Kei silently commanded the system in his mind.
System, activate [Harmony of Heaven and Man].
No memories flooded into his mind, nor were there any complicated processes. Under the effect of the trait, his soul gradually became more refined and transparent. A strange sensation of perceiving the true essence of the world arose in his heart.
At this moment, the world before him became clearer than ever. The energy and laws filling the world suddenly became traceable.
Time, space, yin and yang, the five elements… This powerful sensation of insight into the truths of the universe made him vaguely feel a peculiar oneness, where he was the world, and the world was him.
Everything in the world also became more vivid. Flowers, trees, rocks, and soil seemed to possess life of their own, all following the rules of this world. Within the cycle of these rules, 'life and death' endlessly repeat.
---
[Compatibility detected:
- Heavenly Spirit Sovereign (Gold)
- Harmony of Heaven and Man (Gold)]
[Fusion? Yes/No]
---
Yes!
Kei suppressed the drifting sensation of 'forgetting himself.' He turned his gaze back to the system interface.
The path of the Six Paths Sage was not suitable for him. What he pursued was transcendence beyond the world, not integration into it.
To him, humans were born with the seven emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, worry, grief, fear, and shock—and the six desires of the senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought.
All the experiences along the road of life were precious and irreplaceable.
Forgetting emotions and cutting off love in pursuit of the so-called 'oneness with the world', that was a task best left to figures like the Six Paths Sage. He was just an ordinary person.
If looking at a beautiful woman and looking at a naked mole rat both felt the same, then not only would life be meaningless, it would also be… terrifying!
---
[Obtained:
- Evolutionary True Sovereign (Gold)]
[Evolutionary True Sovereign (Gold):
Master the profound essence of the world, attain the ever-bright heart lamp, wield the forces of yin-yang and the five elements, break through illusions and demonic obstructions, and perceive the ultimate truth.
Maximizes efficiency in learning, researching, refining, and creating various spells and abilities. Greatly enhances mastery, effectiveness, resistance, and affinity with spells and abilities. Grants 'Evolutionary Body,' 'Human-World Unity,' indestructibility, and an undying true spirit. Significantly increases soul strength, physical resilience, and cultivation efficiency.]
---
This still doesn't rank me up? Kei felt the surge of power from the fused trait—his soul growing stronger, his body gradually strengthening—and gritted his teeth.
The effects of the fused trait were even more potent than before.
His body remained in its previous state, but now also had a permanent "Human-World Unity" buff.
He could clearly sense it. Under this state, his comprehension of the world's laws had reached an unimaginable level. Previously, he struggled to understand Sukunahikona.
But now, with just a single thought, he had already gained some insight. If he studied it a few more times, he might even be able to replicate it better than Isshiki, perhaps even surpass its original effectiveness.
However, something was missing to trigger a qualitative change?
After carefully rereading the details of [Evolutionary True Sovereign], Kei looked toward the world around him.
As expected, this world seemed to lack something. The gold-trait represented the world's upper limit. But not the upper limit of [Evolutionary True Sovereign]'s effects.
As long as he could enter a higher-level world, this trait's effects would undoubtedly push him to the next rank. Well, in theory.
"I need to hurry up!" Muttering to himself, he took another step forward and instantly appeared beside Tsunade and the others.
He glanced at the unactivated [Six Paths Yin-Yang Reincarnation], but he did not activate it immediately.
First, traits duplicated from the soul and linked to bloodlines had a probability of being incomplete or mutating adaptively.
Second, even if activated, this trait would likely just fuse with [Evolutionary True Sovereign]. And since [Evolutionary True Sovereign] had already hit the world's limit, no matter how it fused, it would still be a golden trait.
Third, he had already mastered half of this trait's power, what remained was just its applications in dōjutsu, yin-yang release, and control over reincarnation energy. With the comprehension boost from [Evolutionary True Sovereign]'s Human-World Unity, along with the Six Paths Sage's records left in the room…
Learning these things was merely a matter of time.
"Back so soon?" Tsunade looked at Kei with a hint of surprise.
He had rushed off in a hurry just moments ago. She thought there must have been some extraordinarily powerful technique hidden in the Six Paths Sage's collection that he couldn't wait to see.
But in less than a minute, he was already back?
"I just needed to confirm something." Kei turned to look in the direction where Hashirama, Madara, and Kaguya were fighting.
"Are we heading over?" Seeing that he didn't elaborate, Tsunade dropped the subject.
According to reports from the command center, the White Zetsu stationed across various battlefronts had all begun rushing toward that direction the moment the disturbance occurred.
Meanwhile, the radical extremists in Kiri had already been eradicated by Izuna and the Third Raikage. There was no longer any reason for them to stay here.
"How's the situation on the other battlefronts?" Kei took Tsunade's hand, activating a spatial technique that instantly enveloped their group.
"Due to the sudden retreat of the White Zetsu, aside from a few persistent elite Kiri ninja, the Allied Shinobi Forces have essentially secured all defensive lines. Shikaku has ordered everyone to temporarily halt their advance. Also, the command center was attacked by an unknown force. Some of them seemed to be using a form of Kāma's power, but they were taken down by Tobirama-ojisan and Kushina." Tsunade quickly summarized the current situation.
The command center had been attacked back when Kei was fighting Isshiki. However, those enemies had clearly underestimated the strength of Kushina and the others. Even though they carried special ninja tools capable of restraining tailed beasts and jinchūriki, and nearly caused the airborne fortress to crash by sealing all chakra flow, they were ultimately defeated faster than Isshiki himself!
"Hmm." Hearing this, Kei relaxed. Locking onto his previously placed Flying Thunder God mark, he instantly teleported the group.
BOOM—!
A deafening roar erupted.
Before their eyes, Hashirama's figure, pierced by numerous black rods like a pincushion, was sent flying backward at high speed, crashing into the ground and leaving a deep trench!
"Hiss—!" Third Raikage, Ōnoki, and Izuna all inhaled sharply at the sight. To think that someone could beat the God of Shinobi to such a state, brutal!
But even more brutal was Hashirama himself. Without even blinking, he pulled out the black rods from his body and charged back into the fight.
"Ugh—!" On the other side, Madara coughed up blood as he was sent flying, crashing hard against a jagged cliff formed by the intense battle. Through the rising dust, his face showed undisguised excitement and fervor. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he laughed wildly.
"This is it! A true opponent for me and Hashirama! No one is allowed to interfere until we've given it our all! This kind of battle! This kind of enemy! I've been waiting for this moment for so long! Hahahaha—!"
His Rinnegan gleamed as he locked onto the newly arrived group. Without hesitation, he launched himself back at Kaguya.
He had to admit, he and Hashirama had initially underestimated this woman. Her All-Killing Ash Bones, where even a single hit meant certain death.
Her relentless Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, which had smashed both Hashirama's Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands and Madara's Full-Body Susanoo.
Her Rabbit Hair Needle, which, combined with the Byakugan, could seal the chakra pathways.
Her seamless use of the space-time technique Yomotsu Hirasaka.
And the unique dimension she transported them to when they chased after her. This was a battle that made his blood boil with excitement.
"It's time to dance again! Hahahaha—!" Madara laughed maniacally, perfectly synchronized with Hashirama in their relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Kaguya, who had started off as an aloof, goddess-like figure, was now battered, panting heavily. If not for the constant reinforcements of White Zetsu merging back into the God Tree to restore her chakra, she wouldn't have lasted this long. Moreover, with her chakra running low, she couldn't even fully activate the Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball.
After luring the two into a trap once, they no longer pursued her into the Yomotsu Hirasaka dimension. Instead, they immediately attacked the God Tree whenever she vanished, forcing her to reappear!
"What a waste." Kei glanced at the countless White Zetsu sacrificing themselves to the God Tree, then exchanged a look with Hikari.
"Ohhh~" Hikari blinked, instantly understanding the message with their month-long battle-forged synergy.
Her Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
In an instant, the chakra of over 15,000 White Zetsu was siphoned into her. At the same time, the White Zetsu all collapsed to the ground, reverting to lifeless husks of wood.
Kei, seeing that the battle between Hashirama, Madara, and Kaguya wouldn't end anytime soon, casually created a few wooden chairs with Wood Release.
Pulling Tsunade and Hikari down to sit, he watched the fight with great interest. Kaguya's Yomotsu Hirasaka was clearly a higher-grade space-time technique than Isshiki's Daikokuten.
Not bad, definitely worth learning.
The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack was also intriguing. A fusion of ocular jutsu and taijutsu!
The All-Killing Ash Bones was an ultimate death-dealing ability from the bloodline encompassing!
The Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball... lava, gravity, desert, ice, acid, the genesis sphere dimension...
He activated his [Multiversal Voyager], carefully analyzing the laws of each dimension. Upon reaching the sphere, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
It was a dimension that absorbs all energy, directly linked to the God Tree, capable of extracting chakra from a distance...