The golden droplet's radiance quickly faded before rising as vapor and vanishing completely.
Still unsatisfied after circling the Heavenly Book twice in search of the golden droplet, the Soul Division slowly drifted back to the main soul.
Skillfully locating the faint thread connecting to the main soul, Aozora gradually transmitted some mental energy through it.
Aozora felt a slight resistance, but soon slipped into the Soul Division's perspective.
Compared to the last time, he sensed that nourishment from the golden droplet had made the Soul Division slightly stronger and beginning to develop its own will.
"Charge! Soul Division!"
"S-Drift!"
"Spin around! Soul Division!"
"..."
Hearing Aozora's commands, the energetic little Soul Division tumbled across the Spiritual Sea.
Aozora also used this time to deepen his bond with the Soul Division.
After a while, noticing the flame of the Soul Division's spirit dimming, Aozora withdrew his mental energy.
"The golden droplet's nurturing effect on the Soul Division is immediately apparent. But because of this, the Soul Division isn't as closely linked to the main soul as before. Is this due to the golden droplet, or does the Soul Division naturally evolve this way?"
After a moment's thought, Aozora set the question aside and turned his gaze toward the gilded ancient characters on the Heavenly Book.
"Tai Hua Yi Xing! I wonder what surprises you'll bring me?"
Cross-legged and focused, once properly adjusted, Aozora began receiving the inheritance.
Ancient solemn words appeared in his mind. At the same time, scenes floated before his eyes.
In a realm of chaotic emptiness existed an Embryonic Egg. Its translucent shell revealed a being within—a baby curled up in slumber. As Aozora looked at its face, his vision blurred, unable to make out its features clearly.
Before he could contemplate further, the child's lips and nose stirred slightly, beginning to breathe slowly.
With each breath, the surrounding Embryonic Egg trembled. The entire world flowed like a vortex centered around this child. Nourished by the vortex, the child stretched its limbs and facial features formed.
Looking closely, Aozora found the child bore some resemblance to himself.
Before getting a better look, the scene suddenly shifted.
In a desert, a hurricane approached, lifting endless yellow sands into the air. In the eye of the coming storm loomed a small dark spot.
In the next instant, the black dot transformed against the wind, becoming a golden eagle that dove straight into the hurricane, entering its eye.
Flapping its wings, the eagle rode the hurricane forward. As the storm weakened, the eagle grew larger.
The scene shifted again.
At a sea vortex, a green snake lurked within. With every flick of its tongue, the sea vortex shrank while two small bumps gradually formed on top of the snake's head.
...
Not knowing how long had passed, Aozora finally opened his eyes.
[Tai Hua Yi Xing] was definitely no less advanced than [Embodiment Beyond the Self]—perhaps even more profound and obscure.
Already experienced after inheriting [Embodiment Beyond the Self], Aozora still felt overwhelmed—as though his mind had been filled to the brim.
His eyelids grew heavy, and drowsiness crept in.
Yet rather than falling asleep directly, Aozora curled up lying down like a developing infant.
"Hu... Xi..."
He felt as if nestled in his mother's embrace, drifting into deep slumber.
The sleeping Aozora had no idea that in his dreams, his breath flowed like wind, forming a continuous current of air between the room and himself.
Invisible currents entered Aozora's mouth, wandered through his body, then exited again through his nose.
With every inhale and exhale, a faint trace of natural energy permanently remained inside Aozora. The moment this natural energy merged with Aozora's body, it momentarily dulled nearby cells. However, this chakra was too weak and scattered to last long—it was quickly absorbed and transformed by individual cells.
The next morning, Aozora's biological clock woke him up right on schedule. He opened his eyes, brimming with vitality.
He could feel limitless energy hidden within his body, yet the disruption in his breathing rhythm left him feeling vaguely incomplete.
He quickly tried again, but no matter what movements or breathing patterns he attempted, he couldn't return to last night's state.
With a couple of sighs, Aozora adjusted his mood and began organizing the perfected supernatural technique [Tai Hua Yi Xing].
So what *was* Tai Hua Yi Xing?
Aozora originally believed it was simply Foundation Building combined with Form Transformation. Now, having received its inheritance, he realized how unaware he once was.
The core of Tai Hua Yi Xing lay in [Tai Hua] (Embryonic Formation). This didn't mean returning one's physical condition to an innate state to connect with nature, but rather adapting to the environment—to become like the embryo of heaven and earth itself, thereby better absorbing celestial energies.
If [Tai Hua] targeted the universe as a whole, then [Yi Xing] (Form Transformation) focused on specific environments. Obviously, birds naturally adapted to natural forces more easily, just as fish swam more efficiently in rivers.
Next, Aozora reviewed the cultivation method for [Tai Hua Yi Xing].
[Tai Hua] itself didn't have fixed cultivation methods—only two techniques existed:
One was meditation. While it wouldn't enhance spiritual power, it could calm the mind and attune oneself to heaven's will. To differentiate it from ordinary meditation, Aozora named it the [Tian Xin Meditation Method].
The second was embryonic breathing. In normal environments, its efficiency paled in comparison to Dao Yin Lian Qi, yet when synchronizing with heaven and earth's breath, it could purify the physical body.
But embryonic breathing couldn't be used casually. Misused in common surroundings, it would at worst yield only minimal effects. However, attempting it in areas thick with natural energy risked being overwhelmed by that energy—a serious danger to both body and spirit.
[Hua Xing] did provide specific methods. After glancing at them, Aozora found them extremely complex. Changing forms from inside out required assimilating the target's essence blood through absorption.
Aozora suspected this process might alter his own genes. Since he still wanted to remain human, he discarded this option immediately.
After sorting through the entire inheritance of [Tai Hua Yi Xing], Aozora finally understood why his body seemed to undergo radical changes overnight.
It turned out he'd barely managed to use Embryonic Breathing once under the influence of a moment of sudden enlightenment.
After sensing these bodily transformations, Aozora felt regretful. Wishing he hadn't possessed such a biological clock, he wished he could've slept for seven or eight days straight—if so, he probably would've emerged with the Immortal Body.
Life teaches us one useless lesson above all others: Regret accomplishes nothing!
With a couple of sighs, Aozora gave the Tian Xin Meditation Method a try. He couldn't help but admit—it definitely felt satisfying using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Within less than two seconds, he'd already calmed down completely.
After locking the gate, Aozora shut out all outside distractions. He sat down in the courtyard and began cultivating in peace.
On Thursday evening, in the Hokage's office.
Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, pipe in mouth, was gazing at Konoha beneath the setting sun.
Suddenly, a report rang out from outside the door.
"The Tokubetsu Jonin Shisui Uchiha reporting for duty!"
"Come in!"
Hiruzen withdrew his gaze and turned to face Shisui Uchiha as he entered.
Shisui wore the signature dark attire of the Uchiha clan. His eyebrows and eyes bore a strong resemblance to his younger brother's, though the round nose softened his appearance, giving him a more gentle and sincere look.
As Shisui knelt on one knee before him, Hiruzen kindly said, "You've worked hard."
Shisui hurriedly replied, "Not at all!"
Helping Shisui back up, Hiruzen brushed off the dust clinging to his clothes from the long, hurried trip. "If it weren't for an extremely important task I need to assign to you, I wouldn't want you going through so much trouble."
Upon hearing those words, Shisui's expression remained calm, though a warm feeling stirred in his chest.
"Hokage-sama, please tell me what the task is—I'll give it my all and finish the job no matter what!"
Hiruzen nodded with approval, then grew serious after patting Shisui's shoulder. "Shisui, would you be willing to become my aide?"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>