pertwk Chapter 154 Trial
Chapter 154 Trial
In the ninja world, there are three famous places where Sage Mode is passed down: Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest. Each of them is known throughout the ninja world for its unique Sage Mode.
Many snakes inhabit the interior of Ryuchi Cave, and among them, the White Snake Sage, as the progenitor of Ryuchi Cave, has always lived in an ancient temple deep within the cave.
Everything that happens in Ryuchi Cave will be heard by the White Snake Sage without any cover. Moreover, Ryuchi Cave is more harsh and ruthless than the other two sacred lands, Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest.
For those cultivators who come to Ryuchi Cave to practice immortal arts but fail the trials, the White Serpent Immortal will allow his three subordinates to devour the bodies of those cultivators who cannot withstand the serpentification process.
Boruto responded to Orochimaru: "About that matter... I do have that idea, to go to Ryuchi Cave."
Orochimaru was surprised that Boruto actually wanted to explore Ryuchi Cave, and asked, "Didn't you already learn Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku, one of the three great Sage Lands? Why are you still interested in the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave?"
Boruto simply smiled and did not directly answer Orochimaru's question. He had always wanted to have a snake as his summoning beast because he thought snakes were both cool and powerful.
Sasuke glanced at Boruto and, seeing that he was also heading to Ryuchi Cave like Kabuto, said calmly, "I'm going to Ryuchi Cave too."
Sasuke could easily glean from their conversation that Boruto had become so powerful because he had mastered Sage Mode, and he wanted to see what these so-called Three Great Sage Lands were all about.
Boruto thought to himself that if Sasuke decided to go to Ryuchi Cave with him, then Itachi's summoning crow would probably come along as well.
However, Boruto looked around and found that the crow that had been following Sasuke was nowhere to be seen.
Boruto then asked, "Where did that psychic crow go?"
Sasuke replied casually, "Oh, you mean that crow that Uchiha Itachi had? I've already roasted it."
The reality is not like that. After Sasuke, who had traveled back in time, learned that Orochimaru no longer regarded the young Sasuke as a vessel, Itachi Uchiha summoned his summoned crow back to avoid it getting in Sasuke's way.
However, Sasuke misunderstood Itachi's actions, thinking that it was because he was too weak to even be worth monitoring.
......
Soon after, Orochimaru led Boruto and Sasuke through a winding path, eventually arriving at a very eerie place.
The trees around were tall and twisted, their branches and leaves so lush that they almost blocked out the entire sky, and even the sunlight could not penetrate the gaps to reach the ground. A thick fog also permeated the surrounding area.
Orochimaru slowly spoke to Boruto: "Ryuchi Cave is located between reality and illusion. It is a secret place specifically used for extreme training. I spent a lot of effort to find this place back then."
Boruto nodded slightly in understanding. He also knew that Mount Myōboku, where he practiced Sage Mode, was not a place that could be easily found by people.
Orochimaru looked intently at Boruto, his tone suggestive: "Those ninjas who enter Ryuchi Cave merely out of curiosity will be targeted by the White Snake Sage, and they often do not leave alive."
Orochimaru recalled how much effort and thought he had put into finding Ryuchi Cave, one of the three great sage lands, in order to master the power of Sage Mode within Ryuchi Cave.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru had already changed bodies multiple times using the Reanimation Jutsu by that time, which made his physical and spiritual state unsuitable for mastering the power of Sage Chakra.
Later, Orochimaru could no longer suppress his desire for Sage Mode, so he took a different approach. Through his numerous experiments and research, he drew on Jugo's innate ability to absorb natural energy and thereby enhance his combat power and trigger berserk mode.
He eventually developed a cursed seal power comparable to Sage Mode, which made it even less necessary for him to risk learning the Sage Techniques of Ryuchi Cave.
After all, as long as one remains alive, there are endless possibilities to learn and master more powerful and exquisite ninjutsu.
Orochimaru continued, "Only those who sincerely seek out the White Snake Sage will have the opportunity to meet him. However, the White Snake Sage will send several of his subordinates to screen those who come to cultivate, in order to determine whether they are qualified to enter."
After Orochimaru finished speaking, his figure gradually blurred in the thick fog, eventually blending completely into the surrounding mist and leaving the forest. Clearly, he did not intend to have much interaction with the White Snake Sage.
However, Orochimaru's departure did not stop Boruto and Sasuke from continuing their journey. After walking through the fog-filled path for an unknown amount of time, Sasuke suddenly noticed a few faint lights shining through the fog in the distance, like lanterns.
When Boruto and Sasuke approached, a magnificent and splendid palace suddenly appeared before them, with the three striking golden characters "Ryuchi Cave" prominently engraved on the plaque above it.
With a soft creak, the palace doors slowly opened, and a beautiful young woman stepped out. She had long green hair and wore an exquisite golden crown, topped with a shimmering golden sphere.
With a smile on her face, Tianxin Shenji said in a gentle tone, "I have been waiting for you two here for a long time. Welcome to Longdi Cave, one of the three great immortal lands. I am a protector under the White Snake Immortal, named Tianxin Shenji."
"You two must be exhausted after your long journey. Please rest here for a while, and I will take you to the temple where the White Serpent Sage resides later," Princess Tianxin politely suggested.
Boruto merely smiled faintly at Tashin-hime's enthusiastic invitation: "We haven't even truly arrived at Ryuchi Cave yet, so how can we talk about resting now?"
Sasuke's expression froze slightly; he hadn't expected Boruto to see through the illusion before he did.