A cold moon hung high, and a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere permeated the Shikkotsu Forest. Inside Tsubasa's alchemy room, the rising mist churned the moonlight into a crimson hue, making even the air seem thick and sticky. Tsubasa stood before the alchemy furnace, his fingers tightly gripping the jade pestle, his knuckles white, his eyes fixed intently on the flesh and blood of the Katsuyu Sage immortal writhing within. The flesh and blood slowly transformed in the furnace fire, emitting a strange light that cast an eerie glow over the entire alchemy room.
The conversation between the Katsuyu Sage before his reincarnation echoed in Tsubasa's ears again. Those words seemed to still resonate in his ears, as clear as if they had happened yesterday.
It was a bright and sunny day. The enormous, mountain-like body of the Katsuyu Sage was perched in the center of the Shikkotsu Forest. His body shimmered with an eerie glow, as if countless Xingchen were embedded in it, radiating a soft and mysterious light. Above him, the tiny Tsubasa stood with his hands behind his back, and the two were having a peculiar conversation.
" Tsubasa!" The gentle voice of the Katsuyu Sage shook the surrounding clouds. "After I reincarnate, my body will be yours to refine pills! Just look at my body, as large as a mountain range, how many pills can I refine?"
Tsubasa raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face, "With such a large body, if you were to refine it at full power, you'd probably be able to refine tens of thousands of pills. But, I must say, Katsuyu Sage, it's really strange that you're discussing with me how to refine your own body into pills!"
The Katsuyu Sage's massive body trembled, emitting a clear laugh. "What's so special about that! Didn't I cut off a few pieces of skin for you to refine last time? The Ten Thousand Talisman Demon-Sealing Scroll you refined is such a useful magic weapon! Sometimes I have to admire you; how do you know everything? Giving the Ten Thousand Talisman Demon-Sealing Scroll to my Mirai mother is like giving Mirai a gift in advance. Besides, in the Mirai, all the pills and magic weapons refined from my physical body will be distributed by me; they'll all be mine, so you can't keep them for yourself!"
Tsubasa shook his head helplessly and laughed, "It's all yours, no one's going to take it from you. But speaking of which, what kind of elixir do you plan to refine your body into?"
The Katsuyu Sage pondered for a moment, the luster on his body flickering as if he were contemplating some profound question, "Hmm... Based on the knowledge I've learned from you over the years, my flesh and blood contain boundless vitality and power. There are two types of pills that would be best if refined from them. One is a life-saving pill that can bring the dead back to life and rebuild bones and muscles! The second is a pill that enhances the speed of Immortal Cultivation —the kind that allows one to break through several realms with just one pill. I can even give some to my younger brothers later! I'll be the eldest son or daughter of your Ten Family in the Mirai."
Tsubasa laughed heartily, "Your idea is truly unique—to give your own flesh and blood to your younger siblings. But the pills you requested are practically heaven-defying treasures! Are you really that confident I can refine them?"
The Katsuyu Sage said, "You are the smartest person I have ever met. There is nothing that can stump you. You can even refine my skin into a magical artifact. And that evolved bone inside my body!"
A sly glint flashed in the Katsuyu Sage's eyes as he said, "Even bones shouldn't be wasted! These bones of mine are imbued with Immortal Power, making them incredibly hard, comparable to top-grade weapon-forging materials. You forge them into a set of armor and magical artifacts, and once I wear it, I'll be impervious to swords and spears, and immune to water and fire! In future battles, who can harm me just by standing there? Hahaha..."
Tsubasa laughed, "You really know how to manage your body perfectly! What about your skin? The skin you cut off for me last time was only one-thousandth of your own. I've crafted magical treasures like the Ten Thousand Talisman Demon-Sealing Scroll Diagram. What are you planning to do with it this time?"
The Katsuyu Sage twisted its massive body and said excitedly, "This time, I'm going to refine my skin into a magical artifact that can change shape at will! Normally, I'll wear it as a cloak, but in crucial moments, it can transform into a shield to block enemy attacks; it can also become a rope to bind those fools! Most importantly, this artifact must be able to absorb the enemy's power and then reflect it back—just thinking about it is exciting! The rest is up to you."
Tsubasa clapped his hands and laughed, "Your idea is novel, but refining such a magic weapon is no easy task. Moreover, you've arranged your body so meticulously; aren't you afraid that after reincarnation, seeing your body transformed into a pile of pills and magic weapons will make you feel uneasy?"
The Katsuyu Sage waved his hand dismissively. "What's there to be bothered about? I'm just making the most of these resources! After I reincarnate, my strength won't have recovered yet. With these pills and magic treasures by my side, I can grow up quickly. Who would dare to bully me then? Besides, once my strength is restored, I can find more materials to refine even better ones, can't I?"
As he spoke, the Katsuyu Sage's eyes filled with longing. "I can already imagine my wonderful life after I'm reincarnated as a human. Wielding magical artifacts crafted from my own skin, consuming elixirs made from my own body, I'll sweep across the entire Shinobi World, beating all those who oppose me to a pulp! At that time, I'll be the coolest guy in the Shinobi World!"
Looking at the Tsubasa Katsuyu Sage's spirited appearance, Tianyi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Alright, keep dreaming. However, refining pills and magic weapons requires time and effort. How about giving me some compensation for my hard work?"
The Katsuyu Sage snorted, "I'm your first child, why would I need a fee? What's yours will be mine, and what's mine will still be mine. You'd better refine it carefully. If you dare to slack off, you'll be in for a world of hurt when I reincarnate!"
"Alright, alright, I wouldn't dare slack off," Tsubasa replied with a smile. "However, I've almost finished preparing for your reincarnation. You'd better be mentally prepared, or you'll be caught off guard. This is my first time using this technique, so you can't resist at all, or it will endanger your mother's and your own lives."
The massive body of the Katsuyu Sage trembled slightly, a hint of solemnity flashing in its eyes. "I've made sufficient preparations for reincarnation. However, I don't know what variables might arise, and I can't guarantee everything will go smoothly. But regardless, I must give it a try!"
Tsubasa patted the Katsuyu Sage's "arm" (if that enormous limb could even be called an arm), reassuringly saying, "Don't worry, with my abilities, there's definitely no problem. Just surrender yourself completely to me and don't resist in any way, and you'll surely succeed. I've explained the entire reincarnation process to you. I've also told you about my Immortal Cultivation methods. If you're conscious, you can try it, but you must be very careful. And it will be very painful; if you're afraid of pain, you can give up. Besides, I'll be here to refine pills and magical treasures for you. When you return from your reincarnation, your strength will definitely increase greatly!"
The Katsuyu Sage nodded, his eyes rekindling with fighting spirit. "That's right! After I reincarnate, I'll take these elixirs and magical treasures, along with a bunch of underlings. Just as you said, I will make sure the sky can no longer obscure my vision, the earth can no longer bury my body, all living beings know my will, I will make the heavens..."
Tsubasa quickly stopped him, saying, "Stop. Save all those stories for when you're trying to show off. It's a bit childish to tell them to me."
The Katsuyu Sage said, "I'm going to carve out a vast territory in this world just like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven you mentioned! Anyone who dares to block my way, I'll smash them with my magic weapons, enhance my strength with my elixirs, and then beat them to a pulp!"
Tsubasa burst into laughter at the Katsuyu Sage's boastful words. "Alright, alright, I'll be watching. But for now, you should first adjust your mindset regarding reincarnation."
"That's natural!" The enormous body of the Katsuyu Sage slowly writhed.
"I wonder what it will look like after it's born. I'm really looking forward to it!" Tsubasa thought of the words the Katsuyu Sage had spoken before its death, shook his head slightly, but a smile remained on his lips. He turned and walked into the alchemy room to begin refining the Katsuyu Sage's enormous body into pills...