Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 390 Extraordinary

Orochimaru rose, stood in the sunlight, closed his eyes, and quietly felt the warmth of the sun on his body. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if savoring this rare moment of tranquility. With each breath, he could feel a powerful life force flowing through his body, energy emanating from his dantian, nourishing every cell. This feeling filled him with immense joy and satisfaction, as if his entire body was brimming with power. He slightly opened his eyes, looking at the world around him; everything seemed so vibrant and full of life. He knew this was the power of life, the goal he had always pursued. At this moment, he felt incredibly joyful, for he had finally found a way to keep his body forever young and healthy. He believed that as long as he continued to cultivate, he would surely realize his dream and become a truly immortal being. Thinking of this, Orochimaru couldn't help but smile with pride. He knew the road ahead was long, but he was ready to face the challenges. No matter what difficulties he encountered, he would persevere until he achieved his goal.

As soon as the residual power of the heavenly tribulation dissipated, Hyuga Neji, Kabuto Yakushi, and the others rushed towards the deep pit. They wanted to check on Orochimaru's condition as soon as possible.

Just as the residual power of the heavenly tribulation dissipated, Hyuga Neji, Kabuto Yakushi, and the others immediately rushed towards the deep pit. They were extremely anxious, eager to know Orochimaru's condition. Everyone was tense, hoping to learn the latest developments as soon as possible.

Hyuga Neji silently prayed that Orochimaru was safe, knowing full well Orochimaru's crucial role in the team. Kabuto, on the other hand, wore a serious expression, his mind racing with various possibilities. The two walked side-by-side, heading towards the bottomless pit.

Meanwhile, the other members quickened their pace, closely following behind Hyuga Neji and Yakushi Kabuto. Each face was filled with concern; they all hoped for Orochimaru's safety. The entire journey was silent, the atmosphere exceptionally heavy.

Finally, they reached the edge of the pit. Looking down, they saw thick smoke and dust filling the pit, making it difficult to see the bottom. However, without hesitation, they jumped into the pit and began to explore its depths.

Throughout this process, everyone was filled with trepidation, unsure of what would happen next. But regardless, they were determined to find Orochimaru and ensure his safety. Only then could they continue their journey, complete their mission, and achieve their goals. While Hyuga Neji and the others were utterly terrified by their surroundings, they quickly put that aside. Their priority now was to quickly ascertain Orochimaru's situation. Although his aura was incredibly powerful, no one knew the exact nature of his condition.

Reaching the edge of the enormous pit, they cautiously peered inside. At the bottom, a figure stood silently—Orochimaru! He stood with his arms outstretched, basking in the warm sunlight, a look of blissful contentment on his face, as if enjoying a rare moment of peace and comfort. However, closer inspection revealed that Orochimaru's clothes were tattered; his once pristine white robe was now torn to shreds, fluttering gently in the breeze. His hair was also somewhat charred, clearly from being scorched by flames. These details all indicated that he had just endured a difficult battle, facing a powerful enemy. Despite this, Orochimaru stood there resolutely, his confident and calm gaze inspiring awe at his strength.

Orochimaru had sensed someone's approach long ago, but he wanted to savor this rare moment of peace and contemplation on life. This tribulation was truly terrifying; he had almost died beneath the raging lightning dragon. If he hadn't fought with all his might and made prior preparations, he would likely be a charred corpse by now. Fortunately, at the last moment, he suddenly drew a Kusanagi sword from his sleeve, blocking the final blow of the tribulation.

This Kusanagi sword is no ordinary weapon; it's a treasure Orochimaru has kept hidden for years. While its special properties are unknown, its ability to withstand such a powerful heavenly tribulation suggests it possesses extraordinary power. At this moment, Orochimaru is immersed in the joy of surviving a calamity, completely unaware that others are watching him.

If the tribulation had only been a display of lightning, it would have been a piece of cake for Orochimaru. After all, with his strength, overcoming this ordeal would have been easy. However, at the very last moment, as the enormous lightning dragon attacked him, Orochimaru keenly sensed the wind elemental power hidden within, which was constantly suppressing his earth elemental power. This mutual restraint and suppression of power instantly made his originally solid defensive system incredibly fragile, and most of his defensive strength was quickly depleted.

However, Orochimaru displayed a peculiar sense of excitement. As the power of the wind element operated, he could feel a powerful force flowing within his body. This sensation deepened and clarified his understanding of the wind element's power, as if he had grasped its very essence.

This experience not only deepened his understanding of the power of the wind element, but also laid a solid foundation for his future comprehension of its power. He knew that this experience would be a significant turning point on his cultivation path, making it more likely that he would break through bottlenecks and enhance his strength.

Orochimaru secretly rejoiced that he had chosen this path. He believed that as long as he persisted, he would definitely be able to master more of the power of the wind element and become a true powerhouse. At this moment, he became even more determined to continue exploring and researching the power of the wind element.

Hearing the shouts coming from above the pit, Orochimaru slowly opened his eyes, ceasing his attempt to sense the surging life force. He gradually withdrew his consciousness, his gaze clearing from confusion. However, when he realized his condition, his brow furrowed slightly.

A strong, acrid smell of burning filled the air. Orochimaru looked down and saw that his body was covered in a layer of black ash, emitting a pungent odor. He gently touched his skin, feeling a burning and stinging sensation. Clearly, the lightning tribulation had caused him considerable damage.

However, Orochimaru was neither frustrated nor discouraged. He knew that he was already incredibly lucky to have successfully broken through and survived. Compared to death, this humiliation was nothing. He smiled slightly, his eyes shining with determination, as if telling himself, "This is just a temporary predicament; I will definitely overcome it."

Orochimaru took a deep breath, composed himself, and began to think about how to recover his body. He knew time was of the essence; he had to find a solution as soon as possible, otherwise his injuries might worsen. His eyes were filled with determination and perseverance, as if declaring to the world that no matter how great the difficulties, he would not give up easily.

Orochimaru lightly touched the ground with his foot, and with a flash, he leaped out of the pit like a ghost, appearing beside the mysterious newcomers in the blink of an eye. Kabuto, seeing this, immediately rushed forward to check on Orochimaru's condition. When his gaze fell upon Orochimaru, a sense of worry welled up within him. Orochimaru looked extremely disheveled; his clothes were tattered and stained with blood, clearly indicating he had endured a fierce resistance.

Kabuto Yakushi was acutely aware of his duty. As Orochimaru's most loyal subordinate, he had to ensure Orochimaru's body was unharmed before he could truly feel at ease. Therefore, he carefully observed Orochimaru's expression and physical condition, trying to find any potential problems or injuries. At the same time, he remained vigilant, preventing any hidden injuries in Orochimaru's body from having any future impact.

After a careful examination, Kabuto Yakushi discovered that although Orochimaru appeared battered and badly injured on the surface, his internal organs were completely unharmed. Furthermore, the surging life force within his body was repairing his surface wounds. With some rest, he would fully recover. Most importantly, despite such a powerful attack, his body suffered no lasting damage; in fact, it had become even stronger.

"Lord Orochimaru, your body is perfectly fine, in fact, quite powerful!" Kabuto Yakushi said respectfully to Orochimaru, his eyes filled with admiration. The others waiting nearby rushed forward to congratulate him. Only Neji Hyuga stood quietly in place, having a general idea of ​​Orochimaru's current condition.

Although Hyuga Neji hadn't completed his breakthrough, he was well aware that as long as he avoided the Heavenly Tribulation, he could enter the Golden Core stage. Judging from the changes that occurred during previous breakthroughs, Orochimaru had clearly completed his transformation and entered the Golden Core stage. Judging from the aura emanating from Orochimaru, this breakthrough had caused a tremendous change in his life level, completely surpassing that of ordinary mortals. It can be said that Orochimaru has now fully entered a truly transcendent realm, crossing the threshold of cultivation and becoming a true cultivator.

At this moment, Hyuga Neji also showed a hint of envy. Hyuga Kanan had long ago told him that only cultivators who truly entered the Golden Core stage could truly transcend the realm of mortals.