Xia Li looked at the three figures before him, wiped his tears, and checked again—just to be sure he wasn't mistaken.
He could accept the Great Toad Sage being here, but why were the White Snake Sage and the Slug Sage here as well? Wasn't this Mount Myoboku?!
Chapter 152: True Immortality
"Kid, you're awake. Let me ask you—are you willing to join Ryuchi Cave?" the White Snake Sage asked immediately after Xia Li woke up.
"Huh?"
Xia Li blinked, then instinctively glanced toward the Great Toad Sage.
Although he wasn't particularly familiar with Gamamaru, compared to the White Snake Sage and the Slug Sage, he at least felt like a familiar presence.
"Xia Li, come with me to the main hall. I know you have many questions—we'll talk there," the Great Toad Sage said, noticing his confusion.
"Alright."
Xia Li's heart tightened. He knew his earlier state was definitely not normal Sage Mode, and that gaze he felt was far from ordinary. He immediately agreed.
The three great sages led Xia Li toward the main hall. This time, even Fukasaku was stopped outside.
Clearly, what had happened to Xia Li was considered extremely confidential—even Fukasaku was not permitted to know.
Inside the hall, the White Snake Sage and Slug Sage were already present. The Great Toad Sage did not return to his throne.
"Xia Li, do you know how chakra is formed?" he asked.
"Hm?" Xia Li was surprised by the sudden question but answered honestly:
"Chakra is typically created by combining physical energy and spiritual energy through training."
The Great Toad Sage continued:
"Long ago, humans did not possess chakra. At the beginning of this world, the only energy that existed was natural energy."
"One day, a being known as the Divine Tree arrived. It absorbed natural energy and produced chakra."
"At first, chakra did not exist within living beings—until humans consumed the fruit of the Divine Tree."
"Later, as you know, the Sage of Six Paths distributed chakra to others. Since then, all beings have been able to generate chakra on their own."
Xia Li was shocked—but not entirely surprised. He knew this referred to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
At that moment, a thought crossed his mind. Could his earlier state be…?
The Great Toad Sage continued:
"Before chakra existed, beings in this world had already begun exploring the use of natural energy."
"Sage Mode?" Xia Li guessed.
The Great Toad Sage shook his head.
"Sage Mode only came into existence after chakra. It still relies on chakra, so it cannot be considered an independent system."
The White Snake Sage added coldly:
"To put it simply, that earlier path cannot be called 'sage arts.' Once mastered, one becomes a true immortal—not just temporarily entering a sage state."
"Do true immortals still exist? Can we still cultivate into one?" Xia Li asked.
The Great Toad Sage and White Snake Sage exchanged glances and sighed.
"In truth, no true immortal has ever been born. That realm is only something we theorized. At least before the Divine Tree arrived, no one reached it."
"Though we have not reached that level, we have sensed its power—so we know it exists. Unfortunately, once the Divine Tree appeared, the possibility of reaching it was cut off."
"Why?" Xia Li asked.
The White Snake Sage sneered.
"Because most of the world's natural energy has already been converted into chakra. What remains is insufficient to support the birth of a true immortal."
Xia Li fell silent.
"Kid, you probably understand what just happened to you, don't you?" the White Snake Sage continued.
"…I think I accidentally found a path toward immortality."
"Yes," the Great Toad Sage nodded.
"Even we were shocked when we realized you completed that transformation. Your state is completely different from anything after the Divine Tree's arrival."
"You may be the only one who has truly stepped onto that path."
"Then… is that why all three of you came here?" Xia Li asked.
"Hmph. Who else would bother with someone as weak as you?" the White Snake Sage scoffed.
The Great Toad Sage spoke more gently:
"That is one reason. There is another."
"…Because of that gaze?" Xia Li said, thinking quickly.
All three sages were startled—even the Slug Sage, who had been half-asleep.
The White Snake Sage sighed.
"Perhaps that is exactly why he could walk this path."
The Great Toad Sage nodded.
"That gaze… is the reason the other two came."
"Don't worry—the one who looked at you means no harm. Perhaps it was just curiosity. After all, this may be the first time such a being has seen someone walk this path."
Though he didn't name the person, Xia Li could guess—it was the Sage of Six Paths.
Realizing this, Xia Li was shaken. If such a being truly wanted to kill him, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Perhaps just a glance would be enough.
After thinking it through, Xia Li asked about his body being transformed by natural energy.
The three sages exchanged looks.
The Great Toad Sage answered:
"We are not certain. But we suspect that when beings first obtained chakra, their bodies were altered."
"Now that you've returned to the old path, your body may be reverting to its original state."
"However, this is only speculation."
"Child, continue walking this path," the White Snake Sage said.
"Even if it is a dead end, its height surpasses your imagination."
"Do you know Senju Hashirama?"
"Of course."
"If you walk this path, even if you fail at the final step, you may still reach his level."
Xia Li was stunned.
He had never imagined reaching the level of the First Hokage—and now he was being told it was possible.
He nodded, determination flashing in his eyes.
The White Snake Sage sneered.
"Humans… always so short-sighted."
Chapter 153: Danzo's Conspiracy
The White Snake Sage looked at Xia Li.
Though he called him short-sighted, Xia Li was the only one in the world walking this path—so he could not be allowed to make the wrong choice.
The White Snake Sage spat out a massive scroll and tossed it to Xia Li with his tail.
Xia Li caught it, stunned.
If he guessed correctly, this was the Ryuchi Cave summoning scroll—shouldn't Orochimaru have it?
"What? You're unwilling to sign?" the White Snake Sage's tone turned dangerous.
"That's not it. I just thought Orochimaru had this scroll," Xia Li replied, opening it—only to find it blank.
Realizing what it meant, he signed it with his blood.
"Hmph. Of course I gave you a new one," the White Snake Sage said.
Then, the Slug Sage produced another scroll—much smaller.
Xia Li signed that one as well.
After that, he had contracts with all three great sage regions.
"Xia Li, you've been here for seven days. It's time to return to Konoha," the Great Toad Sage said.
"Seven days?!" Xia Li was shocked.
He had completely lost track of time during the transformation.
"I'll take my leave then."
He used Flying Thunder God and disappeared.
After he left—
"Gamamaru, that child is in your care now. Make sure he does not return to the path of chakra. That path leads nowhere," the White Snake Sage said.
"I understand," the Great Toad Sage replied.
"If you fail, I will take him," the White Snake Sage added.
This time, the Great Toad Sage did not respond.
The Slug Sage finally spoke:
"I never thought such a being would appear. Perhaps the ninja world truly needs to change."
"It should have changed long ago," the White Snake Sage said coldly.
"Should we place all our hopes on him?" the Great Toad Sage asked.
"Do we have another choice?" the Slug Sage replied.
Silence fell.
They truly had no alternatives.
"What about that being? Are you sure he won't act?" the White Snake Sage asked.
"I'm not sure. And even if he does—can we stop him?" the Great Toad Sage said.
The White Snake Sage snorted and vanished.
The Slug Sage also disappeared.
After a moment, the Great Toad Sage summoned Fukasaku.
"Grandfather, what is it?" Fukasaku asked respectfully.
He had a feeling this was about Xia Li—
But he never expected what came next:
The Great Toad Sage intended to fully support Xia Li from now on.
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