Adventurers are naturally curious.
As the opening installment of The Ten Kingdoms Chronicle: Ashina Arc, the Ashina chapter presents a richly layered and diverse world.
The history, plot, and characters of this land are brilliantly crafted. Much of the information must be gathered, pieced together, and even imagined by the players themselves.
Everyone can form their own interpretations. This fully mobilizes the Adventurers' curiosity, participation, and immersion.
They want to understand the past.
They are eager to uncover the truth.
Not only to satisfy personal curiosity—but because these truths will greatly impact future adventures and storylines.
---
Blackstone Hammer King asked,
"Traveler, why couldn't the Dragon's Homecoming plan be carried out?"
The Time Traveler sighed.
"The Dragon's Homecoming failed because the conditions required were too extreme."
"The greatest difficulty was creating another Dragon Heir."
Everyone was stunned.
"A Dragon Heir… can be created?"
The Time Traveler explained:
"The artificially created Dragon Heir was called the Child of Rejuvenation by Master Sage."
"Only the Child of Rejuvenation can serve as a vessel to transfer the Dragon's Heritage power from the true Dragon Heir."
"But creating the Child of Rejuvenation was extremely cruel. It required large-scale human experimentation."
"Perhaps Master Sage's methods were too brutal. Or perhaps the Inner Ministry, which ruled Ashina at the time, began coveting the Dragon's Heritage."
"In any case, for some reason, Tomo and Jyo had to complete the Immortal Severance plan as quickly as possible. In the end, they did not choose the Dragon's Homecoming method."
"Master Sage first located the Mortal Blade and hid it within Senpou Temple."
"He intended to prevent Tomo and Jyo from executing the restoration plan."
"But what he did not expect was that there were two Mortal Blades."
"He hid one—but the other was still found by Tomo."
"When Master Sage learned that Tomo sacrificed herself so Jyo could return to humanity, he was deeply shaken… I believe he had strong feelings for them, though there is no direct evidence."
"Afterward, Master Sage and Jyo buried Tomo together."
"They left Tomo's Mortal Blade in her tomb."
"Though the matter seemed settled, Master Sage knew the Dragon's Heritage curse had not truly ended. So he continued his research."
---
However, two major obstacles stood before him.
First, he was aging rapidly. Fearing he would not live long enough to finish his work, he transformed himself into the first Parasitic Worm of Senpou Temple.
Second, the research had to remain secret. He sealed Diamond Mountain and developed secret medicines such as Yashariku Sugar and Moonlight Sugar to sustain the temple and fund the experiments.
From that point on, the once-holy Buddhist sanctuary descended into madness.
To gather experimental subjects, Master Sage hired large numbers of Black Crow mercenaries—ninja operatives who abducted war orphans, bought and sold children, and even kidnapped them outright.
Over time, the entire temple developed a cult-like worship of the Parasitic Worm and an obsession with immortality.
More elders willingly implanted the worms into themselves.
Ordinary monks lost their sanity under the influence of the Young Waters.
Despite the horrific cost…
Master Sage eventually succeeded.
He created the Child of Rejuvenation.
And thus, Senpou Temple fell from sacred ground to a place of blood and corruption.
---
The Adventurers fell silent.
The story was deeply disturbing.
Nancy Lilia sighed.
"Tomo's sacrifice to save the Dragon Heir was noble and heartbreaking. Jyo regained his humanity, yet he still died young. Even after escaping fate, their story ended in tragedy."
Moonlight Snow said,
"How should we judge Master Sage?"
Windwalker replied,
"He was both a genius—and a devil."
Fairy Eliza said,
"He created the possibility of a perfect solution to the Dragon's Heritage… but countless children died because of him. Families were destroyed. Senpou Temple collapsed into corruption because of him. He's undeniably a villain."
The Lone Swordsman shook his head.
"I think he was evil—but not entirely wicked."
Discussion erupted.
"He didn't become immortal out of greed. His life's goal was to end immortality."
"He committed unforgivable sins—but not for wealth or pleasure."
"In his eyes, sacrificing hundreds—including himself—was necessary."
"The Dragon's Heritage curse has plagued this land for generations. Each Dragon Heir became a pawn in political struggle and a cause of war."
"He bore the sins alone in order to cut off the source of suffering."
"There's a saying: 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' In that sense… perhaps he was also a hero."
---
The world of Ashina felt real.
So vivid that many Adventurers forgot it was only a constructed Hallucination.
To them, it was another world.
---
Meanwhile—
Otherworld Lily asked,
"Genichiro Weiming attacked Senpou Temple before us. Could he have taken the Child of Rejuvenation?"
"I doubt it," said the Time Traveler.
"Only Master Sage knew the full Dragon's Homecoming plan. The Child of Rejuvenation lacks true Dragon Heritage power. Even if Genichiro took him, it would be useless."
White Crane Hermit nodded.
"The Child of Rejuvenation is the result of Master Sage sacrificing everything. He wouldn't give him up easily. Genichiro likely came for the Mortal Blade."
"That's dangerous enough," someone added.
---
"Where is the Child of Rejuvenation?" Lily asked.
"Master Sage created a Hallucination world," the Time Traveler said. "Both the Mortal Blade and the Child are hidden inside it. Only Master Sage knows how to enter."
"No time to waste!"
"Find him!"
---
Otherworld Lily activated her Shinobi Prosthetic and made her way through Senpou Temple, assassinating monks, Black Crow mercenaries, and Kite Soldiers.
Half an hour later, she reached the forbidden rear sanctuary.
A Ghost Buddha awaited.
The Adventurers knew.
A boss battle was coming.
---
Thousand Buddha Valley
Inside the Territory Lord's Manor, Qi Ji watched the battle unfold.
This boss fight did not exist in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Qi Ji had designed it to deepen Master Sage's character and strengthen the narrative.
In the original game, Master Sage barely appeared.
Now—
He would become the ultimate boss of Senpou Temple.
---
The battlefield: Thousand Buddha Valley.
A massive seated Buddha towered dozens of meters high.
The surrounding cliffs were filled with carved grottoes, countless Buddhas encircling a lotus pond.
But the lotus pond had dried.
Mucus, insect eggs, and shells covered the ground.
The statues were wrapped in silk. Pupae and centipedes hollowed them out.
The sacred had been devoured by infestation.
---
At the center sat Master Sage.
He resembled a living skeleton.
His purplish skin clung to bone.
Insects writhed beneath the surface.
Otherworld Lily bowed.
"Master Sage. By order of the Dragon Heir, I request the Mortal Blade."
The old monk slowly raised his head.
Red light flickered in his hollow eyes.
"Buddha saves all beings… why am I the only one left to sink?"
[Character Unlocked: First Parasitic Worm – Master Sage]
"The Eightfold Path has fallen into suffering… contemplation of bones has become contemplation of immortality."
He waved his hand.
Three prayer beads shot forward like bullets.
Lily deflected them instantly.
Master Sage rose.
A rusted staff flew from his hand, pulled by threads of insect silk.
Centipedes burst from his back, forming armor.
Six insect arms attacked in a furious twelve-strike combo.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Lily was overwhelmed.
She fell.
---
Second Attempt.
This time she focused purely on defense.
Ten perfect deflections—
Master Sage staggered.
Lily struck.
A red weakness point appeared.
She impaled him.
Victory?
No.
White Crane Hermit muttered:
"He's a Parasitic Worm. It's not over."
---
Master Sage stood again.
His robes tore apart.
Swarms of insects engulfed him.
A halo of flying insects formed behind him.
"Buddha may save from suffering… insects may save from suffering…"
"If Buddha will not save me… then insects shall be my Buddha!"
[Character Unlocked: Buddha of Parasitic Worms – Master Sage]
Phase Two began.
His power surged from Tier 2 – Three Star…
to Tier 2 – Five Star.
The true Insect Buddha had awakened.
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