Chapter 225: Curse
"So the cause of immortality isn't human experimentation, but the effect of some kind of jutsu?" Masahiko was slightly surprised.
Altars like this generally had one of two functions. Like the Altar of Wind in the Land of Wind or the Dragon Vein Altar, they served a sealing purpose. Others, like the one before him, were designed to utilize or amplify the effect of a specific technique.
"If it really is a jutsu, this is probably even stronger than the Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation)." Masahiko frowned.
The two people beside him had already stepped forward on their own, inspecting every corner of the place. The green light reflecting in Orochimaru's eyes made Masahiko pause.
"Damn it. I was wondering why Orochimaru volunteered for this mission. Turns out he had his eyes on the Jashin Cult's immortality."
Masahiko took a few steps forward. "Orochimaru, did you figure anything out?" He was genuinely worried that Orochimaru might create an immortal army in the future—a swarm of little Hidans rushing at him would be terrifying...
Orochimaru paused, then shook his head. "No gains."
Masahiko glanced at him and sighed helplessly. He really couldn't tell if Orochimaru was telling the truth.
"Immortal army... whatever. My Optimus Prime fears nothing."
They checked every corner of the room. Apart from having a "Jashin" statue much larger than in other places, there was nothing special.
Finally, the gazes of the three landed on the altar.
Masahiko looked left and right, then smiled. "Jiraiya, go up and scout the path."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. This place looked bizarre no matter how you looked at it; he wasn't stupid.
However, after hesitating, he sat down cross-legged. Shortly after, Masahiko sensed natural energy gathering rapidly toward him.
"Entering Sage Mode to scout?" Masahiko was moved. Originally, he was just teasing Jiraiya, intending to go scout himself since he was the strongest. He didn't expect that Jiraiya, now past thirty, had finally learned to "respect the elderly."
"Of course, it's more likely he wants to protect his best friend." Masahiko glanced at Orochimaru with a smile.
Unexpectedly, Orochimaru was doing the same thing as Jiraiya.
"Heh, these two are really interesting." Masahiko also sat down cross-legged, waiting for them to finish. It was a good chance to witness their Sage Modes.
About two minutes later, Orochimaru entered Sage Mode first.
Aside from his already pale skin becoming even paler, some white scales grew on Orochimaru's face.
"What did the White Snake Sage do to him?" Masahiko muttered inwardly. The scales on Orochimaru's face looked just like the White Snake Sage's.
Masahiko wasn't sure if it was his illusion, but Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya, who was still sitting cross-legged, with a hint of "disdain."
"That idiot learned Senjutsu earlier than Orochimaru, yet takes longer to enter. He deserves the disdain."
But this was good. Masahiko wasn't entirely at ease letting Jiraiya enter the altar alone. Orochimaru was, after all, an expert at survival...
So Masahiko watched as Orochimaru walked in. Then, the scales on his face began to fall off piece by piece.
About two minutes later, Orochimaru walked out. The scales on his face had completely fallen off, and he had exited Sage Mode.
"There is a bizarre energy inside eroding the Senjutsu chakra... or rather, the Senjutsu chakra is resisting that energy."
At this moment, Jiraiya also transformed into his toad-like face, and his expression was quite ugly.
"Orochimaru, why is your speed in gathering Senjutsu chakra so fast?"
"Idiot."
"You..."
"Stop arguing. Jiraiya, you'll drop out of Sage Mode soon anyway. You need to practice more. With how fast your Sage Mode dissipates, can you even last five minutes in battle?" Masahiko spoke helplessly.
Jiraiya's talent wasn't low, but sometimes he tended to be "lazy," feeling that "gathering material" (for his books) was more important...
After that, Jiraiya also walked onto the altar. His experience matched Orochimaru's: the markings on his face faded rapidly. But...
Even after the Senjutsu disappeared, Jiraiya didn't come out. He wanted to test that energy with his physical body.
However, after just two seconds, he showed a slightly uncomfortable expression and was pulled out by Masahiko's gravitational force.
"What happened?" Masahiko asked, puzzled.
In fact, Masahiko wasn't really worried about any problems with the altar. Since even children could potentially gain immortality from it, even if Jiraiya didn't believe in Jashin, he shouldn't be harmed.
Jiraiya gasped for breath twice and also showed a confused expression. "It felt very strange. A pressure seemed to act directly on my soul."
"A jutsu that affects the soul?"
Masahiko stood up. As expected, he had to go up and try it himself in the end.
Without activating Sage Mode, Masahiko really didn't believe that with his Level 9 Yin and Yang attributes, any jutsu could affect his body or soul.
Sure enough, after stepping up, he only sensed a force acting on his soul, as if trying to firmly bind his soul and body together, but it couldn't shake his soul at all.
"The soul and body are completely compressed together. As long as the body doesn't rot, the soul won't leave the body. Is this the truth behind immortality?" Masahiko suddenly understood. He originally thought it was something complex, but the truth turned out to be so simple.
"What a pity. Even if I don't resist at all, I can't gain the ability of immortality. This power can't shake my soul. Only if the soul is weak can it be compressed, and there's a small probability it will completely fuse with the body..."
"An inferior jutsu... Jutsu?" Thinking of this, Masahiko's expression suddenly changed. Even standing in the center of the altar, he didn't feel a trace of chakra fluctuation.
"Not Ninjutsu, not Sealing Jutsu. What is this thing?" Masahiko revealed an interested expression, feeling he had discovered another power system in the Naruto world.
"I'm going to cultivate immortality." Masahiko muttered and looked at his status bar, hoping to see a new skill like "Qi Refinement" appear.
The result was disappointing; nothing changed on the status bar.
"Sigh, stop dreaming." Masahiko sighed. "Let's solve the problem with scientific methods."
Masahiko walked down a few steps and glanced at Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
"Step back a bit."
"Earth Release: Rising Earth Rock!"
The ground beneath the altar rose up, shattering the altar into pieces.
"Hey, Senior, we haven't..." Jiraiya hesitated to speak.
Masahiko waved his hand and stared intently at the rising earth before him.
Several clumps of soil flew towards him. Masahiko caught them with both hands and frowned.
"It's actually not?" He had thought he was about to uncover the truth again, suspecting this bizarre power might be radiation from some metal element.
The corner of Masahiko's mouth twitched. Looking at the shattered altar, he felt a bit regretful. But glancing at Orochimaru again, he sighed inwardly: It's better destroyed. I hope he didn't get anything from it...
"Let's go, we're heading back." Just as Masahiko said this, he felt like he had "learned" something.
"Come out, Qi Refinement skill!"
Masahiko scanned his skill bar back and forth, and finally found a new entry under Special Abilities: Curse Breaking.
"Curse?"
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