After becoming familiar with the Katsuyu Sage, Tsubasa learned that the faint barrier at the edge of the Shikkotsu Forest concealed a hidden past. That Tenten and the Katsuyu Sage were chatting when they mentioned the barrier. Suddenly, the Immortal spoke slowly about the past, its voice filled with nostalgia, as if recalling an old friend.
"When Asura first arrived at Shikkotsu Forest, he was radiating murderous intent. The air around him buzzed as soon as he released his Chakra," the Katsuyu Sage recalled, his wrinkles trembling slightly. "The moment he saw me, he immediately assumed a fighting stance, his hands Hand Seals so fast they seemed to dance, unleashing a barrage of Ninjutsu upon me. I thought I'd run into a troublemaker, but how could I let someone bully me on my doorstep? So I immediately prepared to fight."
The fight was fierce and chaotic; the trees of the Shikkotsu Forest were overturned by the shockwaves, and stones were shattered into dust. But as the fight progressed, the Katsuyu Sage noticed something amiss. "This human brat is strong, but he's far inferior to me. But I'm also having doubts; his eyes don't seem to be seeking revenge, but rather like he's here to slay demons. It would be a waste to kill him, so I held back." When both sides were panting heavily, Asura suddenly stopped his attacks. He must have realized I didn't intend to kill him, so he took the initiative to sit down and talk.
It was only through their conversation that he learned Asura was actually a kind person. Seeing this desolate place, he came to slay demons and monsters. During their conversation, he realized that although the Katsuyu Sage meant no harm, the Kamui Kamui emitted during cultivation was too powerful, making it impossible for any animal within a hundred miles to survive. The ground was littered with bones, and over time, this place became the infamous " Shikkotsu Forest." Asura couldn't bear to see living beings suffer, so he gathered the top experts of the Ninshu and spent seven days and seven nights setting up this barrier.
"This barrier is quite elaborate," the Katsuyu Sage explained to me enthusiastically. "It can both prevent unsuspecting people from accidentally wandering in and getting themselves killed, and also keep me from going out and causing trouble. Asura even left a small opening so I can easily contact the outside world." It paused, its tone full of emotion, "Later, he signed a contract scroll with me, and from then on, whenever someone summons me, I go to help."
After hearing this story, Tsubasa remembered something else and couldn't help but ask, "How did your Spiritual Qi become liquid? In my previous life's Immortal Cultivation, this would be considered the Foundation Establishment Stage, but your physique doesn't look like that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage!"
The Katsuyu Sage chuckled twice, a string of slimy bubbles rising from his body. "This all goes back to a red pearl I ate when I was young. Thousands of years ago, when I had just reached the peak of Spiritual Qi cultivation, Spiritual Qi was still gaseous, similar to that of you human cultivators. One day, I was wandering around a cave when I found a pearl that emitted a faint red light. I thought it looked fun, so I swallowed it."
Who could have imagined that swallowing it would have such an impact? The moment the bead entered its stomach, the Katsuyu Sage felt its spiritual Spiritual Qi boiling over, bubbling and transforming. When it opened its eyes again, the gaseous spiritual Spiritual Qi had condensed into a liquid state, flowing smoothly throughout its body. "After the Spiritual Qi energy became liquid, I discovered that my body could grow larger and hold more energy," it said, shaking its enormous body. "So I changed my cultivation path, using all the excess energy to grow bigger. As a result, I grew larger and larger until the cave couldn't contain me anymore, so I had to move outside."
However, as its size increased dramatically, the oppressive aura it exuded became increasingly terrifying. Any unsuspecting animal that stepped into the Shikkotsu Forest would be killed by its oppressive aura. It wasn't until the appearance of Asura that this period of "forbidden zone for life" came to an end.
"Speaking of which, I have to thank Asura," the Katsuyu Sage said with emotion. "If it weren't for him, I don't know how many lives I would have accidentally harmed. This barrier is both a cage that confines me and a shield that protects me."
Listening to these stories, Tsubasa gazed at the faintly visible barrier at the edge of the Shikkotsu Forest and suddenly felt that it was no longer just a protective barrier, but more like a friendship that transcended time and space, witnessing the kindness of the Asura and protecting the innocence of the Katsuyu Sage.
Tsubasa then talked to the Katsuyu Sage about his cultivation, and only then did he realize that the Katsuyu Sage had many hidden secrets. Take the first night of each month, for example, that was its unwavering cultivation time. As soon as it got dark, the Katsuyu Sage, which was originally slowly wriggling, suddenly became quiet, and lay on the ground like a mountain to begin "exerting its power".
When Tsubasa first encountered it, he was startled. Its body was covered in a slimy substance that glowed with a faint blue light. When it released its spiritual power, it looked like countless tiny insects were scurrying around in the air. Later, he realized that it was absorbing the Yin energy. It was said that its large body was supported entirely by this spiritual power; otherwise, it would have fallen apart long ago. After each cultivation session, even the patterns on its antennae became brighter. Tsubasa guessed that this was similar to how people feel refreshed and invigorated after practicing martial arts.
However, on the night of the full moon, the Katsuyu Sage changed its appearance again. Under the moonlight, its entire body became translucent, and it released its spiritual power. It said that moonlight could nourish the soul, and the more one absorbed, the clearer one's spiritual awareness would become. Once, I secretly squatted down next to it and watched, and wow, the moonlight falling on it was like being sucked into Uzumaki, all of it seeping under its skin.
The most interesting thing, however, is the spot where it lies every day— Chakra Metal mine. It gathers the surrounding energy of heaven and earth. The Katsuyu Sage was born in Chakra Metal mine and learned to absorb the Natural Energy from birth. A thin mist always floats around the mine, occasionally emitting a faint glow. It says this is the place with the most abundant energy of heaven and earth; lying here is like soaking in a hot spring, helping it grow stronger.
Tsubasa gradually figured it out: cultivate spiritual power on the first day of the lunar month, nourish the soul on the fifteenth, and absorb Natural Energy to grow the body—all three are indispensable. Once, I jokingly called it the " Katsuyu Divine Art," which made it laugh so hard it trembled like an earthquake. Now, thinking about it, no wonder the Katsuyu Sage could grow so large; it must have its own cultivation method. However, the Katsuyu Sage doesn't seem to be able to form Golden Core. According to the Immortal Cultivation theory, one gathers all the Spiritual Liquid in the body to form Golden Core. Its cultivation method is clearly aimed at growing bigger. Later, when I'm stronger, I'll have to go to Ryūchi Cave or Mount Myōboku to inquire and ask for the methods of transformation and Core Formation!
In the tranquil forests of Shikkotsu Forest, Tsubasa was engrossed in studying an ancient medical text in his villa. Sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, illuminating his focused face. On the table beside him lay various oddly shaped medicinal herbs, each emitting a unique fragrance.
Tsubasa possessed an astonishing memory; he could memorize complex and obscure pharmaceutical theories after just one glance. However, he was well aware of the vast gap between theory and practice. Therefore, after mastering the theoretical knowledge, he eagerly threw himself into pharmaceutical practice.
He carefully picked up a blood-red herb shaped like a heart; this was the " Crimson Heart Grass," unique to the Shikkotsu Forest, possessing powerful blood-nourishing properties. Holding a delicate jade knife, Tsubasa skillfully sliced Crimson Heart Grass into thin slices, each almost uniform in thickness, demonstrating his exquisite knife skills. He then placed the sliced herbs into an ancient alchemy furnace, beneath which blue flames danced gently, the temperature precisely controlled by him.
"If the temperature is any higher, the medicinal effects of this Crimson Heart Grass will be destroyed; if it's too low, its medicinal power cannot be fully activated," Tsubasa muttered to himself, his eyes revealing focus and determination.
While making medicine, Tsubasa did not neglect his studies in iron forging. Outside the stone house, a simple iron forging furnace was burning fiercely, and various ores were placed beside it. Tsubasa picked up a piece of dark and shiny ore, which the Katsuyu Sage had searched for in the Shikkotsu Forest.
He placed the ore into the forge, and after it heated up to a red-hot temperature, he began to forge it with a huge iron hammer. The hammer struck the iron blank, producing a crisp sound, and sparks flew with each strike. Tsubasa's arm muscles were taut, but his movements did not falter in the slightest.
"Forging iron requires not only controlling strength, but also skill and patience. Every forging is to give the weapon a soul." Tsubasa thought about the contents of the book, and swung the iron hammer in his hand, gradually shaping the iron blank into a crescent-shaped scimitar.
The Katsuyu Sage comes to the villa every day, bringing new medicinal herbs and ores. It also tests the pills refined by Tsubasa and the weapons forged. Its body can split and contains enormous energy, capable of withstanding the potency of various pills and the power of weapons.
"Not bad, the efficacy of this Rejuvenation Pill is much better than the last one," the Katsuyu Sage said approvingly after tasting one of the pills.
"It's not perfect yet; I need to continue improving." Tsubasa wasn't satisfied with the status quo; his eyes gleamed with a pursuit of excellence.