Master Sage's Worm Buddha form filled the Adventurers with both horror and sorrow.
He had failed to become a perfect Parasitic Worm like Undying Hanbei.
For decades, his consciousness had been slowly eroded and devoured by the parasite within him. He should have long ago become like the other parasitic monks—his humanity completely swallowed, leaving only an immortal shell.
Yet he endured.
For decades, he resisted through sheer willpower.
It was only after being severely wounded by Genichiro Weiming that the fragile balance finally collapsed.
Now, the worm nature dominated him entirely. He could no longer communicate rationally.
---
He pressed his palms together in meditation.
Behind him, swarms of flying insects formed a distorted halo.
The six worm-arms extending from his back supported his body like grotesque legs.
He did not attack immediately.
Instead, he began chanting.
He looked like a twisted and blasphemous Insect Buddha.
As his chanting distorted into sharp insect buzzing, the ground of the lotus pond trembled. Hundreds—no, thousands—of strange insects burst from beneath the surface.
"What's happening?!"
Lily's scalp tingled with dread. She immediately used her blowpipe to unleash flames—but the swarm was endless.
Insects crawled over her body.
Venom burned through her skin.
Within moments, she lost her combat ability and was swallowed by the sea of insects.
"Since all beings suffer… being devoured by worms is also liberation."
Die.
Challenge Failed.
---
The Adventurers stared at each other in shock.
They had experienced many boss battles before—but this one felt different.
"So hard!"
"I don't believe it!"
"There's always a way to win!"
---
Lily and the others challenged him seven or eight more times.
Every attempt ended in defeat.
The Worm Buddha had many attacks, but the most troublesome was the insect swarm. The lotus pond seemed to contain an endless supply. Even the Buddha statues around the valley began spilling insects.
How were they supposed to fight this?
They could barely even approach him.
---
"Thousand Buddha Valley is his home turf. Maybe we can lure him out while he's still in Phase One?"
"That might work!"
"If we change the battlefield, it should be easier!"
They tried.
It failed completely.
Even in his irrational state, Master Sage fiercely guarded Thousand Buddha Valley. He could not be lured away.
They were stuck.
---
Then Lily suddenly exclaimed:
"I know how to break it!"
---
Another attempt began.
Phase One posed no challenge now. Lily had already mastered the rhythm of the Parasitic Worm Master Sage and defeated him easily.
Phase Two began.
The Worm Buddha started chanting again.
Insects flooded the valley.
"Ring the bell!"
"Detonate!"
Lily crushed a seed.
A burst of sound radiated outward.
Invisible waves swept across the battlefield.
Large numbers of insects suddenly became transparent—then vanished.
The Adventurers' eyes widened.
Nancy Lilia reacted first.
"So that's it. These insects aren't real!"
"Illusions?!"
"No wonder we've been suppressed the entire time!"
---
They were right.
The swarm was an illusion.
Lily felt a surge of excitement—but she didn't have many bell charges left. She had to end this quickly.
With the illusion broken, she rushed forward.
The Worm Buddha sent the flying insects behind him—his twisted halo—charging toward her like hornets.
She incinerated them with flame.
"Die!"
Her blade struck repeatedly.
The Worm Buddha staggered.
A red weakness mark appeared on his abdomen.
She stabbed without hesitation.
A piercing insect shriek erupted from within his body.
He collapsed—but did not die.
Several massive centipede-like creatures writhed from his torso, still attempting to attack.
"He can't be killed!"
Lily realized.
A Parasitic Worm was immortal.
Even decapitation wouldn't work.
She prepared to cut him into pieces—
"Wait."
A hoarse voice stopped her.
The monstrous centipedes retreated back into his body.
Master Sage sat upright once more, returning to his mummified humanoid form.
His hands pressed together.
He seemed… calm.
---
"He regained his rationality?"
"Temporarily."
"So even if he's immortal, defeating him restores his sanity—briefly. That's enough."
---
Master Sage spoke weakly.
"This old monk… cannot maintain this state for long… Divine Child's ninja… the item you seek… is in the Buddha hall ahead…"
Lily froze.
He did not elaborate.
"Go."
---
Under the giant Buddha statue, Lily found an entrance to a hidden hall.
Inside—
She was stunned.
The entire Senpou Temple had fallen into corruption.
Thousand Buddha Valley was grotesque and twisted.
Yet this hall…
Was spotless.
No insects. No decay.
Golden Buddha statues glittered in serene silence.
Some Adventurers speculated:
"Maybe this symbolizes something."
"Even though worm nature consumed the temple…"
"In the deepest part of Master Sage's heart…"
"There was still a pure land untouched."
---
Lily approached the central altar.
There was no offering.
Only a simple bronze bell.
She rang it.
Closed her eyes.
Pressed her palms together in prayer.
Silence filled the hall.
When the echo faded—
She opened her eyes.
The environment had changed.
A small wooden house stood before her.
Inside sat a delicate girl, around ten years old.
Windwalker immediately noticed:
"She's wearing the same clothing as the bodies in the cave. Those were failed experiments. She must be the only successful Child of Rejuvenation."
Lily's heart skipped.
This was the Child of Rejuvenation.
The artificial Divine Child created by Master Sage.
---
The girl looked up calmly.
"You found this place. May I ask why you have come?"
It was the same voice that had spoken to them through telepathy before.
Lily answered honestly:
"I have come for the Mortal Blade."
The Child of Rejuvenation replied,
"Do you know it is a sword that cannot be drawn?"
"I've heard. Everyone who tried to draw it died."
"Even so?"
"I must try."
The girl opened a wooden box.
Inside lay a simple odachi.
"If you are prepared… please take it."
---
The Adventurers held their breath.
Lily grasped the blade.
The moment she began to draw it—
A chilling aura exploded outward.
Her heart stopped instantly.
She collapsed.
The Child of Rejuvenation sighed softly and began praying for her soul.
Then—
Crimson light burst from Lily's body.
Her heartbeat resumed.
She stood.
The Child of Rejuvenation's eyes widened.
"Dragon Heritage… You bear the curse."
Lily drew the Mortal Blade fully this time.
Red energy coiled around its simple steel.
The Adventurers erupted in cheers.
"Success!"
"So cool!"
"A sword that kills immortals!"
"Can it drop as loot?!"
---
Lily swung it once.
A crimson arc traced through the air like brushstroke ink.
She struck a stylish pose.
"The Mortal Blade… is mine."
But she quickly realized—
While drawn, the blade drained stamina rapidly.
It was powerful.
But not suited for prolonged combat.
It was an execution tool.
Nothing more.
---
She sheathed it and spoke with the Child of Rejuvenation.
The girl asked gently,
"You serve the Dragon Heir. Why seek the Mortal Blade?"
"To reach the Divine Realm… obtain the Dragon Tears… and sever immortality."
"I see… I've read of that method. You both despise immortality, don't you?"
"Yes."
The girl sighed.
"I was created to bear false Dragon Heritage. Of all the children… only I survived."
Lily expressed quiet sympathy.
The girl continued:
"Though I don't know whether severing immortality is right… I've seen how its pursuit corrupts people. I find it repulsive."
She looked up.
"If there is anything I can do to help in the future… I will."
The Adventurers' eyes lit up.
---
Lily returned through the illusion bell.
Master Sage sat in the lotus pond once more—his aura weaker now, instability growing.
"Divine Child's ninja… you have completed your task…"
He forced out more words:
"Beware Genichiro Weiming… he has obtained… Tomoe's Mortal Blade…"
Shock spread through the Adventurers.
There were two Mortal Blades.
One had been buried with Tomoe.
And Tomoe had been Genichiro's mentor.
"Did he… dig up her grave?"
"With his personality? Absolutely."
---
The next duel would be inevitable.
Both sides immortal.
Both wielding Mortal Blades.
Victory would depend on skill alone.
Ashina was only a secret realm.
They could fail a hundred times—
But win once.
That would be enough.
---
"Ask him about Dragon's Homecoming!"
Lily was about to speak—
But Master Sage continued:
"I left the method… in the library…"
"Please… let the Dragon Heritage return home…"
His voice weakened.
"I have fulfilled my duty… Now… use the Mortal Blade… to end me."
"Are you certain?" Lily asked.
He pressed his palms together.
"This corpse should have entered hell long ago."
---
Lily drew the Mortal Blade.
She stabbed him through.
A strange energy erupted.
His body cracked.
Then—
Collapsed into ash.
The first immortal had fallen.
Proof that immortals could be slain.
The Senpou Temple arc was complete.
---
Though not long, the journey was profound.
They gained the Mortal Blade.
They met the Child of Rejuvenation.
They uncovered the truth of Master Sage and the previous Dragon Heir.
Ashina's history grew clearer.
And they stepped closer—
To the final truth behind it all.
---
From behind the scenes, Qi Ji watched and nodded.
The Ashina Arc was more than halfway complete.
Only Mizu Village, the Sunken Valley, and the Source Palace remained.
The Adventurers were progressing quickly.
It was time.
To advance territory development.
And prepare the next phase of the secret realm.
×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×
Read Extra Chapter Visit My Patreon
I have only 1 tier
19$ Tier – Access to 40 advance chapters
patreon.com/Lempil
patreon.com/Lempil