[Red Skill Listing 'Golden Body Immortal Attire' can fuse with Red Skill Listing 'Sage Transformation'. Initiate fusion?]
"Yes."
[Fusion complete. Congratulations, Master! You've obtained the Red Skill Listing 'Natural Sage Body'.]
[Red Skill Listing 'Natural Sage Body' is generating a synergistic effect on Purple-Tier Trait 'Wood Release Inheritor', significantly enhancing its effects. Upgraded to Red Skill Listing 'Wood Release Jinchuriki'.]
BOOM!
The aura of Sage Chakra around Kei Yamanaka flared up, nearly doubling in intensity, glowing in vivid cyan that now shone even brighter than before.
His skin, muscles, meridians, bones, and internal organs—all were being refined and cleansed by Sage Art chakra.
The two small dragon horns formed purely from concentrated Sage Art chakra on his forehead grew slightly longer.
The semi-transparent chakra constructs swirling around him—previously resembling neither fully dragon nor snake—had transformed into majestic, awe-inspiring dragons, fierce and menacing.
"I'll head back and test my close-combat skills against Tsunade!"
Feeling his overall strength and physique once again comprehensively enhanced, Kei Yamanaka clenched his fist slightly.
Although due to Sage Mode not being a permanent state of power, this fusion didn't trigger a direct advancement.
But he could feel it—he was on the verge of breaking through the limits of Red Skill Listings!
Moreover, this seemed like a completely different path from that of the Otsutsuki Clan!
As for [Wood Release Jinchuriki], building upon the immense natural energy inherent in Sage Chakra, then incorporating Yang Release Chakra Nature Transformation into the original Kekkei Genkai which had itself been constructed from Earth and Water Chakra Nature Transformations…
This… wasn't this essentially a Kekkei Tota?!
Hashirama Senju, you bald-faced melon head, everyone thought you were just using a Kekkei Genkai, but you actually wielded Bloodline Explosion!
What a cheat...
No wonder Lord Madara, who was Indra's reincarnation, even with his Eternal Mangekyō activated, still got utterly crushed by you!
Are these even comparable at all?!
Tama no Hime, Ichikishima no Hime, and Tatsumi no Hime flew up from beneath the long staircase of the palace as soon as they sensed the fluctuation in Natural Energy.
They looked toward the White Snake Sage, who had sat up straight from her reclining position, her expression serious.
And toward Kei Yamanaka, whose entire body brimmed with powerful Sage Chakra and vast life energy, exuding such an overwhelming presence that he hardly seemed human anymore.
The three Hebihimes swallowed hard.
With thousands of years of Sage Art cultivation—
How could they not see that this human wasn't simply receiving injected Sage energy from the White Snake Sage?
A Sage Mode like this…
It was even purer—and more terrifying—than the orthodox Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave!
But…
How was this possible?!
Facing the gazes of the three snake goddesses, the White Snake Sage gave a slight shake of her head.
She didn't understand either, but one thing she knew for sure—
This human was definitely beyond her ability to control!
He had simply arrived at Ryuchi Cave—a place brimming with Natural Energy—met them—the Sage cultivators—and mastered a flawless Sage Mode without any instruction.
Even the Sage of Six Paths himself couldn't have done any better!
"What a pity..."
The White Snake Sage muttered, then lazily leaned back onto his reclining couch with an air of boredom.
To have such a rare talent and special constitution,
yet not become a vessel for its power or a delicious meal—
watching helplessly as it slips away?
Could there be anything more maddening than that?
Kei Yamanaka slowly steadied the raging energy inside him and exited Sage Mode.
As he sensed traces of Sage Chakra techniques passed down through Ryuchi Cave surface in his mind, he slightly raised his eyebrows.
He began to understand why the White Snake Sage had infused its own lineage and Sage Chakra into its summoners.
[One-Handed Seals]
[Heart Transmission Technique]
Using the hidden [Memory Reading Jutsu], he probed the White Snake Sage's surface thoughts and awareness.
"Accelerate their learning of senjutsu, grant the summoner a stronger physique and snake-specific talents, improve their control over sage energy and expand its limits—finally harvesting them once they've grown strong?"
Kei Yamanaka looked toward the White Snake Sage lounging on the couch.
"...Isn't the greatest desire of humans power itself? Teaching you senjutsu and giving you power—that's a fair trade."
A flicker of sharpness flashed through the White Snake Sage's eyes.
It did not resist this sudden mental connection.
It was simply surprised. This fellow in front of him actually knew the secret truths of Ryuchi Cave's Sage Art.
Even the Sage of Six Paths could never achieve something like this!
"Hmm, makes sense. How many summoners have you eaten?"
"Insignificant beings consumed by their greed for power—who keeps count?"
"People who've mastered Sage Mode?"
"Just absorb their sage energy after death—body and soul alike. Decaying, lifeless flesh without vitality—what's appetizing about that? They're all buried outside."
"...Was the Sage of Six Paths doing the same thing too?"
"I don't know."
The White Snake Sage glanced at Kei Yamanaka in surprise.
It hadn't expected such a question at all.
"Do you really care so much about the terms of the contract?"
Looking at the White Snake Sage with an odd expression, Kei didn't press further about the Sage of Six Paths.
Although under normal circumstances, the Summoning Contract usually prevents summoned beasts from directly attacking their summoners.
But...
Are you truly just lending power and collecting interest?
Only consuming failed ones, and only absorbing their cultivated strength after death?
So strict about the rules here in Ryuchi Cave?
"Transmitting power requires order. Once certain things are destroyed, there's no turning back."
The White Snake Sage's gaze became distant.
Its thoughts flickered with images of summoning beast clans long vanished into history.
Kei nodded slightly.
All who come to Ryuchi Cave seek power.
The knowledge belongs to Ryuchi Cave—it's their right to choose whether to share it, and how.
There's no law that says simply arriving here obliges them to teach you.
Although infusing his own bloodline and Sage Chakra to forcibly accelerate the cultivation process raises the risk of failure,
the rewards are also far greater than normal training methods used by ordinary individuals.
As for having all that painstakingly cultivated power siphoned away after death—
Well, once someone's already dead,
is there really any difference between bringing Chakra to the Pure Land and arriving completely drained of Chakra?
Did they really think everyone was like Ashura or Indra, able to endlessly reincarnate by clinging to their will through Chakra?
The White Snake Sage's approach—
for a snake that follows jungle law, his behavior was surprisingly restrained.
Other than failing to explain beforehand.
Could there really be anything else worth complaining about?
"Will I be able to summon you guys for help in the future?"
Kei Yamanaka abandoned his earlier idea of sparring with the White Snake Sage and turned to the three Hebihimes standing off to the side.
"Hehe~ Of course you can! We sisters haven't gotten out much lately—we're itching to see the outside world again!"
Tatsumi no Hime spoke first, getting ahead of her two sisters.
Having lived for over a thousand years, she wasn't foolish—how could she miss the White Snake Sage's demeanor?
That man before them was someone they simply couldn't afford to provoke!
Still…
that Chakra felt like a blazing sun—radiating Natural Energy and a vibrant life force. It smelled absolutely intoxicating!
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