Chapter 21 : Golden Soul Fruit

The Phoenix Essence holds great value, but the second reward is not to be underestimated.

Soon, the second reward was revealed.

A golden fruit materialized on the screen of the live broadcast room, emitting a faint golden radiance that bathed the entire void, as though it pierced through the live broadcast room and illuminated every ninja.

Even the inhabitants of the Pure Land world, upon seeing this fruit, felt an irresistible urge to consume it.

[Golden Soul Fruit: Consuming it can enhance the soul's strength to a level of Immortals and Sages and become an immortal existence.]

Among those witnessing the Golden Soul Fruit, Orochimaru appeared the most excited.

Immortal souls would grant him boundless opportunities for the Living Corpse Reincarnation jutsu.

Each time he performed Living Corpse Reincarnation, it exacted a toll on his soul, taking over three years for complete recovery. With the Golden Soul Fruit, his soul would remain unharmed, allowing him to employ Living Corpse Reincarnation at will.

Henceforth, he could employ Living Corpse Reincarnation whenever he pleased.

"Remarkable treasures, the gold list has truly outdone itself by offering such extraordinary rewards!" Orochimaru exclaimed with eagerness and envy.

However, many ninjas held a different perspective.

The immortality of the soul held little appeal for them.

An immortal soul could still be sealed. After the physical body's demise, it would be drawn into the Pure Land world. In the physical realm, there were few means to obliterate the soul.

Hence, there was no pressing need to safeguard the soul under ordinary circumstances.

For these ordinary ninjas, the immortality of the soul seemed mundane compared to Phoenix Essence.

Phoenix Essence would be of great value to the living, but to the deceased, an immortal soul mattered more.

[Third Hokage: I believe Yasao will unquestionably choose the Phoenix Essence, not the Golden Soul Fruit.]

[Fourth Raikage: I concur with the notion that Yasao will opt for the Phoenix Essence. Its value surpasses that of the Golden Soul Fruit, which may be of limited use to him.]

[Terumi Mei: Count me in for the Phoenix Blood Essence! The allure of the Phoenix Blood Essence is irresistible. The Golden Soul Fruit, in comparison, is rather lackluster!]

[Orochimaru: Were it up to me, I would unquestionably select the Golden Soul Fruit!]

[Hidan: If it were bestowed upon me, I too would choose the Golden Soul Fruit!]

[Kakuzu: Can I have both?]

[Uchiha Madara: In my view, Yasao will undoubtedly select the Phoenix Essence. It can extend his lifespan and augment his strength. While he lives, what use is an immortal soul? Even a fool would make the same choice!]

"Soul Golden Fruit, a splendid choice!"

Yasao grinned.

To him, although the Phoenix Essence held merit, it was merely that—meritorious. He felt no urgency in extending his lifespan, as his own had already spanned thousands of years. 

  As for the Phoenix's Immortal Body, while alluring, the combination of his Indestructible King Kong Body and the angel's scepter's healing prowess was akin to the Phoenix's Undying Body.

In terms of survival, he possessed nearly ultimate capabilities.

Upon entering the ninja world, he had meticulously considered means of survival, accumulating numerous lifesaving methods and treasures. Consequently, he lacked nothing in terms of lifesaving artifacts.

However, treasures like the Golden Soul Fruit remained elusive to him.

While other ninjas might not yearn for the Golden Soul Fruit, he ardently desired it.

"The ninja world possesses peculiar rules. In this world, the soul is exceptionally crucial. It is challenging to entirely obliterate a soul here; even in death, it finds its way to the Pure Land world. 

  Reincarnation seems nonexistent. Souls are practically immortal within the Pure Land world. These individuals might not covet the Golden Soul Fruit, but they underestimate the soul's significance!"

Yasao deduced the future through his deduction system, and in that future, the soul held profound importance.

Genin, Chūnin, Jōnin, Elite Jōnin, Kage-level, Super Kage-level, Six Paths level—these represented the common gradations in the ninja world, with Six Paths being the ultimate tier.

Though there were subdivisions within Six Paths, the power gap was substantial. Yasao stood firmly within the Six Paths tier, having ascended significantly. 

  His might eclipsed that of Garaga, who had recently entered the Six Paths tier, making her an easy adversary.

Yet, he remained bound by the shackles of the Six Paths level.

His sole limitation lay in his soul. If he could elevate his soul to immortality, a glimmer of hope existed to transcend the constraints of the Six Paths level and venture into uncharted realms.

"Hence, I choose the Golden Soul Fruit!"

Yasao declared.

---

At that moment, the Phoenix Essence vanished from the live broadcast room, leaving only the Golden Soul Fruit.

[The first-place reward has been determined as the Golden Soul Fruit.]

Countless ninjas stood in astonishment at this development.

[Uchiha Madara: What? Yasao actually chose the Golden Soul Fruit, relinquishing the Phoenix Essence—an artifact capable of extending life by three thousand years and bestowing the immortal body of the phoenix!]

[Third Hokage: This choice truly exceeded my expectations.]

[Orochimaru: This outcome did not surprise me. The soul surpasses the body in importance; one should never underestimate the soul. Bodies can be discarded at any moment, but the soul cannot.]

[Jiraiya: Is this why you're so indifferent to gender? Not only is the physical body unimportant, but gender as well!]

[Orochimaru: Speak your mind, Jiraiya. I'm indifferent to it all. If you handed over your Golden Soul Fruit and spent the rest of your days as a woman, I'd find that quite agreeable!]

[Tsunade: Orochimaru, you're incorrigible!]

[Nara Shikamaru: I believe Yasao's choice is sound. He possesses the Angel's Scepter and a formidable body. He doesn't require the Phoenix's Undying Body for protection, and he's already obtained the Thousand-Year Dragon Essence. He can procure more life-extending treasures. Hence, lifespan holds little value to him, while the rarity of soul immortality is evident.]

[Nara Shikaku : Son, your analysis is astute. Yasao's choice carries greater significance. For us, the Phoenix Essence is invaluable, but for Yasao, it's worth is not as substantial as it seems.]

At that instant, Yasao retrieved the Golden Soul Fruit.

Without hesitation, he consumed it.

Immediately, the Golden Soul Fruit's energy flowed into his soul, initiating an inconceivable transformation.

Boom!

Yasao sensed his soul surging at an astonishing pace, growing stronger, denser, until it reached an entirely new realm.

The realm of immortality and immortal existence had been attained!

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