Back at the ruins of the ancient Loulan Kingdom, Senju Yukika had once seen those colossal eyes that seemed to gaze down from the stars. He had originally believed them to be the eyes of the Otsutsuki Clan, but now he wasn't so sure. This time, it felt different.
It seemed more likely that it was some sort of Buddhist force silently watching over him from the shadows…
As far as Yukika knew, the most powerful beings in the Otsutsuki Clan were the three progenitors, beings of divine rank. Yukika himself was at that level now, yet when he recalled the power behind those celestial eyes he encountered long ago, it was clear—that power far exceeded even the divine realm.
He pondered quietly. Just how powerful was this Buddhist force? And what was its connection to that unseen gaze in the cosmos that seemed to focus on him?
But what caught him completely off guard was Tanaka, the young disciple he had taken under his wing. Yukika couldn't have anticipated the rapid growth and strange insight the boy possessed. Tanaka's energy surged wildly, and in just a blink, he had broken through from mid-level to high-level martial artist!
At that moment, a faint and mysterious ripple swept through the cave, pulling Yukika from his thoughts. He immediately released his spiritual pressure, forming a wavering light that enveloped Tanaka. Yukika hadn't expected that the disciple he accepted on a whim not only grasped Buddhist insight but also possessed such rare and prodigious martial talent.
To rise from a low-ranked to a high-ranked warrior so swiftly—his speed rivaled Yukika's own during his early days!
On Earth, a low-ranked warrior was comparable to a genin, while a high-ranked one equated to a jounin. That meant Tanaka had essentially leapt from genin to jounin in the span of an hour. An insane feat by any standard.
Yukika's spiritual pressure probed Tanaka's body without resistance, but what he saw surprised him. Tanaka's meridians were just like any ordinary human's—aside from a faint trace of enlightened power, there was nothing exceptional.
Still, that spiritual insight must be deeply tied to his astonishing martial progress.
Meanwhile, the entire Jufeng Mountain Range was swarming with terrifying locust-like monsters, as vast and unrelenting as the ocean. Inside a massive boulder within the mountain range, three royal princes and two guards looked out in horror.
It was apocalyptic.
They had never imagined that their reckless venture would end up like this. If given another chance, they would never have come seeking the Ghost Treasure within Jufeng. But time couldn't be reversed—they could only wait in fear, hoping to find a slim chance to escape this nightmare.
The Third Prince, heir to the throne of the Rakshasa Kingdom, was especially desperate. He had a bright future awaiting him—he couldn't die here!
"You two, think of a way to get us out of here!" he barked.
His chakra flared uncontrollably, lifting into the air. Instantly, the locust monsters above took notice—three humans had been found!
A deafening swarm descended from the sky. Chaos erupted.
The locust beasts, once aimlessly flying, now dove like missiles toward the massive stone. The three princes inside were paralyzed with fear. They had hidden so well—how had they been discovered?
Visions of powerful warriors being shredded apart by the creatures flickered through their minds. Panic overtook them.
"Quick—protect me!" the Third Prince cried.
But the two guards were helpless. Though they were elite-level warriors, the overwhelming tide of monsters crushed their morale. They didn't even know how to begin fighting back.
Suddenly, one of the guards stood up, pale-faced but resolute. "Zuo Tian, take the Third Prince and run. I'll hold them off!"
The other guard was stunned. His own father, now prepared to give his life to save him and the prince.
Emotion welled in his heart, and he struggled to find words.
The Third Prince, however, didn't hesitate. "Fine. You create the opening—we'll escape."
Though the guard captain had held a position of power in the royal palace and was deeply trusted by the king, in this moment, his own life meant little. He was just a servant. His sacrifice, no matter how noble, was expected.
After all, the Third Prince was the kingdom's future.
With the decision made, the other guard quickly escorted the princes out from behind the stone.
The sight enraged the locust monsters above. Sensing deception, they screeched louder than ever and hurtled toward the ground with renewed fury.
It was like the end of the world.
The Third Prince and his two guards trembled. The remaining guard stood tall, eyes resolute. He charged into the sky, unleashing his chakra wildly.
He made no attempt to hide his strength.
Beams of chakra slashed through the air, tearing apart scores of locust creatures. Blood splattered, and the sky turned into a vision of hell.
His eyes burned red with fury. He didn't care how many wounds he suffered, how much flesh he lost—he had one mission: protect the Third Prince.
That kind of loyalty couldn't be questioned.
Even as the locust beasts tore his body to shreds, even as his flesh was devoured piece by piece, he fought on.
With his final breath, he released one last pulse of chakra before his broken body crashed to the earth. Locusts swarmed him, reducing him to nothing but white bones.
From afar, the Third Prince and the other guard had seen it all. Though shocked to their core, they didn't dare hesitate. They pushed forward with all their strength, running for their lives.
Behind them, the buzzing swarm grew louder.
And closer.
It felt like death was only moments away…