Wood Style And Sharingan

This time, the two low-ranking Burning Fire Clan members didn't have any self-protection illusion programs embedded in their minds. That made it easy for Smith to infiltrate their memories using his Sharingan.

But the results were disappointing.

There was nothing of value.

These two had joined the Burning Fire Clan less than a month ago. Since then, they had never even seen the clan leader. Everything they knew came secondhand through their superiors—Qingfeng and Mingyue.

And as for the true reason behind the clan's attempts to kill Smith and Yan Yue?

They had no idea.

They didn't even know Qingfeng and Mingyue had gone after them.

In short, they were just outer-rank nobodies—low-level pawns who knew absolutely nothing.

"Tch. These guys have no connection with the upper ranks," Smith said, tossing the last man aside with disappointment. "They're just tools. Totally clueless."

Yan Yue had her gaze fixed on the far bend of the sewer tunnel—the same direction the others from the Burning Fire Clan had gone.

"For now, at least, it seems they haven't noticed anything wrong," she said. "We should leave while we can."

Smith gave a small nod and turned to move—when something rolled out from one of the fallen men's pocket.

A smooth, round object that emitted a faint bluish glow.

It was about the size of a fist and glimmered like jade.

"Huh? What's this?"

Smith bent down and picked it up. The object was cool to the touch, almost soothing.

Yan Yue leaned over to take a look. "This should be… a demon core stone."

"Demon core stone? I've heard of demon cores, but what's a core stone?"

Yan Yue explained, "A demon core stone is created by fusing multiple demon cores that share the same attribute. It's much more refined and stable."

Smith raised a brow. "And what does it do?"

"Theoretically, it allows humans to obtain new elemental abilities," Yan Yue said. "For example, let's say I don't have wind affinity. If I absorb a wind-type demon core stone, I could gain the wind element."

Smith was stunned. "That powerful? Then couldn't anyone just keep collecting demon core stones and unlock all the elemental attributes?"

Yan Yue shook her head quickly.

"It's not that simple. Even if you gain an affinity through a demon core stone, the power doesn't originate from a human source. These are beast abilities—entirely different from our superpower system."

She paused for a moment, frowning. "The core issue is resonance. Abilities granted by demon core stones don't resonate with our power books. That makes them virtually useless."

"Power books?"

"When we learn new skills or awaken abilities, we channel spiritual energy from a power book—basically a medium for mastering techniques. But if your affinity is artificially implanted, like from a demon core stone, that resonance is missing. You can't learn anything with it."

Smith furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "So even if I absorb the element, it's dead weight?"

"More or less. Which is why most people don't bother with them. Besides… nobody even knows how to fuse demon cores into core stones anymore. That method's been lost for decades."

Yan Yue's frown deepened. "How did the Burning Fire Clan get their hands on these?"

Smith grinned. "Most people can't make use of these. But I'm not 'most people.'"

He turned the stone over in his hand, and a sudden idea struck him.

It felt like water-type energy.

Then, without warning, Smith turned on his heel and ran deeper into the sewer.

"Wait! Smith, where are you going?!"

"Just a minute! I need to check something!"

He sprinted back to one of the strange metal doors they'd passed earlier. It was the second one along the wall.

Smith yanked it open—and sure enough, there it was.

A bright crimson demon core stone. This one clearly pulsed with fire-type energy.

Jackpot.

"There really were more!" Smith exclaimed.

He moved to the next three doors along the tunnel, carefully opening each one. As expected, behind each sat a different demon core stone—wind, earth, and lightning types.

Now he had five in total.

The core elements.

Wind. Water. Fire. Earth. Lightning.

Yan Yue caught up with him, panting slightly. "What are you doing?! I already told you—they won't work!"

Smith smiled. "You said normal people can't use them. But I'm not normal. I have a system."

Yan Yue looked stunned. "You're going to absorb them?"

"Exactly. Let's get out of here first."

Pocketing the five core stones, Smith turned and ran. Yan Yue, sighing in defeat, followed him.

As they sprinted through the dim tunnels, Smith called out in his mind:

"System! Help me absorb all five demon core stones!"

> [Ding! Absorbing…]

[Absorption complete. Congratulations to the host for acquiring elemental affinities: Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, and Lightning.]

[Ding! The system store has unlocked access to corresponding ninjutsu: Wind Style, Water Style, Fire Style, Earth Style, and Lightning Style.]

Yes!

He knew it. He wasn't bound by the same rules as this world.

Even if others couldn't use demon core stones, his system bypassed the limitations. He didn't need spiritual energy resonance or power books. He could directly exchange for techniques using system points.

He'd hit the jackpot.

As they pushed forward, a faint glow appeared at the end of the tunnel.

"We're close to the exit!" Yan Yue shouted.

They reached the end—a half-open pipe that led out to the surface.

One by one, they climbed out.

Outside lay the familiar golden dunes of the desert.

They were back.

This was the edge of the City of Sin.

"Let's go find the teachers," Yan Yue said, brushing dirt from her jacket.

But just as they turned, a group emerged from the sands.

Red-cloaked figures.

More than a dozen of them.

All radiating strong spiritual pressure.

And leading them—a bald man, clearly older, stronger, and standing calmly with his hands behind his back.

Smith's eyes narrowed. "We're surrounded."

The man clapped slowly, his voice filled with smug amusement.

"Well done," he said. "Defeated Qingfeng and Mingyue, did you? Impressive. Very impressive. Huaihai College really does train elites."

Smith glanced around.

Every single one of the enemies was at least second-tier.

And the bald man?

Third-tier.

More than a dozen strong enemies surrounded them. Far more dangerous than Qingfeng and Mingyue.

Yan Yue stepped beside Smith, her back to his.

"What do we do?" she whispered nervously.

Smith lowered his voice. "I'll create an opening. Stay close to me."

The bald man raised a hand. "Kill them."

The command was simple. More than a dozen clan members rushed forward.

Smith didn't hesitate.

Sage Mode: Activate.

A golden aura surged around him. He weaved hand seals rapidly.

"Wood Style: Wood Clone Technique!"

In an instant, Smith's body split—again and again.

One, two, three… fifteen wooden clones!

Each clone crackled with spiritual energy. His Sage Mode allowed his total spiritual energy to reach 900. Since each clone consumed 50 points, this was the maximum he could summon.

Even if they weren't individually strong enough to defeat second-tier psychics, they could still buy him time.

The bald man's eyes widened.

"Fifteen clones?! From a first-tier?! Impossible!"

Smith smirked.

The wooden clones charged in unison, engaging the enemies in a chaotic melee.

This wasn't a fight he could win head-on.

But it was the perfect distraction.

"Let's go!" he shouted to Yan Yue.

And together, they made their move.

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