Partners

Before arriving at the Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range, Itachi took a detour to the Cyan Forest Town to collect some essential items and then moved forward towards the waterfall where in the previous timeline, Yun Che had trained for four months in the Scarlet Dragon mountain range. Itachi's road of Profound cultivation in this lifetime, will start off from this Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range!

Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range, waterfall between the mountains.

On the mountain below that was about two to three hundred meters, a vast waterfall rushed down, and causing rumbling sounds.

At the edge of the waterfall, Itachi was currently leisurely sitting in meditation. It has been two days since he left the Floating Cloud City, along with the three days that he spent in the Xiao clan, today was the sixth day since he had arrived in this world. It took around two weeks for Jasmine to wake as in Yun Che's memories. However, Itachi had been hoping that the strange rejuvenating that the Mirror of Samsara had given would allow her to wake up a little sooner. And, after waiting for two days, finally…..

Itachi felt a sudden familiar fluctuation from the Sky Poison Pearl. He instantly became vigilant since this Jasmine was still ignorant about everything and was very much like Sasuke in her thirst for vengeance, hence, he categorized her as an extremely unstable entity. Moreover, she was not the Jasmine that had bonded with Yun Che over the years. She was tainted with a deep-rooted hatred along and her superiority complex for lowly mortals. As such, Itachi had to be extremely careful when dealing with her. Her strength, even in this state, would be enough to crush him without much trouble at all.

Itachi's figure seemed especially minuscule beside the gigantic waterfall. However, Itachi, still continued sitting in a cross-legged manner without a care.

Finally, after a moment, Jasmine awoke from the Sky Poison Pearl and came out. She was wearing the same set of clothes he had found her in, which he had already stored inside the Sky Poison Pearl near her.

"This hateful Absolute God Slaying Poison... How could this princess… experience such a…. rebound... that hateful witch!" Jasmine said with the same arrogant tone that he recalled from Yun Che's memories seemed to have, that of noble aloofness, and a extremely childish in Itachi's opinion.

An exquisite and petite, radiating a kind of unholy aura with her red hair scattered all the way down to her waist, her enchanting allure was unparalleled. Her eyes seemed to be the color of the night. However, Itachi knew, behind that alluring beauty, the bloodlust radiating from her would be enough to die this entire Blue Pole Star bloody.

"...You woke up" Itachi spoke in a well composed tone getting the girl's attention. When she looked at him, Itachi for some reason felt a deep sense of regret, as well as longing. Although, he didn't show it, he immediately tried to calm his mind to suppress Yun Che's memories from disrupting his train of thought.

'I need to focus right now. This might be a very significant moment in this new life and the very first step to obtaining the power that I would need to truly succeed in my intended endeavours.'

Itachi calmed his mind as the memories that had been rising to the surface went back deep inside his consciousness.

Hearing Itachi, she turned around to look at him. Her beautiful face frowned slightly as she said with an extremely condescending tone: "How laughable, the Sky Poison Pearl would actually choose a useless common person like you as its master! Don't tell me that this Heavenly Profound Treasure's spirituality has already become that distorted?"

Hearing Jasmine's condescending tone of voice, Itachi facial expression didn't change much. After all, he had long since mastered the art of maintaining illusions, even the superficial ones. He had already thought about how he was going to proceed further. Yun Che's approach just wasn't his style, anyways, his days of following orders were long over.

Quickly, Itachi flickered toward her using his chakra while activating his Mangekyo Sharingan. The Pin-wheel pattern in his eyes burnt brighter as the world around them disappeared while they reappeared in the world of Tsukuyomi.

Jasmine had already sensed the change in the surroundings but, she wasn't too worried about it, since Itachi didn't seem to possess any form of Profound Energy in his body. However, that just created confusion and slight intrigue in her mind. With her cultivation, even in this poisoned state, a mere mortal shouldn't be able to make her fall into an illusion.

Itachi's voice echoed in the surroundings, while he materialized in front of her, though, he seemed to be wearing a strange red cloud patterned cloak, the same pin-wheel pattern still burnt in both of his eyes.

Standing, in front of her in the tsukuyomi world, Itachi didn't take much time to start talking since he knew Jasmine would probably start getting impatient.

"I am Itachi….May I know who you are? This is just a basic illusory world, nothing more." Itachi stated in a non-chalant tone of voice.

Jasmine narrowed her eyes at Itachi's words, though, she could easily break free from this illusion using her overhelming soul strength, it was still intriguing for her how a person with no profound energy could make, her, a divine master realm cultivator to even fall into an illusion.

"What?! I sensed you to be a cripple, how could you even make me fall into an illusion without the use of profound energy?! First, the Sky Poison Pearl and now….this….." The little girl said as she locked eyes with Itachi and continued: "To dare trap this princess in an illusion... hmph never mind, mortal tell me. Where did you obtain the Sky Poison Pearl!" She said as she looked at Itachi in an imposing manner.

"Although, I have no obligation to tell you since you have not answered any of my questions but I will tell you anyways. Considering the fact that we are already bound together now, since I am the master of the Sky Poison Pearl." Itachi spoke as he realized that the Jasmine in front of him would only be willing to listen to him when she felt she had no other choice.

The girl stared into his eyes for three whole seconds, then finally fluctuated a little, then using a icy cold tone, she plainly said: "Sky Poison Pearl, ranked fifth in the seven Heavenly Profound Treasures; limitless inner space, can counteract all poisons, refine all ingredients. When appeared for an instant one thousand and three hundred years ago, the whole world turmoiled to obtain it, then it disappeared without a trace. I didn't expect, that it actually landed into a wastrel with forever broken Profound Veins' hands! And even fused with your body! What ridiculousness. I don't know whether this Sky Poison Pearl had lost its spirituality, or its spirit had thoroughly become insane! If the Sky Poison Pearl would even fuse with a wastrel like you, there is no reason it wouldn't fuse with this princess!"

A flood of cold murderous intent flew towards Itachi and the world of Tsukuyomi started to shake violently. The girl's charming face full of murderous intent was now only a foot away, and her left hand tightly gripped on his throat.

"I will give you two choices." Jasmine's absolute stunning features were now full of dreadfulness, and every word from her tender voice is chilling: "Your first choice, obediently turn over the Sky Poison Pearl to this princess. The other is that this princess will take the Sky Poison Pearl from your dead body after I take your life!"

" I choose the second option." Itachi spoke immediately with an eerie calm as he locked eyes with Jasmine, as if her murderous intent didn't seem to have any effect on him.

Jasmine's lovely eyes narrowed, and she sneered: "You think I wouldn't dare to?"

Itachi chuckled while looking deep into her eyes: "Previously, you stated that the Sky Poison Pearl lost it's spirituality that it would recognize me ….a supposed ant as it's master. In terms of cultivation, I agree to the fact that compared to you, I am indeed an ant. However, what makes you think that you are any more than a bigger ant in the eyes of the Sky Poison Pearl, It is a treasure that ended the era of True Gods and Devils. In front of it, both of us, are not much different. If I am an ant, then, you are just a slightly bigger ant to the Sky Poison Pearl. Sky Poison Pearl recognizing me as it's master is a phenomenon that occurred due to many reasons, although, none of them have anything to do with my strength." With that, Itachi activated his Sharingan with full power while he said resolutely: "Moreover, I am not afraid of death. I have already faced it once with a smile on my face. I may not have a clear purpose for my life right now. However, I will no longer live a life where I am subservient to anything that is against my nature. So, go ahead and kill me. However, know that killing me would be equivalent to killing yourself….So, If you would like to continue the discussion in a more civil manner? My death will only lead to yours as well. We are bound by destiny whether we want to or not, either we can live together or die together. It is your choice completely"

Jasmine became slightly speechless for a few seconds.

"You... you aren't as useless as you look." She said as she loosened her hold on his neck. As soon as she did so, Itachi flicked his fingers, as the surroundings changed and a lush garden appeared with two simple chairs placed in the middle. Itachi took one while he waited for her to sit.

After a few seconds, Jasmine took the seat opposite of him, her murderous intent had disappeared replacing it with a mildly curious face. She gestured with her dainty fingers around the illusory world while asking: " You... how could you do that even when I sense your profound veins are crippled?"

Itachi simply said: "It is because of my unusual soul strength, and a type of energy that is suitable for making illusions. There is more to that but I will explain in detail later."

Jasmine didn't pursue it any further and changed the topic: "No matter, it is your blessing to have encountered me. If you promise this princess three conditions, I shall give you a new set of profound veins!"

Although Itachi already knew what she would ask of him, he still asked back: " What conditions are those?"

Jasmine knew he definitely couldn't reject her offer so she just cut to the chase and directly answered: "The first condition, you must promise to help this princess find three items: A stalk of Netherworld Udumbara Flower, three Profound Beast Cores no lower than that of the Tyrant Profound Realm as well as… At least thirty-five kilos of Purple Veined Divine Crystal!"

Itachi made a contemplating face and replied after a while: "Very well, I don't have much problem with that. Although, it will most certainly take time to gather them. I can agree to the First condition."

"You don't need to get it now" Jasmine nodded and spoke: "The poison has invaded my soul; even with the Sky Poison Pearl, after the poison on me had detoxified, I would have to rebuild my body. And these three items are necessary for me to rebuild my body. It needs to be done within thirty years"

"The second condition; you must, within thirty years, reach the Sovereign Profound Realm!" She said clearly as she looked at Itachi.

Itachi merely nodded his head : "I can agree to this condition as well."

'Now, she will probably ask me to become her student..' Itachi thought inwardly before Jasmine asked for the next condition.

Jasmine's gaze once again landed on his body, becoming strict and proud: "The third condition… Kneel down and worship me as your master!"

Without hesitation, Itachi replied: "I refuse"

"Reason?.." Jasmine asked plainly without any anger.

"I will never accept a master driven by revenge. You will only lead me to the path of darkness. Moreover, I have already told you I did rather accept death than be bound by such things." Itachi spoke calmly.

"This! How do you know of such a thing?!" She spoke coldly.

"I have seen the look in your eyes, no matter how you hide it, my eyes can see through them, it is also something I, am extremely familiar with." Itachi said resolutely, thinking of the last time he saw Sasuke. " I can agree to the first two but not the third. How about another deal instead?"

" A deal? Very well then, this princess shall hear you out." She said in a intrigued manner while haughtily folding her flawless as her divine legs were presented towards Itachi.

" I will fulfill the first two conditions if you restore my profound veins. Although, I cannot take you as my master how about we be partners." Itachi spoke.

Jasmine repeated confusedly: " Partners?"

"Yes, this is only for our own interests and benefits. So, we will be partners for our interests and in, thirty years, I will pay you back by fulfilling the first two conditions and freeing you from the Sky Poison Pearl. How about it?" Itachie spoke with a calm voice.

"Hmm, very well. This princess will give you a chance." Jasmine said simply. Usually, she wouldn't do such a thing, but looking at the mortal in front of her, she felt like she really had no choice, when she had threatened to kill him earlier, she really couldn't feel an ounce of fear in him. Moreover, there was just something about him that she couldn't quite place that convinced her to make the choice that day, and thus, they became 'partners'.

"Very well then. How will you fix my profound veins?" Itachi asked her, though, of course, he was already aware of how, that is what he had been waiting for the last six days since he arrived in this world. The illusory world around them disappeared as the waterfall re-appeared in their line of sight.

"Do you know for what reason I was chased, and infected by this terrifying poison afterwards?" She asked as her ethereal form walked towards him.

"..." Itachi only remained silent at her question. They have only just met, he couldn't know her affairs, that would be too suspicious.

Seeing as he wasn't answering she continued "Because of….. this drop of blood!" She said as she lifted her right hand. Her thin and delicate index finger erected toward the sky, and from the area of her fingertips, a drop of a dark-red water droplet-like object slowly rose accompanied by a shimmering ball of eerie light, until it hovered over her fingertips.

"..." Itachi looked at the drop of blood with his Sharingan, analyzing it. It seemed that the profound energy in the air seemed to gravitate towards the drop of blood like a black hole with different elements of nature bending towards it.

Jasmine slowly lifted her right hand. Her thin and delicate index finger erected toward the sky, and from the area of her fingertips, a drop of a dark-red water droplet-like object slowly rose accompanied by a shimmering ball of eerie light, until it hovered over her fingertips.

"This…. is?" Itachi came closer and steadied his eyes…. The familiar feeling inside his heart intensified as he looked at the drop of blood. The thrumming inside his heart that he was feeling right now was most definitely due to Yun Che's residual memories. He continued to analyze the drop of blood with his Mangekyo Sharingan while Jasmine explained how she got her hands on it.

"Three hundred years ago, ........"

Finally as her redundant explanation came to an end, Itachi focused back on her words.

"I definitely couldn't afford pay the price of having all of my current powers erased just to use this blood droplet of the Heretic God. But using it on you, it seemed like it couldn't be more fitting." Jasmine moved her finger, and made the tranquil droplet of dark-red colored blood hover in front of Itachi's chest: "Your Profound Veins were broken from the start, and your profound power amounts to nothing. After infusing you with the blood of the Heretic God, your Profound Veins will be quickly reborn into the Heretic God's Profound Veins!"

As she spoke, Jasmine's eye suddenly flashed and brightened, as she lowered her luminous snow-white wrist. Her delicate fingertips suddenly stimulated the blood of the "Heretic God" to float adrift and pierce into Itachi's chest. The pit of Itachi's chest immediately split open to reveal a bloodstain, and the sinister scarlet blood droplet touched his overflowing blood, as if it were attracted. In a flash, it entered his body….

Itachi already knew she was going to do it ,so, he was fully prepared for it.

The moment the dark-red drop of blood entered Itachi's body, tens of bloodstain-like crimson lines wildly fanned throughout his body, originating from the blood print in his chest.

At that instant, Itachi felt as if he was stabbed by tens of thousands of blades. He could wildly immense pain in every part of his body. It almost made him remember the time when his eyes had almost gone blind due to the excessive use of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

However, even through all of that pain, he didn't let out a single shout or even whine of pain. His mental fortitude had always been his greatest strength and now merging with Yun Che's memories had only increased his mental fortitude.

From Yun Che's memories, Itachi knew the human anatomy like the back of his hand; the parts that were being digested, was doubtlessly his broken Profound Veins!

Soon Itachi became numb to the pain as he slowed down his breathing. His face no longer contorted but became serene and calm despite the unimaginable pain he was feeling.

Along with his Sharingan, he looked similar to a completely demonic being.

As Jasmine forced the Heretic God's blood into Itachi's body, her lips curled up, and revealed a very…. gleeful smile at his agony.

Did you think I would really just forgive you for refusing to acknowledge me as your master and using your pitiful illusions on me? This blood of the Heretic God would indeed grant you new Profound Veins, but it'll also bequeath you with the most brutal punishment in my stead!!

Jasmine cruelly smiled as she saw the red demonic marks all over his body; as she saw his eyes suddenly turned crimson; as she saw his whole body ; as she saw his face …. Slowly, her smile chilled down and disappeared, and what replaced it was an face that expressed an ever-increasing shock to eventually changing into complete astonishment.

This ordinary, mortal man…. a person fused with Sky Poison Pearl….Along with those blood-red strange eyes and his ability to cast illusions without any form of energy….. What exactly is he?

Some time later, the Profound Vein's devourment and reconstruction of Itachi's profound veins had finally ended. He had finally achieved his first major goal in this world. Now, he had to advance faster than Yun Che if he wanted to truly reach the top of Primal Chaos.

At the same time, out of the Fifty-four Profound Entrances, a total of twenty had opened, which was much higher than what Yun Che was able to do.

At this time, the shimmering ended. Along with it, Itachi finally opened his eyes.

"How does the reborn Profound Vein feel?" Jasmine narrowed her eyes that glinted like a star….

"It was successful" Itachi calmly replied.

"How many Profound Gates were opened?" Jasmine questioned back.

"Twenty." Itachi answered.

Jasmine's eyes flashed with a glimpse of disappointment. Then she said in an indifferent tone: " Did you think just anyone would have the qualifications to dabble with the power of gods? If you want to unlock the special abilities of the Heretic God's Profound Veins, then you must open all Fifty-four Profound Entrances! Had it ..."

Itachi's expression was very calm as he interrupted her with an unusually curious gaze: "Very well"

As he finished speaking, Itachi lifted his left hand, held it against his chest, and muttered: "Sky Poison…. Purification!"

Sky Poison Pearl instantly emitted a beam of dark-green light, dissolving into Itachi's body and went through his newly born Profound Veins. Purifying his own Profound Veins, was as easy as playing with one's own fingers.

Not even half a minute later, all of the newborn Profound Vein's Fifty-four Profound Entrances were opened.

"Alright, all Fifty-four Profound Entrances are open. Now what?" Itachi said

However, as he lifted his gaze, he found that Jasmine's starry eyes were wide open

"Sky Poison Pearl, unexpectedly had this kind of ability!" said Jasmine in surprise, as she stared at Itachi's left hand.

"Oh ...there are seven additional profound entrances?" Itachi asked as he opened his eyes.

"No, those are not profound entrances." Jasmine said faintly

"Those are used to activate the seven realms of Heretic God Arts… The Seven Gates!"

"Seven Gates…?" It wasn't Itachi's first time hearing about them since he was the one most familiar with them in this world

Once again, Jasmine redundantly explained about the seven gates while Itachi simply listened.

"....…With your current body, even if it's just opening the first gate, you would immediately explode and die!"

Itachi was well aware of that; more importantly he even knew that the knowledge of the sixth and seventh gates was in Yun Che's memory, but, he hadn't yet seen it so, he couldn't be sure.

"… Okay." Itachi did not continue to question. "I will begin cultivating."

He had already collected all the necessary things for his long stay here at this waterfall.

"This princess must now return into the Sky Poison Pearl; you are not allowed to disturb this princess within the next three days."

"Wait. I forgot to ask you of your name" Itachi said.

"It's …Jasmine" Jasmine replied in a neutral tone of voice.

"….That will be fine. I will cultivate here for some time. You can heal yourself using the Sky Poison Pearl. Once again, thank you very much for this …..Princess Jasmine."

"Hn"The only reply he got was a snort as Jasmine's body had already disappeared turning into a scarlet light, and entered the Sky Poison Pearl.

Finally, Itachi's road of profound cultivation in this lifetime, had officially begun.