081 Serpent-Faced Beauty

The three great holy lands of Sage Arts.

Of these, Mount Myoboku lies west of the Land of Wind, within an oasis in the forbidden land of life. The Shikkotsu Forest is hidden beneath the seas between the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Water. Compared to these two, the Ryuchi Cave, located beneath the Land of Stone, is remarkably easy to find.

Every year, countless madmen, obsessed with the pursuit of power, make their way here, hoping to earn the chance to study Sage Arts through the trials. In the end, they either fall to the cave’s three great trials or perish under the corrosion of natural energy, becoming convenient offerings for the cave.

To Orochimaru’s knowledge, only two shinobi have walked out of the Ryuchi Cave alive in the past century. One was himself, the other was the Third Kazekage of the Sand. Both collapsed at the final step, declared unworthy of Sage Arts.

Such a low success rate was also due to the White Snake Sage’s crude and brutal teaching methods. In contrast to Shikkotsu Forest—which we’ll set aside for now—Mount Myoboku provides toad oil to enhance a shinobi’s perception of natural energy and monitors them throughout, preventing them from being turned into stone toad statues by the energy’s corrosion. Their care could hardly be more attentive.

The White Snake Sage, however, simply injects pure natural energy into the body with its sharp fangs. If you succeed, you succeed; if not, you become a snack.

The Lamp God was astounded by such a method, feeling that the White Snake Sage had no intention of cultivating talent and was merely seeking takeout. That Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage survived was only because they had strong backgrounds.

From the Lamp God’s experience with his previous world’s host, the true path to mastering natural energy lay in sensing it, sitting in meditation until one reached a state of “no self”—only then could one truly comprehend the world and command natural energy.

However, for Orochimaru, this was no longer a difficulty; the “Total Concentration Breathing: Constant” was itself a clever approach to “unity of heaven and man,” granting him the qualification to sense natural energy.

“How does it feel? Are you able to gather natural energy and produce Sage chakra?”

The Lamp God, watching Orochimaru descend slowly within the cavern, looked on with anticipation.

In the Demon Slayer world, natural energy was sparse, and even entering the Constant Mode, one could rely on a Nichirin Blade to unleash immense power. Now, in the shinobi world—especially within the Ryuchi Cave, where natural energy was so rich—if there was no improvement, it would be a waste of the Lamp God's high hopes.

“No.”

Orochimaru did not speak aloud, but communicated by thought, for in the Ryuchi Cave, all information would reach the White Snake Sage’s ears.

“I can sense it, but I cannot control the natural energy,” Orochimaru denied the Lamp God's expectations, yet showed no disappointment. “But it’s not entirely useless; some of the natural energy entering my body vanishes inexplicably, perhaps seeping into my cells and slowly strengthening my physique.”

The Lamp God nodded inwardly. “I see...”

That was reasonable enough. After all, the breathing style was a warrior’s method of cultivation; enhancing the body rather than magical reserves was only natural.

Even so, by his estimation, if one continued to soak in natural energy, it was not impossible to master Sage Arts through sheer physique alone. The only question was how long it would take.

A faint hissing echoed through the shadows. As Orochimaru delved deeper underground, countless serpents slithered in the darkness, playing out their endless games of predator and prey.

Naturally, none dared attack Orochimaru. Instinct told them he was a fellow serpent, exuding the aura of a superior; approaching recklessly would only mean death.

Encountering no trouble, he soon arrived before an underground stone fortress—the location of the trials.

Without pause, Orochimaru intended to bypass the fortress, but suddenly turned toward the shadows on his right. There was nothing visible, yet as he looked, a soft laugh echoed out.

“What keen senses. It’s only been a few years, and you’ve changed so much.”

As she spoke, a woman clad in a miko’s long robe, a jade magatama adorning her chest, materialized from thin air.

Orochimaru nodded to her, smiling amiably in greeting. “Lady Tianxin, I’m here to see the White Snake Sage. Or do you expect me to go through the trials again?”

The three great trials might be difficult for ordinary shinobi, but to Orochimaru, they were mere child's play—not worth his time.

“Of course not. It would be rude not to greet an old acquaintance who’s come such a long way.”

Tianxin Serpent Princess drifted down from the air, coming to stand before Orochimaru. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits, four sharp fangs sprouted at her lips, and a crimson tongue flickered out.

In an instant, her once-beautiful face twisted into something monstrous.

She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Orochimaru, then smiled. “So this is your trump card for learning Sage Arts? An impressive ability.”

Upon entering “Total Concentration Breathing: Constant,” Orochimaru’s entire body naturally absorbed and released natural energy. This could not be hidden, and certainly would not escape the senses of someone as attuned as the Serpent Princess.

Orochimaru was well aware of this and paid it little mind. Yet, as he noted the serpent-like features of Tianxin, a thought arose in his heart:

Was this a shinobi entering Sage Mode, or a serpent reclaiming part of its true form?

Personally, Orochimaru leaned toward the latter—Tianxin Serpent Princess had evidently lived for centuries. Still, the former was not impossible; natural energy was a blind spot in his knowledge and perhaps could extend one’s lifespan.

After all, the summoning beasts of the three holy lands were all notably long-lived.

Noticing his probing gaze, Tianxin laughed lightly. “What, do you prefer me like this? How unusual—most shinobi are frightened out of their wits.”

When Orochimaru remained silent, his smile polite but cold, she laughed again. Her features shifted, restoring her tranquil beauty.

“All right, you’re no fun. I won’t tease you. The White Snake Sage has long known you were coming and sent me to fetch you.”

Orochimaru was unsurprised, following the Serpent Princess as she soared ahead. Unbeknownst to her, once she turned away, her charming smile twisted into a cold sneer.

Not that it escaped him. The Lamp God had already sent out tendrils of smoky vapor, radiating from Orochimaru’s body in every direction.

From a bird’s-eye view, one would see a vast web enveloping the entire Ryuchi Cave.

The White Snake Sage might claim to know everything that transpired in the cave, but with the Lamp God's senses extended, Orochimaru could do the same.

As they walked, Orochimaru and the Lamp God continued their silent exchange. With each new insight, man and spirit grew ever more certain of their hypothesis:

The White Snake Sage indeed sought transformation, and the Ryuchi Cave was nothing less than a vast laboratory created for that purpose.