https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-173-The-Great-Artist-Huyi-Xuanyue/12553413/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-175-If-So-Then-I-Will-Usher-in-a-New-Wind/12553415/
Chapter 174: The Bloodline Limit Has a Problem
Chapter 174: The Bloodline Limit Has a Problem
In the quiet of the moment, a faint crackling sound signaled the turning of a gear, igniting a small flame that lit up Kakashi Hatake's cigarette. The smoke curled lazily upward as Asuma Sarutobi, holding the cigarette between his fingers, took a long, satisfying drag before exhaling and relaxing. Turning to his three disciples, he said, "We've arrived in the Land of Waves. Our mission to escort the diplomatic corps is half done. After settling them into their accommodations, we'll have two days of downtime. I'll give you, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino some time off to explore if you wish."
At this, Shikamaru Nara simply shrugged, his face reflecting his exhaustion. "I think I'll pass. I'd rather catch up on some much-needed sleep during this time."
While this particular mission hadn't posed any risks thus far, the group of Fire Country nobles they were escorting was proving to be a handful.
Today, they had insisted on stopping early to rest, claiming they were tired from riding in their palanquins, even though it was still quite early in the day.
And tomorrow, they would likely veer off the planned route to find more comfortable accommodations in a nearby town, deeming camping outdoors uncomfortable.
Of course, listening to music was a must during their rest, and they would indulge in this for an entire day.
Shikamaru had undertaken numerous missions and encountered all sorts of clients, but this Fire Country diplomatic corps took the cake for doing whatever they pleased throughout the entire journey. They didn't give the escorting ninjas any face, but they were quick to invite them to share any delicious food, fine wine, or entertainment they enjoyed, insisting on inclusivity. Yet, they refused to heed the ninjas' advice. It was a unique dynamic, and one that Shikamaru hadn't quite experienced before.
He couldn't exactly be angry with them, as they were generous in sharing their treats.
But at the same time, their disregard for the carefully planned itinerary meant that the escorts had to be constantly vigilant, as the altered schedule threw off their security arrangements. They were fortunate not to have encountered any enemies; otherwise, who knew what troubles they might have faced.
Now that they had finally reached the Land of Waves, Shikamaru just wanted to sleep and forget about everything else.
Choji Akimichi also had no desire to move, but for a different reason. He wasn't mentally exhausted; instead, he had indulged a little too much in the Fire Country officials' hospitality and was now suffering from a food coma, needing time to digest the feast.
In the end, only Ino Yamanaka, who hadn't been as burdened by the journey as Shikamaru nor as stuffed as Choji, maintained her enthusiasm for exploring this foreign land where Sakura had once visited and many interesting tales had unfolded.
"This is my first time by the sea," she exclaimed. "I'm definitely going to the beach to have some fun."
She had even brought a swimsuit especially for this occasion.
"Go ahead if you want to," Asuma said, leading his disciples and the diplomatic corps to their lodgings.
Coincidentally, the ruined mansion of the Feudal Lord, which was still under reconstruction except for the newly erected signboard, was nearby.
"Was this place bombed?" Ino asked, her eyes widening at the sight. "Was the lord's mansion the target?"
Compared to the ninjas of Konoha, who had grown up within its walls, Asuma Sarutobi, once a member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, immediately grasped the severity of the situation.
He quickly inquired about the incident from the guiding officials of the Land of Waves.
"Recently," one of them explained, "a group of nobles who opposed the lord's rule hired ninjas to assassinate the new Feudal Lord. Fortunately, the lord had hired the Xuanyuan Group, and their presence ensured a swift victory over the enemies, foiling the plot. The damaged mansion is a result of that battle."
"Internal strife, then," Asuma Sarutobi nodded in understanding.
As long as no other ninja villages were involved in the Land of Waves, that was all that mattered to him and Konoha.
As for the Xuanyuan Group, he had heard of them. They were a reputable and powerful mercenary organization with no apparent ties to other ninja villages, known for their reliability.
Such mercenary groups that operated solely for money didn't concern Asuma or Konoha.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, Shikamaru slept in, reluctant to get up, while Choji Akimichi was more interested in indulging in the culinary delights of the Wave Country than moving from his spot. Ino Yamanaka, exasperated with her teammates, teased them for being lifelong single dogs and not taking the opportunity to go swimming with a beautiful girl. Left with no other choice, Ino set off for the beach alone, equipped with her swimsuit and enthusiasm.
As an island nation, the Wave Country boasted a stretch of pristine golden beach.
Despite its lack of development, it still attracted visitors seeking a relaxing day by the shore.
However, the previous Feudal Lord's antics had left the people of the Wave Country struggling to make ends meet, and they had little heart for leisure activities.
Now that the Feudal Lord was dead, the country was in a period of mourning, and the recently relieved citizens were not about to risk incurring displeasure by enjoying themselves too openly.
Only exceptionally skilled ninjas were unconcerned with such formalities.
At that moment, one such individual had already arrived early at the golden beach. Reclined on a specially brought beach chair, donning a pair of sunglasses, they savored the sun and the sea breeze.
This was not Yuiyi Xuanyue's first visit to this place.
After resolving the matter with Deidara, they would occasionally find their way back to this beach to unwind and contemplate their cultivation whenever the weather permitted.
While their recent cultivation endeavors had been proceeding smoothly, Yuiyi had discovered a significant problem.
In their two most critical cultivation pursuits—the Questing Jade and Bloodline Limit Integration—there had been a growing discrepancy in progress over time.
Ordinarily, the process of crafting the Questing Jade and merging with the Bloodline Limit was fundamentally the same.
Both endeavors required the gathering of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, with the seven attributes intertwining and fusing completely.
The only difference lay in the scale: the former was smaller and consumed less chakra.
The latter was more extensive and, consequently, more chakra-intensive.
In their cultivation, Yuiyi would typically achieve breakthroughs with the Questing Jade first and then apply those insights to their Bloodline Limit integration.
This cultivation method had served them well for a long time without any issues.
However, recently, a problem had emerged.
While they continued to make progress with the Questing Jade, their Bloodline Limit integration had stalled.
Initially, Yuiyi didn't pay it much mind.
After all, it was normal for the Questing Jade to advance faster than the Bloodline Limit.
But as time went on, as they crafted more durable Questing Jade and deepened their understanding of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, they found that applying these insights to their Bloodline Limit integration yielded no results.
To be precise, it wasn't entirely without effect.
Their understanding of Yin-Yang and the fusion process was correct, but at the final moment of completion, it felt as though an invisible force was blocking their progress, no matter how hard they tried.
It could be deduced that the initial expectation of the Bloodline Limit's doors swinging wide open upon the perfection of the Questing Jade was no longer feasible.
"So, is it because of chakra?" Yuiyi pondered.
(Thank you, "wji'er dongmow," for your 1000 reward! And thank you, "Book Friend 150911075244865," for your 300 reward!)
(End of Chapter)
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