"Do you really think Hiruzen Sarutobi is the kind of man who remembers past favors? Back when the Uzumaki Clan was on good terms with Konoha, Sarutobi didn't send a single soldier to aid them when they faced extinction.
That's why the survivors would rather wander the Shinobi World as vagrants than step foot in Konoha. During his reign, he's done plenty of wicked things. Do you honestly think helping a man like that is a good deed?"
Miroku opened her mouth to argue, but her eyes suddenly flashed. With a hint of desperation and excitement, she pleaded, "With your incredible strength, you could help me deal with Moryo. If you take action, you could solve the threat of Moryo once and for all. If you do, the tragic fate that has plagued the Priestesses of our land might finally change."
Qiu Xia looked at her impassively. "I could do it, but why should I?"
"Lord, I beg of you, help the Land of Demons. I am willing to do anything for it," Miroku cried, falling to her knees before him.
Qiu Xia contemplated for a moment before retrieving a small golden sword carved with intricate talismans from his pocket. "Take this. Once you return to the Land of Demons and Hiruzen Sarutobi and his men have left, channel your Spiritual Power into it. I will come to you then."
"Thank you, my Lord!"
"To make the act more convincing, you should probably go to sleep now." Qiu Xia's eyes shimmered as he exerted his Dōjutsu power. Miroku immediately slumped into unconsciousness, joining Jiraiya and the two Great Toad Sages.
Why had Qiu Xia suddenly changed his mind? There were two reasons. One was that his Soul of Cao Cao had seemingly awakened, and the other was the prospect of harvesting a massive amount of Origin energy if he could successfully eliminate Moryo.
Although his Origin energy had been steadily increasing due to his recent operations, Qiu Xia could never have too much of it. It was a universal elixir it could raise his cultivation, strengthen his Dōjutsu power, level up his techniques, and even assist in complex deductions. Qiu Xia's current strength was as much a result of this Origin energy as it was his own hard work.
After leaving the area, Qiu Xia erased his scent and retracted the illusionary formation he had set up. Not long after, several ANBU ninja entered the abandoned training ground. Qiu Xia had prepared the illusionary formation in advance so that no matter what commotion occurred during the fight with Jiraiya, the ANBU wouldn't interfere.
When the ANBU arrived, they were greeted by the sight of an unconscious Miroku and a battered Jiraiya. The legendary Sannin's head was beaten red, and his hair had been shaved off entirely, save for a single tuft in the center. Beside him lay the two Great Toad Sages. The ANBU members' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"How is this possible? Lord Jiraiya... Lord Jiraiya was actually knocked out, and his head was shaved like... like that?"
"Hiss, this is terrifying. Quick, get Lord Jiraiya to the hospital! And take the Priestess too; she was with him."
When Jiraiya finally woke up, he saw Tsunade standing by his bed, looking down at him. Her formidable presence and legendary figure caught his eye immediately, but as his gaze lingered, Tsunade's face darkened.
"If you want a few broken ribs to go with that head, keep looking," she said coldly.
Jiraiya quickly averted his eyes, looking anywhere else but at her. "Tsunade... what are you doing here?"
"The ANBU brought you and the Priestess in and notified me immediately. I've treated your wounds. Most of them are superficial," Tsunade explained. "I also treated Fukasaku and Shima. They woke up and returned to Mount Myoboku immediately. I wanted to ask them what happened, but they remember nothing. They don't even know how they got here."
Qiu Xia had wiped the memories of Fukasaku and Shima regarding the encounter; it would have been strange if they did remember. Jiraiya's memories, however, hadn't been erased merely sealed. He could see them in his mind, but he found himself physically unable to speak of them.
"I... I can only vaguely remember a great battle with someone. Everything else is a blur," Jiraiya lied, or rather, was forced to omit the truth.
"Is that so? To knock you out while causing minimal injury... the opponent's strength must far exceed yours."
Jiraiya agreed wholeheartedly with Tsunade's assessment. Indeed, that man had played with him like a child. And just before his memories were suppressed, he had realized the man possessed the Rinnegan. Furthermore, he now knew that Nagato's Rinnegan actually belonged to Madara Uchiha, not Nagato himself.
"By the way, Jiraiya, I have some bad news," Tsunade added. "The hair follicles on your head were attacked. The damage is permanent; the follicles have completely necrotized. Aside from that tuft on the top of your head, you will never grow hair again."
"What! No!" Jiraiya cried out, falling into a state of utter despair.
Over the next few days, the Priestess attempted to use her arts to find the culprit, but no matter what spells she cast, she could find no trace of him. This was agonizing for Jiraiya.
He knew exactly who the culprit was, yet he couldn't say a word. Even if he could, he wouldn't dare. The man had said he preferred a peaceful life; if Jiraiya disturbed that peace, the man might very well go on a killing spree.
Although the man hadn't admitted to killing Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and the three Elders, Jiraiya was certain it was him. Those people were likely killed because they threatened his quiet life.
Shisui and Itachi were too close to Konoha, and the three Elders were constantly scheming against the Uchiha Clan. For those reasons, Qiu Xia had simply removed them.
Since no culprit could be found, Miroku didn't stay in Konoha for long. There were matters to attend to in the Land of Demons. Jiraiya continued to escort her out of the village.
He felt he had no choice; he had already started feeling the occasional "invisible pressure." If he stayed in the village any longer, he feared the man might lose his patience.
Seven days after Jiraiya and the Priestess left the village, Qiu Xia felt the mark he had left on Miroku being triggered. Sensing the coordinates, Qiu Xia manipulated spatial power to wrap around himself, tearing through space and rushing toward the signal.
In an instant, Qiu Xia found himself inside a luxurious room. Miroku stood nearby, clutching the golden sword he had given her.
"Lord, you've come!"
Qiu Xia nodded. "I'm here. I've already extracted the location of Moryo's seal from your memories. Go now and tell your subordinates that you need to cultivate for a period. Have them prepare some food and instruct them not to disturb you."
Miroku nodded and immediately carried out his orders.
Once everything was arranged, Qiu Xia led Miroku quietly out of the city and toward the site where Moryo was sealed.
Qiu Xia was incredibly fast. In less time than it took to finish a cup of tea, they arrived at the entrance of the seal. Standing outside the cavern, Qiu Xia produced several formation flags and threw them into nine specific directions around the entrance. Channeling his mana, he erected a powerful formation barrier.
"Open the seal. I am here to end the tragic fate of the Priestesses once and for all."
Miroku nodded solemnly. She pressed her hands together in a seal, her body glowing with purple Spiritual Power. She pressed her hands against the seal, and the barrier clicked open. Together, they walked deep into the heart of the cavern where Moryo was imprisoned.
Soon, they reached the edge of the central seal. Before they could even get close, a massive amount of dark purple energy coalesced into a giant, monstrous form before them.
"Priestess... I feel you. Once I devour your energy, the entire world will be mine!" Moryo roared.
As Moryo ranted, Qiu Xia was already using spatial power to distribute formation flags around the beast. Then, he pulled an array disk from his space ring and placed it on the ground right next to Miroku.
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