Seiki pondered for a moment. "Perhaps Isshiki didn't suspect Kaguya because everything changed only after they arrived on this planet?"
"They recklessly wiped out the planet's native population, leaving them no choice but to lure Kaguya."
"Enticed by them, Kaguya betrayed the Otsutsuki Clan, and with their power, she gained enough strength to ambush Isshiki!"
"In other words, she was likely already infiltrated by the divine system before consuming the Chakra Fruit. This also explains how someone as powerful as her could still be corrupted!"
Seiki shook his head. Thinking like that only eased his doubts, making it easier for him to accept the divine system.
The truth would only be known after capturing Isshiki.
Seiki continued asking, "Is eating the Chakra Fruit the only way the Otsutsuki Clan enhances their power? Then how does Urashiki regenerating his eyes fit into this principle?"
Black Zetsu nodded. "Although one can enhance their power through cultivation, the progress is too slow. Most clan members simply lack patience. It's precisely because the Otsutsuki never produce, only plunder, that they've gained such a bad reputation across the stars."
"As for self-consumption, first you need to understand this: besides eating Chakra Fruits, the Otsutsuki Clan can also grow stronger by devouring their own kind. To prevent excessive intra-clan conflict, however, directly consuming one's own kin is officially prohibited within the clan!"
"The best opportunity for strength transformation only comes once every millennium during the God Tree Festival. But these festivals are mostly controlled by advanced warriors. Intermediate warriors like Urashiki rarely get such chances, so they developed this unconventional method of self-consumption!"
Upon hearing this, Seiki could only exclaim, "Anything is possible in this vast world!"
Black Zetsu continued, "Urashiki sneaking out this time also stemmed from his dissatisfaction about the clan possibly allocating a leftover opportunity to Momoshiki. He had waited for thousands of years without getting a chance, yet Momoshiki, barely a few decades old, was immediately assigned a festival!"
"Of course, he wouldn't openly sabotage things, but he figured if Momoshiki happened to fail, that would be his moment to claim the fruit!"
Seiki nodded slightly. "A 'teenage' advanced warrior, an intermediate warrior who's never presided over a God Tree Festival, and a lower warrior used as a sacrifice. Such a motley crew is bound to fail!"
"Even a lower warrior from the Otsutsuki Clan on their home star could easily crush an entire planet. Three Otsutsuki warriors could make an entire star system tremble. The reason they're just a bunch of weaklings is simply because you, Lord Seiki, are too powerful!" flattered Black Zetsu.
Seiki remained composed. "The distinction among lower, intermediate, and advanced warriors clearly isn't enough to indicate the Otsutsuki's true strength. Try differentiating them by how many God Tree Festivals they've presided over."
After thinking for a moment, Black Zetsu said, "The lower warriors need no explanation. Among intermediate warriors, twenty-three individuals were granted the privilege of presiding once due to their contributions to the clan. As for advanced warriors, except for the new generation like Momoshiki, they've each presided at least once! As for exact numbers, even Urashiki doesn't know—the details are known only to the advanced warriors!"
"Looks like we've got another reason to capture Isshiki!" Seiki nodded slightly and asked, "The God Tree Festival usually sacrifices lower warriors. Could it possibly use intermediate or advanced warriors instead?"
"Ahh, well, I don't think so?" Black Zetsu hesitated. "From this guy's memories, he quite takes pride in his status. In his view, intermediate and advanced warriors are largely equal most of the time."
As for Urashiki's perspective, Seiki did not comment, merely chuckling lightly, "Now that I think of it, that might be why Kaguya became so powerful—her offerings were advanced warriors."
Black Zetsu opened his mouth helplessly. "I don't know!"
Internally calculating, Seiki thought, "Momoshiki is an advanced warrior, Isshiki is a damaged advanced warrior, and Kaguya is an anomaly who consumed advanced warriors. If I could offer these three to the God Tree, the resulting Chakra Fruit would undoubtedly be immensely powerful!"
Despite this, Seiki remained determined to continue his four-systems-in-parallel approach.
Because he always assumed the worst intentions from those stronger than him.
What if within the Otsutsuki there was some monster that specifically fed on advanced warriors?
At least in his opinion, the Otsutsuki's twisted system easily could spawn monsters.
If the one at the front harbors evil intent, he might regard those behind as mere fuel to secure his supreme status!
All this talk about prohibiting infighting among kin—perhaps it's just to prevent anyone stronger from emerging within the clan!
So no matter how powerful chakra might be, he would absolutely never make it his sole reliance!
Thinking thus, Seiki calmly said, "Release your possession!"
"Yes!" Black Zetsu responded cautiously, fearing Seiki might seal him away again.
The black sludge receded from Urashiki's face. Urashiki, regaining control of his body, glared viciously at Black Zetsu, "Daring to betray the clan, you will surely..."
Urashiki screamed in pain as blood gushed from his forehead. Seiki had brutally ripped out his golden Rinnegan!
Black Zetsu trembled and lowered his head, not daring to speak.
Before Urashiki could curse, Seiki resealed him.
At the very least, he still had use as "fertilizer" for the God Tree.
"Otsutsuki Zetsu."
Black Zetsu flinched. "I'm here!"
"Tell me, how should I arrange you?"
Black Zetsu grinned ingratiatingly. "Whatever you decide is fine—even if you seal me away again!"
"Come now, would I do that? We are allies after all!" Seiki smiled. "How about this—I'll assign you to someone else."
"Anything but being sealed again, great!" Overjoyed, Black Zetsu asked, "Who will you place me with?"
"Isshiki Otsutsuki!"
"Oh, Otsutsuki Isshiki..." Black Zetsu began, then suddenly realized, "Wait, wasn't he sacrificed by Mother? How is he still alive?"
Seiki slightly shook his head. "How easily do you think an advanced warrior of the Otsutsuki Clan can die?"
Black Zetsu trembled again. "But what if my identity gets discovered..."
"It's not 'what if'—your identity definitely will be discovered!"
Black Zetsu squished into a puddle with a *plop*. "Then... then what should I do?"
Seiki replied, "Just wing it! I believe in your abilities. You can definitely keep him under control!"
Black Zetsu immediately felt like his future was bleak. He hesitantly asked, "What if he reads my memories?"
"Don't worry," Seiki calmly said. "I'll place a Seal on your soul. Given his current weakened state, he probably won't be able to break through it."
"Weakened state?" Black Zetsu asked.
"He (Isshiki) used deceit nine years ago, but instead, I left him severely injured!" Seiki explained.
"Legendary!" Black Zetsu's heart trembled. That person (Isshiki) was someone even the former Mother had to use a sneak attack to defeat!
When he heard that Isshiki had been seriously injured, Black Zetsu suddenly felt a lot more confident. "Don't worry, I'll definitely deceive him, make him even worse..."
"Who told you to worsen his injuries?"
Black Zetsu was confused. "Then what exactly do you want me to do?"
"Quite the opposite, actually. I want you to help him recover. One the one hand, it'll gain his trust. And on the other..." Seiki said ominously, "a Chakra Fruit harvested from a fully healed elite warrior is much more delicious, isn't it?"
Black Zetsu shivered once again. So this was the mindset of a true expert—to offer up a fully healed elite warrior as a sacrifice?
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