That faint yet incredibly tenacious pulse from deep within the leylines was like a drowning man's last lifeline, instantly rekindling Ling's spirit just as despair threatened to engulf it. Deep beneath this island, thoroughly corrupted by the Sacred Lord's will and dark energy, a trace of pure, natural vitality belonging to the world itself still remained?!
The discovery was so astonishing that Ling almost suspected it was an illusory trap created by the Sacred Lord's will. Yet the information returned by Water Mirror Insight into Principle was unmistakably clear-the pulse was faint, but it carried a lucid rhythm brimming with life, utterly at odds with the surrounding dark energy, like a crystal refusing to yield within a filthy mire.
"I have to... seize it!" Resolve flashed in Ling's eyes. He knew this might be their only chance to break the deadlock!
He stopped trying to contend head-on with the vast dark energy within the valley. Instead, he drew his entire focus and his scant remaining senjutsu chakra into the finest of threads, carefully following that faint pulse toward the depths of the leylines!
It was an extremely dangerous process. His consciousness seemed to struggle through a viscous, dark swamp, surrounded by the lingering chill of the Sacred Lord's will and the greedy sucking sounds of the God Tree remnants. One careless move could leave his mind utterly corrupted or devoured.
"Ling?!" Naruto sensed Ling's presence suddenly grow faint and elusive. Narrowly dodging the Acid Giant Ape's lunge, he called out anxiously.
"Don't disturb him!" Gaara said gravely, driving his sand even harder against the false tailed beasts' frenzied attacks to buy Ling time. He did not understand what Ling was doing, but he trusted his companion's judgment.
Zetsu also noticed the change in Ling. A flicker of puzzlement crossed his