While practicing sealing techniques in seclusion, Ye Zi also explored the abilities of his right Mangekyō Sharingan. It could grant immunity to genjutsu and seal the energy generated by genjutsu into his right eye. The energy stored within had practical uses.
The ability of "Tenjin" had a passive mode for absorption and an active mode for utilization. With the support of Hashirama cells, Ye Zi could maintain the eye's active state during combat without suffering side effects. However, he had yet to find an opportunity to test its capabilities, so its actual power remained unknown.
A month later, Ye Zi successfully combined Wood Release with sealing techniques, creating a few original Wood Release sealing jutsu. These techniques were likely to be effective against tailed beasts.
However, like "Tenjin," there was no suitable target to test these techniques on, leaving their practical effects unverified.
With this matter settled, Ye Zi began preparing to seal Shokui into his own body. For this, he once again sought out Orochimaru.
Perhaps due to significant progress in Orochimaru's research over the past month, this time he didn't immediately send Ye Zi away.
"You want to seal a tailed beast into your body?" Orochimaru frowned upon hearing Ye Zi's intention.
Leaning against a platform with arms crossed, Ye Zi shook his head and replied, "No. To be precise, a summoning beast."
"A summoning beast?" Orochimaru asked in surprise.
Ye Zi nodded slightly and said calmly, "Yes, a summoning beast. Not Manda, but my very first summoning beast."
Orochimaru's initial surprise slowly faded and was replaced by a peculiar glint in his eyes. Treating a summoning beast like a tailed beast and sealing it into one's body was a radical idea. The comparison between the two was non-existent, and such an idea had never even been mentioned, let alone attempted.
The power of a tailed beast lay in its immense, almost terrifying chakra reserves. A jinchūriki wasn't just a container for sealing the tailed beast; they could also utilize the beast's enormous chakra supply.
Summoning beasts, however, were different. Even formidable ones like Gamabunta or Manda couldn't compare to tailed beasts in terms of chakra. Not only was it unclear whether they could be sealed in the same way, but even if they could, the benefits would be marginal at best.
In simple terms, the effect would be there, but not significantly.
Interestingly, Ye Zi's first summoning beast had a connection with him. It had taught Ye Zi the Reverse Summoning Technique, indirectly leading him to his first summoning beast.
What Orochimaru didn't know was the unique relationship between Ye Zi and Shokui, nor that both Shokui and Ye Zi were from another dimension.
"Technically, it's feasible, but the benefits aren't as great as you might think. Or rather, it's entirely unnecessary. You understand the differences between a summoning beast and a tailed beast," Orochimaru remarked.
Ye Zi replied calmly, "I'm fully aware. But I can't touch the tailed beasts, so I have to consider the summoning beasts. This is one way to increase my chakra reserves."
Increasing chakra reserves didn't mean raising the body's maximum capacity. Instead, it involved sealing the summoning beast within his body, like milking a cow, allowing him to extract chakra at will.
This principle was similar to utilizing a tailed beast. However, it would undoubtedly cause resistance from the summoning beast, especially someone as rebellious as Shokui. Therefore, conventional jinchūriki sealing techniques couldn't be used.
The sealing technique needed to grant Ye Zi absolute control while completely suppressing the summoning beast, reducing it to a mere tool for chakra extraction.
Shokui wasn't an ordinary summoning beast. If this method succeeded, while it might not fully resolve Ye Zi's chakra shortage, the effect would undoubtedly be significant.
"Interesting. I'll help you," Orochimaru said, his eyes gleaming with interest. He was highly intrigued by Ye Zi's plan.
Seeing Orochimaru's agreement, Ye Zi smirked and explained the requirements for the jinchūriki sealing technique. He needed a seal that placed complete authority in the hands of the jinchūriki.
Afterward, Orochimaru temporarily halted his other research. The two worked together to modify existing jinchūriki sealing techniques, ensuring the adjustments eliminated any potentially fatal risks.
Half a month later, they succeeded.
After leaving Orochimaru's laboratory, Ye Zi spent two days memorizing the sealing technique and its procedures. He also rested well to replenish his energy. Finally, he prepared to head to the desolate alternate dimension.
Once everything was ready, Ye Zi sat silently in his room with his eyes closed, reflecting for a moment. Then he slowly opened his eyes and activated the Reverse Summoning Technique.
With a puff of smoke, Ye Zi vanished.
In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery transformed completely.
A familiar desolate land appeared before him. The sight was nothing but sand and dust. no water, no plants, no rocks, no life. It was a true wasteland.
Everything in this world had been devoured by Shokui, and Ye Zi knew it.
When he first encountered Shokui here, he had felt utter despair. Fortunately, after returning to the shinobi world, things took a turn, allowing him to regain the upper hand. Otherwise, with Shokui's abilities, the entire shinobi world might have faced destruction.
If the "Contract Seal" worked, Ye Zi could sever all ties with Shokui. It was an idea he had entertained long ago.
Now, although the thought of severing ties with Shokui still lingered in Ye Zi's mind, in his pursuit of greater power, he could only abandon it. He resolved to become a jinchūriki, sealing Shokui into his body through a special method to fully extract Shokui's value.
With their connection as a guide, Ye Zi walked across the desert toward Shokui's location.
As soon as Ye Zi entered this alternate dimension, Shokui could sense his presence. However, Shokui remained motionless, his massive body covered by a thick layer of yellow sand, like a lifeless object lying still in place.
"What do you want this time?"
Shokui's enormous single eye slowly opened, the shifting sands cascading off him. Once the eye was fully revealed, the icy killing intent and deep-seated rage within were clearly visible.
Trapped here by Ye Zi, with no food of any kind, Shokui couldn't die from starvation but was left with no way to replenish his energy. His chakra reserves dwindled little by little each day. To slow this depletion, Shokui had to remain completely still, putting his body into a dormant state to minimize unnecessary consumption.
In this desolate world, Shokui was the sole living being. Even if one were to traverse the entire dimension, the scenery would remain unchanged—nothing but endless yellow sand.
For an ordinary person left alone in such a world, insanity would come swiftly. Shokui, however, had endured countless years in this forsaken realm.
More torturous than the loneliness was the insatiable hunger that constantly gnawed at his cells. Whenever it became unbearable, Shokui would grab handfuls of sand and shove them into his mouth, a feeble attempt to suppress his primal instincts.
No matter how harsh or agonizing his circumstances became, no matter how his instincts tormented him to the point that every cell in his body seemed to scream in pain, Shokui never entertained the thought of dragging Ye Zi down with him.
Survival was more important than anything else. This obsession was what had allowed Shokui to remain stationary in this barren world for countless years, overcoming both solitude and the torment of his primal desires.
Shokui's single eye gazed silently in one direction.
The wind kicked up the sand, forming a hazy curtain.
Through the sandstorm, a figure emerged, walking slowly toward Shokui. When the wind subsided, the curtain broke apart, and the swirling sand settled back onto the yellow earth.
When Shokui saw Ye Zi, the killing intent he had suppressed erupted without any disguise. Having lost the upper hand long ago, there was no need to feign compliance any longer. However, the opportunity to regain control seemed increasingly slim.
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Currently on Chapter 511 - One Against Ten Thousand