Chapter 521: Tuan Cang's Promise

At the top of the central tower of Loulan that soars into the clouds.

Inside the queen's palace.

Sunlight filters through the colored glass windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Queen of Loulan sits upright on the throne, her brows furrowed as she looks at the two unexpected guests brought in by the guards.

Naturally, it is Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and Lian Ye who have infiltrated Loulan.

"Konoha ninja," the queen of Loulan says, her voice steady with a barely perceptible wariness, "Traveling from afar, what is your purpose?"

She did not expect a Konoha ninja from the distant Fire Country to appear within Loulan's borders; who leaked the location, she wonders?

It seems a traitor has emerged within Loulan!

Lian Ye steps forward and states his purpose outright.

"Honorable queen, I apologize for the intrusion. Our mission is to harness your nation's dragon vein power to achieve time‑space traversal..."

"Time‑space traversal?!"

The queen of Loulan, who had been calm, shows shock on her face, leans forward slightly, and her tone deepens.

"Do Konoha ninjas even know what they're saying? The dragon vein is the foundation of our nation, and its time‑space power is a taboo within taboos! To use it, one must break the seal on the dragon vein and harness its instantaneous burst of energy to breach the time‑space barrier."

"Putting aside the dangers of time‑space traversal, if the dragon vein's energy spirals out of control, it could backfire on Loulan, causing irreparable disaster!"

She could not agree to unseal the dragon vein merely because they are Konoha ninjas.

Even if she possesses the seal pattern for the dragon vein, she cannot lift it arbitrarily.

Who can say whether these two truly mean what they say, or if they are thieves coveting the dragon vein's power?

If a major problem arises later, this queen would be hard to absolve herself of blame!

She could not gamble with the lives of countless subjects!

"If you hold such intentions, then please return."

The queen of Loulan decisively refuses; as a ruler, protecting the dragon vein and her people is her foremost duty.

Lian Ye, seeing this, feels a bit helpless; he did not expect that after finally locating Loulan, the situation would turn out like this.

It seems time‑space traversal cannot be achieved after all!

Just as Lian Ye feels regret, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang glances at him, then steps forward and addresses the queen of Loulan.

"Queen, we fully understand the difficulty of this request and the risks involved. For that reason, I pledge in the name of the Konoha Third Hokage, with the Will of Fire in my heart—"

"If we receive your assistance, Konoha will become Loulan's permanent ally. From now on, the dragon vein of Loulan will be jointly guarded by Konoha's power. Anyone who dares covet the dragon vein or threaten Loulan's peace will be an enemy of Konoha!"

He knows the queen of Loulan refuses simply because they have not offered terms that move her.

Since Lian Ye wishes to achieve cross‑time travel, why not forgo a few benefits?

This promise weighs as heavily as a mountain.

For Loulan, which possesses a dragon vein yet has limited combat strength, receiving protection from Konoha, the strongest ninja village, is of great significance.

It means a powerful talisman capable of deterring many potential threats.

"You claim to be the Konoha Third Hokage; what proof do you have?"

The queen of Loulan fixes her gaze on Tuan Cang for a moment, then says slowly.

If this person truly is the Konoha Third Hokage, the oath just made would indeed make her break precedent and open the dragon vein.

If Loulan enjoys Konoha's protection, the risk of extinction in the future would disappear.

She knows that Loulan's possession of the dragon vein will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of other forces.

It would be better to use this chance to forge an alliance between Loulan and Konoha.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the person before her can prove their identity as the Third Hokage!

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang nods, produces the credential symbolizing the Hokage's status, and tosses it before the queen.

"You may send someone to the Wind Shadow to verify my identity. By the way, Loulan's location is what the Wind Shadow told us..."

Upon hearing this, the queen of Loulan's pupils suddenly contract, and a horrified expression appears on her face.

She wonders how the two could know Loulan's location; it turns out the traitor is not a Loulan citizen but the Wind Shadow!

"Until your identities are verified, stay in Loulan for a while."

Although she is convinced Tuan Cang is not lying, adhering to caution, she decides to send someone to the Wind Shadow to verify.

The two, led by the guards, proceed to the room.

"Tuan Cang, thank you," Lian Ye says, feeling somewhat moved.

He knows Tuan Cang values the village's interests above all; had he not proposed cross‑time travel, he would never have offered such generous terms.

Konoha is a major village of the Ninja World; even with a dragon vein, Loulan cannot receive treatment comparable to that of the Uzumaki Clan.

One can only say Tuan Cang merely wishes to fulfill his own travel desire.

"Only by paying the appropriate price can one get others to grant our request," Zhi Cun Tuan Zang says. "Since you wish to use the dragon vein for time‑space traversal, I happen to accompany you; paying a price is no big deal."

In reality, Konoha does not lose anything; once an alliance with Loulan is formed, borrowing the dragon vein's power will be even more convenient.

If time‑space traversal truly becomes possible, they will certainly travel to different eras in the future.

Both sides take what they need, so neither truly suffers a loss.

But he does not tell Lian Ye about this; occasionally receiving Lian Ye's gratitude feels good.

The queen of Loulan acts swiftly; the next day she verifies the two's identities.

One is the Konoha Village Third Hokage, the other is the renowned Konoha Poison Master.

Although Loulan seems somewhat isolated, it has heard rumors of major events in the Ninja World.

For example, the Uchiha Lianye who defeated Madara Uchiha.

She truly did not expect that the one proposing to use the dragon vein for time‑space traversal was Lian Ye!

Inside the queen's palace.

"Hokage, Poison Master, your identities have been confirmed clearly."

The Lolan Queen's attitude toward the two of them was clearly more respectful than yesterday.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang nodded and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty the Queen, my promise still counts; I wonder what you think of it?"

Although he is willing to form an alliance because of Lian Ye and Lolan, he does not want the Lolan Queen to be someone who cannot see the situation clearly.

"Of course, no problem!" the Lolan Queen replied immediately.

Lolan and Konoha forged an alliance; Konoha sent troops to guard the safety of the dragon vein—a surefire, risk‑free deal!

"Alright, let's sign the agreement."

Both sides quickly reached an alliance agreement.

"Hokage, I'll open the seal of the dragon vein for you right now."

The Lolan Queen turned and led the two toward the deepest part of the tower, where the core altar that gathers the dragon vein's energy lies.

"May the dragon vein guide you; be sure to stay safe."

As the words fell, she placed both hands on her chest, forming a complex seal, and murmured an obscure incantation.

As she performed the technique, the runes around the altar lit up one by one, changing from dull gray stone to a dazzling golden‑red.

"Hum—"