Sasori of the Red Sand

After examining nine prayer beads in a row, all of which contained sealing techniques, he finally found Buddhist sutras in the tenth bead.

He quickly recited the sutra while channeling his soul power and even using his spiritual power, feeling the shackles on his body crumble away.

Fifteen minutes later, Qian Yun could still feel shackles on himself, but continuing to recite the sutra no longer had any effect.

He switched to another prayer bead to read its information. It contained another Buddhist sutra, which he recited once more.

More shackles dissipated. This time, Qian Yun felt his mind become incomparably clear, several times sharper than usual.

After reciting the Buddhist sutra within the final prayer bead, Qian Yun felt as though his entire being had been sublimated where he stood.

Light and comfortable.

The three Buddhist sutras were Deliverance of Humans, Deliverance of Demons, and Deliverance of Devils. Activating them required immense spiritual power.

Unfortunately, that unlucky farmer had been unable to use them and had even been misunderstood and grievously wounded by the monk.

In gratitude for his kindness, Qian Yun buried him deep beneath the sand.

Next, Qian Yun lay beside the well to rest. Yesterday, he had fought and taken a beating; healing his wounds alone was not enough for him to recover.

The next day, at noon.

Qian Yun woke from hunger and, after quickly eating and drinking, began studying the remaining nine prayer beads.

Qian Yun felt that this type of seal was quite good. It could tame ordinary beasts into his subordinates and even allow them to share thoughts.

However, it seemed somewhat imperfect, so he took out Bula's sealing records and began leafing through them.

Most of Bula's sealing techniques concerned cellular parasitism. Before Qian Yun knew it, half a month had passed in his research.

Fortunately, he had enough food on him—enough that he could not finish it even in several centuries.

That day, Qian Yun inscribed the improved sealing technique onto his abdomen and even set up a whole set in his brain, ensuring that even an A-rank Memory Reading Technique could never uncover his secrets.

Next, he needed to return to Konoha Village. He certainly could not remain in the desert forever.

Keeping a low profile and developing cautiously was the proper path.

He sensed the little lizard's location. Without it leading the way, he could not get home unless he caught another one.

Qian Yun was suddenly stunned. At some point, his sensory ability had surged to a range of a hundred li, and he could even sense three meters beneath the sand.

The little lizard was being pursued by a group of red scorpions. Qian Yun hurriedly used Sand Release to reach the surface.

This time, it seemed much easier, as though there were no obstacles at all when he mobilized his chakra.

Was it the Buddhist sutras' doing?

Qian Yun sprinted forward. Up ahead, the little lizard had already been surrounded by the red scorpions.

Wind Release, Wind Cleansing Technique!

Qian Yun cast the technique from far away. He had only wanted to try it, yet it actually succeeded.

The little lizard had been saved and immediately scampered over.

Qian Yun grabbed it and tossed it into the sealing space, where the little lizard immediately sent him its thoughts.

It said that it had wanted to hunt, and that eating red scorpions could make it stronger—even make Qian Yun stronger.

Qian Yun was dumbfounded, so he released the little lizard again.

He told it to leave and not to casually provoke group-dwelling creatures in the future, or no one would save it next time.

Yet the little lizard did not leave. It anxiously circled in place, sending fragmented thoughts.

The general meaning was that it begged Qian Yun to trust it. It guaranteed that eating red scorpions would make them stronger.

Qian Yun sighed, then used the Body Flicker Technique to catch several red scorpions. Only after killing them did he toss them to the little lizard.

Qian Yun was about to leave, but the little lizard chased after him and once again asked him to trust it.

Qian Yun blinked, then, as if possessed, took out pots, bowls, and utensils.

Wasn't it just eating desert red scorpions?

At worst, he would get poisoned. Could a medical ninja like him really be stumped by such a little toxin?

He poured in oil, slowly pan-fried them, sprinkled on seasonings, closed his eyes, and tossed one into his mouth.

Crunch! Crunch!

As Qian Yun chewed, he gradually felt his tongue go numb.

He had guessed correctly. Desert red scorpions were poisonous, and their venom was rather potent.

Qian Yun said to the little lizard, "I ate one, and I'm already poisoned. Now do you believe it can't make me stronger?"

But the little lizard sent him a thought, saying that it could detoxify him, though it had to enter Qian Yun's stomach.

The sealing space?

He might as well open a free sealing gate for it, allowing it to enter and leave whenever it wished.

The little lizard entered the sealing space and immediately began exhaling and inhaling poisonous mist.

Well, so that was how it detoxified poison. He had truly learned something new.

Qian Yun tried adjusting his breathing, synchronizing its rhythm with the little lizard's.

It had only been an attempt, but he was astonished to discover that the toxins in his body were being absorbed.

It was similar to absorbing protein. Even trace toxins that had accumulated in his body from long ago were being absorbed.

He really had become stronger, and he felt more alert as well.

So the little lizard had not lied. It simply had not understood the principle itself.

He stood up and tried using Sand Release again. It was exceptionally easy this time, though he could not sustain it for long.

He clenched his fist. His strength had clearly increased, and his body felt extraordinarily light.

He had decided. He would improve himself first, then return to Konoha Village.

After packing up simply, he had the little lizard search for red scorpions.

However, the little lizard said there was no need to search. They had not moved away.

The little lizard began racing across the sand, looking extremely excited.

Qian Yun followed. About half an hour later, he discovered in horror that a terrifying aura was lurking within the sea of sand ahead.

Before Qian Yun could tell the little lizard to stop, the little fellow somehow provoked the scorpion swarm, and a tide of tiny scorpions came sweeping toward them.

The little lizard was fleeing for its life again. Qian Yun cursed, "You idiot! You provoked so many at once—how are you supposed to eat them all?"

Chirp! Chirp!

The little lizard cried out without slowing down. The way it ran was truly strange.

"Store them?"

Qian Yun thought as he ran. It did not seem impossible. He could even raise a batch of red scorpions.

He took a wooden barrel from a sealing scroll, dumped out the soil inside, and then activated the Insect-Attracting Curse Seal.

It worked!

It was just a pity about that batch of golden-edged ground beetles.

Watching the red scorpions surge into the barrel like a tide, Qian Yun hurriedly sealed away a batch, or they would soon overflow.

While Qian Yun was busy, the terrifying aura beneath the sand ahead suddenly erupted.

Boom!

A super scorpion king as large as a tailed beast burst out of the sand. Qian Yun was ready to turn tail and run, but the scorpion king instead sprinted off in another direction.

It looked rather like it was rushing to reincarnate.

The smaller scorpions became somewhat chaotic. Some raced after the scorpion king, while others burrowed into the sand.

Only a small portion continued crawling into the wooden barrel.

What was going on?

Was the scorpion king going to fight some natural enemy of equal rank?

Go take a look!

Qian Yun packed up quickly and immediately followed the scorpion king in secret.

They said curiosity killed the cat. If Qian Yun had known what lay ahead, he would never have followed.

The path the scorpion king crawled over was intensely hot and carried a strange scent.

Qian Yun felt that his sense of smell had become much sharper.

Before long, Qian Yun stopped.

Boom! Boom!

The scorpion king was fighting a ninja, and the commotion was immense.

A triangular magnet spun through the air as another enormous black magnetic cube came crashing down.

Rumble!

The scorpion king was smashed into the sand, but in the next instant, it whipped its tail, sending the enormous magnetic block flying far away.

That strength truly rivaled a tailed beast.

The Third Kazekage puppet was fighting, but Qian Yun could not find Sasori of the Red Sand anywhere.

He could not even sense the aura of a living person.

This was bad!

Qian Yun fled at once. Sasori of the Red Sand had turned himself into a puppet—how could he still have the aura of a living person?

Yet it was already too late.

Swish, swish, swish...

An iron sand rain suddenly shot in from all around, an attack with no blind spots.