"Hey!!!"
Feathers of violet chakra burst outward from Chen Xing's back as the Peacock Mystic Art erupted. The sharp, blade-like plumes tore through Yuxi Bo's body, shattering his mask and splattering blood across the forest floor.
But the corpse dissolved.
Dozens of meters away, Yisi Bo reappeared, ragged and breathing heavily. The upper half of his mask was broken, revealing his blurred left eye beneath the exposed Sharingan. His expression was dark as he stared at Chen Xing in the air.
"Is that Izanagi?" Chen Xing muttered.
Yisi Bo had rewritten reality itself.
Unlike Danzo's brief use of Izanagi, Yisi Bo's Hashirama cells allowed him to extend its duration. However, activating such a forbidden technique consumed immense chakra. Even he could not maintain it for long.
"Peacock King… I didn't expect to be pushed this far," Yisi Bo said hoarsely.
He considered continuing the fight. Yet he had already sacrificed one eye, and Chen Xing's chakra reserves were still unknown. If Chen Xing unleashed another full-powered Peacock Mystic Art strike, Yisi Bo might not survive long enough to escape.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
Space distorted.
Kamui activated.
Yisi Bo's body twisted into a vortex and vanished, leaving only the scarred battlefield behind.
Chen Xing slowly lowered to the ground, the violet chakra wings fading.
"When we meet again," he said calmly, "it won't end so simply. I grow stronger every day."
---
Return to the Land of the Celestial
By nightfall, Chen Xing crossed the borders of the Land of the Celestial.
From above, he saw the newly constructed Celestial village taking shape. Wooden and stone buildings stood in neat rows, efficient and practical. At the center rose the Celestial Shadow Office, three stories tall—the tallest structure in the village.
He landed inside the compound.
"Celestial Shadow-sama!"
The guards relaxed immediately upon recognizing him.
Inside the office courtyard, a massive red lizard lay sprawled on its back, snoring loudly.
Chen Xing smiled faintly. "Redu."
The lizard jolted awake. "Chen Xing! You're back?"
"You seem comfortable."
Redu grinned. "The food here is excellent. Can I bring more of my kind next time?"
Chen Xing nodded. "Of course."
Inside the office, the Third Generation Celestial Shadow looked up from a stack of documents.
"You've returned safely."
"Yes. The Hidden Mist matter is settled."
The Third Generation exhaled in relief. Formal diplomatic ties with Kirigakure had been established. Trade routes would soon follow.
"In one month," Chen Xing continued, "begin the full migration to the new village."
The Third Generation nodded. Preparations had already begun. Civilians selected from across the Land of the Celestial would relocate, strengthening the village's foundation.
"The inauguration ceremony will be held in one month."
---
The Establishment of the Celestial Village
Half a year passed.
The Celestial Village flourished.
A proper ninja academy was built, modeled after Konohagakure's Academy, with six grades. Graduation required passing survival examinations and combat evaluations. Teams of three would be assigned to a jōnin instructor for two years of field training.
To the east, Chen Xing personally oversaw the creation of three training grounds.
The First Training Ground was modeled after the Forest of Death used during the Chūnin Exams—dense, dangerous, and filled with relocated wild beasts. Only genin with solid teamwork and strength could cross it safely.
The Second Training Ground was designed for academy students—still dangerous, but supervised.
The Third Training Ground was a vast arena, surrounded by elevated viewing platforms. Here, Chen Xing planned to host annual examinations, selecting the most outstanding students—"Supernovas" of each grade—for focused cultivation.
The migration succeeded smoothly. Former villagers and newcomers integrated quickly. Enrollment at the ninja academy exceeded expectations, though the elimination rate remained high.
Not everyone could become a ninja.
Standing atop the Celestial Shadow Office, Chen Xing looked over the thriving village.
Diplomacy with Kirigakure was stable.
The academy was operational.
The training grounds were complete.
The Celestial Village was no longer an experiment.
It was a rising power.
And this was only the beginning.