even a snap of the fingers had passed, the daze faded. She regained her senses, her expression still solemn but utterly unflustered.
Unlike ordinary ghosts, she had freed herself from the constraints of her body through her own power. She feared no ordinary Ninjutsu. Only Fang Xiu's Senjutsu and those strange eyes of his warranted her attention and wariness.
And the former... was clearly more suited to defense!
"Genjutsu doesn't work?"
"As expected."
"She's no Ghost King with a fragmented spirit. The most crucial part of becoming an immortal through Corpse-Dissection is the soul. Attacking the strongest point with the strongest force..."
Realizing this approach wouldn't work, Fang Xiu poured all his strength into Earth Release Senjutsu Chakra to resist the dragon-shaped apparition, while activating the already-revealed ability of his left eye.
Takemikazuchi!
The half-body Susanoo, still resisting the dragon-shaped apparition, immediately grew more powerful. Lightning flashed across its partially flesh-covered surface, turning the area into a zone of surging energy.
The attack had reached a higher level and was now effective.
The dragon visibly began to fade!
"So that's it. This eye... uses spiritual power to amplify lightning." Having grasped part of the truth, Yanxu Xianji didn't care that her technique had been countered. She instinctively studied Susanoo's right eye.
A glimpse of the whole from a part—there had to be an equally terrifying power within it!
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth?
As an ancient cultivator, Yanxu immediately thought of the traditional Five Elements. At the same time, her strange eyes sent out a powerful, concealed wave of spiritual energy.
The world spun!
Fang Xiu, a Genjutsu master, realized at once that he was under attack by the same method again. Unfortunately, this time was different.
This immortal woman's spiritual power far surpassed the Fusang Ghost King's. He couldn't show off his tricks—he couldn't use Mirror Heaven and Earth Shift to reflect the illusion back at her.
But the high resistance granted by his Uchiha bloodline combined with Hashirama Cells was no mere illusion.
No matter how Yanxu Daoji manipulated her Double Vision, Fang Xiu remained tightly wrapped in Susanoo, too well-protected for her to break through. He never sank into her illusion; at each crucial moment, he was pulled back to reality.
If he had a pair of nearly Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and still let someone drag him into an illusion he couldn't escape, Fang Xiu would probably become a disgrace to the Uchiha.
Besides, the Dōjutsu born in his right eye was called Amenotokotachi. It could stabilize his condition and shield him from the erosion of negative forces, allowing its user to remain almost impervious to evil and immune to all techniques for a limited time.
Its theoretical limits were extremely high!
And so, the battle seemed to reach a stalemate.
Both realized that the Genjutsu they prided themselves on couldn't secure victory, leaving them no choice but to continue battling over sheer strength. One poured magical power into the dragon, driving it toward physical form as it tore at the demon-carved shield with all its might.
The other focused on strengthening his defenses, having Susanoo block with its shield while amplifying the lightning through his left eye. A Sky-Piercing Spear formed in his hand, allowing him to defend and counterattack.
He'd already thrown caution to the wind. It was only a Wood Release Clone...
With that thought, Fang Xiu actually gained the upper hand to some extent. Three minutes passed. As a nearly mournful dragon's roar rang out, the lightning spear, crackling with ferocious power, finally pierced its head.
"If I knew Sealing Jutsu, maybe I could avoid getting dragged into a war of attrition..."
Almost at the same time, Fang Xiu—like a heavenly general descended from the skies, who had wrecked the surrounding area again and again—saw his eyes grow dim. The defense that couldn't be broken from the outside crumbled from within.
The Hōbi shield shattered.
Susanoo rapidly faded away.
Fang Xiu himself turned into a withered tree, rotting and splintering. Only the lush primeval forest covering the ruins of the hospital remained as proof that he had ever been there.
Meanwhile,
As soon as the clone was dispelled, the battle experience and related memories flowed into his real body. The eye power and Chakra he had expended were replenished in a mere instant.
In truth, Fang Xiu had kept himself in Sage Mode the entire time, ready for any threat that might appear.
"Right."
"That dragon's form..."
Now that he was hidden in a secluded area and could calmly review the battle, Fang Xiu's thoughts began to wander. He suddenly remembered Uzumaki Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan—
When faced with a devastating blow, that guy had once summoned a purple phantom dragon that specialized in attacking spirits. Any shinobi touched by its apparition died without exception! Perhaps it was a method that could counter Corpse-Dissection Immortals and other powerful spiritual beings.
"In the end, the Mangekyō's current level just isn't high enough. Earlier, it was unstoppable against evil spirits like wraiths. It could even devour them and turn them into nourishment, and it could suppress beings like Ghost Kings too."
"Once I return to the space, I should develop Sage Mode along my established path instead of limiting myself to copying Earth Release..."
"Also, I should pursue the Gene Lock as well. A mere first-order Gene Lock just isn't enough for now."
Fang Xiu had gained a great deal from the battle.
At the very least, he now had a much clearer plan:
Use side-story rewards to strengthen and complete his bloodline.
Spend the remaining reward points to exchange for cultivation time.
And, of course, don't overlook the special exchange options for the next trial...
There are so many paths to becoming stronger! I'm torn between doing a second team battle or returning to the Naruto World for one team battle... Personally, I'm leaning toward the second option. I'd like to hear what you all think.
Before you continue