083 The Inheritance Scroll of the Dragon's Cavern

“Orochimaru, is there something over there?”
At some point, Tianxin the Serpent Princess had already arrived at Orochimaru’s side, following his gaze.
“It’s nothing, just some thoughts crossed my mind.”
Orochimaru smiled faintly, his expression returning to normal.
Now that he knew the White Snake Sage was nothing more than a villain, the pressure he had carried vanished, leaving him feeling he could act freely.
Dealing with villains—this was his forte.
“That does make one curious.”
Tianxin eyed Orochimaru up and down, noticing how much more at ease he seemed compared to a moment before.
The change was so obvious that even she couldn’t help but take note, quietly speculating to herself.
“Well then, the White Snake Sage is still waiting for us. We shouldn’t delay; let’s hurry on.”
Orochimaru had no objections, following behind the Serpent Princess. The two swiftly made their way through the underground tunnels, soon reaching the journey’s end—the dwelling of the White Snake Sage.
According to the map the Lamp Spirit had provided, this would be the tip of the “Z” shape, the head of the great white-scaled serpent.
In the dim light, the White Snake Sage, now transformed into the shape of an old woman, reclined against a chair, curled up on a red cushion, holding a slender pipe from which she took occasional puffs, exhaling smoke.
She looked every bit the kindly, ordinary elderly woman, with no trace of the ruthless malice of one who used her own kin as her field of experimentation.
Tianxin the Serpent Princess floated behind the chair. Orochimaru gave a slight bow in greeting. “Sage, it’s been a long time.”
“Over ten years… For humans, that is a long time.”
The White Snake Sage’s eyelids drooped as she exhaled another plume of smoke, as though sighing. “Orochimaru, you’ve grown more cunning.”
Orochimaru smiled without replying, his gaze passing over the illusion on the chair, peering into the shadows where a pair of golden eyes glimmered. He could faintly make out the serpent’s coiled form.
Compared to the White Snake Sage’s body, which wound through the entire Dragon Earth Cave, the snake’s diameter could hardly be called thick—if anything, it was far too slender.
Scaled to size, it was less like a serpent and more like the thread end of a ball of yarn.
Indeed, after all these years, the White Snake Sage must have shed her skin countless times.
Yet the further things progressed, the greater the danger—one misstep, and nature’s energy would turn on her.
Without absolute certainty, this white serpent would not risk it.
Orochimaru didn’t know the extent of the risk the Sage now faced, but he was sure that if any other method existed, she would seize it without hesitation.
He had no solution for now, but it was still worth offering a hint of possibility.

The White Snake Sage sensed Orochimaru’s gaze. Though she didn’t know what he was thinking, she instinctively felt a flash of displeasure.
Her form shimmered, the image of the old woman dissolving like a soap bubble. The white serpent’s mouth parted, revealing four pointed fangs as she spoke coldly,
“Human lives are fleeting. Don’t waste time. Step closer, and I’ll teach you Sage Art.”
“There’s no rush for that.”
A smile played on Orochimaru’s lips. “I didn’t come unprepared this time. Surely you’ve noticed the changes in me.”
The White Snake Sage lifted her chin a fraction. “And what of it?”
Orochimaru licked his lips. “I wish to exchange this method of using nature energy to strengthen the body for the insights of all those who have studied Sage Art here in the Dragon Earth Cave.”
“That’s impossible.”
The White Snake Sage refused without hesitation.
Whether or not Orochimaru’s method would benefit serpentine life was irrelevant; it was of no use to her. Absorbing nature energy to strengthen the body—she could do that herself.
Fixing her gaze on Orochimaru, she said, “The only way is to pass the trial.”
“I see…”
Instead of stepping forward, Orochimaru actually backed away a few paces under the Sage’s scrutinizing eyes.
Her eyes narrowed. “Orochimaru, what are you playing at?”
“Your trial is far too dangerous. I’m not confident I’d survive it.”
Orochimaru touched the right side of his neck, where the four puncture wounds from the last trial still ached faintly.
Smiling, he said, “I’d like to stay in the Dragon Earth Cave for a while and experiment with my method of harnessing nature energy. Surely you wouldn’t drive me out for that, would you, Sage?”
This answer took the White Snake Sage by surprise. She coiled on her cushion, resuming her guise as an old woman. “As you wish.”
“Thank you, Sage, for your generosity.”
Orochimaru cupped his hands with a smile, then turned and headed toward the lair of Manda. After a few steps, as if remembering something, he turned back and said,
“Sage, if I offered this technique in exchange… would you allow me to inscribe my name on the summoning scroll?”
His gaze fell behind the Sage, where a massive stone sculpture of a fearsome beast’s head loomed.
Whether it was a dragon or some other primeval monster didn’t matter; what mattered was that the beast’s jaws held a scroll.
This scroll was much like the one Jiraiya possessed from Mount Myoboku, allowing the summoner to call forth any of the Dragon Earth Cave’s serpents.
It sounded impressive, but in truth, the scroll functioned as an equal contract—summoned creatures could decline the call.

In the worst case, even if you summoned, no snake would answer.
Of course, Orochimaru didn’t covet the fighting strength of the cave’s snakes. What he wanted was the chance to communicate with the other three Serpent Princesses outside the cave, beyond the White Snake Sage’s reach.
At his words, the Sage lifted her eyelids, a faint smirk appearing on her face.
“Orochimaru, you don’t know Sage Art, nor do you dare face the trial. What makes you think I’d let you leave your name? You must have great faith in your research.”
“Yet, confidence and arrogance are but a word apart.”
“I see… Then I have only embarrassed myself.” Orochimaru’s smile did not waver, but his pace quickened, and he was soon lost in the darkness.
The White Snake Sage watched the direction in which he vanished, frowning slightly.
Behind the chair, Tianxin the Serpent Princess’s eyes flickered, her thoughts unreadable.
“… ”
“Do you truly believe the three Serpent Princesses will come to my aid?”
Walking down the dark tunnel, Orochimaru asked in his mind.
The Lamp Spirit replied with a chuckle, “Of course. Since the White Snake Sage forbids the cave’s serpents from leaving, the summoning scroll is their only way out. They won’t pass up a chance to escape to the world above.”
Orochimaru countered, “Snakes love the damp, the dark, the cold. They may not wish to go aboveground.”
“You know snakes, but you don’t know women,”
the Lamp Spirit said, amused.
“These are women who, even in the depths of the earth where no one can see, insist on being neat and beautiful.”
Orochimaru looked surprised. “They’re not women. At best, they’re just female snakes.”
At this, the Lamp Spirit shook his head in mild lament.
Truly, the degree of a civilization’s progress determines its capacity for universal love.
Before becoming a Lamp Spirit, in his world, men’s tastes had already moved from fox spirits in human form to cat-girls, ship-girls, sword-spirits… even furred beastfolk had their own devoted fans.
In this ninja world, even Jiraiya’s poorly written “Make-Out Paradise” became a bestseller—what a cultural wasteland.
Due to the limits of civilization, even someone as morally flexible as Orochimaru, when faced with Serpent Princesses indistinguishable from real women, hadn’t let his thoughts wander in that direction.
“Tsk, tsk… It’s rather troublesome to explain.”
The Lamp Spirit stroked his chin and sighed. “Just know this: if even a man as unromantic as you is drawn to say hello, imagine how starved… lonely… desperate for company they must be.”