"Did they fail and get disheartened?"
The Third Hokage was puzzled as he leaped over the courtyard wall.
At that moment, Xu Ming, who had been sitting cross-legged in the room, opened his eyes. Before him, the system's feedback appeared:
[Strength Enhancement Feedback...]
[You have perfectly mastered the Sage Art: Onmyodo Technique! – By channeling the power of powerful entities connected to oneself, such as servants, contracts, natural spirits, or ancestral spirits, one can attain immense strength and evolve their own life force to align with these beings.]
— Divine Form: Partial absorption of power results in physical transformation, enhancing abilities two- to threefold.
— Super Divine Subjugation: Strength is drawn inward, refining one's power to reach the level of a demi-god.
— Great Divine Advent: The user completely assimilates the power of a mighty entity, becoming a vessel for its manifestation. This grants divine power but severely damages the body, potentially leading to death unless the user possesses a unique physique.
A flood of unfamiliar knowledge surged into Xu Ming's mind. It was as if he had traveled back thousands of years, becoming an ordinary person striving to master natural energy. During that ancient time, before the arrival of the Divine Tree, powerful god-like beings roamed the land, embodying natural energy and the concepts of nature itself.
The Yin-Yang Path he practiced, which involved channeling the power of these mighty beings, was a revered sect among humans of that era. Those who had contracted with these powerful entities and mastered the technique were honored as Onmyoji.
"The way of Yin and Yang? Divine Seance?" Xu Ming murmured, his eyes flickering with emotion.
In this era, Onmyoji and shrine maidens still existed, supported by the nobility in Kyoto, within the Land of Fire. However, their power had dwindled. Not a single Jonin-level practitioner existed among them.
Ever since Senju Hashirama ended the Warring States period, Hidden Villages were established, and the world transitioned into the Age of Shinobi. This left Onmyoji nearly extinct, their lineage on the brink of being forgotten.
"Yet, thousands of years ago, they were the rulers of this land," Xu Ming sighed. "Chakra is the real foreign entity here."
As his voice trailed off, a cracking sound filled the room.
Xu Ming turned toward the noise.
Orochimaru, who had been in a deep slumber for a week, was now shedding his old skin like a snake. As he stretched, his muscles expanded, causing his clothes to tighten around his well-defined physique.
But the most shocking change was his legs.
Orochimaru's knee joints had rotated 180 degrees, transforming into an unnatural reverse joint structure. His legs had grown longer and more powerful, covered in a smooth, dense hide, resembling the muscular lower limbs of a stallion.
"Your body has partially mutated. You've succeeded," Xu Ming said with a smile.
"Yes, though it differs from the Senju Clan's recorded methods and the traditional Sage Mode techniques of the Three Great Holy Lands, I can feel that this method is right," Orochimaru said, staring at his reflection in a full-length mirror with fascination.
"I can feel an immense surge of power within me, especially in my legs."
"Once I start running, these reverse-jointed legs will provide an incredible thrust. I'll move like the wind—swift as lightning."
"This form should last about..."
Suddenly, Orochimaru's expression twisted in horror.
His face paled as he turned to Xu Ming with panic in his eyes.
"Wait... this is permanent?! I can't change back?!"
"No, you can revert to normal."
Xu Ming shook his head and placed a firm hand on Orochimaru's shoulder.
Smack!
As his palm landed, natural energy gathered around Orochimaru, forming an intricate talisman-like pattern on his skin.
"Exorcism!"
Xu Ming whispered.
The talisman instantly sank into Orochimaru's body, sending a powerful force surging through him. His leg joints twisted back into their human form, his muscles shrank, and his skin lost its previous transformation.
The newfound strength vanished instantly.
"Urgh..."
Orochimaru staggered, his body trembling from the sudden weakness. Yet, his face broke into a wide grin.
"That was close... Xu Ming, without you, I might have been stuck in that form forever."
Orochimaru exhaled in relief, then turned to Xu Ming with awe.
"But that technique just now... You directly controlled natural energy! How?!"
"How did you do it?"
"Natural energy is violent and uncontrollable, yet you manipulated it effortlessly!"
Xu Ming was about to respond when suddenly—
Footsteps echoed from downstairs.
"Control what?"
A voice cut through the silence.
The Third Hokage stepped into the room, his expression stern.
He sighed in relief upon seeing his two disciples unharmed, though his frown deepened when he noticed Orochimaru's weakened state.
"Orochimaru, are you injured?" he asked, his concern evident.
"No, just some experimental setbacks," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly, shaking his head.
"As long as you're not hurt..." The Third Hokage's expression softened, but his eyes betrayed his suspicions.
Observing the two, he quickly formed a conclusion.
'This was a failure.'
'They failed, and they're frustrated. That's why they've locked themselves in this room for an entire week, unwilling to face the outside world.'
'Even my two genius disciples have finally encountered failure in life.'
The Third Hokage sighed internally, pulling out the speech he had prepared for just such an occasion.
But before he could speak, Orochimaru beamed with excitement.
"Sensei, I almost forgot! We have good news! We succeeded!"
"Oh? You succeeded? That's—wait..." The Third Hokage nodded absentmindedly, then froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he turned sharply toward Orochimaru and Xu Ming.
"What did you just say?!"
"I said Xu Ming and I have discovered a method to absorb natural energy! Though it's not yet completely stable or safe..." Orochimaru explained with an eager smile.
BOOM!
The words crashed into the Third Hokage's ears like a thunderclap.
"You... Xu Ming and you..." The Third Hokage stammered, his voice trembling. "You've developed a technique to absorb natural energy?!"
For the first time in a long while, the legendary Professor of Ninjutsu was left utterly speechless.