Hearing that number, Yunchuan Hyuga could not help but laugh again. As expected, the form of 'Xu' was not what mattered most, but its ability to evolve by devouring souls. That part had already been solved by Orochimaru, and copying it did not cost many points.
"So I really should thank Lord Orochimaru again," Yunchuan Hyuga nodded to himself. "Next time, I will try not to deceive him too badly." Of course, that was only if he still remembered this "promise" by then.
Yunchuan Hyuga watched the recorded images sent back by the Scroll, his smile slowly turning thoughtful. At first, he had only wanted to create 'Xu', but seeing Orochimaru devour a soul with a living body sparked a bolder idea. "Since 'Xu' already exists, can a 'Shinigami' exist, and can a Zanpakuto be feasible?"
Both a 'Shinigami' and a 'Xu' were spirit beings in essence. The difference was that the former's soul strength was mostly decided by talent and rarely changed much later, while the latter grew stronger through devouring. Their power also manifested differently.
A 'Shinigami' poured the soul into a blade to awaken a unique ability, releasing it through an initial release and a final release, the so called Zanpakuto. The shape, state, and power of a Zanpakuto were built from the Shinigami's own soul, and strength was gained by communicating with it and learning its true name.
A 'Xu', on the other hand, already possessed special abilities and took human form by injecting power into a blade, reverting to its original form once the blade's power was released.
"This lie seems to still have room to rise."
Yunchuan Hyuga's gaze flickered as he thought, "As long as I adjust the definition of 'Shinigami', changing it to injecting oneself and devoured spirits into a blade to awaken abilities…" Hm? At that thought, a strong sense of familiarity made Yunchuan Hyuga pause. It felt like he had done this before.
"That's right," Yunchuan Hyuga narrowed his eyes. "Those Ninja Tools in the Underground Palace were exactly like this." In the future, the large scale appearance of 'Xu' would surely bring fear to the people of the Ninja World. But fear and death alone were far from enough.
What happened at the Underground Palace had already proven that to spread a lie across the entire Ninja World, there had to be enough "benefit" to draw in those who did not care. What Yunchuan Hyuga wanted was turmoil and more points, not the direct destruction of humanity. If humanity were wiped out, who would his lies be told to?
He wanted to see the view from the highest point, not to be some anti human madman. The system was not a kill to grow system either, and killing everyone would not give him anything. Sustainable growth brought the greatest returns, and draining everything dry was unwise, so there was no reason to suddenly wipe out Zetsu.
Even if he were to destroy the Ninja World, he would squeeze out all its value first and make sure there was profit to be had. "In that case, the descent of 'Xu' cannot be the end of this lie. A fragile but stable balance must be built, and the Zanpakuto concept is workable." With that, Yunchuan Hyuga reached a final decision.
Through the image from the Scroll, he looked at Orochimaru once more. It seemed he could only let the respected Lord Orochimaru suffer a bit more.
At the same time, Orochimaru slowly calmed down from his ecstasy. "Hah." He let out a deep breath, his cold and satisfied smile blooming as if the air itself carried death and rebirth. "There are still flaws," he murmured, his voice echoing through the empty laboratory with a researcher's reason and indifference.
"The removal of impurities can never be perfect." Feeling the remaining will and scattered memories in his mind, Orochimaru's brow tightened. These tiny residues clung like a disease and would build up with each soul devoured, until one day he would no longer be himself.
Was there a way to solve this problem? As he thought, his gaze fell on the Scroll, and a light far more intense than before burned deep in his eyes. A new path had been opened, but this was only the beginning. That Scroll had to hold even more terrifying secrets.
With that thought, Orochimaru slid his snake tail and picked up the Scroll again. In the shadows, a pitying smile appeared on Yunchuan Hyuga's face. The Time Space Cave had not been found yet, and Lord Yunshi was not satisfied, but your effort pleased Lord Yunshi greatly.
Since you want it so badly, I will grant your wish. The Scroll that Orochimaru could not open before now unfolded in his hands, and the contents slowly appeared in the reflection of his narrowed snake eyes. Just the first line plunged his expression into wild joy.
[ To slay a Xu, one must use an Asauchi to pierce its bone mask, draw the Xu soul into the blade, use the Xu soul as the guide, join it with one's own spirit as the medium, call its true name and release the initial form, thus forming a Blade that Cuts the Soul… ]
Renlei Zhu Xu requires using an Asauchi to pierce the bone mask, draw the Xu soul into the blade, use the Xu soul as the lure, merge one's own soul as the medium, call the true name and release the initial form, and in the end form the Zanpakuto.
When he saw the first line on the Scroll, Orochimaru's hand could not help but tremble. His pupils shrank slightly as his breathing stalled for a moment. The words seemed simple, yet they struck at something deep inside him.
"Humans, using a so called Asauchi to pierce a bone mask, can actually kill a Xu and even grow stronger from it?" he muttered. "So injecting a spiritual body, that is, mental energy, into this Asauchi and forging the so called Zanpakuto is the path for a human soul to become stronger?"
"But what exactly is this so called Asauchi?" Orochimaru asked softly.
His long, thin tongue unconsciously swept across his dry lips as he looked further down the text, his gaze carrying a near manic hunger for answers. The dim light reflected in his eyes as if he had forgotten everything else around him. He continued reading without blinking.
A Xu can devour countless souls to strengthen itself. Yet the thickness of a human soul is determined by nature, and later tempering can hardly change its essence.
Thus my method takes one's own soul as the base, injects it into the Asauchi, slays a Xu to seize its soul, and devours external spirits within it. By nurturing the soul within the blade, it gradually gains awareness and can be wielded as naturally as one's own arm.
When the Asauchi is first formed, its interior is chaotic. The master must use their own soul to consume the remaining fragments within the blade. When refined souls accumulate like deep seas, the fragments within the blade finally merge as one, gain consciousness, and choose their own true name.
See its true form within the blade, call its true name, and release its spirit to display its might and obtain its power. Its abilities differ in countless ways, yet all ultimately reflect the mirror of the master's soul and mind.
This path I call Shinigami. Three parts are decided by heaven, seven parts are seized from spirits. Xu and Shinigami both excel in spiritual bodies, yet they represent two sides of yin and yang.