30

Nara Shintaku chose the Blood Armor Technique as his method for practice.

At this moment, the light shield around him rippled.

By alternating between the Static Blood Armor and the Dynamic Blood Armor within his body, he fine-tuned the strength of the force field, allowing a trace of natural energy to penetrate during the adjustments. This infiltrated natural energy was carried by the chakra into the blood vessels.

The blood vessels were filled with a significant amount of chakra due to the Blood Armor Technique.

This chakra mixed with a small amount of natural energy, creating a fierce reaction and instantly activating the violent characteristics.

But as the blood flowed, the natural energy was constantly consumed by the chakra within the closed force field.

It was akin to practicing martial arts.

One cycle, one Zhoutian.

After several Zhoutian, the violent natural energy was completely consumed by the chakra.

It was fully integrated into the Blood Armor Technique and the force field.

At this moment—

Swoosh!

Nara Shintaku suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a golden circle on the outer layer of his eyes.

It floated around his dark pupils like a pupil ring.

In the center of his eyes, cracks seemed to appear in the dark pupils. These cracks were shaped like a cross or a cross star, glowing with a faint silver light.

One gold and one silver.

They shone brightly.

And behind Nara Shintaku, a pair of wings made entirely of light spread out!

The final form of the Quincy!

Special Sage Transformation!

"This is a new path, a path that belongs entirely to me," Nara Shintaku narrowed his eyes, feeling this new power.

"Is it all-powerful?"

"No, to be more precise, it's Vientiane..."

In the main laboratory, Nara Shintaku's mumbling could be heard.

---

Three days later.

Outside the experimental base, in a forest more than 300 meters away.

Nara Shintaku and Orochimaru stood in front of a massive wild boar.

This wild boar was a successful test subject.

It had been injected with Jūgo's body fluid, causing its body to expand twofold. Its bristles were as dense as steel needles, and its two fangs were as sharp as swords and spears.

The transformation did not kill the wild boar.

Instead, it stabilized it.

The wild boar had transformed into an extremely powerful creature, dominating the surrounding forest.

"Watch closely, Shintaku," Orochimaru said confidently, stepping forward. He continued with excitement, "See how powerful the Heaven's Curse Seal I developed is!"

Crack, crack!

His body began to expand.

Jūgo's power surged through him, constantly strengthening his body and increasing its size.

In the blink of an eye, Orochimaru lost his human form and transformed into a gigantic pale scaly snake.

Hiss!

Orochimaru flicked his tongue and lunged forward, using his tail.

Whoosh!

The air whistled as the enormous tail struck the wild boar with tremendous force.

Bang!

The wild boar was instantly sent flying hundreds of meters away, smashing through dozens of trees.

The needle-like bristles on its body were ineffective, all broken by the impact.

The wild boar's body was severely battered by the blow.

"How is it, Shintaku?" Orochimaru, now a giant snake, eagerly asked.

"This kind of power is truly terrifying!"

"On the battlefield, even if I faced a large group of ninjas, I am confident I could sweep them all away!"

"I am now only slightly weaker than a tailed beast Jinchūriki!"

Orochimaru's excitement was palpable.

But just as he finished speaking, his body rapidly shrank, as though deflating. In an instant, he reverted to his human form.

His clothes were also torn.

"There's just one drawback; the endurance issue remains unresolved," Orochimaru said with a grin. "It can only be used for ten seconds at most before the power is exhausted and the curse seal is withdrawn."

"However, even for those ten seconds, it was incredibly powerful."

"Shintaku, how is your technique progressing?"

Orochimaru looked at Nara Shintaku with a hint of challenge.

This curse seal was truly his masterpiece.

Among the three ninjas, Jiraiya had achieved Sage Mode, and Tsunade had advanced through medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques.

Only he had not yet reached a higher level of strength.

This was also part of why he cooperated with the Root.

Fortunately, he had developed the curse seal.

He had finally made a breakthrough and found a path to a higher level!

"Not bad."

Nara Shintaku responded calmly.

"Just 'good'?" Orochimaru's expression faltered.

He had poured his effort and ingenuity into creating the seal, yet received only a 'good' evaluation?

"Haha, then let me see your technique, Shintaku," Orochimaru laughed and crossed his arms.

He was eager to see what technique Nara Shintaku could develop.

"Alright."

Nara Shintaku stepped forward, and a deep blue force field glowed around him.

"Force field?" Orochimaru raised his eyebrows in confusion.

The next moment, his expression changed.

A trace of natural energy was absorbed by the force field, enveloped by the chakra, circulated in the blood vessels, and then dissipated.

After a few breaths, the violent characteristics were completely neutralized and became extremely docile.

So docile that it barely resembled natural energy.

"Using the closed cycle of the Blood Armor Technique to counteract the natural energy... can it be done this way!?" Orochimaru's expression became one of shock as he stared at Nara Shintaku in disbelief.

Swoosh!

A golden ring and a silver cross pattern appeared in Nara Shintaku's eyes.

The gold and silver colors shone together.

At the same time, dazzling wings spread out behind him.

"Sage Mode?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened in disbelief. "No, this is an independent Sage Mode, completely separate from the Sage Mode of the Three Holy Lands!!"