Taking the White Snake's Power

Orochimaru chuckled softly.

"Qingyu- jun wants to prepare a copy for others as well?"

"I have a few companions who might come in handy."

Qingyu did not deny it.

"I can give you a few more, but you must remind them that if it's not your constitution, the dosage should only be up to one-third."

Orochimaru took three more test tubes out of the wooden box and handed them over.

Qingyu took it and put it into her Ninja Tool Pouch.

"Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

"Do not use it once."

Orochimaru's voice was light and airy.

"For use by ordinary ninjas, it is best to dilute it with warm water first, and take it in three doses, with an interval of three days between each dose."

"If they experience a persistently elevated body temperature or white, scaly patches appearing on their skin, discontinue use."

Qingyu nodded.

"I've got it."

"Very good."

Orochimaru seemed quite pleased with Qingyu's decisive and efficient attitude.

This reaction was even more perfect than he had expected.

"I'll be staying here for about a month. Come over when you're free."

Orochimaru said.

"There are some things I'd like to see your reaction to."

What was the reaction?

Qingyu asked.

"A thirst for power."

Orochimaru licked his lips.

"And also, reflections on the essence of life."

Qingyu didn't reply, but just smiled.

"I should go back now, teacher."

"Go."

Orochimaru stood in the candlelight, watching Qingyu walk out of the stone chamber.

Orochimaru only slowly withdrew his gaze after Qingyu's figure disappeared into the crevice above.

He turned around and looked again at the Hashirama Cells floating in the culture medium.

"What a perfect child."

He sighed softly, his voice echoing in the empty underground space.

Talented, courageous, and ambitious—

Unfortunately, the more perfect something is, the more people want to possess it.

Orochimaru gently licked his lower lip.

He realized he was missing something.

A suitable container.

He already had a rudimentary form of the Soul Transfer Technique.

But a suitable body was never found.

Cloning Technology is not yet mature enough; at most, it can only cultivate partial organs.

Even if we could cultivate complete clones, those guys would only live for a few months, and wouldn't be able to sustain a soul's long-term presence.

What's more troublesome is that even if the lifespan problem is solved, it would still take many, many years to cultivate a qualified clone from infancy and wait for it to grow to the age suitable for reincarnation.

"This is difficult—"

Orochimaru said in a low voice.

"Qingyu- kun, why can't you be a little slow on the uptake? Maybe then, the teacher wouldn't be so annoyed."

On the other side.

Qingyu did not return directly to the camp.

He took a detour to the foot of a cliff by the sea, and after confirming that no one else was around, he bit his finger and summoned the Slug.

Bang!

"Lord Slug, please take me to the Shikkotsu Forest."

Qingyu spoke.

The next moment, Qingyu's figure disappeared along with the Slug.

The white smoke dissipated.

Qingyu appeared in the Shikkotsu Forest.

It was still quiet here, with a slightly sweet scent of grass and trees in the air, and the fungal carpet underfoot was soft and springy.

He found a high platform and took out several simple experimental tools from the scroll.

Those materials weren't particularly sophisticated, but they were sufficient for preliminary analysis.

"Lord Qingyu, you've arrived."

A small Slug crawled over from the side.

Is there anything I can do for you?

"Keep an eye on the door for me."

Qingyu laid out several test tubes.

"Yes, Lord Qingyu."

The little Slug climbed to the edge of the platform and obediently lay down.

Qingyu first took out the White Snake Extract that Orochimaru had given him.

He used a fine needle to pick out a little liquid and dropped it into a petri dish filled with water.

The moment the liquid fell into the water, instead of dispersing, it slowly contracted, forming a tiny Uzumaki.

"Interesting."

Qingyu activated his Sharingan, and the Tomoe in his eyes slowly began to rotate.

With his Eye Power focused, he could see that the white liquid contained extracts of the White Snake.

The Eye Power of a normal Three-Tomoe Sharingan is enough to see things at the microscopic level, such as viruses. Even if Qingyu hadn't activated the Mangekyō, he could still see them.

"The white White Snake Orochimaru is looking for is probably from Ryūchi Cave, otherwise, how could White Snake from the outside world possess so many supernatural abilities?"

Qingyu stroked her chin.

This extract is extremely active and can maintain its metabolism for a period of time after being separated from the host.

This is precisely why it can actively fuse with the host's cells after entering other living organisms.

"Increased Chakra levels, improved recovery ability----"

Qingyu took notes while thinking.

This item is indeed quite valuable to ordinary ninjas.

But for Qingyu, its use was not limited to increasing Chakra.

He thought of several of his own characteristics, especially his "White Snake Body".

If one absorbs the extract of the White Snake, perhaps that trait can undergo further transformation.

Of course, most importantly, we need to find out if Orochimaru left any backdoors.

Qingyu examined it carefully.

Only after confirming that there were no hidden tricks did Qingyu feel relieved.

After all, both he and Orochimaru were researchers, and these backup plans would be difficult to hide from Qingyu.

"Lord Slug, I'm going out for a bit."

Qingyu tidied up the utensils and said something to the Slug at the door.

Is Lord Qingyu leaving?

"Okay, let's go test it out."

Qingyu said.

He then left the Shikkotsu Forest.

The Natural Energy here is too concentrated; it might attract attention later and interfere with Qingyu.

Back at the beach, Qingyu found a secluded rocky cave, took off her outer garment, and sat down cross-legged.

He first diluted the White Snake Extract with hot water according to Orochimaru's instructions, and then divided it into three portions.

He drank the first portion in one gulp.

After the liquid entered her throat, Qingyu immediately felt a cool sensation rise from her stomach, which then turned into a burning sensation and began to spread throughout her body along her bloodstream.

A layer of white scales appeared on his skin, then quickly disappeared.

"That's pretty powerful."

Qingyu frowned and closed her eyes.

If it were an ordinary ninja, they would probably have fainted from the rejection reaction.

However, with the Senju Qingyu as a foundation and Chakra protecting his internal organs, Qingyu's burning sensation subsided after only a few breaths.

Instead, a warm power flowed slowly through my body.

His Chakra recovery speed seems to have increased again.

More importantly, Qingyu could feel Chakra deep within his body.

"The Wood Release Bloodline seems to have become a little more active."

Qingyu opened her eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

He carefully collected the remaining White Snake Extract, put on his clothes, and headed towards the Earth Flow.

The night was still, and the sound of the waves echoed in Qingyu's ears.

Qingyu was already very familiar with these sounds.

Just as Qingyu was about to return to the camp, a line of semi-transparent text suddenly appeared before her eyes.

[D-Rank Trait detected: White Snake's Fortune has met the synthesis requirements]

[Should we synthesize it?]

Qingyu paused in her steps.

After the White Snake Extract entered the body, it indeed fulfilled the previous requirements for trait upgrade.

"Synthesis."

Qingyu silently recited it in her heart.

The text slowly faded away, and a new prompt appeared.

[C-Rank Trait: The White Snake's Fortune]

[Effect: Increases luck by 60%.]

[Synthesis: Obtaining pure White Snake's Power will upgrade this trait to a higher level.]

Qingyu stroked her chin.

Luck, unlike Chakra, strength, or Ninjutsu, cannot be directly quantified through training.

However, in battle, especially when fighting a life-or-death struggle against a powerful enemy, luck often plays a crucial role in the final outcome.

A single misjudgment, or mistake, can determine life or death.

A 60% increase in luck doesn't seem as practical as a direct increase in attack power.

But for Qingyu, this intangible benefit is even rarer.

However, he soon noticed something else.

The synthesis bar for the White Snake's Fortune is "Pure White Snake's Power".

The White Snake Extract he took only upgraded this trait from grade D to grade C.

In other words, what Orochimaru gave us might not be the purest version.

Or perhaps Orochimaru himself hasn't fully grasped the true White Snake's Power.

"Too."

Qingyu shook her head.

The White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave is not someone you can easily approach.

Orochimaru was able to cultivate the "White Phosphorus Serpent" after countless studies and self-modification of snake cells, which led him to that point.

Although Orochimaru has now come into contact with the power of the White Snake, he is probably still in the stage of extraction, cultivation, and initial fusion.

"Don't rush."

Qingyu closed the panel.

We can think about the White Snake's Power later; it's more practical to continue improving the "Flying Thunder Technique."

After returning to the camp, Qingyu did not rush to rest.

He returned to a deserted, rocky beach by the sea.

The moonlight wasn't very bright, the sea breeze was strong, and the waves repeatedly crashed against the rocks.

Qingyu left Flying Thunder Karma Techniques on a rock and a tree trunk, then stood at a distance, closed his eyes, and sensed the coordinates he had left behind.

"Short distances are no longer a problem; the next challenge will be medium and long distances."

He took out a specially made Flying Thunder God Kunai, flicked his wrist, and the Kunai flew out.

The Kunai quickly disappeared from Qingyu's sight.

Once the Kunai fallen far enough, Qingyu Hand Seals.

The Flying Thunder Donkey Technique!

Qingyu's figure disappeared from the spot.

When he reappeared, he was already on a rocky beach several hundred meters away.

The Kunai that had just been launched was now embedded in a crevice in the sand and gravel.

"The distance is manageable."

Qingyu pondered to herself.

It won't be long before he truly masters the "Flying Thunder God Technique," which is faster than he had imagined.

At this distance, a regular ninja would be considered to be able to appear and disappear without a trace.

But Qingyu was not entirely satisfied.

He felt the distance could be increased further.

"One more kilometer away."

Qingyu looked ahead.

On the sea, between the waves, a dark shadowy figure rises and falls, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

That was a spell he had casually left on a reef in the sea while he was patrolling another area.

Qingyu took a deep breath of the painting, expanding her sensory range.

Those Flying Thunder God Formula, like torches in the darkness, scattered throughout his mind.

One of them is located nearly a kilometer away on the sea surface.

"Give it a try."

Qingyu Hand Seals.

Flying Thunder Technique!

My body felt as if it were being pulled into a crack in space by an invisible force.

Time and space lost their meaning in that instant.

When he opened his eyes again, he was already standing on that reef in the sea.

The icy seawater surged in from all sides, soaking his trouser legs.

The sea breeze was fierce, carrying salty, fishy smells and foam.

Qingyu looked around; the land was already far away, with only a blurry coastline remaining.

"It's a success."

Qingyu pulled out the Kunai that was engraved with the Flying Thunder God Mark.

Although it's still a bit unstable, at least he can now perform mid-range flying lightning movement.

"Taking over is just a matter of proficiency."

Qingyu Hand Seals and disappeared onto the reef.

He planned to go to the nearest town.

At night.

Qingyu did not return to his own Camp Tent.

He changed into clean clothes, tucked a bundle wrapped in oil paper into his pocket, and headed towards the Camp Tent where Yūhi Kurenai was.

He stopped outside the tent.

The sea breeze blew from behind, casting his shadow on the tent.

"Still not asleep?"

Qingyu listened intently and heard a rustling sound coming from inside the tent.

"Who?"

Yūhi Kurenai's voice came from inside, tinged with Yukibun's wariness.

"I."

Qingyu said.

There was a moment of silence inside.

Then, the curtain was lifted a crack.

Yūhi Kurenai peeked out, her red eyes looking quite striking in the darkness outside the tent.

Her black curly hair had been let loose, draped over her shoulders, and she was wearing only a thin nightgown.

The moonlight outlined her slender figure, and a faint shadow fell on her collarbone beneath her delicate white neck.

"Qingyu? What brings you here?"

"Can't I come if I have nothing to do?"

Qingyu smiled.

Yūhi Kurenai looked around and then winked at him.

You haven't answered me yet.

"Let me in first."

After hesitating for Yūhi Kurenai finally lifted the curtain.

Qingyu stepped inside.

Inside the tent, only an oil lamp shone dimly, casting a soft glow on the Yūhi Kurenai face.

Yūhi Kurenai took two steps back, sat down on the blanket, and looked up at him.

What are you doing here so late?

I brought you something nice.

Qingyu sat cross-legged opposite her and, as if by magic, produced an oil paper package from her bosom.

Yūhi Kurenai.

"This taste... is it sweet dumplings?"

"And Anko Mitarashi cake."

Qingyu opened the oil paper package, and neatly arranged the snow-white cakes.

"You still have such good Anko Mitarashi cakes for this festival? Where did you buy them?"

Yūhi Kurenai couldn't resist taking a closer look.

"It's near the town."

Qingyu said.

"Abandon the town?"

Yūhi Kurenai was taken aback.

"Even the nearest towns must be quite a distance from the campsite."

"I used the 'Flying Thunder Rabbit Technique'."

Qingyu spoke calmly.

Yūhi Kurenai's eyes widened.

"Your 'Flying Thunder Technique' is complete?"

"Almost there. I've mastered short-range teleportation, and I can do it at medium range too, but it still needs further refinement."

As Qingyu spoke, she casually picked up a piece of Anko Mitarashi cake and held it to Yūhi Kurenai lips.

Yūhi Kurenai opened her mouth, took a bite, and then squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"It's very sweet."

Yūhi Kurenai said.