Mastery, Dragon Transformation Pool

"Big, Big Mom?"

Veins bulged on Tajitsuhime's forehead as she lunged, sharp claws raking toward Fei Shi's neck.

"Brat, you're dead!"

"Tajitsuhime, stop. Bring the trial-taker here."

A voice drifted over, sounding ancient. Fei Shi knew it was the White Snake Sage.

The White Snake Sage, much like Mount Myoboku's Great Toad Sage, Gamarumaru, was a being who had survived since the era of Kaguya Otsutsuki. Its true form was a giant snake covered in white scales.

Fei Shi knew this was the final step; the White Snake Sage would inject natural energy into his body, just as Tajitsuhime had attempted.

This natural energy was incredibly violent. If one could control it, they would master the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode; failure meant becoming food for the White Snake Sage.

Before long, Fei Shi and Orochimaru were brought before the White Snake Sage.

"Greetings, White Snake Sage."

Orochimaru bowed respectfully, paying his respects.

"Greetings, Senior."

Fei Shi merely nodded.

Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime had already returned, and Tajitsuhime, who had been itching to deal with Fei Shi, was burning with rage.

"Audacious! You dare not bow before the White Snake Sage?! You're courting death!"

The White Snake Sage, currently in the form of an old woman, lay coiled on a high seat, looking quite benevolent.

"Enough. He is a powerhouse on the same level as myself. He has given me enough face, hasn't he, little one?"

A burst of pressure erupted from the White Snake Sage, pinning Fei Shi down.

Beside him, Orochimaru couldn't even withstand the shockwaves and nearly collapsed to his knees.

Fei Shi quickly activated his Tenseigan. Bright blue pupils emerged, and he entered the Tenseigan Chakra Mode.

A surge of green chakra erupted from within Fei Shi, quickly enveloping his entire body.

Fei Shi looked at the "forgiveness-colored" glow and his flowing green hair, feeling... disgusted.

After all, no man likes this color, especially not when it appears on his head.

But for now...

"Oh?"

A voice of confusion interrupted Fei Shi's internal monologue. It was the White Snake Sage.

"A dojutsu I have never seen before. Judging by the power, it is no weaker than the Rinnegan. Not bad, little brat."

Fei Shi looked toward the White Snake Sage, wondering what this old monster was planning.

"Do not be nervous. I am merely curious about your strength. I did not expect the Ninja World to produce a young powerhouse like you. To reach the Six Paths Level before the age of twenty—in time, surpassing Hagoromo Otsutsuki and that woman is not impossible."

The White Snake Sage did not lower its voice, and everyone present heard it clearly. The three priestesses knew of Six Paths Level powerhouses, but Orochimaru did not; he was currently wondering what kind of level that was.

Furthermore, there was Fei Shi's Tenseigan. He hadn't expected Fei Shi to possess such a strange dojutsu.

I really want to... put him on the operating table, slice him into pieces, and study the power in his body.

Fei Shi's cells must be even stronger than those of the First Hokage, Orochimaru thought.

I must find a way to obtain Fei Shi's cells, Orochimaru resolved.

"Then, come here. I will inject natural energy into your body. If you can absorb this power, you will master Sage Mode."

"Let's start!"

Fei Shi didn't dally, urging the White Snake Sage to hurry.

The White Snake Sage extended its neck, its white fangs sinking into Fei Shi's neck. Fei Shi sat cross-legged, beginning to adapt to the natural energy.

The White Snake Sage didn't watch Fei Shi, nor did it expect him to fail.

Because the entirety of Ryuchi Cave was under its perception, it had sensed the aura of the Sage Modes from Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myoboku on Fei Shi.

This meant the young man before it had already mastered those two Sage Modes; with that experience, mastering the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode would be much easier.

However, in all its years, it had never seen anyone capable of mastering the Sage Modes of all three holy lands.

Thinking of this, its gaze toward Fei Shi grew curious. It wondered if this young man would succeed in the end. What kind of changes would occur when three different Sage Modes converged on a single person?

Inside the body of the cross-legged Fei Shi, things were not going well.

The natural energy of Ryuchi Cave was ravaging his body like a poison, scurrying through his veins like a rat.

His Sage Body was constantly healing the damage, while Fei Shi struggled to control the rampaging power.

He wrestled with the energy within, slowly gaining control. But he was still a threshold away from fully integrating this power into himself.

Once he crossed that threshold, he would master the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode.

But the problem he faced was far from simple.

Because he had three different Sage Modes, he could only use one at a time. To switch to another, he would have to re-condense the natural energy all over again.

Therefore, he had to fuse the strengths of the three Sage Modes to create an entirely new one, allowing him to gain the amplification of all three simultaneously.

After only two days, Fei Shi had brought the natural energy of Ryuchi Cave within his body under control.

Three days later, the characteristics of the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode began to manifest on Fei Shi's body.

Two dragon horns sprouted from his head, and nine snake heads emerged from his back, the central one bearing distinct draconic features. White snake scales were visible on his exposed skin, though they were slowly undergoing a transformation.

The White Snake Sage clicked its tongue in wonder; even it had not expected Fei Shi to master Sage Mode so quickly, let alone develop dragon-like traits.

Fei Shi awoke just like that, though he felt something was still missing regarding the subsequent changes.

Upon waking, he saw the stunned expressions of the Three Divine Princesses.

It had taken them so long to learn their own Sage Modes and develop even minor dragon traits, yet a human had made such massive progress in only five days, which truly gave them a fright.

"The three of you, take him to the Dragon Transformation Pool."

The White Snake Sage spoke suddenly.

"The Dragon Transformation Pool?!"

They were shocked once more.

Over the many years, countless people had come to Ryuchi Cave to learn Sage Mode, and some had indeed succeeded.

But never had anyone been qualified to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool; even for them, gaining entry was difficult.

How could they not be astonished?

"Do as I say."

"Yes."

The Three Divine Princesses bowed and led Fei Shi to the edge of a pool about five meters in diameter.

Fei Shi could feel the pool radiating pure natural energy—a manifestation of natural energy in liquid form.

"You must be careful. If you aren't, you could explode and die. Even for us, it is difficult to get a chance to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool, and even when we do, we proceed with extreme caution," Tajitsuhime explained to Fei Shi.

"Thank you."

After thanking her, Fei Shi jumped into the Dragon Transformation Pool.

Tagorihime: "..."

Ichikishimahime: "..."

Tajitsuhime: "..."

They had not expected this human boy to be so bold. It was one thing to have been disrespectful to the White Snake Sage earlier—the White Snake Sage might not have cared—but what place was this?

This was the Dragon Transformation Pool!