Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 377 Explanation

Orochimaru's narrow eyes gleamed with wisdom as he followed closely behind Hyuga Kanan, silently contemplating what might happen next. He felt a mixture of awe and curiosity towards this senior whose strength was unfathomable. He knew this meeting would profoundly impact his future path, but the specifics remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Neji's feelings were equally complex. As an outstanding member of his clan, he bore the mission of restoring the clan's glory. However, faced with the intricate situation and various unknown challenges, he felt somewhat overwhelmed. He hoped that through his interactions with Hyuga Kanan and Orochimaru, he could gain more inspiration and strength, and find a direction to move forward.

And so, Hyuga Kanan walked toward the secluded chamber, Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji following behind, each step they took heavy yet filled with anticipation. They were about to uncover a long-hidden secret, a secret that might change the very fabric of the world.

Hyuga Kanan slowly stepped into the deepest part of the secluded training room, as if entering a mysterious and tranquil world. He walked with practiced ease to an ancient-looking futon and sat down steadily. His deep eyes, like stars twinkling in the night sky, quietly gazed at the two people who had entered with him—Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji.

Orochimaru's narrow eyes gleamed with curiosity as he constantly looked around, trying to catch every subtle change. His keen senses told him that a great secret and power were hidden here. Hyuga Neji, on the other hand, seemed somewhat reserved, but was equally awestruck by what he saw.

As they stepped into this place, they immediately felt an intense aura wash over them. This aura was not ordinary spiritual energy or true energy, but an extremely rich and pure natural energy. This natural energy was so powerful that it even made them feel somewhat suffocated. The natural energy, which should have been in a misty state, had now condensed into a liquid state, flowing quietly like a crystal-clear pool of water.

The liquid in the pool shimmered with a faint light, seemingly containing boundless vitality. It rippled gently, emitting clear, melodious sounds, as if telling ancient stories. Orochimaru couldn't resist reaching out to touch the surface of the liquid, feeling the coolness and powerful energy emanating from it.

The two stared in disbelief at the pool before them, speechless. The instant their fingertips touched the water's surface, an incredibly powerful energy surged through their entire bodies! It felt as if countless tiny yet potent electric currents were coursing through every cell, bringing an indescribable, wondrous sensation. It was as if their entire being was enveloped by an invisible, vibrant, and energetic shield of energy, from head to toe, leaving no part untouched.

As this energy continuously surged into their bodies, they gradually felt as if their bodies were about to burst. The vortex of energy that had been slowly rotating in their dantian became unusually active, but even so, it still couldn't quickly refine all of this surging natural energy. The excessive natural energy began to rampage through their meridians and acupoints, causing them unbearable pain and even making it difficult to breathe.

Faced with such immense and violent natural energy, a sense of fear welled up within the two men. They knew that if things continued this way, their bodies might be completely eroded by this boundless energy, with unimaginable consequences! So, they quickly withdrew their hands, no longer daring to touch the mysterious and dangerous pool. Now, they could only stand aside, gazing at the seemingly calm yet immensely powerful body of water, pondering: What secrets does this place hold? And how can we safely utilize this astonishing natural energy? These questions lingered in their minds, plunging them into deep thought.

After seeing their actions, Hyuga Kanan explained, "This pool is formed entirely from the convergence of natural energy. At your current level, you cannot withstand such concentrated natural energy, which would erode and assimilate your bodies. Stop absorbing natural energy now, or your bodies will not be able to hold on."

The two were now flushed, their bodies too heavy to stand, as if they were drunk. Upon hearing Hyuga Kanan's reminder, they quickly sat cross-legged, rapidly manipulating their soul power to stop absorbing energy. They completely isolated their dantian from the outside world, ceasing to actively absorb any external energy. After a period of meditation, they recovered, but their bodies were still incredibly full of natural energy, surging through their meridians, causing a severe feeling of expansion.

They both knew this was a side effect of absorbing too much energy. Fortunately, they quickly stopped actively absorbing more, otherwise their meridians might have been damaged. However, absorbing such a large amount of natural energy into their bodies still strengthened their meridians and dantian qi vortex, which would be of great benefit to their future cultivation.

After seeing that the two had calmed down and regained their composure, Hyuga Kanan continued, "You should not enter this place again. The energy here is too vast and violent for you right now, which is very detrimental to your cultivation. It may cause irreparable damage to your meridians and damage the foundation of your cultivation."

Orochimaru and Neji Hyuga nodded in agreement. They had just tried it themselves and knew that their current level was not suitable for this environment. Moreover, energy absorption and refinement were no longer their primary focus at this stage. What they needed was to strengthen their soul power and deepen their understanding of the power of rules, making ample preparations for breaking through to the next level.

Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji no longer focused on the problem of energy absorption, because their primary concern was their impending breakthrough and the potential tribulation they might encounter. Just recently, they had witnessed firsthand the breathtaking clash between Hyuga Kanan and the mysterious and powerful will of heaven and earth. The awe-inspiring battle was still deeply etched in their minds, filling them with both anticipation and anxiety for the future.

They were eager to understand what the tribulation they were about to face would be like, and whether it would be as terrifying and difficult as the one Hyuga Kanan had just experienced. This question weighed heavily on their hearts, making it impossible for them to let go. After all, a tribulation is an insurmountable obstacle for any cultivator; the slightest carelessness could lead to annihilation.

Orochimaru's deep eyes gleamed with contemplation as he recalled every detail of Hyuga Kanan's struggle against the will of heaven and earth, attempting to find clues to predict the challenges he would face. Hyuga Neji, meanwhile, frowned deeply, his expression grave as he pondered, seemingly searching for a method or strategy to cope with the heavenly tribulation.

Time ticked by, and the two fell silent, their hearts churning with turbulent emotions. They knew that only by fully understanding and preparing themselves could they possibly survive the impending tribulation and achieve a breakthrough. Therefore, no matter what dangers awaited them, they were determined to forge ahead and meet this test of fate.

Neji Hyuga was the first to speak up, asking, "Master, was what you just faced the will of heaven and earth that you told us about? And when we break through, do we also have to face that terrifying heavenly tribulation? But can we really withstand and resist that immense pressure and power?"

Orochimaru's gaze was also fixed intently on Hyuga Kanan, eager to hear his explanation. He shared the same doubts and worries as Hyuga Neji, but his will to cultivate remained unwavering. For him, even if he were completely annihilated by the heavenly tribulation, he would not stop his progress in cultivation; at most, he would only feel a little unwilling.

Of course, it would be best if he could have more information and knowledge to help him better overcome the tribulation. As a pioneer on this path, Hyuga Kanan would provide him with a lot of information, allowing him to be more confident in his journey and continue pursuing his path of cultivation, which would be perfect.

Seeing their anxious expressions and expectant eyes, Hyuga Kanan knew they had misunderstood something, mistaking his earlier confrontation with the world's will for a heavenly tribulation. He was well aware that such a large-scale confrontation had put immense pressure on Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji, causing them both considerable fear.

Judging from their expressions, it was clear that even facing such a terrifying calamity, they would not give up their cultivation. Even the prospect of death did not shake their resolve. Hyuga Kanan nodded slightly, deeply gratified by their unwavering determination. He would likely face the powerful Sage of Six Paths later on, and no one knew the final outcome. Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji would be the last remaining flame of the Daoist tradition in this world.

Hyuga Kanan slowly opened his mouth, his voice low and firm as he said, “Don’t overthink it. My situation was different from yours. This was just a minor incident. You should know that the Heavenly Tribulation is aimed at your cultivation levels. This is the natural order of the universe. It is absolutely impossible for it to wipe you out completely, leaving you no chance to survive. The will of heaven and earth can only hinder you, not truly kill you. Unless you dare to trample on the laws of heaven and earth, the will of heaven and earth will only exert power commensurate with yours to stop you. This is also the rule of the universe.”