On the raised dais with a reclining couch, White Snake Sage did not assume her usual crone-like form but instead met with Kei Yamanaka in her true serpentine shape.
A massive white serpent's head swathed in black cloth.
The two horn-like protrusions emerging from the cloth left one wondering—were they naturally grown or merely bound into the fabric?
Its golden gleaming serpent eyes were identical to Orochimaru's serpentine pupils in his snake transformation, though lacking their sharp aggressiveness and threatening aura.
Grayish-brown hair flowed loosely behind its head—an eerie sight indeed, yet somehow exuding both warmth and serenity.
...
Name: Bai Lin Great Snake
Occupation: None
Skill Traits: [Golden Body Immortal Attire] (Red Tier), [Viper Ascendant: Dragon Metamorphosis] (Purple Tier), [Ouroboros Earth Binding] (Blue Tier), [Serpent's Divine Audition] (Blue Tier), [Rattle Strike] (Green Tier), [Serpent Instinct] (Green Tier), [Beastheart] (White Tier), [Wild Disposition] (White Tier), [Elephant-Swallowing Physique] (Gray Tier).
...
[Golden Body Immortal Attire] (Red Tier): After a thousand years of cultivation, reaching the peak of Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts inheritance, she fully masters the Ryuchi Cave Sage Arts. Her flesh and skin transform, becoming impervious to fire and water, resistant to even the sharpest blades. This greatly enhances Sage Art energy control, bodily regeneration, resistance to external forces, and affinity toward Natural Energy. It significantly boosts the casting speed, potency, and overall effectiveness of Ryuchi Cave Sage Arts. While in active Sage Mode, her physical recovery, reflexes, strength, and Ninjutsu power are greatly enhanced; each time she sustains and recovers from injuries, her defense, regeneration rate, sensory acuity, strength, and speed all increase further.
"This skill trait..."
As soon as Kei Yamanaka saw the [Golden Body Immortal Attire] trait, he thought of two other Summoning Beast sacred lands.
The Sage Art inheritance from Ryuchi Cave clearly focused mainly on skin and muscle.
What about bones, meridians, internal organs—even spirit?
Could it be that all Sage Art inheritances were focused solely on skin and muscle cultivation?
The potential of Sage techniques seemed far greater than he had imagined!
Kei briefly quelled the rising excitement welling up inside him.
He quickly scanned through the remaining skill traits.
[Viper Ascendant: Dragon Metamorphosis] and [Ouroboros Earth Binding] were interconnected.
Viper referred to an extremely ferocious species of serpent from legend—cruel, vicious, and untamable by nature. During its transformation from snake to dragon, White Snake Sage's constitution improved further, growing stronger in power, yet equally more savage in temperament.
Meanwhile, [Ouroboros Earth Binding] described Bai Lin Great Snake's self-training method, with "earth binding" representing the negative side effect of this state.
Legend spoke of the ouroboros—the image of a tail-devouring serpent—as symbolizing infinity, endless cycles, and immortality.
Yet this version literally came with a debilitating restriction binding it to Ryuchi Cave, rendering it unable to move freely—and still ranked as a Blue-Tier Trait...
Kei could already imagine that once Bai Lin Great Snake broke free from the negative "Earth Binding" state,
These two traits might very well fuse and evolve instantly, allowing this creature to truly transform from serpent to dragon!
[Serpent's Divine Audition] was a skill capable of monitoring every movement within Ryuchi Cave, sensing all existences.
[Rattle Strike] was an ability to deceive, mislead, and attack using sound alone, while [Serpent Instinct] was an innate serpent perception—a transparent ocular membrane paired with infrared vision.
And the [Beastheart] and [Wild Disposition], the former adheres to jungle law to the extreme, while the latter is volatile and solitary, making it difficult for others to interact with them.
As for the last one, [Elephant-Swallowing Physique], it embodies the instinct to cultivate prey, strengthening and enhancing their flavor before consumption!
"This crone is definitely trouble!"
Kei Yamanaka's wariness spiked instantly. He stopped several meters away from Bai Lin Great Snake and didn't approach any further.
Thanks to the [Zero-Frames Start], his reaction speed was instantaneous.
This distance was enough for him to calmly choose whether to counterattack or retreat.
"Young man, have you also come searching for the Sage Art inheritance?"
The White Snake Sage's serpentine eyes shimmered with golden light as his tail gently swayed. Speaking in a human voice,
His tone was warm, laced with genuine admiration and curiosity.
But Kei Yamanaka knew better—
That this appreciation and admiration were simply because he saw the perfect prey and meal!
"Yes. I wonder how one trains in the Sage Art of Ryuchi Cave?"
Kei nodded slightly, showing no hint of abnormality on his face.
"The Sage Art inheritance of Ryuchi Cave differs from other places. If you successfully accept the power I inject into your body, you'll master Sage Mode. If you fail, you'll be devoured by Sage energy, becoming our next meal."
The White Snake Sage slightly opened his mouth, revealing two sharp fangs inside. The meaning behind his words couldn't have been clearer.
"Is there really no other way?"
"All power comes with risk. How could you expect benefits without taking on any danger? Besides, I can sense that your constitution is extremely special—at least a ninety percent chance of success. I believe in you."
"Ninety percent..."
Kei Yamanaka shifted his gaze toward the Summoning Contract Scroll placed within the beastly mouth behind the White Snake Sage.
He already understood clearly—this Bai Lin Great Snake had absolutely no intention of genuinely teaching anyone.
Letting this serpent sink its fangs into him?
Would it really be pure Sage energy that entered his body?
Recalling how Sasuke's eventual betrayal had a warped and unstable Sage Mode, plus the Sage Art: White Rage Technique that displayed uncannily similar abilities to [Rattle Strike] and [Serpent Instinct].
Could it truly stem solely from Orochimaru's cell transplants?
After all, Orochimaru himself never possessed such techniques!
Besides...
Ninety percent chance.
Unreliable. Very unreliable!
"Do you want to sign the Summoning Contract first? Ryuchi Cave has its own rules. Unless you fail the trial or are consumed by the Sage energy, we won't eat you."
The White Snake Sage held a pipe in his serpent mouth, thin wisps of smoke curling into the air.
Though speaking like this, his tail still lifted upward, wrapping around a nearly person-high Summoning Contract Scroll, placing it directly in front of Kei Yamanaka.
"...There sure are quite a few names."
Kei glanced at the long list of names already dark brown and stripped of their contract power across the large scroll.
At the end sat Orochimaru's name, still vividly red.
He pulled out a blood storage tube and signed the Summoning Contract without hesitation.
"There will always be those who chase immense power, pushing past their limits, never satisfied with what they have."
The White Snake Sage chuckled lightly, retrieving the scroll.
Looking at Kei Yamanaka, he continued in a calm, gentle tone.
"Young one, what will it be?"
"Hmm... I'll go with Deep Blue with a few extra points."
"???"
The White Snake Sage was momentarily taken aback. Despite possessing millennia of wisdom and experience, he couldn't quite grasp what the young man had just said.
"System, copy the red skill listing, [Golden Body Immortal Attire]"
[Skill Listing copied successfully. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the red skill listing 'Golden Body Immortal Attire'.]
"Activate."
Kei Yamanaka declared as he finished speaking.
A strange, tingling sensation—similar to when he first activated Sage Transformation—coursed through his body.
A flood of memories and experiences from training Sage Art in Ryuchi Cave rushed into his mind.
Specks of Natural Energy were instinctively drawn into his body—blending spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy into one.
A small amount of Sage Chakra was successfully created.
Using this Sage Chakra as a catalyst,
his seemingly limitless chakra reserves and immense mental strength began to voraciously draw upon the Natural Energy from Ryuchi Cave.
The previously invisible Natural Energy suddenly became visible, swirling violently under an immense pull, forming a swirling multicolored energy vortex!
Sage Chakra gradually filled his entire body!
His already vibrant muscle cells, brimming with life force, became even tougher and more energized as Sage Chakra coursed through them.
Strands of muscles instantly grew denser and stronger.
Soft fluorescence shimmered across his skin, making it softer and fairer than before.
Buzzzz~!
Sage Chakra radiated from Kei's body, illuminating his clothes with a pale green glow!
Two small, forked horns made entirely of concentrated chakra emerged on either side of his forehead.
Several semi-transparent chakra constructs, neither dragon nor snake in appearance, swirled around him.
His golden, shoulder-length hair floated in the air along with the chakra, glowing with a faint bluish-white light.
As if by instinct,
Kei slowly lifted off the ground, hovering in front of the White Snake Sage's seat.
He raised his hand and performed a Water Release technique, shaping it into a mirror-like sheet of water tall enough to reflect a full figure.
Staring at his own image in the water mirror,
a slight smile curled at the corner of Kei's lips.
His Sage Mode seemed like a fusion of Tenseigan Chakra Mode and Mitsuki's Sage Mode.
The facial marking on his forehead was pale green, about the size of a peanut.
Except for the horns...
They didn't look particularly snake-like—and maybe looked a little too cute?
Kei reached up to touch one of the little horns on his forehead while feeling the surge of power within him, then gently descended back to the ground.
His strength, speed, vitality, sensory perception, and defensive capabilities had all improved to various degrees.
Moreover, compared to regular chakra, the Sage Chakra was significantly stronger and provided considerable boosts to any Ninjutsu he cast.
This was further enhanced by several Sage Arts passively granted by [Golden Body Immortal Attire].
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>