Methods Enough to Scare the Six Paths

Manji felt a surge of joy in his heart, his ambition growing ever more profound.

He conceived a plan.

Although he could not reach the Six Paths level, the system had stated that his strength would infinitely approach it.

He could fuse various Sage Arts, ensuring his repertoire of techniques became vast enough to contend with Six Paths level figures.

As the saying goes, one can never have too many skills.

As long as he learned every Sage Art and mastered them all, becoming a grandmaster of Sage Arts, he would become a super hybrid.

His methods would be numerous enough to terrify even peak Six Paths level combatants.

By then, even those at the Six Paths level would be unable to do anything to him, right?

More importantly, Manji's lifespan was incredibly long; it would be several thousand years before the main storyline began.

Manji had ample time to cultivate Sage Arts.

Over those thousands of years, he could delve into the study of Sage Arts, and after such a long period of accumulation, his mastery would surely reach a terrifying realm.

It was as if a new world had opened up before Manji!

Hahaha, truly:

The sea presses the bamboo branches low, yet they rise again; the wind blows against the mountain peaks, yet they shift from darkness to light!

Since the Chakra Fruit had failed and that path was closed, he would simply switch to the path of Sage Arts!

"White Ape King, I have matters to attend to, I shall take my leave!"

Manji bid farewell immediately.

The White Ape King scratched his head: "Fine."

Manji chanted silently.

He performed a summoning and left the Ape Demon Cave.

Arriving in the outside world, Manji gazed at the giant tree in the distance, which reached toward the heavens like Mount Buzhou, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"I wonder if the Sage of Six Paths has been born yet?"

Manji pondered, wanting to confirm it, but he did not know the extent of the sensory capabilities of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who had consumed the fruit.

If he were discovered, he would only alert the enemy.

After a moment of thought, Manji summoned a toad and draped it in a concealment cloak.

He then manipulated the toad to hop toward the residence of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya...

Inside an ancient mansion, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was in labor.

The toad crept quietly toward the mansion, remaining undetected thanks to the protection of the concealment cloak.

"It seems it is still effective..."

The toad opened its mouth wide, and a hand slowly reached out from within.

Manji dared not approach any further; he could only vaguely see Ōtsutsuki Kaguya inside the room, currently giving birth.

But even so, Manji could not take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

Not to mention whether he possessed any means effective against Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, even if a sneak attack succeeded, whether he could actually defeat Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was another matter entirely.

Soon, the cries of two infants rang out.

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura were born.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya looked at the two crying infants, a trace of tenderness appearing on her face: "This land shall be ruled by me and my children!"

Hearing Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's self-muttering, Manji raised an eyebrow slightly; he could consider himself a witness to the birth of Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura.

Looking at the two infants with tiny horns on their heads, Manji's eyes were deep, his thoughts unreadable.

"Perhaps... Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura can be utilized. I only need to sow discord between them and their mother, and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya will be sealed away..."

Manji remained silent, then quietly departed.

He was a man who always repaid his grudges; the betrayal he suffered was like a thorn in his back.

Returning to Mount Myōboku, Manji found the White-Browed Toad.

He then inquired with the White-Browed Toad about the precise location of Ryūchi Cave.

The White-Browed Toad pondered for a moment before revealing the coordinates of Ryūchi Cave to Manji.

The three great sage regions were always in contact with one another, so they naturally knew each other's locations.

Manji chose to head to Ryūchi Cave first.

Thanks to having watched Boruto, he was intimately familiar with the three great trials of Ryūchi Cave. In Boruto, these trials were not particularly difficult.

Therefore, Manji decided to prioritize conquering Ryūchi Cave.

Mist as thick as milk rolled over the jagged, strange rocks.

A stone mansion loomed in the vast whiteness, its upturned eaves blurred and indistinct within the haze.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Manji walked alone through the mist, his footsteps steady as he slowly approached the gate of the mansion hidden within the fog.

Just as he was less than a yard from the entrance:

"Hiss-!"

A sharp sound of air being torn apart suddenly pierced the fog. A White Snake lunged out, its fangs glinting with a cold light as it struck directly at Manji's neck!

Manji's sage perception was keen; having already sensed the movement, he shifted his body slightly, nimbly dodging the lethal bite.

"Oh?"

The White Snake missed its mark, a flash of surprise crossing its vertical pupils before it whipped its long tail and launched itself again!

With its maw wide open, it snapped toward Manji's face.

"Snap!"

This time, rather than dodging, Manji reached out, his fingers clamping onto the White Snake's seven-inch mark with the precision of iron pliers, rendering its neck rigid and preventing it from opening its mouth.

Manji looked down at the small snake in his palm with a smile:

"Little White Snake, stop playing around. These childish tricks of yours are useless against me. I am here to see your master; take me to her."

The White Snake struggled violently in his palm, a flash of white light enveloping its body as it transformed into a girl of about twelve years old, wearing her hair in double buns, her eyes retaining a serpentine agility.

She stared with wide, round eyes, her face full of wonder: "You human, you're quite impressive! None of the people who came before could dodge my ambush, and besides... the aura on you, it feels so familiar..."

"Hehehe..."

Manji gave a faint smile.

The previous visitors were likely mere mortals, so they naturally couldn't withstand the White Snake's surprise attack.

But as a Kage-level powerhouse, an attack of this caliber was not worth mentioning.

He could even react to the attacks of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

Let alone those of a little White Snake.

The girl frowned slightly, stepping back half a step in caution: "You want to see our Grandmaster? What for?"

Before Manji could speak, the gate of Ryūchi Cave behind him swung open with a "whoosh!"

"Rumble..."

The heavy stone door scraped against the ground, emitting a dull sound, revealing a dark and deep passage behind it.

"White Snake, bring him in."

A low, ethereal voice drifted from within, sounding both distant and near, carrying the majesty of accumulated ages.

"Yes, Grandmaster."

Upon hearing this, the White Snake immediately dropped her guard, bowed respectfully, and turned to lead Manji through the gate.

Passing through the deep corridor, the view suddenly opened up.

In a massive stone hall, candles flickered. A giant, pitch-black python was coiled upon a stone throne on a high platform, its scales shimmering with a cold, eerie luster in the dim light. It lowered its head slightly, peering down at the newcomer.

"Grandmaster."

The White Snake stepped forward, bowing with hands cupped.

Manji also bowed slightly in greeting, though he had yet to speak.

The Black Snake Sage on the stone throne spoke first, its voice raspy: "No need for formalities. That old toad, White-Browed Toad, already gave me a heads-up, saying you wish to cultivate the sage arts of Ryūchi Cave, is that correct?"

It narrowed its vertical pupils, its gaze landing on Manji like a physical weight, filled with scrutiny and inquiry.

Manji smiled faintly; it truly helped to have connections in high places.

"That is correct."

Manji nodded, his tone calm: "Since the White-Browed Toad has already informed you, I wonder if the Sage is willing to grant permission?"

The Black Snake Sage nodded slowly, its breath steady as its jaws opened and closed: "If someone is willing to inherit the sage arts of Ryūchi Cave, I naturally have no reason to refuse."

The tone shifted, its voice growing heavy: "But you must understand, the senjutsu attributes of Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave are diametrically opposed."

"Since you have already cultivated the senjutsu of Mount Myōboku, forcing yourself to practice the secret arts of my Ryūchi Cave will, at the slightest misstep, lead to a deviation in your cultivation, or even total annihilation of body and soul."

"When that time comes, I fear those toads from Mount Myōboku will not let the matter rest."

Manji remained indifferent.

Had it been in the past, he might have felt some trepidation, but now that he possessed the power of resurrection, such risks were naturally nothing to fear.

"Sage, you need not worry."

Manji slightly released the aura around his body, two distinct waves of senjutsu intertwining and lingering: "If you perceive carefully, you will realize that I do not possess only the senjutsu of Mount Myōboku."

"Oh?"

Black Snake Sage's pupils constricted, a flash of shock crossing its slit eyes, before it finally spoke slowly: "It is actually intertwined with the aura of the Monkey Demon clan..."

"It is precisely because of this that I am confident in my ability to harmonize with the senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave."

Manji's tone was resolute: "I ask that you impart the secret arts to me, Sage."

Black Snake Sage fell silent for a moment, its gaze lingering on Manji for a long time, before it finally nodded slowly and turned to the White Snake beside it: "White Snake, take him to participate in the trials. If he passes, you may impart the senjutsu directly."

Though White Snake was filled with astonishment, it dared not voice the slightest doubt and immediately replied: "Yes, Ancestor!"

The three subsequent trials.

There were no surprises.

In the end, Manji successfully passed all the assessments and formally forged a contract with Ryūchi Cave!