NOVEL NEXT Chapter 511 Income
In a pitch-black and gloomy space, black mud rolled like waves.
A giant energy creature of a raccoon dog, now dyed black, continually struggled amidst this turbulent sea.
From time to time, 'sea' beneath would grab hold of its tail and pull it down, force-feeding it a few mouthfuls of black mud.
Burbling bubbles of corrosion rose to the surface.
It was like throwing a piece of iron into strong acid.
"No! I give up! Get me out of here…"
Shukaku, now tainted black, screamed and flailed, its face filled with terror.
It had been ecstatic when it was suddenly released from its sealing,
After being confined for so long, it felt an itch for madness, an urge to kill anything once free.
And then...
Then it was like being shoved headfirst into a toilet, gurgling.
"Energy creatures are indeed a bit of a surprise to me, quite resilient."
Tao Yu paid no attention to Shukaku's struggles.
He lacked Naruto's empathic abilities. How many had the Tailed Beasts killed?
He wasn't responsible for forgiving it.
Energy with its own will needed to have its consciousness erased for comfortable use.
Now, Tao Yu wanted to preserve the main body of the Tailed Beast's energy, especially its self-healing ability, while also erasing its consciousness.
His mastery of sealing skills, coupled with improved enlightenment and Deification's blessing, allowed for sufficiently delicate operation.
Otherwise, this surgical task would be quite difficult.
Gradually, the trash talk became shorter, shifting from initial insults to subsequent pleas for mercy, and then to gradual silence. Tao Yu could sense the changes within this ball of energy.
The black mud was like brine, slowly marinating the energy of Shukaku.
The tails cut from the Six-Tails and Three-Tails were also being pickled.
Looking at the three groups of pitch-black energy—one large and two small—Tao Yu began to attempt fusion.
With the black mud as a binder, the process was rather smooth.
"Indeed, it's from the same origin, and maybe because of the black mud, the fusion of just three results in some qualitative changes. Not a bad effect, and apart from serving as a power bank, when necessary, they can also be summoned for combat. This is already quite good..."
Tao Yu didn't use the black mud to completely assimilate these energies. His main purpose in collecting them was to gather all the Tailed Beasts and then induce a qualitative change.
According to the information from World Will, it seems the world also expects 'self-exploration.'
And his 'self-exploration' was to unify the Tailed Beasts!
He would consider how to integrate them after achieving the form of Ten-Tails.
But now, he could also use the power almost as easily as a Jinchuriki.
"And with the Despair Witch just consumed, I should now be considered a true Catastrophe Level! Although I've probably just stepped over the threshold."
Tao Yu felt somewhat exhilarated.
Even with the suppression of the Current World's World Will, combined with the explosive power of the Tailed Beasts, he was capable of causing significant destruction in a short period.
With the World Will's suppression, destroying cities was out of the question, but inflicting severe damage and dealing a heavy blow to a city was undoubtedly possible!
In other words, he had now become a bona fide powerhouse!
Strong enough to hold a dialogue with the corporate management!
Tao Yu pondered whether he should seize an opportunity to fully display his power.
"At the moment, I'm a rookie among the Catastrophe Level, and showing off might reveal too many cards. I'll play it by ear, no need for deliberate showcasing, but no need for intentional secrecy either. Fast improvement in my strength is what matters..."
The mining of Spice, with little rich lady giving him the green light, gave him half the shares without needing a display. Such treatment would likely remain the same, even with a demonstration.
Did he expect the company to work for him in reverse?
At least he wasn't capable of that just yet. Even as Catastrophe Level, he had his own concerns, and his enterprises had to expand step by step.
Otherwise, if nuclear weapons were to be snatched from all over the place, chaos would have ensued a long time ago.
Indeed, were someone to disregard the rules, it would likely provoke a collective onslaught.
Based on my current feeling, I am still far behind Sun Guangyao in many respects.
But Sun Guangyao is one of the leading figures of the Starshine Company's second-ranked family, clearly not on the level of a threshold-grade Catastrophe Level.
Moreover, the wealthy young lady had introduced him as someone skilled in self-preservation, which is certainly a bonus.
"Actually, I'm pretty good at staying alive too..."
Though Tao Yu's talent points weren't all invested in defense, with the additional bonuses from various ranks in the Mysterious World, his substitution and sacrificial techniques had indeed been significantly enhanced.
And...
"If I sell off all my spice stocks, an income of a hundred million is enough for me to deify a second profession!"
Even if the main enhancement costs of a profession are usually incurred in the final ranks, the earlier enhancements may not be worth the hundred million spent.
But it is still probably the most cost-effective way to improve, certainly better than deifying a few minor skills three times.
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After all, the cost of thrice deifying talents is still a lot more...
...
"Yecang is also one of our Shinobi Village's top ninjas, capable of assisting Lord Tao Yu with some matters."
Having achieved his objective, Tao Yu prepared to leave. Chiyo, along with the newly freed Kazekage, arranged for Yecang to become Tao Yu's guard, as well as the representative of the Village Hidden by Sand.
To a certain extent, Yecang could also reflect the attitude and will of the Village Hidden by Sand.
"Mhm, I appreciate the sincerity."
Currently, there are only four figures at the Kazekage level in the Village Hidden by Sand. Chiyo and Ebizo have aged, and while they can manage to maintain things, it is somewhat difficult to send them on external missions.
And Rasa, being the Kazekage, couldn't possibly undertake such a long-term mission.
Thus, Yecang was the best choice.
"Rest assured, our relationship is one of mutual benefit. As long as you ensure the protection of my spice harvesting operations without any issues, I will naturally help the Village Hidden by Sand whenever you run into trouble in the future."
Tao Yu also made a promise.
As long as the Village Hidden by Sand could bring sufficient value to him, even if they didn't ask for help, he would take the initiative to solve any problems within his power.
This is the essence of value!
"Then, let me thank Lord Tao Yu in advance."
The alliance was thus established!
The pitch-black, rugged Alien Dragon constantly flapped its wings, stirring up a cloud of dust, then soared upwards, carrying Tao Yu and Yecang towards the Harkonnen Family's territory.
By this time, news of the change of leadership within the Harkonnen Family had spread gradually with the rotation of the Harkonnen warriors at the border posts.
Some Pioneers had also come to understand the situation.
Even Treya had made a special trip to the Harkonnen Family.
Given that her original jurisdiction was the World of Avatar, closest in proximity.
However, the young wealthy lady had likely already made arrangements, and Treya's visit was more of a formality, to deter other wild Pioneers and make it clear that the area had been annexed as part of the base's industry.
Yet Treya might not know that in this share of the industry, Tao Yu could claim half.
As for the safety of the spices, Tao Yu wasn't worried.
He had spent time sealing two tons of the refined product into Sealing Scrolls, then placed them in the Corpse Hiding Mirror.
The thirty tons of raw ore were in the process of refining and processing.
Not to mention that the Jonin there were not weak to begin with, they also had special attack equipment traded for dealing with Pioneers.
In addition, the periodic reporting by the connected ninjas ensured regular updates.
There was naturally no need for undue concern.
In fact, to some extent, those raw ores could also be considered bait.
It was always better to deal with potential troubles early on than to be too far away and unable to promptly handle emergencies that arose while wandering elsewhere...