A Humble Room Can Hide a Crouching Dragon

"Are you the one undergoing this trial?"

The White Snake Sage's deafening voice left Orochimaru briefly dazed, and the sight before him completely shattered his worldview!

"Orochimaru, the Sage is asking you a question!"

Seeing Orochimaru looking as though he had been scared witless, Tagitsuhime beside the White Snake Sage spoke up to remind him.

They had long grown accustomed to this. Anyone seeing the White Snake Sage's true visage for the first time would be deeply shaken.

Some were frightened into kneeling on the spot; others wet themselves and fainted. Orochimaru's reaction was already far better than most.

"A grand hall does not necessarily house a true phoenix, and what harm is there in a humble room hiding a crouching dragon? It is my first time visiting this esteemed place, so please forgive my presumptuous interruption of your cultivation, Sage!"

After recovering, Orochimaru stepped forward and bowed to the White Snake Sage. He did not neglect proper courtesy toward the one who was about to teach him Sage Jutsu.

Respecting one's teachers had been a belief carved into Orochimaru's bones in his previous life. Although the former owner of this body had deeply remembered the Third Hokage's teachings, those memories belonged to before his transmigration.

They did not move him much now. Besides, even without the Third Hokage's guidance, Orochimaru's achievements would not have been low. His talent was there for all to see.

The Third Hokage had only taught Orochimaru ordinary Ninjutsu. He had not taught him any Forbidden Jutsu or powerful techniques, so in the end, he could only do so much for Orochimaru's potential.

But the White Snake Sage before him was different. Her existence alone, having endured for a thousand years, commanded respect. Moreover, Sage Jutsu had the potential to approach the Six Paths Level, so naturally Orochimaru took it seriously.

Hearing Orochimaru's flattering words, the White Snake Sage's eyes lit up. Had she not cultivated for so long in the hope that one day she would transform into a dragon and attain the Dao?

The White Snake Sage took a deep drag from her pipe, and smoke billowed out, causing the scene before them to twist and distort.

Before Orochimaru could marvel at the Sage's unfathomable methods, the White Snake Sage's enormous body had vanished. In its place stood a kind-faced old woman dressed in a white robe.

"Hehehe, little Orochimaru, not bad!"

One moment, the White Snake Sage had been over a hundred meters in front of Orochimaru. The next, she was standing directly before him.

Faced with the suddenly appearing figure, Orochimaru restrained the urge to punch that old face and obediently remained where he was without making any rash moves.

"Mm! You were born with an affinity for snakes. You have quite a good body, though you are a little too old!"

The White Snake Sage slowly circled Orochimaru as she examined him, nodding as she did so. Yet why did Orochimaru find her words so unpleasant?

What did she mean, a little too old? Compared to this old hag, he was practically a newborn!

Still, compared with people like Jiraiya and Minato, who had learned Sage Jutsu in their teens, thirty-three was indeed rather late.

But his appearance had always remained at around twenty-five, and she could even see through his innate constitution. Her eye was truly sharp.

"One kind word warms three winter months, while a snake's words wound even in the heat of June! I may not be a fresh young man, but I am at least a mature baby!"

Seeing their grandmother circling Orochimaru, the three elders also came forward and carefully examined him. However, their cultivation was too shallow, and they truly could not see anything special.

"The Dao cannot be transmitted lightly. Since you passed the previous test, I will teach you Ryūchi Cave's Sage Jutsu."

After pausing, the White Snake Sage continued,

"However, learning Sage Jutsu carries great risks. If you fail, the price will be your life!"

The White Snake Sage returned to Orochimaru and explained the pros and cons to him, lest he die without even knowing how.

"Everything comes at a price. I understand that. If I cannot learn it, then I can only blame my own lack of ability."

Orochimaru said hoarsely. He had anticipated this before coming. If he still had his former body, he might have had some reservations. As for the body whose hands would later be sealed by the Death God, that was out of the question.

In the Original Work, Orochimaru came to Ryūchi Cave more than a decade later. Perhaps because his soul was incomplete, he did not learn Sage Jutsu. Yet he somehow escaped what should have been certain death, and from that point onward, his true body became the White Snake Sage Mode.

"Then make your preparations!"

With that, the White Snake Sage slithered toward her throne, while the three women behind her gestured for Orochimaru to follow.

After arriving at an altar, Orochimaru removed his shirt as instructed and sat cross-legged.

The three women's eyes lit up at the sight of his powerful body. His frame was slender, yet he had eight-pack abs. He looked slim in clothes but was all muscle underneath.

Orochimaru ignored their pointing, teasing, laughter, and playful curses. Instead, he carefully calmed his heart and adjusted his state.

"Circulate your Chakra with all your strength, or you will die!"

The White Snake Sage's voice rang beside Orochimaru's ear. The next moment, pain flared in his neck.

A strange yet tyrannical energy entered his body, and Orochimaru hurriedly circulated his Chakra to dissolve it.

His appearance changed in an instant as well. The red snake markings at the corners of his eyes became more pronounced, while faint scales emerged across the rest of his body. It was the beginning of snake transformation.

Ryūchi Cave's Sage Jutsu was nowhere near as gentle as Mount Myōboku's. The White Snake Sage personally injected Natural Energy into the trial participant's body during the learning process.

Moreover, if one failed to absorb the Natural Energy midway, they would transform directly into a snake. Unlike Mount Myōboku, there was no Toad Oil to eliminate the negative effects.

This was why so few people successfully learned Ryūchi Cave's Sage Jutsu. Succeed, or die trying.

Of course, Orochimaru guessed there should be methods to prevent snake transformation, but why would they grant him special treatment? Mount Myōboku also had many petrified statues. Unless one was the Child of Prophecy, no one received special treatment.

"Keep an eye on him. If he cannot hold on, you may help him out!"

The White Snake Sage instructed the three women beside her. The three elders of Ryūchi Cave were surprised when they heard this. Trial participants who came here in the past had never received such treatment.

"Looks like this Orochimaru has truly caught Grandmother's eye!"

The three women exchanged glances and quickly acknowledged the order. Their gazes toward Orochimaru were filled with envy. What a lucky fellow.

But the three women had worried for nothing. Although Orochimaru on the altar already showed signs of snake transformation, he maintained a precarious balance.

If he could not assimilate and absorb this Natural Energy before his own Chakra ran out, that would be the moment for them to act.

However, that would also mean Orochimaru's trial had failed. The three of them acting would only preserve his life.

"I was originally hoping to taste this body. Looks like that will not be possible!"

The one who spoke was Tagorihime. Those who failed the trial were normally eaten by them, but since the White Snake Sage had spoken, she would let it go.

"Give it a rest. We are not short on food."

"You could taste him another way. He does look rather strong..."

The three women brazenly exchanged suggestive remarks nearby, but at this moment, Orochimaru was completely unaware of everything outside.