Chen Xing bit his thumb and formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
Smoke burst outward.
Redu appeared in full size.
"Chen Xing brother, what is it?"
"I'm going to Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Mode. I'll need your help."
Redu nodded. Moments later, after reverse summoning, Chen Xing arrived at Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Regions alongside Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest.
Waiting for him were two elder lizards—Yu Qing Fairy and Feather Fairy.
"You've already reached Kage-level chakra," Yu Qing Fairy said in surprise. "Your growth is astonishing."
Chen Xing bowed slightly. "I'm ready."
They led him to a wide stone clearing. Around it stood numerous lizard-shaped stone statues—failed trainees who had absorbed too much natural energy and petrified.
"The principle is simple," Feather Fairy explained. "Ordinary chakra is formed by combining physical energy and spiritual energy. Senjutsu chakra adds a third component—natural energy. The three must remain perfectly balanced. Too much natural energy, and you turn to stone. Too little, and Sage Mode fails."
Unlike Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave's method was far more dangerous. Yu Qing Fairy applied a special secretion to Chen Xing's forehead to heighten his sensitivity to natural energy.
"First, sense it. Do not absorb it yet."
Chen Xing closed his eyes.
Soon, faint light-blue particles appeared within his perception—natural energy, vast and pure. Its density far surpassed ordinary chakra.
"I can feel it," he said calmly.
"Good. Now integrate with nature. When your body stabilizes, begin absorbing it slowly—one-third natural energy, one-third physical energy, one-third spiritual energy."
---Perfect Sage Mode
Wind rustled through the clearing.
Chen Xing sat motionless, merging his awareness with the environment. Gradually, he began drawing natural energy into his body.
His chakra circulated carefully.
Balance held.
No petrification.
Instead of developing serpentine features typical of Ryūchi Cave trainees, his body underwent a different transformation.
His black hair slowly turned deep blue. A powerful yet stable aura spread outward.
Yu Qing Fairy's eyes widened. "No snake traits…?"
Feather Fairy quickly pulled her back to avoid interfering.
"There's no petrification. His control is extraordinary."
Suddenly—
A violent surge of chakra erupted.
A shockwave blasted outward, flattening grass and toppling nearby stone statues. When the dust settled, Chen Xing stood calmly at the center.
His hair flowed in blue strands. His Sharingan had activated—three tomoe spinning clearly in both eyes.
The elders stared in disbelief.
"Sharingan?" Yu Qing Fairy asked.
Chen Xing nodded. "I transplanted them years ago. I didn't expect Sage Mode to stimulate them automatically."
Under Sage Mode, his perception had multiplied. Natural energy sharpened his sensory range to cover the entirety of Ryūchi Cave's outer region.
Unlike imperfect transformations that produced reptilian features, his appearance remained human. The balance of energies was flawless.
"How long can you maintain it?" Feather Fairy asked seriously.
"About ten minutes at full output," Chen Xing replied after assessing himself. "But my chakra control allows me to gather natural energy even while moving. I don't need to remain still. I can re-enter Sage Mode quickly."
The elders fell silent.
Most Ryūchi Cave practitioners could maintain Sage Mode for only a few minutes and required assistance to re-enter it. Chen Xing had achieved independent activation—and near-perfect stability—on his first completion.
His strength had risen to an entirely new level.
Chen Xing clenched his fist, feeling senjutsu chakra surge through his body.
This was true Sage Mode.
And now—
The Peacock King had ascended again.