"This is the Eight Trigrams Seal. The principle is to incorporate a completely opposite, yet complementary, reverse Four Symbols Seal onto the foundation of the Four Symbols Seal. This allows the sealing power to be increased several times over, without interfering with the Four Symbols Seal. It's just a shame that Grandma Mito passed away when the research for the reverse Four Symbols Seal was only halfway complete."
Kushina said, her expression a little downcast.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the book and immediately began to read it.
As a Ninjutsu professor, his Sealing Jutsu skills were quite good. Although far from the mastery of two generations of Sealing Jutsu experts, Kushina and Mito Uzumaki, he still possessed advanced Sealing Jutsu like the Four Symbols Seal and the Five Elements Seal. His proficiency in Sealing Jutsu was considered top-tier in the Ninja World.
However, even for him, the contents of the book were a bit difficult to follow.
After a good while, the Third Hokage finally understood the general content.
It was clear that even he would find it difficult to perform the Eight Trigrams Seal once it was developed, let alone develop it himself.
"Old man, it seems the handwriting at the end is different? Kushina, have you been refining this Jutsu over the years?"
"Yes, if I can develop the Eight Trigrams Seal, I won't have to be confined within the barrier anymore."
Kushina nodded her small head.
"How much longer will it take?"
"It should be within the next few years, I think? Minato has also given me a lot of help."
"Kushina, would you mind if this old man gave you a new S-rank Mission? Fully develop the Eight Trigrams Seal. As long as it doesn't affect the war, the village will provide personnel and resources for your research."
"Thank you, Lord Third!"
Watching Kushina's joyful eyes, Minato Namikaze remained silent.
He knew that the Third Hokage was preparing Kushina, as a Jinchuriki, for battle.
But he couldn't and wouldn't stop it.
Because for all these years, Kushina had been practically imprisoned within this sealing barrier. No one knew better than him, her closest person, how much she yearned for the outside world and for freedom.
Therefore, he had to do his utmost to change the situation on the battlefield for Konoha, to prevent Kushina from stepping onto that dangerous battlefield!
Thinking this, Minato Namikaze turned his gaze back to the Sealing Scroll.
"Alright, let's leave it here for now. Next, this old man needs to make a trip to the Uchiha clan compound to visit Fugaku. It's time for the village to use the Uchiha as a trump card.
Minato, time is short. You need to be ready to depart tomorrow."
"Yes, Lord Third!"
...
...
In the Marvel Universe, Africa, Congo, within a primeval jungle, lay the ruins of a temple.
Qingshui led several Kamar-Taj mages into the area and, within half an hour, dealt with a liche mage from several centuries ago who had resurrected there. They also banished the otherworldly creatures he had summoned back to their respective dimensions.
"Master Watt, this thing is much more effective than magic!"
A young African mage exclaimed excitedly, holding a silver-white pistol inscribed with several Runes.
"Didier, Rune magic is still magic. It's just that many lower-tier Runes can be converted using ordinary energy. But when you encounter powerful enemies, or special creatures like undead, you still need to use magic that requires a price to be paid."
Beside Qingshui, Baldy Liu, the Mage, admonished the young Black mage.
However, he was even more exaggerated than the African mage.
Because he had a large machine gun, also inscribed with Runes, slung directly across his back.
As soon as Rune magic was introduced to Kamar-Taj by Qingshui, it was welcomed by these mages.
This was because many low-tier Runes could be cast directly using commonly available energies in human society, like electricity.
This allowed them to cast spells without paying a price to Dimensional Demon Gods. At most, the upper limit of their power would be restricted, and magic involving special domains like space, such as teleportation circles, couldn't be cast.
Yet, it could still replace a significant portion of magic used for combat.
If they could use some magic without paying a price, which mage wouldn't want to?
At most, the power wouldn't reach the highest levels, but it wasn't without solutions either.
A considerable number of mages possessed a strong scientific spirit and kept up with the times.
Thus, Magic Tools were born, combining Runes with various cold and hot weapons and powered by high-energy batteries. Even the bullets were specially modified, with small Runes inscribed on them, temporarily charged by the battery upon firing to increase their power.
Such enchanted weapons had decent power. While not comparable to high-power magic, their advantage lay in being free of cost and reusable.
This was a product of combining Rune technology with traditional technology.
When the battery ran out, they just needed to recharge it or replace it. However, this required a high energy density for the battery; conventional batteries weren't sufficient. It was only when Qingshui provided graphene batteries replicated from Lex Luthor's battle suit that they became viable.
Qingshui even considered whether to temporarily select a trustworthy team within S.H.I.E.L.D. and equip them with Rune gear.
However, manufacturing this stuff was quite troublesome—not very troublesome for Qingshui, but difficult for ordinary people to use.
Even at Kamar-Taj, only a portion of mages with higher cultivation and strong mental power could master some Runes and possess the ability to create Rune equipment.
Qingshui's next planned research direction was to try combining Runes with Sealing Jutsu, Divine Mechanism Art, Puppetry, and modern engineering to see if he could create more powerful Puppets and Magic Tools.
However, this was quite complex, and Qingshui currently only had a preliminary concept.
Stepping through a teleportation circle and returning to Kamar-Taj, Qingshui found a quiet room. After lighting some "true dragon's saliva incense" from K'un-Lun, he waved his hand to cast a spell, activating the Eye of Watt hanging around his neck.
The Mind Stone emitted a faint yellow glow, accompanied by the reassuring and calming ambergris, as it integrated into Qingshui's body.
This item contained the divine power of a true dragon, capable of strengthening the spirit, enhancing willpower, and dispelling Genjutsu.
Ambergris was scarce even at Kamar-Taj, but Qingshui had exchanged for all of it.
He had discovered that combined with the Mind Stone, it could accelerate the refining of that extremely potent, essential consciousness within the Chakra.
The Qi Cultivation technique from the Mohist Sect, accompanied by Qingshui's breathing, transformed his Chakra into Qi, bit by bit, refining and eroding the last remnants of external consciousness from this Avatar.
Thanks to the Mind Stone, a supreme treasure, the Avatar in the Marvel Universe was far ahead of the main body and other Avatars in clearing out the foreign will within its Chakra.
As of now, Qingshui was on the verge of completing the refinement of this foreign Chakra.
Two days later.
The Mind Stone's glow gradually subsided.
Qingshui closed his Eye of Watt, put away the remaining small piece of ambergris, pushed open the door, and walked out.
It was night, with a bright moon hanging high.
It had just turned February. Kamar-Taj, located in the Himalayas, was protected by a magical barrier and wasn't cold, but there was still an unavoidable sense of chill and solitude here.
However, Qingshui was quite happy.
At least his Marvel Universe self had proven that the foreign will contained within Chakra could be cleared using the methods he currently possessed.
Even though this process undoubtedly benefited from the Mind Stone, a perfectly suited treasure, it at least showed that the method was viable, and his main body would just need to spend a bit more time.
Considering that there was likely no threat to his main body's life in the current Ninja World, coupled with the at least several thousand, even tens of thousands, of years of lifespan provided by his Perfect Demonization body, this problem could ultimately be resolved.
Just as Qingshui was about to open a portal to return to Watt Manor to rest, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.
It was Wong.
He was carrying a takeout bag containing roasted skewers and a few cans of beer.
"Have you solved your problem?"
"Alright, you knew I was coming out now? Did Ancient One tell you to be here at this time?"
Qingshui nodded at Wong, casually taking a roasted skewer from the takeout bag.
"The Sorcerer Supreme didn't tell me. He just told me last night to wait here and to go see him immediately after you finished your seclusion. I waited from last night until tonight, and I was hungry just now, so I went to buy some late-night snacks to continue waiting. Good thing I didn't miss you."
"Ancient One is looking for me? Oh, by the way, where did you buy these skewers? They taste pretty good."
Qingshui took two more roasted skewers from Wong's takeout bag.
"Linzi, Zhangjia Shop, an old veteran's BBQ stall," Wong said, looking at Qingshui's actions helplessly.
"Aren't you going to hurry up?"
If you don't hurry, my late-night snack will all be gone.
"Haha, sorry, I haven't eaten in two days, my mouth feels bland. Don't worry, I'll treat you to a top-tier BBQ feast later. I'll be off then!"
Qingshui patted Wong's shoulder, chuckled, and casually swiped two more roasted skewers.
Wong looked at Qingshui resentfully, hugging the takeout bag to his chest.
"I waited for you for half the night and I'm starving too, don't be like this. The Sorcerer Supreme is at the New York Sanctum now, you should go quickly. He definitely wouldn't mind treating you to a late-night snack."
"Alright!"
Qingshui opened a portal in front of Wong and stepped through.
Wong breathed a sigh of relief, took the takeout bag from his arms, and was just about to take out a skewer to put in his mouth when a small portal quickly appeared in mid-air in front of him, snatching several skewers from the bag.
"Seriously? You're a billionaire, and you're fighting me over a few dozen bucks worth of BBQ?"
Wong looked at the almost half-empty bag of skewers, speechless.
"But food from other people just tastes better."
As his voice faded, the portal closed.
"Sigh…"
Wong shook his head, carrying the takeout bag back to his room, planning to eat his late-night snack while binge-watching shows.
One minute later.
Another small portal opened.
Seriously? It's not over yet, is it?
This time, it was a wrinkled old man's hand. Through the portal, the Eye of Agamotto hanging on the owner's chest was clearly visible.
Wong: …
"Seriously, old man, you've eaten the skewers too. Can you just tell me what's going on?"
In the rooftop garden of the New York Sanctum, Qingshui tossed the bamboo skewer into the trash can, picking his teeth with a toothpick as he spoke to Ancient One.
"Tsk, that wasn't quite enough to eat. How about you go buy a few more skewers and then I'll tell you? This matter is very important to you!"
The Ancient One stuffed a piece of roasted meat into his mouth and mumbled towards Qingshui.
"It has a lot to do with me?"
Qingshui frowned slightly.
Ten minutes later.
They were still in the small garden on the balcony of the New York Sanctum.
This time, a larger table had been set up, covered with various stir-fries, and a bottle of Maotai.
Everything had been sent over from Watt Manor; with a portal, serving dishes was quite convenient.
"No, let's switch this alcohol out. I don't drink high-proof liquor. What if a Dimensional Demon God invades while I'm drunk?"
"Alright, that suits me fine."
Qingshui decisively put the Maotai back and replaced it with his favorite.
Coca-Cola.
"Why Coca-Cola, and not Pepsi?"
The Ancient One picked up a piece of spicy kimchi with his chopsticks, took a sip of cola, and then burped, asking, "Old man, you drink toilet cleaner too?"
"I feel like they're all pretty similar?"
The Ancient One picked up another piece of stir-fried beef with his chopsticks.
"Alright, alright, can you tell me now? What does it have to do with me?"
"Here! Look here, this is the hospital five kilometers from here."
The Ancient One took out a Magic Tool mirror and placed it on the table.
A man with a small mustache, around thirty years old, was lying on a hospital bed, tubes inserted into his body, injecting some kind of medicine.
"This guy is..."
"Strange, the next Sorcerer Supreme I chose long ago."
"So he's...?"
"He got into a car accident. I caused it."
Qingshui: ...
"According to the original timeline, he would have retired as a world-renowned surgeon due to his crippled hands, then embarked on a journey to find a cure for them. Finally, at Kamar-Taj, he would have been deeply moved by the great, wise, and handsome Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, and become his disciple to learn magic. After my death, he would have inherited the position of Sorcerer Supreme, and then you messed it up."
"Uh... because of the Regeneration Serum?"
"Yes."
"But don't you have the Time Stone? Why don't you look into the future again, pick a timeline you think works, and arrange a different accident for him?"
"That's what I was thinking too."
The Ancient One said, his head drooped.
Qingshui prompted the Ancient One to continue.
"But..."
"But I can't use the Time Stone anymore."
"Huh?"
"More accurately, it's not suitable to use anymore. My body is practically dying, and it's no longer suitable for expending large amounts of magic to deduce so many different futures. Even if I steal Dormammu's dark energy, my body can't contain that much power anymore. I only have one last chance for a full-power attack. Usually, I can take it easy, but once I fully activate an Infinity Stone, I'll really die very quickly!"
"I see..."
Qingshui stroked his chin.
He was already wondering when he could hold the Sorcerer Supreme's "Seventh-Day Remembrance" karaoke party.
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