Recruitment

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone~

I just finished seeing someone home. I’m tired as a dog…

Kamui!

A pitch-black, profound rift appeared. One of the training ninjas had no time to react before half his body vanished into thin air.

The remaining half retained its charging posture for a moment before collapsing, blood spilling out.

After the pinwheel pattern in his left eye reverted to Three Tomoe, Xu Yue slowly let out a breath.

He closed his eyes and rested for a while to ease the fatigue.

After using up five captain-level training cards, along with the five additional cards doubled before the Promotion Mission, Xu Yue had finally managed to use Kamui with relative ease.

Although it still required a brief charge-up and could not be cast instantly, it was far better than Kakashi’s useless version when he had first awakened it.

Mangekyō Sharingan (Kamui): Able to draw whatever the user sees into a dimensional space. A high-priority spatial skill. Each use reduces vision by a certain amount. (Note: Reincarnators with a Sage Body can gradually alleviate eye fatigue and slowly recover their vision while resting.)

The Mangekyō Sharingan, upgraded at the cost of S-Rank Plot Points, truly possessed power worthy of its price. Even with a few side effects, it did not matter.

The worst of the blinding effect had been reduced to a minimum with the help of the Sage Body.

However, this also allowed Xu Yue to see another characteristic of the Space.

For top-tier skills in the Space, not only were the skills themselves difficult to obtain, but using them likely also consumed Reincarnation Points and even Plot Items!

The Space’s money-grubbing nature was on full display. Still, Xu Yue guessed this was also a simple restriction on super skills. Those who truly possessed such abilities would not care about that tiny expense, but it would ensure they could not abuse them.

It was like how, in Peace Mode or Cooperation Mode, attacking or killing Reincarnators deducted points. Those with ample resources could afford the deductions, but it prevented indiscriminate slaughter.

Fortunately, there was no need to worry about that in the training space. The daily recovery opportunity could even forcefully restore all fatigue from overuse beyond what the Sage Body could endure.

(Note: The training space’s recovery could only restore consumption incurred during training. If certain lingering special conditions existed before entering the training space, they could not be directly cured there.)

That was precisely why he could use Kamui freely after exhausting all ten training cards.

However, the weakness of the Beginner Training Card had also become apparent. At most, it could summon Chunin-level opponents, and only ordinary Chunin at that. Even then, it could summon only one Chunin, with the rest needing to be made up of Genin.

For now, Xu Yue still had no way to accurately gauge the true extent of his strength.

Given the Mangekyō Sharingan’s nature, if Kamui hit, even Kage-level experts would be instantly killed. His body also possessed the formidable physique of an Advanced Sage Body.

Yet his weaknesses remained those two obvious points.

Training time and the time needed to extract Chakra!

It had taken the big pillar ten years at a time to become the God of Shinobi. Compared to that, Xu Yue’s cultivation time so far was still far too short.

Still, after testing his attacks against the small wooden hut, Xu Yue estimated that without using the Mangekyō, even if he had not quite reached Jonin level, he was more than qualified to be a Special Jonin.

With Advanced Taijutsu Mastery paired with an Advanced Sage Body… well, he counted as a Special Jonin proficient in taijutsu. Why did that feel a little off…

Another point worth mentioning was that Xu Yue’s Mangekyō upgrade had not followed the normal process.

Perhaps because he had only one eye, the Space had given no prompt whatsoever that it could be upgraded. Xu Yue had rented the Space’s advanced operating table and completed the procedure himself using surgical instruments.

After all, he was only replacing one eye, and he could still see with the other. Yet when he began the operation, an upgrade prompt had still appeared.

After charging the exorbitant S-Rank Plot Point upgrade fee, the Space had at least given Xu Yue a small benefit: his Kamui was independent. It had no special connection to Obito and was entirely his own skill!

Furthermore, according to the Space’s information prompt, he had effectively learned in advance the cost of upgrading the other Mangekyō Sharingan. Upgrading the next eye would still require one S-Rank Plot Point, but that would be the fee to unlock a new skill.

Although the Space had not provided any detailed information, Xu Yue, who knew the plot well, could vaguely guess what that S-Rank skill was.

Susanoo…

As for his other Plot Points, aside from spending one A-Rank Plot Point at the Special Auction House to purchase an Identity Rewrite Card with extremely high priority, Xu Yue had not gone on another spending spree. He had saved one S-Rank, two A-Rank, four B-Rank, and two C-Rank Plot Points, as well as more than thirty thousand Reincarnation Points.

He was saving them all to improve his skills within the Space the next time he entered it!

Why save them?

Because of the Promotion Mission, coupled with his captain privileges, the mission notice had come extremely early this time. He had received the prompt almost immediately after completing the arrangements for the "Penguin" Chamber of Commerce.

The Second Shinobi World War had only just ended. The brief peace had yet to heal the wounds of war, and with the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, the entire shinobi world was shrouded in the shadow of the Third Shinobi World War…

The first time, he had obtained the Single Tomoe and Beginner Sage Body. One reason had been the mission rewards from completing his novice status, while the other was that those were both foundational abilities.

But now that his foundation was secure, once he began learning more advanced skills, there was no way the Space’s stingy nature would let him off without charging him. Even if abilities obtained through missions were much cheaper, some super skills would surely remain extremely expensive even after the discount!

(Note: If enough effort is put into completing a mission, exclusive skills can also be directly awarded as mission rewards without any charge. The payment system mainly targets "cutting corners." Even then, the cost will be far below the actual value. This will be shown in greater detail later.)

Besides, with his master-disciple bond with Orochimaru, he could learn skills by spending not only favorability but also Reincarnation Points and Plot Points. It was simply less cost-effective than completing missions or creating skills himself.

"Exit. Return to the real world."

After using up all his time in the training space, Xu Yue prepared to return to the real world and take a breather…

Yawning as he hung out the sign saying the clinic was open, Xu Yue saw a guard standing ramrod straight outside the door. A hint of surprise appeared on his face as he asked in a somewhat doubtful, uncertain tone,

"Sir, are you… Mrs. Wang’s husband’s guard?"

After giving Xu Yue a meticulous salute, the guard nodded and replied in a formulaic tone,

"Doctor Xu, please come to the residence for a discussion."

Hearing this, Xu Yue nodded without hesitation and smiled.

"Is it time for the second course of treatment? Let me make a few preparations."

With that, he returned inside, picked up his medical case, and prepared to leave with the man.

Xu Yue had discovered during his last visit that Mrs. Wang’s mysterious husband was a Reincarnator. However, since that had been their first encounter, Xu Yue had not shown the slightest intention of probing into his identity. He had merely done his job.

He had not expected the man to be such a major figure.

Judging by his strength and identity, he was most likely an important member of Beiyang.

Xu Yue’s intelligence channels had now diversified, and his understanding of many matters had deepened.

Due to the Reincarnation Space, this era differed quite significantly from real history. The Qing Court’s power was not particularly weak. Beiyang firmly held the position of the nation’s second strongest force, while the Eight Banners Valiant and Imperial Guard corps, both ranked outside the top ten, served as support.

Internally, however, there was also Taiping, which should have been wiped out long ago yet still held the fourth rank.

Well, compared to the other seven foreign powers in the top ten, Taiping represented the Western Church. Even the Qing Court was wary of provoking them and did not dare attempt to wipe them out completely.

On the surface, however, Taiping no longer held any actual territory in China and had mostly gone underground. That was another reason the Qing Court could tolerate them.

It was still the same little Western-style house in the concession. Xu Yue continued to maintain his professional conduct, asking no questions and looking at nothing more than necessary.

After smiling and greeting Mrs. Wang, who had deliberately put on a dignified appearance, he followed the guard into the room he had entered once before.

The man, who wore a stern expression and possessed the charm of a middle-aged man along with the bearing of someone in power, set down his newspaper.

"Doctor Xu, you’re here. The previous treatment was indeed effective. I’ll have to trouble you again this time."

As a Beiyang big shot, Wu Pei’s own strength had already reached an unfathomable level. Originally, he had merely smiled at the doctor recommended by his concubine, summoning him last time only with the thought of easing his mind somewhat.

He knew his own body best. His insomnia was entirely due to the difficult situation his corps currently faced: suspicion from the Qing Court, suppression by outside forces, and troubles both within and without.

Otherwise, given his strength, why would he possibly need a doctor?

Yet unexpectedly, after this young doctor whom he had not thought highly of gave him a course of treatment last time, he had truly slept comfortably and soundly that night, without constantly dreaming.

That was why Wu Pei had taken the initiative to invite the doctor over this time.

After setting down the newspaper, Wu Peifu began chatting with the doctor he was meeting for the second time, yet already quite admired.

Xu Yue worked on the massage in his hands and responded casually enough, but inwardly he remained extremely cautious, careful not to reveal his identity as a Reincarnator.

Xu Yue’s masked, businesslike expression naturally made Wu Pei even more satisfied. Very good. He had skill, understood the times, and knew how to behave. Both last time and this time, he knew not to ask indiscreet questions, look around indiscreetly, or speak indiscreetly. He was a young man worth cultivating.

"Since Doctor Xu returned after studying overseas, I assume you wish to contribute to the country and accomplish something. Our corps is severely lacking in military doctors. Would Doctor Xu be willing to honor us with your service?"

The invitation sent countless thoughts through Xu Yue’s mind in an instant. Beiyang was now one of the Celestial Dynasty’s calling cards. At least openly in the real world, it was the Celestial Dynasty’s highest combat force, the shield that preserved its dignity.

For an ordinary doctor returning from abroad, there was indeed no good reason to refuse an invitation from a big shot who was likely part of Beiyang’s upper ranks. Refusing might instead invite suspicion and doubt.

Moreover, given this man’s identity, he most likely wanted to bring Xu Yue into the Reincarnation Space and make him a Reincarnator!

In the past, Xu Yue would have firmly refused even at the risk of arousing some suspicion. Fortunately, he had purchased an Identity Rewrite Card this time. Within the Reincarnation Space, unless someone possessed a skill or item with priority above S-Rank, his identity would not be exposed.

And an S-Rank skill would never be used on a newcomer…

"It would be my greatest honor…"

The reasonable, satisfactory reply made Wu Pei even more pleased with the young man’s tact. He then continued enjoying the treatment…

Note: Here is some information that can now be revealed. Dragon Soul’s guiding principle was "Follow the natural way; embrace all rivers," along with the cold indifference of "Heaven and earth are unkind, treating all things as straw dogs." It did not serve imperial power. After the gentry had coerced the unenlightened lower classes into accepting foreign rulers, it did not intervene.

Among the information that can be revealed, its strongest intervention in this alternate history was directed at the Red Name Player Genghis Khan. It suppressed the Mongol Empire at the height of its power. Wild Boar Skin entering the pass was actually, to a great extent, due to large numbers of collaborators and fence-sitters.

Based on the usual speculation, aside from external factors, Dragon Soul clearly also had people undermining it from behind. That last sentence is merely phrased as a reader’s guess and does not involve spoilers. Perhaps things are not actually like that.