Chapter 1193: Flame Crystal Cat

Deep within an abandoned shrine on the border of the Land of Lightning, moonlight filtered through the broken window lattices, casting mottled silver shadows across the ground. Shangguan Mo knelt in the center of a magic circle covered in cursed sigils, his palm resting on a rugby-sized "Flame Heart Crystal"—a rare chakra ore he had found deep within the volcanic veins of the Land of Earth. A crimson glow flowed within the crystal, like a flame trapped in stone, and now, in response to the chakra he injected through his fingertips, it emitted a subtle hum.

Seven bronze lamps stood around the circle, their wicks burning an ointment refined from the hair removed from the Two-Tailed beast. As the pale purple flames danced, the air was filled with the uniquely scorching aroma of the tailed beast's chakra. Shangguan Mo took a deep breath and pulled out a glass bottle from his bosom. Within the bottle were a few drops of pale blue liquid—the chakra he had extracted from the imprisoned Two-Tailed Jinchūriki three years ago while infiltrating Kumogakure Prison. Each drop held the Two-Tail's ferocious power, harnessing its power to control spiritual fire and vengeful spirits.

"Using my blood as a guide, I summon the spirits of the ore and fuse the souls of the tailed beasts—Summoning Beasts!!"

Shangguan Mo bit his fingertip, and the moment blood dripped onto the Flame Heart Crystal, the crystal suddenly exploded. Crimson ore fragments and pale blue tailed beast chakra danced wildly within the circle, forming a swirling storm. The lavender flames were drawn into it, transforming into countless dancing sparks. Rubble from the shrine roof fell, but he stared intently at the center of the storm—there, a figure was coalescing: first, matte black fur, then diamond-shaped clusters of Flame Heart Crystals emerged from its body, crimson chakra flowing through the cracks of the crystals. Finally, a pair of cat ears embedded with crystal clusters condensed on its head. The tip of its tail was wrapped in lavender spiritual fire, and its vertical pupils were like burning sapphires. It was a new summoning beast that combined the characteristics of the two-tailed beast with the properties of the mineral.

"I'll call you... Flame Crystal Hell Cat." Shangguan Mo whispered the name, feeling the unique warmth of a spirit beast's contract at his fingertips. The Flame Crystal Hell Cat let out a low growl, a cross between a cat's meow and the howl of a vengeful spirit. Beneath its black fur, clusters of crystals shimmered crimson. With every step, a pale purple spiritual fire left its mark, instantly forming a layer of ice crystals wherever it touched the ground—the strange effect of the two-tailed spiritual fire colliding with the cold energy of the ore.

At this moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded at the shrine entrance. Three Kumogakure ANBU ninjas rushed in, and the leading jonin shouted, "Shangguan Mo! How dare you use the Two-Tails' chakra for personal gain? Surrender!"

Before he could finish his words, the leading ninja formed hand seals and unleashed a lightning technique, Raikiri. Light blue lightning gathered in his palm and pierced Shangguan Mo's face. The Flame Crystal Cat reacted with remarkable speed, dodging in front of him. The crystal clusters on its body suddenly lit up, forming a translucent shield of crimson chakra. Raikiri collided with the shield, instantly deflected by the crystals' force, sending a numbing sensation through the jounin's palm.

"Use spiritual fire." Shangguan Mo ordered in a low voice.

The Flame Crystal Hell Cat raised its head and growled. The lavender spiritual fire at the tip of its tail suddenly surged, transforming into three burning vengeful spirits that pounced upon the Kumogakure ninja with bared fangs and claws. The second ninja hurriedly formed hand seals and launched an earth escape technique, Earth Flow Wall, but he hadn't expected the vengeful spirits to penetrate the rock and possess him directly. The intense pain from the spiritual fire made him scream, and charred marks quickly appeared on his body.

The last ninja, seeing the situation was dire, turned and tried to flee, but the Flame Crystal Cat had already transformed into a dark shadow, its crystal-covered claws, laced with crimson chakra, slamming fiercely into his back. With the crisp sound of the crystal shattering, the ninja spurted out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, unconscious.

After dealing with the pursuers, the Flame Crystal Cat rubbed the back of Shangguan Mo's hand gently. The crystal cluster was just the right temperature, neither hot nor cold. Shangguan Mo stroked its fur, feeling the chakra connected to it in his body. "From now on, we will live together."

Under the moonlight, the figures of a man and a cat gradually disappeared in the dense forest outside the shrine.