Hearing White Snake Sage's words, neither of them showed surprise. Orochimaru even had a look of 'as expected' on his face, which puzzled the snake people of Ryūchi Cave.
Ordinary people should be shocked or fearful upon hearing White Snake Sage say such things. Why did these two seem like they already knew about this test...
At this moment, they thought Black Dragon had revealed the secrets of sage techniques.
Facing White Snake Sage's test, Orochimaru did not immediately respond. Instead, he looked at Ryun, as his student clearly knew more about sage techniques than he did.
"May I ask, is this the only way to be tested before learning the sage techniques of your sacred land?" Ryun asked persistently.
"Heh, what an interesting question. You don't have to learn, you know? Ryūchi Cave won't force you..."
White Snake Sage chuckled mockingly, and the Three Great Snake Maidens also smirked with ill intent.
Ryun fell silent after hearing this, then glanced at Old Black.
"..."
"You have never practiced sage techniques before, so you cannot sense or absorb natural energy. We can inject sage chakra into your bodies through our fangs to quickly transform your physique."
"If your bodies can withstand our sage chakra, it means you have the potential to achieve dragon transformation. If you cannot endure it, you will turn into snakes—in other words, fail the dragon transformation..."
Black Dragon explained the reason to Ryun. From its words, it seemed unavoidable to be bitten.
Ryun had asked that question because he was worried his teacher might not pass the test. After all, he had failed once in the original story, though his body was weak at the time. But even if Orochimaru's body was fine now, there was no guarantee he would succeed...
Physique had always been Orochimaru's weak point. Even now, his physical strength was inferior to Jiraiya or Tsunade's...
Ryun possessed both Uchiha and Senju bloodlines, which could practically be considered an unawakened "All-Encompassing" body. His chances of dragon transformation were undoubtedly much higher than Orochimaru's ordinary physique.
"I will be the one to inject the sage chakra into him!" Black Dragon suddenly said solemnly, looking at White Snake Sage.
"!!!"
"You're actually willing to help him like this..."
White Snake Sage was slightly surprised, and the Three Great Snake Maidens also looked astonished. They clearly had not expected Black Dragon to say such a thing.
"The sage chakra in your body is not abundant, but it is extremely refined and carries dragon power. If you are willing to help him, his chances of dragon transformation will increase by at least fifty percent..."
White Snake Sage spoke the blunt truth.
Ryun and Orochimaru visibly stiffened upon hearing this, then smiled in pleasant surprise.
"Black Dragon, can you help my teacher too? He..."
"I will only help you. Others must follow Ryūchi Cave's rules."
Before Ryun could finish speaking, Black Dragon cut him off.
It was only willing to assist its summoner. Even when carrying people, only Ryun was allowed to stand on its head, while others could at most stand on its back.
Moreover, Ryūchi Cave's method of imparting sage techniques had been established for a long time, and White Snake Sage, as the leader, was usually the one to inject the venom. Black Dragon helping Ryun was already overstepping.
"..."
"It's fine. White Snake Sage can assist me..." Orochimaru patted his student's shoulder with a smile.
"Since you've decided, stretch out your hand." White Snake Sage straightened up and beckoned to Orochimaru.
Hearing this, Orochimaru felt a rare flicker of nervousness. But the next moment, he took a deep breath and walked straight toward White Snake Sage.
When he reached the front, Orochimaru had already rolled up the sleeve on his left arm, revealing fair and smooth skin.
Watching this scene, Ryun's heart tightened.
White Snake Sage stroked Orochimaru's arm with a strange smile and gave an evaluation:
"This body has barely enough chakra, but its physical strength is slightly lacking... Are you really willing to gamble your life? If you can't withstand natural energy, the only place left for you is my stomach!"
Facing White Snake Sage's final warning, Orochimaru nodded firmly, showing no trace of fear.
"Brave words..."
The next moment, White Snake Sage opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs, and bit down hard on Orochimaru's arm.
The bite was excruciatingly painful, and in an instant, an extremely terrifying, unfamiliar chakra surged violently into Orochimaru's body through his arm.
"Ah!!!"
Orochimaru instinctively cried out as his body began undergoing astonishing changes.
The massive influx of sage chakra nearly burst his chakra pathways, and his physique rapidly strengthened under its洗礼.
The chakra in every part of his body quickly reached full capacity, but White Snake Sage's infusion of natural energy continued, causing his body to undergo extraordinary mutations.
His bitten left arm was the first to change, with white snake scales abruptly sprouting across his skin before rapidly spreading throughout his entire body.
Seeing Orochimaru's reaction, White Snake Sage couldn't help but reveal a sinister smile. It then released its bite, but the influx of natural energy did not stop.
The two blackened puncture wounds on his arm were absorbing surrounding natural energy at an alarming rate!
"Ah!!!"
Orochimaru screamed in agony as he felt his body being torn apart by the rampaging power inside him, yet he had no control over the out-of-control energy.
"!!!"
Watching Orochimaru writhing violently on the ground, Ryun sensed something was wrong.
"White Snake Sage, what's happening to him???" Ryun asked anxiously.
"Heh... What's happening? What do you think is happening?" White Snake Sage pointed at Orochimaru, who was increasingly resembling a White Scale Great Snake.
"If dragon horns don't grow, he's just an ordinary failure..." One of the Snake Maidens sneered.
"Impossible! My teacher's body and soul are intact. With his talent, how could he fail to control natural energy?" Ryun instinctively retorted loudly.
"Talent? Such a weak and worthless body... What use is talent? Only when one can endure natural energy does talent even matter!" Another Snake Maiden ruthlessly mocked.
Ryun's eyebrows furrowed, his expression extremely grim, but he couldn't find any words to refute them.
"It seems he really has failed... In that case, following Ryūchi Cave's rules, I won't hold back..."
White Snake Sage transformed into its White Scale Great Snake form and opened its bloody maw toward the now nearly fully snake-like, grotesque Orochimaru.
"Stop!!!"
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