Chapter 48: Sudden Upheaval

"Pope, aren't you going to try it?"

Because his wounds have not yet healed, Qimu Chao chose the Heavenly Martial Killing Path as his attack technique, driving power with killing intent, and his personality became exceedingly flamboyant.

Yuan Long's face, hidden by a mask, made his expression unreadable, but to the perceptive Qimu Chao, the mask was as if it weren't there.

Because the ceremony was not yet completed and he was forced in, Yuan Long appeared extremely angry, though his anger was tinged with a bit of panic; due to the Evil God Cult Secret Technique, as Pope he had not fought anyone for many years.

Within Chuan Zhi Guo, all who did not obey the Evil God Cult were tortured with secret techniques by his fanatical subordinates, and ultimately died.

You should know, that is a technique that trades wound for wound, life for life!

As a promising Pope, how could he exchange his own life for that of an unknown ninja?

Especially this guy in front of him, whose power is so bizarre.

Indeed, Qimu Chao's words just now also affected him.

Who is this little brat? Is he a ninja sent by the Five Great Nations?

However, now he must stay calm, after all his hand hasn't been played out yet!

Even without Yuan Long's order, the ninja who had already restored the arena's normalcy now launched an attack on Qimu Chao.

Without a Seal Formation, the ninjas with blood streaming from both ears rushed toward Qimu Chao, attempting close‑range Body Technique combat.

"Hm? Do these guys have no brains?"

Seeing this, Qimu Chao couldn't help but furrow his brow; it was still his first time encountering such opponents.

As a ninja, he doesn't release any Ninjutsu, but charges straight in for hand‑to‑hand combat?

What are they trying to do?

Even while thinking that, his movements were not slow; the Body Technique of these charging Evil God Cult ninjas wasn't particularly good, making their flaws easy to spot, and even if Kakashi were to handle them, it would be very easy.

Since entering the arena, he has been displaying his power, deterring the enemies.

First, he violently broke open the arena's massive doors with raw strength—this is the display of power; second, he used the force of Magnetic Field Rotation to damage the eardrums and cochleae of all Evil God Cult followers present, temporarily stripping them of mobility.

This move may have limited effect on ninjas, but when used on these Evil God Cult followers, who are no different from ordinary people, its effect is outstanding.

Ordinary ninjas, upon seeing these two techniques displayed by Qimu Chao, will not proactively engage him head‑on.

After all, most ninja battles are based on intelligence.

Launching an attack without concrete intel on the opponent almost always ends in disaster.

When ninjas fight without knowing each other's background, they usually must rely on their own technique foundation to counter and defeat the opponent, unless one's strength far exceeds the other's.

Qimu Chao differs from ninjas; Magnetic Field Rotation can suppress most flashy techniques, which is why he is confident to storm in alone.

But these Evil God Cult ninjas…

How to put it, perhaps they just have no brains.

Unfamiliar with the Evil God Cult Secret Technique, Qimu Chao can only make that judgment.

"It seems that now, I am the stronger one."

Using Heavenly Martial Killing Path·Decapitation Path to eliminate the last enemy, Qimu Chao kicked aside a nearby obstacle, then slowly walked toward the altar, crushing and disintegrating all obstacles in his path with his power.

Meanwhile, Yuan Long remained on the high platform, motionless.

Since the ceremony began, when the blood vortex lifted him, he could not move even a half step away from the altar.

Seeing this, Orochimaru felt there was no reason to stay any longer and turned to leave.

"Qimu Chao… this little brat's strength…"

Even without employing forbidden techniques, Qimu Chao's strength is probably not far behind his.

In the recent fight, Qimu Chao's Body Technique bore the style of his father Qimu Shuomao—clean, swift, one after another.

The only difference is his father used a blade, while he uses fists.

Moreover, between his punches and kicks seems to carry an extra force; that tremendous power, after striking the opponent, causes fragments to appear in the wound site?

How is that achieved?

Is it some special Bloodline Limit?

Regarding the Evil God Cult's Immortal Body, Orochimaru no longer has much curiosity.

What now piques his interest is the power within Qimu Chao.

That is probably not just chakra…

"He's not even eight years old…"

He sighed inwardly, and in an instant, Orochimaru vanished from the spot.

Unconcerned with Orochimaru's departure, when Qimu Chao reached the very top of the altar, Yuan Long finally acted, swinging his scythe straight at Qimu Chao's head.

Qimu Chao did not meet the attack head‑on; he leapt upward to evade, as the scythe was already a lethal weapon radiating extremely strange chakra, and a direct block might cause issues.

The scythe hit the ground, shattering the altar; with a boom, the constructed steps collapsed layer by layer into rubble, and in the next instant a chain reaction caused the entire altar to crumble completely.

"Hey, this is kind of interesting, Pope… no, how should I address you? Evil God?"

Qimu Chao glanced around; the vast arena now only echoed his voice and the falling rubble, with no other sounds. The Evil God Cult followers that Qimu Chao had previously knocked out were now all dead, their chakra having been transferred into the monster body occupying Yuan Long.

"Qi… mu… chao…"

A very raw voice struggled out of Yuan Long's mouth, as if he hadn't spoken to anyone for a long time, and upon hearing his own name called, Qimu Chao's face changed instantly: "Damn, Shui Men!"

Before he could act further, the blood inside the arena turned into ropes, like serpents, encircling from all directions, blocking every retreat route for Qimu Chao, leaving him with no escape!

The only way to escape is to leap upward; even using Earth Escape cannot stop this blood that seeps everywhere.

But waiting for him in the upward jump is only a Thunder Strike from that monster!

Qimu Chao, what should he choose?

"Magnetic Field Rotation, fifteen thousand units of power…"

He suddenly spat out a burst of icy mist; Ice Snow Magnetic Field Power, similar to ice Ninjutsu chakra, instantly covered the arena spanning several hundred meters, freezing all the blood in place. Qimu Chao looked at "Yuan Long": "Caiqian Xingzi's body also contains your chakra, so you know my name."

As his words fell, the blood‑colored ice shards surrounding Qimu Chao instantly exploded, scattering across the ground.