Chapter 226

The Ōtsutsuki clan was divided into patriarchs, main family, and branch families. Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, known as the progenitor of chakra, was merely the weakest and lowest-ranked branch family member.

The Ōtsutsuki who planted the God Tree alongside Kaguya belonged to the main family, but as for the true clan elders, Senju Yukika had never seen them.

The reason the Byakugan chakra suppressed by the Dragon Vein was so overwhelmingly powerful was that it originally belonged to a formidable figure within the Ōtsutsuki clan—a figure who undoubtedly held a high rank in their hierarchy.

Because of this, Yukika was determined not to let it slip away. Absorbing the chakra of the Dragon Vein might even reveal valuable information about the distant Ōtsutsuki clan.

Holding his dual-phase demon blade, Yukika raised his index finger and gently tapped the void.

"No space."

The void immediately tore open a small rift, and crimson-purple chakra surged out like a tidal wave, but Yukika's finger absorbed it all.

Within moments, Yukika felt the energy inside him multiply several times over.

Just then, an angry voice echoed from beneath the Dragon Vein.

"How dare you! You thief, you bandit! Damn insects, I will crush you all!"

The torrent of chakra abruptly stopped as the entity below severed the rift. Yukika sighed in mild regret; he had hoped to keep absorbing the Dragon Vein's chakra without fully breaking the seal.

But clearly, the being beneath wouldn't allow it.

"Your power is unusual—not just chakra, but something mysterious and unknown. Could it be that you, too, descended to this world from beyond the stars?"

"If I devour your power, perhaps I can finally escape this cursed place," the voice sneered.

Suddenly, a massive hand of purple chakra swung at Yukika. He was sent flying, crashing hard against the walls of the Lost Tower. Yet, the tower's materials seemed special—ordinary buildings would've been obliterated by such force, but the Lost Tower only shook slightly.

"I should thank you insects," the voice boomed. "If not for you prying open the seal left by that bald monk, I wouldn't have been able to unleash my power. This long-lost force is mesmerizing—once, it destroyed stars and made countless so-called mighty beings kneel. This is the power of the Ōtsutsuki!"

"No matter how strong you are, in the face of the Ōtsutsuki, you are fragile!"

A giant beast appeared—a monstrous tiger-like creature with steel wings, exuding terrifying pressure. This was the physical manifestation of the Byakugan chakra sealed by the Dragon Vein. Its intense chakra rippled wildly, and if not suppressed by the Lost Tower, its size would have been even more immense.

As the dust settled, Yukika's black demon wings unfolded. He dusted himself off and smiled. "Is that so?"

In a flash, Yukika vanished and reappeared, crouched on the beast's head. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed his index finger at its skull. Brilliant blue-green light gathered at his fingertip, like starlight.

"Black Zero."

The black Cero blasted through the beast's head. Crimson-purple chakra went berserk, but then, astonishingly, it reformed, restoring the beast's head. It opened its maw and swallowed Yukika whole.

"Foolish insect! I am a condensation of chakra. As long as my chakra exists, I am immortal. Your attacks are useless! Sit obediently in my belly and be digested. Your power will be mine, and I'll show you a glory no insect could ever imagine!"

A faint voice echoed from within the beast's belly.

"Just noise. You're merely an energy body. Can you shapeshift into a form without a mouth?"

"Thunder Spear!"

A sudden cross-shaped flash of light burst from the beast's belly. Thunder, like divine wrath, enveloped its entire body. With a deafening boom, the massive creature shattered under the lightning's force.

Such an explosion could have obliterated multiple nations outside, but here, it was contained. The Lost Tower's special materials and Yukika's pre-set barriers kept it in check.

Yukika speculated that the Lost Tower might be some kind of divine artifact from Buddha himself, designed to suppress the Dragon Vein's power.

After seizing the Dragon Vein's energy, Yukika planned to take the Lost Tower too—it was a top-tier treasure.

Besides his Zanpakutō, Yukika had no other powerful weapons. If he could wield the Lost Tower, it would become a formidable tool against the Ōtsutsuki in the future.

Reappearing, Yukika dusted off the lingering chakra and calmly watched as the pitiful beast reassembled itself once more.

"Indeed, you're like the tailed beasts—no matter how much you fight, you're immune to death. As long as the chakra remains, you can't die, so you must be sealed."

The humanoid beast sneered. "Don't compare me to those weaklings. I could crush this planet's tailed beasts with a finger. Your crude seals are useless against me—unless that old monk himself comes back, which is impossible. He's likely dust now."

"Did you really think you were a match for the great one? That monk fled in disgrace before my lord's profound power. In the end, he barely sealed me—he couldn't destroy me."

At that moment, Yukika slowly clasped his hands behind his head. The black liquid beneath his eyes turned gold; his black wings transformed into radiant, Buddha-like wings. A golden lotus bloomed beneath his feet, and the sun rose behind him.

In an instant, Yukika transformed from demon to Buddha, enveloped in golden light and resonant with sacred chants. The Lost Tower glowed in divine brilliance, solemn and majestic.

"He didn't fail to destroy you back then—he left you here as a reason for me to come."

"Your fate was sealed millennia ago."

"You are destined to submit to me and become the fierce beast beneath my command."