After passing through the dark serpent passage, Tagorihime led Yechen and Orochimaru into a magnificent hall.
There was no source of light here, yet it was as bright as day. Countless snake-eye stones glittered like stars across the vaulted ceiling, casting a cold, eerie blue glow.
The floor was not stone but some kind of translucent crystal. Each step sent ripples spreading beneath their feet, as though they were walking on water.
At the far end of the hall, an enormous pure-white serpent lay coiled upon a throne. Her body filled almost half the hall, and every scale was as translucent as jade, radiating a faint white glow.
Most breathtaking of all were her golden, slit-pupiled eyes, as deep as the starry sky, seemingly able to see through everything in the world.
At the sight, Yechen could not help marveling. The White Snake Palace was far more luxurious than the Toad Palace, and even the White Snake Sage's aura was stronger than the Great Toad Sage's.
Of course, that was only how it appeared. Most of the Great Toad Sage's abilities lay in his Prophecy Technique. The sages of the Three Great Sage Lands were roughly equal in combat strength; their respective Senjutsu simply possessed different abilities.
It was just that, among the three sages, the White Snake Sage's aura was somewhat sharper.
Once they entered the hall, Tagorihime bowed to the White Snake Sage without a word, then stood to one side.
"Lady White Snake."
Orochimaru bowed respectfully as he greeted her.
The White Snake Sage did not look at Orochimaru. Instead, her enormous golden, slit-pupiled eyes remained fixed on Yechen.
"The Rinnegan. How many years has it been? Since Hagoromo, no human has ever reached this level."
As she spoke, the White Snake Sage seemed to be recalling