Hui arrived at Ryūchi Cave.
The surroundings were just as they had been earlier, unchanged. Activating his Celestial Eye, he peered into the depths of the cave and spoke aloud:
"I’m here. Aren’t you coming out to et , White Snake Sage?"
He had no intention of stepping inside.
Instead, he stood at the entrance, speaking toward the interior, confident that the White Snake Sage could hear him.
However, after Hui finished speaking, the cave remained silent.
He waited for a long ti, but there was still no response from the White Snake Sage within Ryūchi Cave.
"It seems you have no intention of eting . Very well, then. Let’s hope that in ten or twenty years, Ryūchi Cave will still maintain this aloof deanor."
His words carried a thinly veiled threat.
After finishing, he feigned turning to leave.
He had barely taken two or three steps when a voice called out from behind him.
"Young people are always so impatient. That’s not a good trait to have."
Hearing this, Hui’s lips curved into a faint smile before he quickly returned to his usual calm deanor.
Turning around, he saw an elderly woman in a white robe watching him. Her appearance was that of an old grandmother, frail and weathered.
This old woman was none other than the human form of the White Snake Sage.
Faced with Hui’s veiled threat, the White Snake Sage had relented and co forward, though only in her human guise. Her true body still lay coiled deep within Ryūchi Cave.
"I have many important matters to attend to, and ti is of the essence," Hui said, refraining from pressing further or demanding that the White Snake Sage’s true body appear.
Such insistence was unnecessary.
Forcing the issue might irreparably damage his relationship with Ryūchi Cave.
"Hahaha, as expected of the so-called ‘demigod’… human. For now, I’ll call you human."
The White Snake Sage spoke, her gaze filled with curiosity as she looked at Hui.
Like the Nine-Tails, she could sense that Hui was different from ordinary humans.
To her, he seed more akin to herself or the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku or the Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest.
Hui was more like one of them, a fellow sage!
This perception, more than anything, explained why the White Snake Sage had been compelled to respond to his threat. She could see Hui’s potential.
Here stood soone destined to grow into a being who could rival the Three Great Sages.
Although Hui’s current strength didn’t yet surpass historical figures like Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, Indra, Ashura, or even Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki, he was fundantally different from all of them.
This young man, his body, his potential, promised accomplishnts that would eclipse all those who ca before him.
His essence reminded her of the God Tree that once stood at the dawn of her era. She knew how terrifying that tree had been, and it’s destructiveness.
For that reason, she chose to take him seriously.
She didn’t want, Ryūchi Cave, which had existed for thousands of years to be destroyed in her ti.
"State your purpose directly," she said. "I doubt you’ve co here just to pass the ti."
Hearing this, Hui didn’t beat around the bush. He addressed her directly:
"I need the training thod for Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode."
The White Snake Sage was visibly taken aback. She scrutinized Hui with a puzzled expression.
"Your body is already the most perfect Sage Mode… no, it’s already the body of a sage. Why would you need Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode training?"
As a being capable of perceiving his unique nature, she could tell that Hui’s body was already extraordinary, akin to that of a sage like herself. To her, he had no need for additional Sage Mode training.
"It’s true that I don’t need it personally," he admitted.
"But others will. Moreover, I plan to create an entirely new Sage Mode, a mode unique to humans. I need the training thods of the three great sanctuaries as reference."
Hearing this, the White Snake Sage’s pupils contracted into slits, and for a mont, she nearly reverted to her serpent form.
To create a brand-new Sage Mode? The sheer audacity of such a statent was staggering.
"You have great ambition, young one," she said, "But why should I share Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode with you? It’s not sothing to be given away lightly, it’s a treasured legacy."
Her pride as one of the Three Great Sages demanded that she not yield so easily.
"Naturally, I’m willing to pay a price," Hui replied calmly. He had no intention of taking the training thod without compensation. As the White Snake Sage had said, it was indeed a priceless heritage.
"And what price are you prepared to pay?" she asked, interested.
Hui t her gaze. "That depends on what Ryūchi Cave needs."
Dealing with a creature that had lived for millennia, Hui was careful not to reveal his bottom line too soon.
"Ryūchi Cave’s needs…" The White Snake Sage pondered, realizing there wasn’t anything the cave particularly lacked.
After several monts of thought, she finally said, "How about this: I’ll ask for a promise from you. As for what that promise entails, I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when the ti cos."
Her words caught Hui a bit off guard. This condition was unexpected.
But it also revealed how highly Ryūchi Cave regarded his potential.
"A promise is too vague," he countered, "The scope is too broad. You could ask to end my own life, and that would technically fulfill a promise. Be specific."
The White Snake Sage considered this, then said, "I haven’t thought of the specifics yet, but rest assured, it won’t involve anything against your will.
"Perhaps I’ll ask you to defend Ryūchi Cave from an enemy, or promise not to harm Ryūchi Cave yourself. Sothing along those lines."
She finished speaking and looked at Hui, awaiting his response.
"Alright, I can accept that," he replied. The terms were reasonable, as his consent would still be required. It was a condition he could agree to without hesitation.
"Very well, it’s a deal," she said, "The training thod for Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode will be delivered to you shortly. I look forward to witnessing your growth."
With that, the White Snake Sage disappeared on the spot.
A short while later, a young girl erged from the cave. It was Tagorihi, the serpent that Avatar #2 had encountered earlier.
She approached Hui gracefully and handed him a scroll.
"This is from the Sage," she said respectfully.
Taking the scroll, Hui nodded. "Thank the White Snake Sage for . Tell her I will honor my promise."
With that, he turned and left without hesitation. Tagorihi returned to Ryūchi Cave.
…
Once he had traveled a safe distance, Hui unrolled the scroll. Reading its contents, his eyes lit up.
Suppressing his excitent, he closed the scroll.
"My objective on Ryūchi Cave went smoothly. Next is Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myōboku. Getting to Mount Myōboku should be simple, Jiraiya’s there. But Shikkotsu Forest… that’ll take so work."
Muttering to himself, Hui set off toward the location of Shadow Avatar #1 and Kage.
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