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--- Chapter 467 ---
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan are busy fighting the spirit beast's waves, but a white flash suddenly appears and crashes into the ground, killing many of their enemies.
"Jiraiya-sensei!" Yahiko was shocked. He spotted the young-looking toad sage with a disbelief look.
How did Jiraiya-sensei end up here?
He miraculously fell from the sky!
Konan, who was in charge of the aerial spot, looked up and saw Yunlong waving his hand at her. A curt smile appeared on her beautiful face as this man really likes to appear out of nowhere.
Nagato smacked a spirit beast with his hand and also gazed at Yunlong solemnly because he couldn't see through him.
Then, he moved his gaze to Jiraiya with concern, wondering if Yunlong had made a shady deal with his teacher.
If Yunlong knew what Nagato was thinking briefly, he would give him a smack on the back of his head.
Jiraiya groaned, "Atata... That was painful."
"He was merciless to his own subordinates. I bet his enemy suffers more, though."
"Are you okay, Sensei?" Yahiko walked to him.
Jiraiya waved his hand, "Owh, Yahiko!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. This new body of mine is very durable."
"Hehe, I think so as well. I have never felt so energetic in my life." Yahiko nodded in agreement. They have fought for days in this space, but he never got tired.
Of course, if he expended too much energy, Yahiko still got tired.
But that's a different case compared to his stamina.
Konan landed on the ground and commented, "You guys are talking about physical strength, but Yahiko really sucks at controlling his spirit energy."
"Uugh." Yahiko dropped to the ground, holding his chest.
"Don't expose me like that, Konan."
"You know I've a hard time controlling Chakra at first, but spirit energy is on a whole another level. I'm not too used to this feeling of smoothness."
Nagato approached them and commented, "That's because you're using the Chakra principle on spirit energy. They are different energies. The way you are using them is also different."
Jiraiya stared at his embarrassed student and sighed, "You're still an idiot, huh?"
"..." Yahiko sulked, crumpling on the floor like a shrimp.
Jiraiya, Nagato, and Konan watched him like this and recalled the good old times.
In the sky, Yunlong shook his head because it wasn't really Yahiko's fault that he was suck at controlling spirit energy. Yahiko's Martial Soul is a tad bit special.
The same problem applies to Nagato and Konan, but they overcome it in these few days.
Overall, their status pages look like this.
...
[Name: Yahiko]
[Race: New Human]
[Age: Biologically 20 (Standard, can't age in this realm)]
[Bloodline Limit: Fate-seeking Fisherman's bloodline]
[Martial Soul: Verdant Flexible Fishing Rod(3+)]
[Artificial Soul: Sky Rowing Great Whale (Rare)]
[Cultivation Base: Level 31, Spirit Elder]
[Description: A kind-spirited man with a pure heart and goal. Granted a second chance at life, he wanted to create a new peaceful world]
...
[Name: Konan]
[Race: New Human]
[Age: Biologically 20 (Standard, can't age in this realm)]
[Bloodline Limit: Thought-letter Paper's bloodline]
[Martial Soul: Secret Page of Life(3+)]
[Artificial Soul: Runic-blooded Dove (Rare)]
[Cultivation Base: Level 35, Spirit Elder]
[Description: A woman with a complex emotion. Granted a second chance at life, she wished to have a happy ending with one of her friends but was afraid to make such a life-changing decision]
...
[Name: Uzumaki Nagato]
[Race: New Human]
[Age: Biologically 20 (Standard, can't age in this realm)]
[Bloodline Limit: Undying Scarlet Butterfly's bloodline]
[Martial Soul: Scarlet Hidden Weapons(3+)]
[Artificial Soul: Alacad's Living Box (Heroic)]
[Cultivation Base: Level 39, Spirit Elder]
[Description: A man with a serene heart. Granted a second chance at life, he wanted to help everyone around him, especially his friends. He hoped they could achieve happiness together]
...
Yahiko's Martial Soul, Verdant Flexible Fishing Rod, allows him to steal the enemy's physical or spiritual prowess and apply it to himself with the Bloodline Limit. However, it comes with a weakness.
His control over them is messy.
That's due to his always-changing energy.
This property is hard to control because getting used to one element was hard. Not to mention changing it every time.
So far, Yahiko can only steal physical and spiritual prowess every once in five tries. That's a 20% chance as long as he understands them.
But if he stole too much or too little, the process is 'instantly' invalidated.
Yunlong found Yahiko's abilities unique, but the requirements to use them were too much. Unless Yahiko could increase the odds and control the exact amount he needed, he wouldn't be able to fight like Nagato and Konan.
Nagato dominated the battlefield with his Scarlet Hidden Weapon. At first, he couldn't hurt his enemies because he didn't grasp the sudden attack, but he got the hang of it now.
Konan has a similar problem. Her Martial Soul isn't suitable for offensive, but she could bestow them with different effects like explosion, poison, or weakening defense with her spirit skills.
Interestingly, Yunlong also discovered that Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan could fuse their Martial Souls. It would be a one-of-a-kind Spirit Fusion, combining their unique aspects into one.
The last time Yunlong saw a Three-People Spirit Fusion, it was a fraud and showed no strength. However, he believed this trio could do much more than the fraud.
Jiraiya looked at his old disciples and said, "What are you three going to do after this?"
"We will build Akatsuki back." Yahiko grinned foolishly.
"We will follow him." Nagato and Konan answered simultaneously, leaving Jiraiya speechless.
"Last time, it didn't end well." Jiraiya reminded them.
Nagato weakly smiled, "Jiraiya-sensei. I have yet to pay the sin I've done to you and many people."
"I felt like I don't deserve to be in Pure Land, but somehow I entered the land of rest..."
"Such an irony, right?"
"But that's why I agreed with Yahiko."
"We wouldn't build the Old Akatsuki. We are making a new one."
"Isn't that right, Yahiko?" He stretched his fist to the orange-haired man.
Yahiko bumped his fist with Nagato, "OH!"
Konan helplessly sighed, "As you can see, Sensei. I can't leave these two idiots be, or there would be chaos."
"Oh, come on. It's not going to be that bad..." Yahiko pouted. The new Akatsuki will be much better than the old one.
They also recruited the 'old' members and glimpsed what they could do later.
Yunlong descended from the sky and calmly commented, "New Akatsuki, huh? That sounds nice."
"However, I have to break something for you, Yahiko."
"Any organization built will be under the jurisdiction of Bright Spirit Empire."
"I won't restrict your freedom, but you must have a clear purpose."
"Saving the wrong side would cost us many lives."
"Do you understand?" He narrowed his eyes on Yahiko.
Yahiko's expression turned serious. "I understand..."
Yahiko knew Yunlong was telling him not to be too kind. He has died once and wouldn't trust people easily.
Yunlong clapped his hand, "Good."
"Now, let's do a little test."
"Four of you against me."
"And don't worry. I will give you a handicap." He winked at them.
"I will only use the strength of Spirit Grandmaster."
Their eyes widened because Yunlong's proposal was too sudden. Still, they are excited to see the gap between themselves and Yunlong.
Jiraiya stared at Yunlong, trying to see what his intention was.
'I can't read him at all.' Jiraiya sighed before deciding to enjoy this little spar.
He opened his mouth and shouted, "Great Toad Formation!"
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan moved instinctively. They stood behind Jiraiya and waited for his further command.
Yunlong summoned an ordinary-looking golden thread and said, "Let's start."
Four shadows approached Yunlong at incredible speed.
...
...
Fifteen minutes later.
Yunlong played with the golden thread in a messy battleground and stared at his exhausted opponents.
Jiraiya, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan are sweating like wet dogs.
They used everything they had, but Yunlong slapped them around with his golden thread like they were nothing.
No amount of tricks and schemes could allow them to touch a corner of Yunlong's clothes.
It is ridiculous.
As Pain, Nagato used to call himself a god in the past.
Yet Nagato realized he was not worthy of such a title.
"How much power did you use earlier?" Nagato asked Yunlong while wiping his sweaty forehead.
Yunlong glanced at Nagato and replied frankly, "0.0000001%."
"..." Jiraiya.
"..." Nagato.
"..." Yahiko.
"..." Konan.