"Teacher Sarutobi is still in his prime. He can remain Hokage for at least another ten or twenty years. Isn't it too early to discuss this?" Orochimaru did not know what Ye Feng meant by those words either, so he gave a vague reply.
"Once you have a long life ahead of you, haven't you thought about what you'll do?"
"My old dream was to learn every ninjutsu in the Shinobi World. Now my dream is immortality, and eventually to grasp the truths of this world."
Ye Feng deliberately gave a soft laugh, showing a disdainful expression before immediately putting it away and looking indifferent. Though the change was brief, Ye Feng was certain Orochimaru had seen it.
"You seem to disapprove of my dream, Ye Feng?"
"It's not that I disapprove of your dream. It's just that, for you... hehe." Ye Feng kept him in suspense too, stopping there without saying more.
"Why do you see me that way, Ye Feng? I hope you'll explain." When Ye Feng did not continue, Orochimaru grew curious about the reason and urged him to go on.
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Ye Feng began his spiel.
"Lord Orochimaru, you want to use immortality to become someone like the First Hokage, reach the pinnacle of this world, and explore its mysteries. Am I right?"
Orochimaru nodded slightly at Ye Feng's words.
"Then have you ever wondered how chakra came into existence? What was the Shinobi World like before chakra appeared? And what lies beyond the Shinobi World?" Ye Feng asked a whole string of questions.
Those questions left Orochimaru bewildered. He had always studied the Shinobi World's ninjutsu and the structure of the human body, but had never considered the origins of chakra or what lay beyond the Shinobi World. After all, everyone now believed that chakra was refined from physical and spiritual energy. As for what lay beyond the Shinobi World, no one could even fly up there. Even ninja or machines capable of flight could only reach a certain altitude and go no higher.
"Do you know the answers to those questions, Ye Feng?"
Ye Feng thought to himself, You really do catch on. You came knocking yourself, so I won't hold back.
"Our Shinobi World is only a tiny part of this vast universe. It could even be considered no more than a grain of sand. My dream is to leave the Shinobi World, see other worlds, experience different worlds, and even transcend this universe to see a higher universe." Ye Feng stood on his chair, posing as though he were about to fly into the sky, while thinking, How do you like this grand promise I'm dangling before you? Tempting, isn't it?
Orochimaru was shocked by Ye Feng's words. There are more worlds beyond the Shinobi World? Even higher worlds? Orochimaru believed there might be other worlds beyond the Shinobi World, but that the Shinobi World was merely a grain of sand in the universe, and that even higher worlds existed-though shaken, he could not believe it.
"But you seem to know quite a lot, Ye Feng. This isn't something a four- or five-year-old child should know. Don't you intend to explain? Or does the soul in that body of yours belong to someone else?" Orochimaru stared at Ye Feng, his eyes full of inquiry and curiosity.
Oh no, I got carried away and forgot to hide it. Orochimaru even managed to guess that! I can't let him find out. I need an excuse, Ye Feng thought anxiously.
"Lord Orochimaru, you should know that I previously explained to Uchiha Fugaku that I had a dream and awakened my Sharingan, but couldn't remember what I dreamed about. In truth, the scenes from that dream have remained deeply etched in my mind. It was the universe, boundless and filled with countless stars. I witnessed a supreme powerhouse break through the void and ascend to another universe. I can even feel a stream of energy in the universe constantly pouring into my body. That is also why my body is so powerful, and my goal is to ascend just like that powerhouse." Ye Feng hastily made up a half-true, half-false explanation, unsure whether it would suffice to brush the matter aside, then continued.
"And I greatly value your character and your talent for research, Lord Orochimaru. If possible, I'd like to bring you along to the pinnacle of the universe, and even break through the void and ascend together."
"Your words are certainly immensely tempting, Ye Feng, but they're too astounding and fantastical to verify. Besides, no one in the Shinobi World can fly beyond it to confirm whether your dream was real." Orochimaru remained calm, not letting himself be carried away by the vast world Ye Feng described.
"Just because others can't do it doesn't mean I can't. Orochimaru, why don't you sense what this is?" Ye Feng pressed on, wanting to get Orochimaru on board even if it meant exposing some secrets. As he spoke, he began drawing the surrounding natural energy toward himself, but did not refine or absorb it, merely gathering it around his body.
Orochimaru looked astonished. He could not train in Sage Mode, but that did not mean he failed to recognize natural energy. Ryūchi Cave and the White Snake Sage were surrounded by abundant natural energy. Naturally, he could sense the considerable amount gathered around Ye Feng, and that Ye Feng could control it, gathering it without letting it enter his body.
At the sight, Orochimaru began to believe Ye Feng's words to some extent.
"You truly are a heaven-gifted genius, a man chosen by fate, Ye Feng. With such an ability, your future is certainly promising," Orochimaru told Ye Feng solemnly.
"My methods are naturally different from the abilities of the Shinobi World. As long as you're willing, Lord Orochimaru, you can master abilities like these too."
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Ye Feng felt that Orochimaru had gained some trust in him, and immediately offered a benefit to entice him.
"You're actually willing to teach me such a method, Ye Feng?" Orochimaru had not expected Ye Feng to be willing to share even this method. It seemed he was entirely sincere.
"This is an unknown path, and I'm slowly feeling my way along it too. I believe that with your help, Lord Orochimaru, this path will be much smoother. One day, we'll be able to stand at the pinnacle of this universe."
Ye Feng and Orochimaru exchanged a smile, seemingly full of hopes for the future.
In truth, Ye Feng was not simply fooling Orochimaru. When the time truly came for Ye Feng to ascend, he would not mind leaving Orochimaru an opportunity to ascend as well. It was just that the Tribulation Transcendence Stage was far too perilous-not even one in ten thousand survived.
Before you continue