The Purest Otsutsuki Bloodline

A white figure flickered through the mist, frightening Huang Rong and Mu Nianci badly. The latter immediately flung the hidden darts from her waist.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~~

The concealed weapons failed to hit the ghostly figure.

"Sister Mu, that’s a ghost! How can you hit it with ordinary weapons?"

Huang Rong hid behind Chu Yang and complained, "At the very least, you should coat them in black dog blood or something…"

Throwing those two darts had already used up all of Mu Nianci’s courage. She stood stiffly in place, not daring to look around, afraid that a terrifying face would appear before her the next second.

"Little Chu, hurry up and vanquish the demons! Can’t you see how scared Sister Mu is?"

Huang Rong was so anxious she was nearly tearing Chu Yang’s sleeve apart.

"Next time you criticize someone, open your eyes first. You’re practically scared to death yourself, yet you’re talking about someone else." Chu Yang slapped away the hand tugging at his sleeve in disgust, then unleashed his Observation Haki.

That white figure had moved extremely quickly just now, so it was understandable that Huang Rong and the others had mistaken it for a ghost. But Chu Yang had already caught sight of its form and could confirm it was human. Even if it really were a ghost, it would not matter. After all, he was also a Shinigami. This was right in his field of expertise.

His Observation Haki quickly locked onto the target. The other party was rapidly circling back.

The white figure flashed past again, frightening Huang Rong and Mu Nianci into clutching each other and trembling.

Chu Yang was somewhat puzzled. The other party did not seem to bear them any ill will.

They had clearly had the chance to attack just now, yet had merely tried to scare them.

Why?

"It feels like she’s trying to drive us away. Could it be…"

A sharp glint flashed through Chu Yang’s eyes as he guessed the white figure’s identity.

He had been wondering how to find the Tomb of the Living Dead in these mountains, but by sheer luck, he had stumbled upon a clue.

When the white figure flew over their heads for the third time, Chu Yang directly knocked her unconscious with his Conqueror’s Haki.

"Mmph…"

The white figure let out a muffled groan. It was as though someone had punched her in the head, and she fell stiffly from midair.

She landed right in front of Mu Nianci and Huang Rong.

"Ahhh!!!"

The two were so frightened that they lost their wits, tears welling at the corners of their eyes.

"I thought you used to be pretty brave. You never believed in gods, ghosts, or any of that stuff, so why are you jumping at every little thing now?"

Chu Yang looked at Huang Rong in speechless confusion. When he had first met her, she had seemed utterly fearless.

"I didn’t believe in this stuff before, but after meeting you, I have no choice but to believe. You’re a living example standing right in front of me."

Huang Rong explained indignantly.

Chu Yang suddenly understood. In Huang Rong’s eyes, since he could use magic, the existence of ghosts and gods was hardly surprising…

"Miss Huang, this seems to be a person?" Mu Nianci wiped her reddened, swollen eyes. After examining the figure several times, she finally confirmed that the person before her was a girl dressed in white.

She was quite young, even younger than Huang Rong.

Hearing that it was a person, Huang Rong frowned and walked over to Mu Nianci’s side. After looking down for a few moments and confirming it, she suddenly raised her foot to kick her.

Mu Nianci hurriedly grabbed her. "Miss Huang, what are you doing?"

"This little brat scared me half to death. I’m going to kick her to death today!" Huang Rong snarled furiously, baring her teeth as though she wanted to devour someone. "Don’t hold me back, Sister Mu!"

Mu Nianci did not move aside. Instead, she turned and looked helplessly at Chu Yang.

Chu Yang reached out and pressed a hand against Huang Rong’s head, signaling for her to calm down. "Bear with it for now. We still need her help to find the Tomb of the Living Dead."

Huang Rong turned her head away angrily.

Mu Nianci quickly asked, "Brother Chu, is this little girl the successor of the Ancient Tomb Sect you mentioned?"

Chu Yang nodded.

Huang Rong snorted. "How can you prove that? Other than wearing white, she doesn’t have any token showing which sect she belongs to."

Chu Yang smiled. "Other than Quanzhen Sect Taoists, there are no outsiders on this mountain. If she isn’t from the Ancient Tomb Sect, who else could she be? And she’s a girl, too."

Huang Rong neither agreed nor disagreed, silently committing the girl’s appearance to memory.

Chu Yang could tell that the little girl was quite vindictive. She would most likely seek revenge in the future.

Judging by her age, this girl could not possibly be Little Dragon Girl.

Little Dragon Girl was at most three or four years old right now, while this girl looked only a few years younger than Huang Rong.

The answer was already obvious.

"Red Serpent Fairy, Li Mochou."

Looking at the sweet and adorable girl before him, Chu Yang found it difficult to imagine that she would grow into a female demon lord in the future.

"Miss Mu, please tie up her hands and feet, then wake her."

"Alright, Brother Chu."

Following Chu Yang’s instructions, Mu Nianci tied up Li Mochou’s hands and feet, then gently pressed the point beneath her nose.

With a soft whimper, Li Mochou slowly woke up.

The instant she saw Chu Yang, her entire body shuddered, and she immediately became fully alert.

"I… how did I…"

Li Mochou spoke in a panic, unable to form a coherent sentence. The strange sensation from earlier remained fresh in her mind. It felt as if someone had viciously struck her head.

Chu Yang asked, "I have an important matter and need to meet the Sect Leader of the Ancient Tomb Sect. May I ask if Miss Li can lead us to the Tomb of the Living Dead?"

Li Mochou asked in shock, "How do you know my name? And how do you know about the Ancient Tomb Sect and the Tomb of the Living Dead?"

Chu Yang casually made something up. "My family has been friends with Mahito Wang Chongyang of Quanzhen Sect for generations, so I know a few things that others do not."

Huang Rong whispered by his ear, "Last time, you told Uncle Yang that your family had been fortune-tellers for generations…"

Chu Yang replied, "Taoists are fortune-tellers. Isn’t it perfectly normal for one group of fortune-tellers to be old friends with another?"

Huang Rong nodded. "Makes sense."

Li Mochou had heard her master mention the old story between their founder, Lin Chaoying, and Wang Chongyang.

She knew that the Tomb of the Living Dead where the Ancient Tomb Sect now resided had originally been built by Wang Chongyang as a secluded refuge.

Chu Yang claimed to have ties with Wang Chongyang and wanted to enter the Tomb of the Living Dead. From Li Mochou’s perspective, it was difficult to tell whether he was speaking the truth.

The only thing she could be certain of was… the situation was not in her favor.

Chu Yang was willing to be polite before resorting to force because she had not explicitly refused him. Li Mochou understood that it did not mean his attitude would remain the same later.

After thinking it over, Li Mochou nodded and agreed to lead Chu Yang and the others to the Tomb of the Living Dead.

They don’t know the way to the Tomb of the Living Dead. I’ll find a chance to shake them off, then report this to Granny Sun.

Master just passed away, and someone immediately came looking for the Ancient Tomb Sect. They must be up to no good!

Li Mochou was only in her teens, and all her thoughts were written across her face. How could she deceive the quick-witted Huang Rong?

Huang Rong sneered but said nothing. She quietly followed behind Li Mochou, wanting to see what she was up to.

Once they entered the dense forest, the mist grew even thicker. Li Mochou seized the opportunity and leaped into the fog.

"You little brat, I knew you were up to something!"

Huang Rong shouted and was about to use her lightness skill to chase after her, but Chu Yang pressed a hand on her shoulder.

She turned around and looked at him in confusion.

"We’ll just follow behind her. She’ll lead us to the Ancient Tomb Sect."

Mu Nianci asked in confusion, "Brother Chu, the fog is so thick, and we aren’t familiar with the terrain. It’ll be easy to lose her."

"Don’t worry. I know where she is."

Chu Yang’s Observation Haki had already locked onto Li Mochou. He was not afraid of losing her unless Li Mochou could teleport.

The scenery on either side rapidly flew backward as Li Mochou pushed her lightness skill to its limit.

Having lived in the ancient tomb for so many years, this was her first time encountering outsiders. Granny Sun had always described the people outside as terrifying. Seeing them today, they were indeed just as Granny Sun had said. She had nearly fallen into their hands.

What kind of wicked technique did that man use? I lost consciousness in the blink of an eye.

What if he’s some lecherous brute? Then wouldn’t I…

Running through the cold wind, Li Mochou grew more frightened the more she thought about it, shuddering several times in succession.

Adolescent girls truly had vivid imaginations. In no time at all, she had imagined Chu Yang as utterly vile.

Yet she was so absorbed in her imagination that she did not notice Chu Yang and the others following behind her.

While the thick forest fog blocked Chu Yang’s vision, it also concealed him.

After following the girl as she twisted and turned through the mountains, the greenery around them gradually faded away. Chu Yang looked around and saw bare earthen slopes everywhere, resembling a mass graveyard.

Among them stood a particularly conspicuous, towering gravestone.

"The Tomb of the Living Dead… it really is a cemetery? I thought it was just an unusual name…"

The eerie surroundings made Huang Rong frown as she and Mu Nianci subtly edged closer to Chu Yang.

"That grave is the entrance to the Ancient Tomb Sect. Let’s go over."

Chu Yang walked toward the towering gravestone and studied it for a while before placing his hand against it. The material was astonishingly hard.

Huang Rong copied him and pressed her hand against the gravestone. She gave a soft gasp. "It’s so hard. It doesn’t seem like ordinary stone."

Mu Nianci asked, "Brother Chu, you said this is the entrance. How do we get in? Should we greet the owner of this place first…?"

Chu Yang shook his head with a laugh. "Put nicely, I came here to take something. Put bluntly, I came to snatch it by force. If you were the owner, would you invite me in?"

Mu Nianci’s eyes widened, and she could not speak for a long while. In her heart, Chu Yang was an immortal. If an immortal wanted to take something from mortals, how was she supposed to judge that?

Huang Rong asked curiously, "Little Chu, what exactly are you here to take?"

Only then did Chu Yang explain the reason. "Wang Chongyang carved part of the Nine Yin Manual inside the Ancient Tomb Sect. I want to borrow it for a look."

"The Nine Yin Manual?!"

Huang Rong and Mu Nianci cried out at the same time. Huang Rong looked at Chu Yang with an especially complicated expression.

"No matter how powerful the Nine Yin Manual is, it’s still mortal martial arts. You can already use magic, so why do you still want to read that manual?"

"I’m a rather curious person."

Chu Yang brushed it off. He could not exactly say that he knew nothing about martial arts and needed the Nine Yin Manual as an encyclopedia for reference.

Otherwise, he might not be able to understand other martial arts…

Having explained himself, Chu Yang was about to break open the entrance when the gravestone before him suddenly began to shake.

Chu Yang stepped back several paces. The gravestone slowly turned, and a ghostly figure flew out from within.

"Where did such an unreasonable, hostile guest come from? Not only did you bully a disciple of my Ancient Tomb Sect, you even dare come to our doorstep looking for trouble?"

The black shadow moved like lightning, charging before Chu Yang in the blink of an eye. Huang Rong and Mu Nianci only saw a blur before their eyes and did not even have time to shout a warning.

Back then, in order to defeat Wang Chongyang, Lin Chaoying had chosen an unconventional path. Thus, the Ancient Tomb Sect’s martial arts prioritized speed over power. Lin Chaoying believed that as long as she could hit Wang Chongyang, there was no need to hit him too hard for it to count as a victory.

To put it bluntly, she had simply been a girl in love who wanted to beat her boyfriend but could not bear to hit him too hard…

Unfortunately, although Wang Chongyang knew of Lin Chaoying’s feelings, he had devoted his life to resisting Jin–Liao and could not accept her.

Speed alone posed no threat to Chu Yang, because his Observation Haki could predict an enemy’s attacks.

The instant the black shadow rushed forward, Chu Yang had already raised his foot and kicked.

Almost as soon as the person finished speaking, their face rammed straight into Chu Yang’s foot. With a miserable cry, they flew backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Only then did Huang Rong and Mu Nianci see clearly who had attacked Chu Yang: an old granny in her fifties or sixties…

"Oh no! Granny, are you alright?" Mu Nianci covered her mouth and cried out, then hurried over to help the old woman up.

Chu Yang was also somewhat embarrassed. As he walked over, he scratched his head and said, "Elder, I didn’t mean to. Please forgive me."

The footprint on the old woman’s face was so clear that it looked like a tattoo at first glance.

That perfectly placed kick had not only interrupted the old woman’s attack, but had also successfully thrown out her back. When Mu Nianci went to help her, her face looked as though she were wearing a mask of pain.

"Ow, ow, ow…"

The old woman’s cries made Chu Yang feel even guiltier. He was a model young man raised under the red flag. When had he ever done something as shameful as bullying the elderly?

"Little Yellow! Hurry up and take a look at the elder! What are you staring around for?"

Chu Yang turned and signaled to Huang Rong with his eyes. She was standing there blankly, staring at the gravestone.

"Little Chu, there seems to be a child over there…"

Huang Rong pointed toward the opening behind the gravestone. A pink-cheeked little girl was hiding there, secretly peeking outside.

"She’s so adorable, like a little doll!!!"

Huang Rong’s eyes filled with hearts as though she had spotted a beloved toy. She darted forward in a single stride.

"Long’er, hide quickly!"

The old woman’s expression changed, and she cried out anxiously.

The little girl seemed frightened. She turned and ran, vanishing into the pitch-black entrance. Huang Rong was somewhat scared herself and stopped beside the gravestone.

"Elder, don’t be nervous. I bear no ill will toward the Ancient Tomb Sect, and I won’t harm any of you. I merely wish to look at what Patriarch Wang Chongyang left inside. I’ll leave once I’m done and won’t stay."

Chu Yang tried his best to smile kindly.

"I’ve lived inside for more than ten years and have never heard of Wang Chongyang leaving anything behind. Don’t even think of deceiving this old woman!"

The old woman sucked in cold breaths from the pain in her lower back, yet she did not forget to glare viciously at Chu Yang.

Chu Yang curled his lips. "Would they tell you every last detail about a couple’s affairs? It’s not like you were a maid who came with the bride."

The old woman was so angry that she could only glare at him.

"Granny, calm down first. I’ll massage your back."

Mu Nianci placed both hands on the old woman’s waist. The latter first shuddered, then her expression eased considerably. It seemed that Mu Nianci’s massage was effective.

She had traveled the Jianghu with Yang Tiexin for years. Whenever Yang Tiexin suffered bruises or injuries, she was usually the one who cared for him. Over time, she had developed quite a skill.

Seeing this, Huang Rong also stepped forward to help treat the old woman’s back injury. Her father was Huang Yaoshi, a renowned master of many arts with exceptional medical skill. Having grown up around him, she had learned quite a bit.

The gentle efforts of the two girls quickly won over the old woman. Her attitude improved greatly, and after hesitating for a while, she introduced herself.

She was Granny Sun.

Granny Sun was not Lin Chaoying’s disciple. She had been someone Lin Chaoying rescued by chance, and only after pleading bitterly had she been allowed to enter the Ancient Tomb Sect. In name, she was the Ancient Tomb Sect’s steward.

Lin Chaoying’s Direct Disciple had been her personal maid, who was also the master of Little Dragon Girl and Li Mochou.

That woman had passed away not long ago, which was why Granny Sun and Li Mochou had been so sensitive.

Huang Rong was very good at pleasing elders. Before long, Granny Sun revealed the current state of the Ancient Tomb Sect, which was lacking in successors.

In truth, it was not such a serious matter.

For a secluded sect like the Ancient Tomb Sect that avoided worldly conflicts, even if it lacked successors for the moment, the next generation of disciples would grow up in ten or twenty years.

Take Li Mochou, for example. In about ten years, she became the Red Serpent Fairy whom the Jianghu feared even to mention…

Granny Sun’s current situation was much the same as Li Mochou’s earlier one.

Chu Yang’s kick had already shown the old woman whose fist was harder. Part of her friendly attitude came from taking the chance to back down gracefully.

The group followed the long stone passage downward. The dark, damp surroundings gave off an intense horror-movie vibe.

Feeling the two hands clutching her arm grow tighter and tighter, Granny Sun chuckled. "Don’t be afraid, Little Girls. This stretch is just a little dark. It’ll be fine once we go farther down."

Just as Granny Sun had said, after passing through the narrow stone passage, the space ahead suddenly opened up.

"Back then, Wang Chongyang carved out this Stone Chamber for secluded cultivation."

Granny Sun proudly introduced the Ancient Tomb Sect to the two girls.

She had expected them to marvel at the Ancient Tomb Sect’s miraculous construction, but Huang Rong and Mu Nianci remained utterly calm, even looking a little bored.

Granny Sun froze.

She did not know that Huang Rong and Mu Nianci had already witnessed far more extraordinary things.

Compared to Chu Yang’s wondrous methods of creating hidden mysteries within cramped spaces, carving out a Stone Chamber in a mountain was hardly remarkable.

Granny Sun awkwardly turned around and coughed. "Ahem, little brother, this is the Ancient Tomb Sect. What exactly is the thing Wang Chongyang left behind? This old woman has been here for many years, yet I have never heard the founder mention it."

Rather than answering directly, Chu Yang asked, "May I ask which tomb chamber enshrines Founder Lin Chaoying?"

Granny Sun answered with some difficulty, "That is an important place of our sect. Outsiders may not enter."

The atmosphere suddenly stiffened.

Seeing this, Huang Rong hurried forward, took Granny Sun’s hand, and coquettishly said, "Granny, we didn’t come here to cause trouble. The only reason we wish to enter Founder Lin Chaoying’s tomb chamber is because we admire such an extraordinary woman and wish to pay our respects!"

"Little Chu said that Founder Lin Chaoying’s martial arts and talent far surpassed Wang Chongyang’s. She was merely trapped by love and thus willingly remained behind him. If they were truly compared, she would be the real number one under heaven!"

Huang Rong’s smooth tongue launched into a string of lavish praises, leaving Granny Sun practically floating on air. Never mind her—even Lin Chaoying herself probably would not have been able to withstand it if she came back to life.

Chu Yang rolled his eyes. He had never said anything like that to Huang Rong, though he himself did believe Lin Chaoying’s talent and gifts exceeded Wang Chongyang’s.

The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra broke every martial art of the Quanzhen Sect. Wang Chongyang had no way to reverse-engineer the moves within the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and could only give up. Later, after winning the Nine Yin Manual at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, he drew upon the martial principles within it to devise a countermeasure and regain some ground.

"Little brother, your family has been friends with Wang Chongyang’s for generations. To speak such fair words has truly made this old woman see you in a new light. Very well. Since that is the case, I shall take you to pay respects to Founder Lin Chaoying."

At this time, Little Dragon Girl and Li Mochou had not yet grown up and could not be considered the Ancient Tomb Sect’s Sect Leaders. Granny Sun, acting as the housekeeper, made the decision on their behalf, which was not overstepping her authority.

Granny Sun then led the three of them toward Lin Chaoying’s tomb chamber, which was also the burial chamber of the successive Sect Leaders of the Ancient Tomb Sect.

Li Mochou’s master had only just been buried. A century later, Little Dragon Girl would also be laid to rest here.

After walking for a while, Chu Yang, at the back of the group, suddenly heard movement behind him. The sound of a sharp sword slicing through the air reached his ears.

"Villain, take my sword!"

"Miss, stop!"

The two voices rang out one after another.

Chu Yang used Armament Haki to take the sneak attack from behind head-on. Yet at the instant the sword tip struck the center of his back, he suddenly felt the faintest sting.

It was extremely slight, almost negligible, but it meant the internal energy carried by the sword tip had pierced through the Armament Haki’s defense!

Chu Yang was somewhat surprised.

Unfortunately, Li Mochou’s internal energy was too weak. The longsword in her hand exploded into fragments, and she herself was sent flying.

Granny Sun’s expression changed drastically. Though Li Mochou was young, her internal energy had already reached a respectable level. Yet that young man surnamed Chu had sent her flying with sheer physical toughness alone. His mastery of external training was truly astonishing!

Li Mochou crashed to the ground in a heap, seeing stars and hurting too badly to speak.

"Senior Sister!"

In the distance, that delicate, doll-like little child came rushing toward Li Mochou again. She could barely walk steadily, and running was even worse, swaying about as though she were drunkenly practicing a fist technique.

As expected, she fell hard onto her backside and sat on the ground, wailing loudly.

Granny Sun stepped forward to help Li Mochou up, then held the little girl in her arms and softly comforted her for a few moments. She then turned to Li Mochou. "Miss Mochou, Mr. Chu and the others mean no harm. They merely wish to pay respects to Founder Lin Chaoying. Do not be rude again!"

Li Mochou glared furiously at Chu Yang. It was all this man’s fault! She had taken two terrible falls today and felt as if her whole body were falling apart!

"Granny, they’re clearly bad people…"

"Enough!"

For the first time ever, Granny Sun spoke sharply to Li Mochou, frightening the girl so badly that her remaining words stopped short.

Old friends or villains, what mattered most to Granny Sun now was that both sides remained safe and unharmed. As for what Chu Yang and the others intended to take, she no longer wished to ask.

If she insisted on pursuing the matter, today might well become the day the Ancient Tomb Sect was destroyed. If anything truly went wrong, how could she answer Founder Lin Chaoying in the underworld?

Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward again, Huang Rong immediately became an expert at breaking the ice. She walked over to Granny Sun and began playing with the little girl. Before long, the whimpering child was laughing merrily at her teasing.

"Granny, what is this little cutie’s name?"

"Her name is Long’er. She is an orphan girl adopted by the Sect Leader."

"Long’er? What a lovely name. Be good, Long’er. Don’t be afraid. Big brother and big sisters aren’t bad people, so don’t worry."

Long’er lay in Granny Sun’s arms, her round eyes studying Huang Rong. Then her gaze shifted, settling on Chu Yang.

So she really was Little Dragon Girl…

Mu Nianci also stepped forward to play with Little Dragon Girl.

"Ha ha ha, that tickles! Big sister, don’t!"

Mu Nianci showed no mercy, continuously tickling her.

Chu Yang took several deep breaths.

I’m not into little girls, but this really is a little hard to resist!

Comrade Chu Yang had ultimately fallen to corruption. His feet moved forward of their own accord.

The next moment, a figure blocked his path.

Li Mochou snorted angrily.

"You’re not allowed to touch her!"

After pushing the childish Li Mochou aside, Granny Sun led Chu Yang and the others into Lin Chaoying’s tomb chamber. When the stone door opened, the first thing they saw was a scroll as tall as a person.

The scroll depicted an incomparably beautiful woman. Heroic spirit shone from between her brows, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with life. She perfectly embodied the term heroic maiden.

"This is Founder Lin Chaoying. If you wish to pay your respects, please come with me."

As she spoke, Granny Sun walked behind the scroll, took out several sticks of incense, handed them respectively to Chu Yang, Huang Rong, and Mu Nianci, and lit them one by one.

Chu Yang genuinely admired this extraordinary woman. He bent at the waist in reverence, then placed the incense into the burner on the offering table.

Huang Rong and Mu Nianci did the same.

Granny Sun smiled and asked, "You have seen what there is to see and paid your respects. Along the way, you have viewed most of the Ancient Tomb Sect. Have you found the relic Wang Chongyang left behind?"

Chu Yang pointed upward in the tomb chamber.

Granny Sun raised her head in the direction he indicated, then froze completely.

The ceiling of the tomb chamber was covered in writing. Granny Sun read it carefully and discovered that it was the complete text of the Ancient Tomb Sect’s ultimate art, the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra!

Huang Rong and Mu Nianci had only glanced at it when they heard Chu Yang remind them, "This is the Ancient Tomb Sect’s ultimate art. We’d better not look too closely."

The two girls understood the importance of the matter and quickly averted their eyes.

"The thing we need is in the tomb chamber next door, so we won’t stay any longer…"

Chu Yang turned to leave, but heard Granny Sun ask from behind him.

"May I ask, Mr. Chu, what is written in the tomb chamber next door?"

Chu Yang explained, "Back then, Founder Lin Chaoying used the martial arts within the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra to break every martial art of the Quanzhen Sect, then carved them within this tomb chamber. Founder Wang Chongyang was helpless against them."

"Years later, at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, he obtained the Nine Yin Manual. Drawing upon the martial principles within it, he came up with a method to restrain the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, then carved it into the other tomb chamber together with the Nine Yin Manual."

Granny Sun snorted coldly. "Shameless!"

Chu Yang shook his head with a smile, offering no further comment. He pushed open the door to the other tomb chamber and immediately saw the Nine Yin Manual carved into the stone wall above.

He skimmed through it rapidly and soon memorized the entire text.

However, he was still unfamiliar with the martial principles within and needed time to study them.

Granny Sun followed closely behind, her expression complicated as she watched Chu Yang silently memorize the Nine Yin Manual. Had it been anyone else today, she would never have allowed them to leave this ancient tomb.

Not even Huang Rong and Mu Nianci.

A treasure like the Nine Yin Manual was enough to drive anyone in the world mad. If word got out, countless Jianghu experts would likely swarm the Tomb of the Living Dead to seize it.

For them, that would undoubtedly be a catastrophe.

"Please rest assured, Granny Sun. What happened today will never reach the ears of a third person."

After memorizing the Nine Yin Manual, Chu Yang was the first to speak, dispelling Granny Sun’s concerns.

"Thank you, Mr. Chu."

Granny Sun breathed a sigh of relief.

Their purpose for this trip had been achieved, and Chu Yang prepared to take his leave.

Before they left, Granny Sun gave them several jars of honey.

Chu Yang had revealed the tomb chamber’s secret and left the Ancient Tomb Sect with a copy of the Nine Yin Manual. A few jars of honey were not an insignificant gesture.

The Ancient Tomb Sect kept apart from worldly affairs and had no treasure of equal value to the Nine Yin Manual.

Granny Sun saw Chu Yang and the others out of the ancient tomb. Little Dragon Girl began whimpering in her arms. After spending half the day together, she had grown familiar with the two older sisters and was somewhat reluctant to part with them.

Li Mochou stared at Chu Yang the entire time, her anger still unspent. She could only throw out a threat that barely counted as one. "When my martial arts are complete, I will surely avenge today’s humiliation!"

The moment her words fell, Granny Sun smacked the back of her head, sending her fleeing with her head in her hands. Her threat turned into a scream.

"Ow! Ow! Granny, stop hitting me! I know I was wrong!"

Li Mochou begged tearfully.

Amid her cries, everyone left Mount Zhongnan and headed toward the Northern Song Dynasty.

Naruto world.

Konoha, beneath the Death Forest.

Chu Yang’s secret laboratory was operating in an orderly fashion. The task of extracting the Otsutsuki Bloodline had reached its final stage. A Lineage Factor analyzer a full ten meters tall stood in the middle of the laboratory, constantly trembling and emitting a low hum.

Numerous Shadow Clones watched the machine nervously.

Beep~ Beep~ Beep~

The machine’s green indicator light came on, signifying that the extraction and synthesis of the Lineage Factor had been completed.

Chu Yang took a deep breath and stepped forward, removing a crystal-clear test tube from the machine.

The substance inside lay somewhere between liquid and gas. It was a translucent mist-like substance, dreamlike and fantastically dazzling.

This was the Lineage Factor of the Otsutsuki clan!

"It finally worked!!!"

All the Shadow Clones cheered. The only person who could understand Chu Yang’s hardships over this period was Chu Yang himself.

A moment later, Chu Yang lay down inside a biological chamber that had long been prepared and instructed the clones to complete the subsequent transplantation procedure.

The test tube containing the Lineage Factor was placed into a slot at the top of the biological chamber. As the indicator light came on, the Lineage Factor inside rapidly dissipated and was injected into Chu Yang’s body.

The biological chamber, both inside and out, became wrapped in vast amounts of crystalline gas. The Shadow Clones outside seemed to suffer some inexplicable attack and vanished one after another.

The laboratory became extremely empty, and the silence was somewhat unnerving.

At the same time, the biological chamber emitted a sharp, urgent alarm. Its red indicator lights flashed frantically.

The mist that had spread out also turned blood-red.

No one knew how long the alarm rang before it suddenly stopped. The red mist seemed to be sucked away by a powerful force, spiraling back into the biological chamber.

As the view gradually cleared, Chu Yang’s figure quietly emerged. His appearance had changed drastically. It was as though he had grown overnight from a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy into a young man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

His black hair had also turned white.

His body had become more robust, and a terrifying pressure faintly radiated from him…

The next moment.

Chu Yang abruptly opened his eyes. His pupils were no longer black, but snow-white, with a faint gold color at their deepest point.

Then.

His pupils changed again, revealing rings of spiral patterns as black tomoe-like dots flickered in and out around them.

"Are these eyes of mine the Rinnegan, the Tenseigan, or both?"

Chu Yang was very curious. He could feel that his eyes possessed extraordinarily powerful strength, especially in the Time-Space Domain.

With the aid of Lineage Factor technology, Chu Yang could be said to be the Otsutsuki clansman with the highest bloodline concentration at present. He might even surpass Kaguya Otsutsuki.

What changes might occur in his Kekkei Genkai were impossible to predict.

"No wonder so many people are obsessed with the pleasure brought by power. This feeling of holding everything in my hands is truly wonderful."

Chu Yang smiled faintly, then clenched his fists. He instantly activated Sage Mode, and a golden haori woven from Chakra appeared around him, emanating terrifying energy fluctuations.

Because the fusion effect of the Lineage Factor was even better than Chu Yang had anticipated, the Six Paths Sage Mode he now wielded was also far more powerful than expected.

"Now, I might even be able to contend with the true body of the Sage of Six Paths…"

Chu Yang smiled in satisfaction, then deactivated Sage Mode and entered another room filled with instruments.

At the center were nine enormous glass tanks containing portions of Chakra from the nine tailed beasts. Sealing formations lay beneath the tanks.

This was the cultivation chamber for the Ten-Tails.

The Ten-Tails was the incarnation of the God Tree. If Chu Yang wanted to obtain the God Tree’s fruit, he had to revive the Ten-Tails. He could not imitate Kaguya Otsutsuki and use the planet beneath his feet as nourishment.

He had no intention of becoming an enemy of the world, especially not by standing against Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

Chu Yang summoned Shadow Clones and continued the previous work. The laboratory once again became busy.

"A Demon-Level Threat has been spotted near the city this morning. All residents are advised to leave as soon as possible and take refuge in other cities."

Chu Yang, who had been preparing to leave for work, turned back and stared blankly at the news on the television.

Since arriving in this world, Chu Yang had spent nearly every day in fear.

The terrifying attacks by monsters had never stopped. Today they would destroy an entire neighborhood; tomorrow they would kill a group of civilians.

The death toll broadcast on the news every day often gnawed at Chu Yang’s nerves, reminding him that he might become the next victim.

The time he felt despair most intensely was one morning, when he heard at work that a colleague had died in a monster attack.

She was a girl with a beautiful smile.

They had been drinking together the night before.

She had been gentle and kind, often encouraging the pessimistic Chu Yang to face this world positively.

He had even imagined what it would be like if the two of them dated someday.

And then…

The unfortunate news nearly shattered Chu Yang’s last psychological defense.

If only he and the girl had encountered the monster together back then and left this hateful world together.

That thought carved itself deep into Chu Yang’s mind.

Having been transported into a world like this, Chu Yang felt a powerless exhaustion well up from the depths of his heart.

I can’t do anything. What meaning is there in living in this world like this?

Chu Yang set down his briefcase, along with the idea of following the crowd to safety.

After taking one last look at the television and confirming where the Demon-Level Threat had appeared, he left his apartment alone.

Rather than live on in constant fear, he would rather bravely choose how he died.

On the streets, people fled with their families. Those with cars drove; those without walked. Countless people were trying to get as far away as possible from where the monster had appeared.

Chu Yang was like a reef, moving against the tide of people.

A kind passerby thought he had been scared senseless and grabbed his arm. "Hey, kid, you’re going the wrong way. There’s a Demon-Level Threat over there!"

Chu Yang pushed the passerby’s hand away, nodded in thanks, and disappeared back into the crowd.

Watching Chu Yang’s departing back, the passerby seemed to understand something, and his expression suddenly dimmed.

Just like that, fewer and fewer people remained around Chu Yang.

By the time he reached the vicinity of what had once been the city’s busiest park, there was no one left around him!

The surroundings were deathly quiet, as though the city itself had died.

"Waa… waa… Mommy."

Crying came from ahead. When Chu Yang looked closely, he saw a little boy standing at the park entrance. Beside him, his mother was slumped on the ground.

The woman clutched her lower leg in pain. It was bruised purple and blue, apparently broken after she had been struck during the escape, leaving her unable to move.

As the crowd went farther and farther away, despair appeared on the boy’s mother’s face.

Chu Yang stopped walking and stood there blankly.

Should he go find that Demon-Level Threat, or help this mother and son escape?

"Even if I help them, they won’t get far. In the end, they’ll still be caught and killed by the Demon-Level Threat. There’s no point…"

With that thought, Chu Yang started walking again, expressionless as he went around the little boy and his mother.

"Big brother, don’t go that way! There’s a monster over there! You’ll die!"

When the little boy saw Chu Yang, he hurriedly ran over and clutched at his pant leg, crying so hard he could barely speak.

"You… weren’t trying to ask me for help?"

Chu Yang was somewhat surprised.

"Mom said you can’t help us by yourself. We can’t hold you back. She told me to tell you to leave quickly!"

The little boy gritted his teeth and tried to cry more quietly. His mother was also telling him to leave, but he simply did not want to go.

The boy instinctively tightened his grip on Chu Yang’s pant leg, and Chu Yang realized that the boy actually wanted to ask him for help.

In the end, the little boy let go and silently watched Chu Yang leave.

Just as Chu Yang was about to disappear from the boy’s sight, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and came back. Without another word, he hoisted the woman onto his back.

"Move faster! The monster’s coming!"

At Chu Yang’s warning, the little boy nodded wildly with joy. His mother lay on Chu Yang’s back, thanking him over and over.

Chu Yang did not respond. He charged ahead with all his strength, using more power than he ever had in his life.

Unfortunately…

He was only an ordinary person.

Before he had run very far, he was so exhausted he could barely breathe, and his speed grew slower and slower.

In the end.

At an intersection, they encountered that Demon-Level Threat!

Faced with death, Chu Yang was calmer than he had imagined. The woman on his back, however, was already trembling violently.

The sound of her teeth clattering reached Chu Yang’s ears.

The little boy was at a complete loss, his face blank.

Before them stood a moth-like monster covered from head to toe in black carapace. It looked at Chu Yang mockingly. "I’ve actually been following behind you all this time. I just wanted to watch you struggle to survive. Thanks to you, it was very entertaining. If I get the chance, I’d like to watch it again."

Chu Yang set the woman down and instructed her, "I know you’re in too much pain to move, but if you want your child to survive, then you have to move even if you can’t."

With that, Chu Yang walked toward the moth monster alone.

The woman understood that Chu Yang intended to use his life to buy them time. Crying, she pulled her child along and ran toward the other side of the street.

The moth monster watched with great interest and did not stop them. Instead, it feigned curiosity and asked, "What’s the point of doing this? Do you really think you can stop me?"

Chu Yang took off his loose tie and wrapped it around his hand. Then he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it before answering, "I said from the beginning that there was no point. But before I die, I want to ask you a question."

"Ask away." The moth monster grinned. It had not encountered such an interesting human in a long time.

"Two months ago, did you run into a girl around here?"

"A girl? Hmm… Oh! I remember now. There was indeed a girl. I was in a good mood that day and came out for a stroll. Halfway through, I felt like I’d bumped into something, only to find that it was a person…"

The moth monster laughed hysterically. "She was so weak, like an ant. I didn’t even notice her. I was just passing by, and after a light bump, she died. Hahaha!"

"Mm. I understand." Chu Yang tossed the last cigarette butt at his feet and crushed it out, then charged toward the moth monster.

The moth monster scratched its head and casually waved a hand, sending Chu Yang flying.

Like a doll, Chu Yang slammed hard into a car by the roadside. The door caved in from the impact, and glass shattered all over the ground.

"Hahaha, you didn’t really think you were some kind of hero, did you?"

"Well then… Mr. Hero, I still have to go find that mother and son, so I’ll be leaving now. Just stay here and wait obediently for death."

Listening to the moth monster’s mocking words, Chu Yang kept coughing up blood as the world before his eyes gradually darkened.

After an unknown amount of time.

He heard someone calling him.

"Hey, newbie, you still sleeping here?"

"Get up, it’s time for a meeting!"