A ball of golden flame burned in Linto's palm.
If you looked closely, you could see that the so-called "flame" was actually made up of many gold-colored, shimmering lightning bolts.
This was the biggest gain Linto got from absorbing the life force in the Dragon Orb.
He broke through his past limits, and the ripples he absorbed, controlled, and manipulated became incredibly solid, containing dozens of times more power than before.
This seemingly weak flame could instantly reach a temperature of 1500 degrees, enough to burn a person to ashes.
"This is..."
Linto looked at the golden flame in his palm.
"Third Stage Wave Energy."
The first stage allows you to use waves for basic combat and healing.
The second stage changes the color of the waves you use, enhances metal, controls water flow, improves mental strength, and allows you to release two substitutes for a short time.
The third stage further enhances life force, and the wave energy is highly condensed.
Even without the power of nature or using gene manipulation techniques, Linto's life force was incredibly strong, allowing him to regenerate at super speed from any attack that wasn't instantly fatal.
"Wave energy is much worse than Golden Spin in terms of attack power, but this ability to save my own life is just too strong.
And the lack of attack power is when I'm flying. If I go back to the ground—"
Linto slowly floated down, his feet landing on the ground.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and clenched his fist.
The flame in his palm suddenly spread, covering his entire arm.
The raging fire burned without wind, cracking the ground, and the air was extremely hot.
It was like a blazing sun had fallen to earth.
Linto opened his eyes, feeling the burning heat of the golden flame: "Once my feet are on the ground, the weakness of wave based attacks can be greatly overcome."
This was all that Linto gained from absorbing the Dragon Orb.
He put away the flame and looked at the White Snake Sage's head, which was placed by the roadside as a tourist attraction. He took an orange given to him by Little Momo from his helmet and placed it in front of the snake's head, sincerely thanking it for its gift.
Not only Linto's orange, there were many offerings in front of the snake's head.
There were freshly picked flowers, bugs caught by the toads, and even Jiraiya's unopened new book.
The reason why the toads made offerings was simple.
The White Snake Sage was the only sage who had died among the three sacred places. They figured that, having arrived in the underworld, it might be able to say a few words for them. The toads were simply treating it as a wishing machine.
Next to the White Snake Sage was a small stone statue of Orochimaru.
This was placed there by Jiraiya, as a way to let the family gather together.
Linto patted the White Snake Sage's big head and said, "I'm leaving now," and turned to leave.
To break through to the third stage of wave energy, Linto had been in seclusion in Mount Myōboku for almost half a month. Now that his training was complete, it was time to say goodbye to the Great Toad Sage and return.
But as soon as he left the training grounds, he ran into the messenger · Gamagosu, who was waiting outside.
Seeing Linto come out, Gamagosu sighed with relief:
"Lord Linto, you're finally out.
Five days ago, the Mizukage said she received an invitation from the Land of Water Daimyo, asking you to come back and discuss it.
If you didn't come out soon, they might have left."
Toads are afraid of heat, and Linto's training grounds were experiencing earthquakes and high temperatures from time to time, so Gamagosu didn't dare to break in and disturb Linto's training, and had to wait outside.
An invitation from the Land of Water Daimyo?
Linto sensed a "dangerous meeting."
"Thank you, I understand. About the Great Toad Sage—"
Gamagosu patted its chest and said, "The old man is asleep. I'll tell him when he wakes up. Leave it to me."
"Thank you."
Linto returned to Kirigakure.
He had only been gone for half a month, but the village was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and there were many small vendors on the streets. Many people were busy on the streets, and there was a festive atmosphere everywhere.
Linto went to the Mizukage's office and knocked gently on the door.
There was a flurry of activity from within, and after a while, Terumi Mei said:
"Come in."
Linto pushed the door open and walked in.
Terumi Mei was standing in front of the filing cabinet, using her back to hold the door shut. She looked nervous. Seeing that it was Linto, she sighed with relief:
"It's you. You scared me to death."
"What are you hiding?" Linto asked.
Terumi Mei raised her chin slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up: "A woman's secret."
Linto shrugged and didn't continue to ask. He pulled out a chair and sat down:
"The Land of Water Daimyo sent you an invitation?"
"That's right."
Terumi Mei carefully locked the cabinet door and returned to her desk. She took out a beautiful wooden box from the drawer. The box was inlaid with gold and jade, and had the Aoi flower crest of the Land of Water Daimyo in the middle.
The wooden box alone was worth a lot.
She opened the box, and inside was a letter with gold lettering.
Terumi Mei gave Linto a look, signaling him to look at the contents of the letter.
Linto took out the letter, which was hundreds of words long. The handwriting was clean and upright. You could tell from the handwriting that the writer was an honest and humble gentleman.
The letter said that the Land of Water's capital, Kyoto, would soon be holding the Water Garden Festival, and invited Terumi Mei and Linto to attend. The letter was signed…
"Land of Water Daimyo · Oda Ieyasu."
Linto put down the letter.
"What do you think?"
Terumi Mei and Linto had known each other for a long time and understood what he meant. She said, "It's unlikely to be an ambush."
"Why?"
"It's not worth it."
Terumi Mei took out a stack of documents from the drawer.
Since Oda Ieyasu took office as Daimyo, she had been collecting information about him.
"Now, the people of the Land of Water have two heroes in their hearts.
One is you, for promoting technology and ideas that have allowed more people to eat their fill, and for defeating the Land of Thunder's invasion.
The other—"
She took out a photo and placed it on the table.
The man in the photo was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with handsome features and long, black hair. He smiled at the camera, his smile gentle and sincere.
"Is him, the new Land of Water Daimyo · Oda Ieyasu. Since he took office, he has made drastic changes to the lives of ordinary people in terms of taxation, laws, and the transfer of officials.
Do you see the festive atmosphere in Kirigakure? It's because people are celebrating the Water Garden Festival and thanking the Daimyo and you. People are holding similar small festivals in the village."
"Attacking you would not benefit him in any way, and would affect the reputation and influence he has just built up. Besides."
Terumi Mei pointed to a photo on the wall.
The photo showed her shaking hands with Killer Bee. Behind the crowd taking pictures was a newly established military technology research institute.
Her meaning was clear.
If Kumogakure couldn't defeat Linto, Oda Ieyasu wouldn't choose to attack Linto in Kyoto, even if he wanted to kill him.
Linto nodded.
"So," Terumi Mei looked at Linto, "are you going?"
Linto thought he saw anticipation in her eyes.
Linto leaned forward slightly, met her gaze, and asked with a smile, "Do you want me to go?"
Terumi Mei looked away.
"Go if you want. It's none of my business."
Linto chuckled.
"I'll go."
He picked up Oda Ieyasu's photo:
"There wasn't a suitable opportunity before. Now, I want to have a good talk with this Land of Water Daimyo."
Hearing him say "talk," Terumi Mei's mouth opened slightly.
This "talk"...
Wouldn't involve knives again, would it?
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