Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 343 The Witch's Prophecy Fails

The Kingdom of Demons, Royal Palace.

The main gate of the palace is a massive bronze door, intricately carved with sealing incantations, said to have been carved by the first priestess herself. Aburame Shisei and his entourage stood before the bronze gate.

The guards at the gate became visibly nervous when they saw them.

Because the two had never concealed their appearances on their journey here, and their bounty posters had long been plastered all over the ninja world, it would be difficult for the guards not to recognize them.

"State your identity." The head guard stepped forward with a stiff upper lip, asking the question knowing the answer already.

Aburame Shisei stepped forward, his tone flat: "Shiraki, this is my attendant."

Orochimaru laughed and said, "You should recognize us, why bother with all this trouble? Tell your priestess that we are here to pay our respects properly."

Several guards' expressions changed drastically upon hearing this. Some of them still blocked their way, while the rest quickly ran back into the palace.

Soon, the guard appeared, panting, and said, "The priestess is already waiting in the main hall. Please follow me."

The group passed through the bronze gate, walked up the long stone steps, and arrived at the main hall.

The main hall is not large, but it is exquisitely decorated, with only a tea table and a few square tables, and the surrounding decorations are also very simple.

This generation's priestess is an eighteen-year-old girl, just coming of age, but her demeanor is unusually composed. This must be Shion's mother from the original work.

Few people remember her name anymore; everyone just calls her the Priestess.

She inherited the bloodline of a priestess from her mother, and the responsibility of sealing away evil spirits from her mother's mother, generation after generation, without end.

"Mr. Shiraki," the shrine maiden stood up and gave a slight bow, "I have long admired your name. May I ask what brings you here so suddenly?"

She raised her head, her gaze involuntarily falling on Orochimaru, then her brows furrowed, forming a deep frown, for she had once again foreseen death.

"I foresaw your death!"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"You died from a slash. A very long blade cleaved you in two from your left shoulder. Blood... a lot of blood..."

Her brow furrowed even more, her expression suddenly turning confused: "No... you died again. This time it was flames, black flames, burning you to ashes from the outside in. You screamed in the fire, your skin melted, your bones shattered..."

Orochimaru's smile remained on his face, but his eyes had changed.

"And then?" he asked again.

The priestess's pupils dilated violently a few times, her lips trembling slightly: "And then... you died again. Poisoned, your whole body turned black, blood flowing from your seven orifices... and you died again... turning into a giant snake, being cut in two... and you died again... by..."

She suddenly stopped, abruptly closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples hard.

"I can't see clearly."

She opened her eyes, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

This was the first time she had encountered such a strange person. How could someone die so many times? Was she mentally deranged, or had her abilities declined?

Orochimaru clapped his hands and laughed, "As expected of the priestess of the Land of Demons, you do have some skills. However, you are wrong about some things; death is not the end."

Is death not the end?

The priestess was stunned. In the past, she would have found these words utterly ridiculous, but now her belief was wavering.

She neither refuted nor responded, but instead turned to Aburame Shicheng.

In an instant, her pupils dilated sharply.

No, there's nothing at all!

She can't see his past, nor can she see his future.

It was not vague, not chaotic, but a complete blank, as if its very existence had been erased from the river of time, without origin or end.

"You... what kind of being are you?"

Aburame Shisei curled the corners of his lips slightly: "The entire ninja world knows I'm Strategist Shiraki!"

"No, I mean..." The priestess couldn't explain herself clearly. She took a deep breath to suppress her shock and inadvertently glanced at the tall figure behind the two of them.

Upon seeing this, her expression completely changed.

"He's dead."

She almost blurted out, "The dead should return to the Pure Land; how can he remain in this world!"

Orochimaru laughed out loud: "Heh heh, so death is not the end."

The priestess withdrew her gaze and sat up straight again, feeling utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Two things," Aburame Shisei said bluntly. "First, I want to borrow the sealing techniques manuals from the Land of Demons. Second, I want to study the demons you seal."

"You want to study demons and monsters?"

Aburame Shisei replied, "Yes."

The priestess shook her head, firmly refusing: "Impossible."

She stood up and walked to a portrait on the wall. The portrait depicted a woman dressed in a white priestess's robe, whose face bore a resemblance to a priestess, but whose eyes held a more compassionate gaze.

"The Wraith is a demon from another world, whose greatest skill is bewitching people's hearts. Those with impure minds will be corrupted by its power and become its minions, wreaking havoc on the world. Even if you are powerful, I cannot guarantee that your hearts are equally strong."

However, when she turned to look at Aburame Shisei again, she changed the subject: "However, you may borrow the books on sealing techniques freely. I'm organizing them here, and they should be ready tonight. As for the demons... please stay here for now; the banquet is ready."

Aburame Zhicheng nodded and didn't press the matter further. There was plenty of time, and he had plenty of patience and methods.

The banquet was held in a side hall of the palace. The dishes were not lavish, but they were exquisite.

The Land of Demons is located in a remote area and is not rich in resources, but the witch has obviously put in a lot of effort. Some of the dishes use ingredients imported from neighboring countries, which can be considered a luxury.

During the meal, the witch did not mention the demons again, but only talked about local customs and the current situation in the ninja world.

She speaks with great tact, neither neglecting anyone nor letting any topic go too far.

After the banquet, the oil maid Zhicheng returned to the room arranged by the witch.

The room wasn't big, but it was very clean. The bed was newly made, and there was a pot of hot tea and a small plate of snacks on the table.

He had barely sat down when there was a soft knock on the door.

A young girl respectfully said, "Lord Shiraki. The priestess has prepared a book of sealing techniques; please come and take a look."

It was already dark outside, so it was somewhat unexpected to invite him to the inner part of the palace to view the sealing scroll at this time.

However, he didn't think much of it. Perhaps the other party valued him and sent him the sealing techniques as soon as they had collected them.

Aburame Shisei got up and opened the door: "Lead the way."

The maid walked ahead, through the corridors, across the gardens, and around one building after another.

Aburame Shisei noticed that this road did not lead to the library, but rather towards the depths of the palace.

Finally, the maid stopped in front of a door.