"In other words, none of the current habitats of summoning beasts are located within the Ninja World's territory anymore?"
Shimoku asked curiously.
"Not exactly. Some clans were just lucky back then and ended up settling within the current boundaries of the Ninja World."
"I remember that Ryuchi Cave, the Dream Devouring Beast Clan, some branches of the Ninken...and others have all settled within the Ninja World by now..."
Old Lord Mo thought for a moment before giving his response.
"Where exactly is Ryuchi Cave?"
"The old patriarch once told me that the old white snake prefers dry, dark places; according to your current layout of the Ninja World, its base should be somewhere underground in a small country along the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind."
"The Land of Stone?"
"Perhaps. I recall that there used to be a Ryumyaku in that desert region long ago, filled with immense energy. It was where the God Tree absorbed residual natural energy from ancient times. That sly old white snake wouldn't have missed it, so Ryuchi Cave must be close to that chakra vein too."
Shimoku nodded thoughtfully.
As expected, this old fox really did know everything!
"How 'bout Mount Myoboku then?"
"I remember that from Konoha Village, one would need more than thirty days' travel to reach Mount Myoboku."
"That distance is ten times longer than from Konoha to Sunagakure Village!"
"So does that mean Mount Myoboku isn't within the current borders of the Ninja World either?"
Old Lord Mo nodded.
"That's right! Mount Myoboku lies west beyond the Ancient Battlefield Exclusion Zone from the Land of Wind. In the far western corner of the world before the God Tree's influence spread—just like how the Land of Fire and eastern regions stand today..."
"Those toads certainly picked a great location! That mountain was among the most potent sources of natural energy even in ancient times."
"It was also once regarded as sacred ground within the Toad Kingdom's territory."
Lord Mo sounded somewhat resentful.
If it hadn't been for the cunning Toad King allying with the Sage of Six Paths long ago,
Mount Myoboku would've long been seized and divided amongst other races already—who'd allow a bunch of frogs to monopolize it!
"Now I see why it takes an entire month to get there…"
"Then where exactly is Maku Zhutai located?"
Shimoku continued questioning.
He actually didn't have the faintest clue where Maku Zhutai was located in the Ninja World.
Initially, he also came here through the reverse spiritual technique of Mooncakes.
"About ten days eastward beyond the Land of Water."
"You could say it's at the extreme eastern edge of the world."
"Considering bamboo grows most densely in this area anyway…"
Shimoku suddenly understood.
No wonder watching Mooncake and Uncle Copperluo made it clear how gluttonous this clan is.
It must've run in their bloodline.
Even during the Ten-Tails' rampage thousands of years ago—right at the brink of total destruction,
their ancestors probably didn't let anything stop them from feasting…
Who needs a spiritual paradise anyway?
Give 'em enough bamboo, and anywhere becomes home!
"What about Shikkotsu Forest, though? Where's that one?"
"This, I'm not quite sure about."
"She's been a figure of great renown among all spirit beasts for a thousand years already."
"Still, Sage Katsuyu's people favor water and thrive in humid environments..."
"I estimate that [Shikkotsu Forest] must be located within some *sea area* of the ninja world."
Shimoku: "A *sea area*?"
Old Lord: "Natural energy is widely present throughout the world, but the places where it's most abundant are air, land, and water."
"This is also why the Three Sacred Lands are the most famous and possess the strongest overall power."
"It's because each of them happens to control a pure system of sage arts."
"Ryuchi Cave represents[earth], Mount Myoboku represents[air], and Shikkotsu Forest corresponds to[water]..."
Shimoku slowly nodded, contemplating slightly.
No wonder the Old Lord knew so much!
An average ninja probably wouldn't even understand what sage arts or natural energy truly were...
"If that's the case, then[Shikkotsu Forest]must be located in the waters surrounding the[Land of Whirlpools]?"
"Inside an underwater coral reef?"
"That's probably right..."
"Who knows — maybe First Hokage Hashirama Senju learned sage arts right there, and met Uzumaki Mito from the[Land of Whirlpools]along the way? Then took her home as his wife?"
"Oh! That makes sense now!"
Shimoku mused quietly, feeling confident it was spot-on.
In that case,
The locations of the Three Sacred Lands are finally much clearer.
In the future, after destroying Konoha,
those remnants wouldn't have any sacred lands left to hide in...
Indeed, the Old Lord is reliable!
"Oh right, Old Lord."
"I now have a method to teleport directly to[Mount Myoboku]."
"Do you think I should directly launch an attack and seize their cultivation techniques?"
Shimoku's eyes flickered ominously as he suddenly asked.
After all, last time he had placed Flying Thunder God marks on that message toad's butt.
He could teleport to[Mount Myoboku]at any moment, catching them completely off guard.
Therefore, Shimoku wanted to consult with the Old Lord about whether this plan was feasible.
"No, better not!"
"Don't underestimate[Mount Myoboku]."
"They inherited the entire Toad Kingdom's foundation."
"It's said they also possess a treasure comparable to the[Sage's Talisman]—the Toad Kingdom's supreme inheritance."
"That item can not only resurrect the dead but also contains nearly half the amount of pure senjutsu energy found in all of [Mount Myoboku]."
"When that old toad wields it, it becomes nearly capable of slaying gods!"
"This is also one of the reasons why so many clans dared not attack[Mount Myoboku]back then..."
Grand Lord Mo quickly interjected.
Although this young man was very powerful,
It was still extremely inappropriate to recklessly challenge the entire[Mount Myoboku]alone.
Who knew what other hidden trump cards that old toad still had?
Never underestimate beings capable of foretelling the future!
Otherwise, how could that old toad always choose the correct path and repeatedly stand on the winning side?
Shimoku blinked in surprise.
"The Sage's Talisman? Isn't that supposed to be a one-time use item?"
"Wasn't it already used?"
Old Lord Mo: "Who can say for certain that the once-prosperous Toad Kingdom left behind only a single Sage's Talisman?"
Shimoku: "Hmm... you're right."
"Shimoku, don't rush. Haste makes waste..."
"Also, our Maku Zhutai isn't without inherited Sage Arts either!"
Old Lord Mo comforted gently.
At that, Shimoku's eyes lit up as he asked eagerly:
"Old Lord Mo, we also have inherited Sage Arts?"
"But I remember earlier you said Maku Zhutai didn't have any Sage Arts?"
Old Lord Mo paused briefly before responding:
"Yes, we did."
"Otherwise, how could I have obtained my [Sage Chakra]?"
"It's just that due to the great upheaval a thousand years ago, our clan's inheritance of the Sage Arts was partially lost, leaving it incomplete..."
"Practicing it carries considerable risk."
"Not to mention your young age previously—you struggled to control Sage Chakra, so I kept it hidden from you..."
Shimoku: "Flaws? Serious risks?"
Old Lord Mo: "Remember that large stone statue at the entrance?"
"Of course."
"That's what my younger brother became after failing his attempt to cultivate the Sage Art—the Stone Panda statue outside..."
Old Lord Mo sighed softly.
If not for the broken inheritance, which left the method of drawing out Sage Chakra incomplete,
his younger brother wouldn't have ended up as a permanent stone statue.
And even he himself... had yet to achieve physical transformation after more than 600 years of cultivation.
Hearing this, Shimoku was equally shocked.
When he first arrived, he had been puzzled.
Why would such a grand Secret Realm as Maku Zhutai have such a massive stone panda statue?
Even placing it in front of Old Lord Mo's home.
It turned out it was the result of a failed attempt at cultivating the Sage Art...
Who would've seen that coming!
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