Chapter 1244 Scatter!

"Scatter! Use guerrilla tactics to wear down its energy!" Shangguan Mo activated Spirit Refining Teleportation to dodge the oncoming giant fists, while Starfall Scorpion unleashed its scorpion stinger. The green tailed beast chakra pierced through the Spirit Refining Fire, striking the Ten-Tails Spirit Refining God's knee joint. The puppet's movements paused, and cracks appeared in the black runes at its joints, but these were quickly repaired by the purple light of the Spirit Refining Core.

Members of the Akatsuki swarmed out of the castle. Black Refiner's successor, "Blood Refiner," holding the Black-Patterned Spirit Refining Staff, sneered as he activated the curse seal: "Shangguan Mo, do you think you can stop the Ten-Tails Spirit Refining God with these small fry? It has fused the spirit refining essence of nine tailed beasts. In three more hours, it will be fully awakened, and then the entire ninja world will become its nourishment."

Xue Lian brandished his Spirit Refining Staff, and countless black Spirit Refining tentacles erupted from the ground, binding the Thunder-Patterned Leopard. The Thunder-Patterned Leopard roared in pain, its lightning-attribute Spirit Refining energy erupting continuously, yet it was unable to break free from the tentacles' restraints. Seeing this, Shangguan Mo immediately activated "Spirit Refining Purification Slash," the golden blade severing the tentacles while simultaneously channeling Spirit Refining energy into the Thunder-Patterned Leopard's body to heal its injuries.

"Your opponent is me." Xue Lian teleported behind Shangguan Mo, and thrust the Spirit Refining Staff into Shangguan Mo's back. Shangguan Mo was prepared. He swung the Spirit Refining Hammer backhand, colliding with the Spirit Refining Staff. In the instant that the golden and black energies collided, he clearly felt the strangeness of the opponent's Spirit Refining Technique—it was a forbidden power mixed with the Akatsuki's Black Zetsu spores, capable of devouring the opponent's energy.

Starfall Scorpion arrived just in time, its meteoric fire from its tail forcing Blood Refinement back. Shangguan Mo seized the opportunity to gather refining energy, his Eternal Refining Eye locking onto the core of Blood Refinement Staff: "Your refining technique violates the fundamental rules and is destined to backfire." He channeled Starfall Scorpion's tailed beast chakra into the refining hammer, unleashing "Refining Spirit - Tailed Beast Evil-Slaying Strike!" A golden blade, imbued with green tailed beast energy, slashed towards Blood Refinement.

Xue Lian's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly used his Spirit Refining Staff to condense a shield, but it was easily shattered by the light blade. The light blade struck his shoulder, and golden Spirit Refining energy spread along the wound, completely purifying the Black Zetsu spores within his body. Xue Lian let out a shrill scream, and his body gradually returned to the appearance of an ordinary ninja. Clearly, the Akatsuki organization had forcibly enhanced his strength using forbidden techniques.

Just then, the Ten-Tailed Spirit Refining God suddenly let out a deafening roar, and the Spirit Refining Core on its chest erupted with a blinding purple light, sucking all the Akatsuki members around it into its body. The puppet's size swelled again, reaching a height of two hundred meters. It raised its hand and swung it towards Shangguan Mo and the others, and a huge gust of wind blew the Spirit Refiners off balance. The Starfall Black Scorpion used its body to protect Shangguan Mo, and the black iron shell was scratched deeply by the wind.

"It's absorbing its own people to replenish its energy!" Yamashiro Aoba arrived with Konoha's support troops. Might Guy took the lead, his golden Eight Gates chakra condensing into flames. "The battlefield of youth can't be without me! Shangguan Mo, I'll hold it off, you find an opportunity to attack the core!" Guy activated "Day Tiger," a golden chakra tiger-shaped phantom pouncing towards the chest of the Ten-Tails, but it was instantly ignited by the puppet's spirit-refining fire. Guy was forced to retreat, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

As Shangguan Mo watched the giant puppet approach, he knew that conventional attacks would be ineffective. He unfolded the Tailed Beast Spirit Refining Chart again, and the text on the chart began to flow, resonating with the Tailed Beast chakra of the Meteorite Black Sasori. A long-forgotten memory flooded his mind—it was the original intention of the Sage of Six Paths in creating the Spirit Refining Technique, not for combat, but to balance the energy of the Tailed Beasts and protect the natural laws of the ninja world.

“I know how to defeat it.” A determined look flashed in Shangguan Mo’s eyes. He summoned all the Spirit Refiners. “You need to inject all your Spirit Refining energy into my body. At the same time, contact the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts in various countries and have them release their Tailed Beast Chakra. We need to use the ‘Spirit Refining: Ten-Tails Purification Array’ to completely purify its dark energy.”