Ten days later, in Mount Myōboku's stone forest.
Fukasaku and Shima looked with disbelief at Veigar, who was as steady as a rock on the stone spire, their expressions a mix of shock and utter astonishment.
In just ten days of training, Veigar had successfully overcome the first major hurdle of Sage Mode practice: achieving stillness.
And not just ordinary stillness, but perfect stillness.
Not to be pleased by external things, nor to be saddened by oneself; all things exist in the mind, unmoved by the myriad things.
Unaffected by external influences.
Veigar's state meant he could absorb Senjutsu Chakra without even needing toad oil!
Veigar's progress in training was a huge shock to the two Sages; such talent was unprecedentedly strong.
"Old man, I'm not seeing things, am I?"
Looking at Veigar on the peak, Shima asked Fukasaku in astonishment.
"I hope this is all real."
Fukasaku shook his head and replied.
Besides being surprised, the two Sages were mostly overjoyed.
As a contractor of Mount Myōboku, the stronger Veigar was, the better it was for the toads of Mount Myōboku.
"Jay-chan is truly blessed."
Shima exclaimed with heartfelt emotion.
Thinking back to their own experiences of achieving perfect stillness, Fukasaku and Shima shook their heads repeatedly. Only they knew how much hardship they had endured.
Veigar had accomplished this step in just ten days.
Sage Mode training, for Veigar, was no longer difficult, no longer difficult at all.
As long as he mastered the trick to absorbing natural energy, he was guaranteed 100% success.
On the peak.
Veigar sat steadily on the wooden board, feeling the cool, refreshing sensation of the wind blowing across him, his mind completely empty.
He was able to achieve perfect stillness so quickly primarily because of his exceptionally strong bodily control. The three Constant Ninjutsu within his body were the foundation, allowing him to remain unmoved by external forces on the peak.
Therefore, it was entirely reasonable that his mind could be completely empty, with his body instinctively maintaining balance purely through subconscious effort.
Fukasaku's method of teaching stillness merely activated Veigar's existing ability for stillness and pushed him further.
It was like an enlightenment.
The sun rose and set, and Veigar sat silently on the peak for an entire day. The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, he simultaneously opened his eyes.
"So comfortable."
Stretching directly, Veigar felt an unprecedented sense of lightness in his body.
"Veigar, come down!"
"Let's go back and eat."
Seeing Veigar awaken, Fukasaku, who was squatting at the base of the peak, looked up and called out.
"Coming!"
Veigar replied, then leaped down.
Only then did Veigar realize that his control over his body had become even stronger. Although he hadn't noticed it normally, he definitely had this feeling.
Slap!
After Veigar landed, Fukasaku hopped onto Veigar's head and said:
"Let's go, let's head back."
Veigar didn't mind Fukasaku resting on his head; after all, it was important to respect elders.
Moreover, he still needed Fukasaku's help to train in Sage Mode.
On the way, Fukasaku, perched on Veigar's head, said:
"Veigar, tomorrow I'll teach you how to train in Sage Mode!"
Veigar was startled by this and asked:
"Have I already completed the first step of training?"
It was only then that the slow-to-realize Veigar understood that he could proceed to the next step of Sage Mode training.
In the blink of an eye, a night passed.
Fukasaku led Veigar back to the stone forest forbidden area. He stood by a stone pool filled with toad oil and said to Veigar:
"This is the key to training in Sage Mode here at Mount Myōboku."
"Just apply this toad oil to your body, and you'll easily be able to sense the natural energy from the outside world."
Veigar, standing before Fukasaku, listened intently. Then he saw Fukasaku take a deep breath before continuing:
"When you first start training with the toad oil, there's a good chance you might petrify, just like these predecessors around us."
"However, you don't need to worry."
"If you make a mistake during training, I will help you expel the natural energy from your body."
Saying this, Fukasaku even took out a disciplinary stick.
Veigar nodded at Fukasaku and said:
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Immediately after, Fukasaku imparted to Veigar the method of absorbing natural energy and concentrating it in the lower abdomen, where it would combine with chakra.
Veigar listened, thought for a moment, and understood the key.
The natural energy flowing in the outside world, upon entering the human body, actually combines with spiritual energy and physical energy to form one, and must achieve a strict and perfect balance to complete Sage Mode.
As long as this step is achieved, the Senjutsu Chakra within the body will greatly enhance one's abilities.
Under Fukasaku's supervision, Veigar, stripped down to only his shorts, sat cross-legged beside the pool of toad oil.
"Get ready, I'm coming."
Veigar nodded silently, then entered his state of stillness.
Fukasaku, seeing Veigar was ready, dabbed a small amount of toad oil onto Veigar's forearm.
Everything requires gradual progression, and Sage Mode training is even more so; rushing it will only lead to petrification.
Veigar, in his state of stillness, suddenly felt a cool sensation on his forearm when the toad oil was applied. Immediately after, he felt as if something was drilling into his body.
In an instant, Veigar knew this was the natural energy from the outside world.
Without time to think, Veigar immediately focused his mind, intending to control the natural energy that had entered his body with his mental energy.
However, before he could even act, the Phenomenal Evil Power fragments that had been dormant within his body suddenly stirred. The natural energy that had entered Veigar's body was stolen by them.
Completely caught off guard, Veigar suddenly felt a sharp pain in his forehead; his head had been heavily slapped by Fukasaku.
Slap!
Instantly, the intense pain interrupted Veigar's training, and he sharply opened his eyes.
Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain.
Looking at his right hand, which had begun to frogify, Veigar knew why Fukasaku had struck him like that.
But this was unavoidable; by using toad oil for Sage Mode training, he would naturally be affected by frogification.
This was also why Sage Mode achieved through training at Mount Myōboku resulted in toad-like characteristics.
Even the perfect Sage Mode would manifest Sage Mode markings and toad-like pupils.
Unless one trained in Sage Mode without toad oil and away from Mount Myōboku, they wouldn't be affected.
Because Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu Chakra also carried toad characteristics.
Veigar raised his hand, touching the spot where Fukasaku had slapped him. Even with his physical constitution, he felt intense pain, which showed how much force Fukasaku's slap contained.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]