In Sunagakure, there were two renowned masters of sealing techniques. One was naturally the Jinchūriki of Shukaku—Master Bunpuku. Not only was he skilled, but even Shukaku itself had profound knowledge in sealing arts.
The other was none other than the retired elder, former head of the Intelligence Division, and leader of the "Sunset Red Travel Group"—Chiyo.
Yes, Chiyo's expertise in sealing techniques was remarkable. It was she who would later oversee the sealing of Gaara as a Jinchūriki.
At this moment, Bunpuku was far away in Sunagakure, but Chiyo happened to be on Yuexi Peninsula. Jinghang immediately set out to seek her advice.
When Jinghang found Chiyo, she was in a private room in the Wind Hall of the Crystal Palace, playing mahjong with a few old friends.
"Format Ring? What's that? Never heard of it. Oh, wait, Pong!"
Chiyo didn't even glance at Jinghang as she quickly formed a set of "Three Circles" with her sharp reflexes. Her retirement was genuine—aside from taking over intelligence work during times of war, she hardly touched governmental affairs. Instead, she happily spent her days raising her grandson and playing cards.
"East Wind! Now, tell me, what happens after being hit by the seal?" Chiyo casually discarded an "East Wind" tile.
"It feels like all my chakra stops flowing, and I can't use any jutsu. Oh, this tile is perfect for a Kong." Jinghang thought for a moment before responding.
"Stops flowing?" Chiyo frowned in thought, her hands still busy. She quickly formed a Kong with the "Three Bamboo" tiles and drew a tile from the wall, only to find another "East Wind." She could only discard it with a hint of frustration.
"That sounds like a Life Seal, doesn't it?" Chiyo finally turned her attention to Jinghang.
"This kind of sealing technique is very ancient. I don't know much about it myself, but I do know it involves burning life force to create a seal. Because it goes against natural principles, most of these techniques have been lost, and the remaining ones are classified as forbidden jutsu."
"Burning life force?" Jinghang's first thought was of the Reaper Death Seal, a high-level technique capable of sealing even the Nine-Tails. However, it was later undone by Orochimaru.
But the ninja world is vast and full of wonders. Who knows what other peculiar techniques exist? Regardless, survival was the priority. Even if he couldn't fully understand it, he needed at least a basic grasp to deduce a way to counter it.
This time, it was Chiyo's turn to draw a tile—another "East Wind." She grumbled and discarded it again.
"You could consult your godfather. The Xuanyuan Tomb has unique insights into sealing techniques. Only beings that have lived for centuries would know such secrets."
"The Yellow Immortal?" Jinghang's heart leapt with joy. How could he have forgotten about that powerful entity? Yes! He would visit the Xuanyuan Tomb for answers.
At that moment, Chiyo drew a concealed Kong with the "Four Bamboo" tiles, putting her hand in a winning position, waiting for a "Three," "Six," or "Nine Characters" tile. Her chances of winning were high.
"Haha, if I win this Kong, you'll all have to empty your pockets!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
But once again, she drew an "East Wind."
"Damn it, are you kidding me?" she cursed, discarding the tile, only for the next player to self-draw a winning hand.
"Just leave already! You're ruining my luck. Hanging out with that unlucky brat Tsunade has brought bad vibes here."
Jinghang stuck out his tongue and quickly retreated.
Since there were still more than ten days left, he decided to train at the Xuanyuan Tomb. After all, he wasn't particularly fond of gambling.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was likely far from done. Returning now would only dampen her spirits. But it didn't matter—Jinghang had already arranged a private gambling table for her. He had also privately instructed the pit boss and chip runners to let her play as she pleased, regardless of the game or how much she lost. It was all just for fun.
The chips would simply circulate back and forth, like playing house. However, he had warned them not to reveal the trick. If the princess found out, she'd surely throw a fit.
The chip runners assured him with a pat on their chests that it wouldn't be a problem. Acting was easy for them. The pit boss, however, seemed a bit concerned.
"What if she wins?" the pit boss asked hesitantly.
For once, Jinghang lost his temper, even cursing.
"Shut your crow's mouth! Who are you jinxing?"
Then, after a moment's thought, he added, "If she does win, notify Secretary Ye Cang immediately. She must inform me at once."
He handed them 200,000 as a bonus for their trouble and left.
Jinghang then had Secretary Ye Cang prepare two cages of premium roosters, a jar of thirty-year-old aged wine, and various gifts. With a reverse summoning technique, he arrived at the Xuanyuan Tomb.
"Young Master is here! Young Master is here!" The weasels, big and small, were delighted by Jinghang's arrival. Jinghang greeted them with a smile, distributing gifts to the weasels of all sizes.
Though the Xuanyuan Tomb was home to a clan of weasels, their hierarchy was strict. As the "godson" of the Yellow Immortal, Jinghang held a high rank within the tomb. However, he never put on airs and never came empty-handed.
In fact, nearly half of the products from the Moon Lake District's chicken farm were supplied to the weasels of the Xuanyuan Tomb—for free. But to Jinghang, this was no big deal. After all, the weasel clan, though eccentric in personality, was incredibly reliable.
"Where's the Great Immortal?" Jinghang asked.
"In the study! In the study!" the weasels chirped in unison.
Hearing this, Jinghang picked up the roosters and wine and headed straight for the study.
Inside, the Yellow Immortal was painting. Judging by the progress, the piece was almost finished. The painting depicted a confrontation between a weasel and a tiger. The weasel was portrayed as imposing and majestic, seemingly holding the upper hand. At the top, five bold characters were inscribed: The Weasel Triumphs Over the Tiger.
Just as Jinghang entered, he greeted, "Blessings to you, Godfather!"
He set down the roosters and wine and bowed respectfully.
Seeing Jinghang, the Yellow Immortal's face lit up with a smile. He was very pleased with this human "godson" of his, who never failed to bring monthly offerings of fine chickens and wine, and was always considerate towards the other descendants.
"Come, come, take a look at my painting. What do you think?" the Yellow Immortal asked.
Jinghang took a glance. Seriously? Why not just ascend to the heavens while you're at it? The tiger probably didn't even bother moving because it wasn't worth the effort. But he said aloud, "It's excellent! This painting is profound in meaning and clear in its lines. Especially this weasel—it exudes power and dominance, completely overshadowing the tiger. Truly a masterpiece!"
The Yellow Immortal laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
After a while, he sealed the painting with a stamp and said, "Alright, out with it. What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Oh, come on, Godfather. With you looking out for me, how could I possibly have any troubles? I just came to visit you!" Jinghang replied with a flattering smile.
"Cut the nonsense, kid. Spill it. I need to take a nap later," the Yellow Immortal said, waving him off.
"Ah, nothing escapes your sharp eyes. It's not really a big problem. I just have a question and came specifically to seek your wisdom…"
Jinghang then explained everything in detail.
"Format Ring? Format Ring? Hmm… sounds familiar. Wait a moment…" the Yellow Immortal muttered as he began rummaging through the massive bookshelves.
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