Chapter 14: Metamorphosis I

The moon was large and highly visible in the sky, radiating beauty and romance.

Yujin was naked under that moonlight, sitting in a lotus position, fully focused on his task of purifying his body with the purifying energy that only moonlight provides.

Body purification is an ancient method that even in Yujin’s previous world, few practiced. This is because the required concentration to undergo the process is not something everyone can achieve. Even Yujin’s master only did it a few times in his life.

Yujin does it every month because, for him, though challenging, it’s not too daunting. He has always had good concentration and a high pain tolerance, making it easier for him to repeat the process every month.

Not that this makes the process less painful or less difficult.

Throughout the process, even as the pain begins, one needs to stay focused and commit to breathing without making any mistakes. The process takes about five hours, which for someone so focused feels like days.

Recently, he had been considering stopping the purification, as the effects were not as obvious. He assumed his body had developed a resistance to the process. Without the improvements that fueled his motivation, he was thinking of quitting soon. However, the change of environment, transitioning to another world, made him change his mind.

Now, he believes the purification’s effect will be much more noticeable since the energy in this place is much denser and purer. Even the natural moonlight energy seemed denser. He was curious about what kind of effect this would have on his body.

During the first hour, Yujin focused entirely on tuning into the surrounding energy deeply. Someone with mastery in natural energy nearby wouldn’t be able to sense his presence if they didn’t see him with their own eyes, as if he had become a stone on the ground or a tree in a forest.

The natural energy around was so dense that, on the ground, some grass started growing visibly. Only one person witnessed the miracle.

Tsunade woke up after Yujin put her to bed.

Although Yujin tried to hide that he wasn’t getting drunk, Tsunade was perceptive and noticed he was pretending. While not like Yujin, she also had a way to eliminate alcohol from her body through her medical ninjutsu, and that’s what she did after he left.

She was curious about why he pretended to be drunk. Her guess was that he wanted to train or try something without her knowing, and she was correct, although it puzzled her why he would need to deceive her for that.

Seeing him sitting naked in a lotus position, she thought for a moment about leaving him to train in peace, but when she saw the plants growing, she completely forgot that he was naked and began to watch the process closely.

Yujin didn’t notice Tsunade’s presence. The purification process demanded his complete concentration.

After an hour, there was tall grass around Yujin, almost covering him completely, and it was at that moment that some changes occurred with him.

Yujin started sweating, and his face turned pale. His breathing also seemed much faster and stronger.

Every minute, sweat drops ran down his body, and he became paler. Veins started appearing on his body, resembling snakes moving under the skin.

It was a bizarre sight, to say the least. Even Tsunade, who had seen many unpleasant things, was startled by Yujin’s current appearance. He seemed to be in pain as he clenched his teeth tightly.

Even though he was obviously experiencing unimaginable pain, no sound came from him.

As time passed, Yujin’s condition worsened. Two hours had passed since he started, and if Tsunade didn’t know, she wouldn’t recognize Yujin at this moment.

The ground around him was completely wet, and his body seemed to be withering, as she started to see the sweat diminish, and consequently, the skin becoming drier and more shriveled.

He was completely white, as if there was no more vitality in him, but the clenched jaw and agonizing expression indicated how much he was suffering. Tsunade became so worried that she was about to approach and help him. She needed to at least give him water and assist with medical ninjutsu. If this continues for much longer, he might be at risk of death.

When this thought occurred to her, she quickly went to fetch water. When she returned and saw that he seemed to be worsening, on the verge of collapsing, she approached and handed water to him in his mouth, but he didn’t react, nor did he open his mouth.