People often crave the power of Sage Mode, but they do not desire to become true immortals.
The gap between mortals and immortals is simply too vast.
When people can see a goal within reach, they desire it. But if something is beyond comparison, that desire fades.
Who would chase after something they are destined never to obtain?
Orochimaru's voice trembled with anticipation as he asked, "Are you saying that humans can truly become immortals? Like the ones from the Three Holy Lands?"
Xu Ming smiled. "Of course. Becoming an immortal is merely a stage in the cultivation of natural energy. The true end of this path is godhood."
Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. "Gods… do they really exist?"
"They do," Xu Ming said with a faint sigh. "But most of them perished thousands of years ago. Only a few remnants remain on this earth."
Orochimaru's heart pounded. The timeline matched the era when the Sage of Six Paths first introduced chakra to the world.
Could the death of the ancient gods be connected to the Sage of Six Paths and his teachings?
"Why… why did the gods die?" he asked.
"They were slain," Xu Ming replied calmly.
"Killed? By whom?"
"By an enemy from beyond the heavens."
Orochimaru's breath hitched. "Who was this enemy?"
"The mother of the Sage of Six Paths—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
A cold shiver ran down Orochimaru's spine. The very being that slew the ancient gods was none other than the mother of the legendary Sage of Six Paths?
But if Kaguya was the one who eradicated the gods, why was the Sage of Six Paths worshiped as a savior?
Xu Ming saw the confusion on Orochimaru's face and explained, "The Sage of Six Paths and his mother became enemies. They stood on opposing sides."
The weight of this revelation pressed heavily on Orochimaru. His forehead glistened with sweat, and his breath became erratic.
He raised a hand, signaling for the conversation to pause.
"I need time to process this."
"Of course," Xu Ming nodded. "I didn't intend to reveal everything at once."
After a brief silence, Xu Ming brought the conversation back to Sage Transformation.
"As I mentioned before, Sage Transformation allows one to become a new immortal. This is because natural energy itself is formless and without attributes.
Different beings will undergo unique transformations when they absorb it.
The process depends not only on one's race, talent, or willpower, but also on their training environment. Because of this, Sage Transformation cannot be replicated—it is entirely unique to each individual."
Orochimaru took a deep breath, regaining his composure as he listened attentively.
"Your method of transplanting tumors may allow you to bypass the physical limitations of your body," Xu Ming continued. "However, it will still lean toward the characteristics of a snake, influencing your transformation in the future."
"A snake, huh?" Orochimaru mused for a moment before smirking. "I don't mind. I've always had a fondness for snakes."
Xu Ming nodded. "That's good. Not resisting means you've already accepted it on a subconscious level. Perhaps embracing the path of the serpent is the answer your soul has chosen."
The two continued discussing the finer details of the technique.
They confirmed that this method of cultivating flesh and transplanting it would be known as the Curse Seal.
Beyond just the heart, they planned to experiment with different body parts to determine the most suitable location for the seal.
Because the transplanted flesh contained active natural energy, it functioned almost as if it were a separate lifeform.
After all, life itself is a result of accumulated natural energy.
To sustain this curse mark, Orochimaru could use his own chakra to nourish the transplanted tissue, keeping it alive indefinitely.
As long as the tumor wasn't starved of energy, the curse mark would remain permanent—eliminating the need to regrow and transplant new flesh after repeated use.
"If you can completely integrate with this tumor—if your will can permanently guide the fusion of natural energy and your body—then you will have truly achieved Sage Transformation," Xu Ming explained.
In truth, this was the state that the immortal sages of the Three Holy Lands had already reached.
Unlike the Sage Mode granted to ninja, which ended when their chakra was depleted, the immortals never exited their transformed state.
Their bodies had evolved beyond their original forms.
For them, this transformation was permanent.
"This will take a long time," Orochimaru muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Xu Ming smiled and patted his shoulder. "There's no rush. Take your time."
With that, their discussion on Sage Transformation came to an end.
That Night
Sitting cross-legged on a massive tree, Xu Ming reflected on everything he had learned.
"The time has come for me to attempt my own Sage Transformation."
He closed his eyes, allowing his mind to merge the concepts of Sage Transformation, the Curse Seal, and the Yin-Yang Path.
As these streams of knowledge converged, they formed a vast ocean of understanding.
Unlike Orochimaru, Xu Ming did not cultivate and transplant flesh.
Instead, he relied on the Yin-Yang Dao Method to channel energy from the world itself.
He treated the vast, ever-flowing natural energy of the earth as a divine force—seeking power directly from the heavens.
The gods responded.
No… it was the world itself that answered him.
Like a mother's gentle embrace, a strand of natural energy descended from the sky.
Despite its violent and chaotic nature, it gathered softly around Xu Ming, as if it were sentient.
He reached out with his spirit, calming the wild energy.
It was like a child whispering to a troubled parent, soothing their worries with an innocent voice.
Slowly, the natural energy began to harmonize with him.
Unlike Orochimaru's transformation, this energy did not immediately merge with his chakra or body.
Instead, it lingered—observing, adapting, and gradually drawing closer.
And as it did, Xu Ming began to change.
A radiant golden-red light shimmered in his eyes.
The transformation had begun.