Chapter 328: Evolution of the Heavenly Rinnegan
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki stepped forth from the void, rushing straight toward where Uchiha Dali was.
Though he appeared to be merely walking, his speed surpassed lightning itself.
Along his path, every star instantly dimmed into darkness, and the planets' energies turned into multicolored orbs of light that surged after him, burrowing into his body one after another.
He was plundering the energy of these celestial bodies.
No matter how much or how little, no matter whether it was useful to him or not, at this moment, Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki was like a monstrous beast devouring energy—like a humanoid black hole.
Arrogant beyond compare, reckless and unrestrained.
At last, his rampant aura drew Uchiha Dali's attention.
Just as Dali was carefully expelling Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's genetic data, he suddenly felt as if he were being locked onto by some terrifying existence.
Without hesitation, he immediately expanded his Observation Haki domain.
In that instant, he sensed a horrifying chakra unlike anything he had ever encountered, rapidly approaching at a speed beyond imagination.
At such speed, it would not be long before the source arrived.
"Could it be him?"
Uchiha Dali's heart tightened slightly.
This chakra presence far surpassed Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, Momoshiki, and the like.
It was even greater than his own.
To possess such terrifying power, and to be charging directly at him—there was only one person it could be.
The one repeatedly mentioned by Momoshiki and Kinshiki as existing above them all, the supreme Ōtsutsuki—Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki!
Realizing that it might be this man, Uchiha Dali's expression grew grim.
He glanced at the Divine Tree, which was still bearing fruit.
It would take a while longer before the chakra fruit ripened.
But if he remained here waiting, Kyōshiki would undoubtedly arrive before then.
At that point, who the fruit would ultimately belong to was uncertain.
But one thing was certain—the opponent's power was something he could not contend with now…
"I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to be this strong!"
Dali gave a bitter smile in his heart, then shook his head.
He did not need to overly rely on chakra fruits to grow. After only a brief hesitation, he decisively gave up on this one.
Now was not the time to fight that man.
Uchiha Dali opened the Yomotsu Hirasaka at once and began to retreat.
In the distance, Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki instantly sensed his movement.
"Hmph… trying to escape?"
Without another word, Kyōshiki accelerated. His body turned into a streak of flowing light, vanishing into the void.
Once he entered this full-speed state, he could no longer divert his focus to plunder other planets' energies. Thus, the stars along the latter half of his journey narrowly escaped destruction.
Soon, Kyōshiki arrived at the planet where Dali had just been.
He did not see Uchiha Dali, but immediately noticed the Divine Tree bearing fruit.
"Hmph… he fled quickly enough."
Ignoring Dali, Kyōshiki's eyes locked onto the nearly ripe chakra fruit.
The next instant, he suddenly stretched his palm toward the Divine Tree.
And then, the massive tree was forcibly absorbed into him.
There was no need to wait for the fruit to ripen.
Not only that—once he unleashed his power, the entire planet's energy was rapidly swallowed.
In the blink of an eye, the planet was completely drained into a lifeless husk.
After consuming the entire planet's energy, Kyōshiki's aura did not change in the slightest.
Glancing at his hand, he snorted coldly: "So that's all."
"As expected, chakra fruits can no longer provide me with sufficient strength."
"This level that is but a step away from evolution—how much longer must I be stalled here?"
"But…"
Muttering to himself, Kyōshiki recalled the chakra presence from earlier—Uchiha Dali's chakra.
"Though chakra fruits can no longer grant me the energy I need in the short term to evolve… that man can."
"If I devour him, perhaps I can reach the next stage of myself…"
Thinking again of Dali's chakra, his formidable senses pierced across layers of time and space to lock onto Uchiha Dali's position.
Then, he set off in pursuit.
"You cannot escape."
…
At this moment, Uchiha Dali was fleeing at full speed through the Yomotsu Hirasaka.
The opponent's power was far beyond his expectations—he knew now was not the time to clash.
But Kyōshiki clearly had no intention of letting him escape, rapidly closing in.
Through his Observation Haki domain, Dali sensed the chakra growing nearer.
"His speed is greater than mine! This is bad…"
Feeling the encroaching aura, a trace of anxiety stirred in him.
Such a being clearly would not let him go easily.
He could not imagine what kind of abilities such an existence possessed.
But if they met, nothing good would come of it.
Just then, a chime sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Your dissatisfaction with your Yomotsu Hirasaka has provoked your Heavenly Rinnegan's pride. Your Heavenly Rinnegan has been strengthened!]
[All of your Heavenly Rinnegan's abilities have increased 100-fold!]
As the words echoed in his mind, Uchiha Dali instantly felt himself grow overwhelmingly powerful.
Chakra surged from within him ceaselessly, boundless and rapidly nourishing his body.
At the same time, all his abilities were multiplied many times over.
Soon, when he used Yomotsu Hirasaka again, he instantly leapt across dozens of light-years.
To his delight, he found himself in an unknown galaxy.
Because of Kyōshiki's terrifying presence, he chose not to return to the Shinobi World, but instead lured his pursuer elsewhere.
Surveying this star domain—far vaster than the one containing the Shinobi World, filled with countless dazzling stars—Uchiha Dali once again expanded his Observation Haki domain.
This time, however, he no longer sensed Kyōshiki's chakra.
"Looks like I've shaken him off…"