Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 331 Orochimaru: No, there really are dragons in your Ryuchi Cave?

How could the White Snake Sage refuse when Bane was willing to join the spirit contract at Ryuchi Cave?

She was overjoyed! What was this? This was a sense of belonging!

She wouldn't dare mention it if the Spirit Lord hadn't spoken, but since the Spirit Lord had, she was naturally more than willing.

Soon, the White Snake Immortal brought out a huge spiritual scroll, placed it in front of Bane, and spread it out, saying, "Spirit Lord, you only need to leave a wisp of your natural energy on this. If someone calls, you can decide whether to go or not."

Without wasting any time, Bane immediately extended his finger, and dark elements, like ink, overflowed from his fingertip. He gently touched the scroll, leaving a blob of ink, and that was it.

After Bane finished working on the spirit scroll, the White Snake Immortal, as if he had obtained a priceless treasure, respectfully put the scroll away.

Then, Princess Ichikishima appeared out of nowhere, carrying a tray with a set of neat clothes on it. She stepped forward and said, "Orochimaru is fortunate to be summoned by the Spirit Lord. Spirit Lord, would you like to let him witness your majesty?"

"Dignity?" Bane glanced at the tray and understood what Princess Ichikishima meant.

Should I dress more formally so as to leave a more lasting impression on Orochimaru during our first meeting?

This was indeed something Bane hadn't considered before. Princess Ichikishima's actions filled in the gaps in her knowledge. Bane pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright."

Seeing that Bane had agreed, Princess Ichikishima said with some anticipation, "This humble servant will now help the Spirit Lord change his clothes."

Bane was currently wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt and trousers, nothing special. As for the clothes that Princess Ichikishima had found from somewhere, it was a dark blue haori with few patterns, rather plain and elegant. The workmanship and materials were of the highest quality, somewhat like the kind worn by the captains of Seireitei.

With Princess Ichikishima's help, Bane quickly changed into this dark blue haori, and to be honest, he really did look a bit like an immortal.

After pondering for a moment, Bane made further adjustments to his appearance, activating his shallow Azure Dragon power, making his pupils resemble those of a snake, and the horns on his forehead reappeared. His fingernails became sharp as hooks, and a blue scale appeared in the very center of his forehead.

Then, with a thought, the Heart-Crossing Vessel at his waist quickly transformed into a blue dragon. It wasn't large, but it coiled around and filled the bed, like a mattress, lying on it.

Bane then lay down on the Azure Dragon that Xin Du had transformed into. It was the perfect size and the right firmness, making it very comfortable.

Princess Ichikishima was quite perceptive, probably because she had served the White Snake Sage for many years and was very experienced.

As soon as Bane lay down on the couch, she immediately placed an exquisite little tea table in front of him within easy reach. Then, she elegantly brewed fragrant tea for Bane and placed the teapot and teacups on the tea table, creating a very tasteful scene.

Finally, she took out a sandalwood pipe inlaid with white jade, held it respectfully in her hand, and after Bane took it and put it in his mouth, she quickly lit the tobacco in the pipe for him. After doing all this, she slowly stepped back a few paces.

This whole operation really got Bane figured out.

It must be said that these snake spirits in Ryūchi Cave are quite something.

After setting up the entire musical score and slowly exhaling a wisp of smoke, Bane said softly, "Call him over."

"Yes." The White Snake Sage responded respectfully, gathering Sage Chakra in his hands. Without needing to form hand seals, he slammed his hand on the ground, and a cloud of smoke instantly exploded.

Meanwhile, in Sunagakure, the Land of Wind.

Jiraiya, who had been searching for Orochimaru for many years without success, was sitting quietly in a secret room in the basement of the Kazekage's office building in Sunagakure.

A tea set was placed in front of him, and the teacups were still steaming, but it was clear that the cautious Orochimaru had no intention of tasting the tea from Sunagakure.

Inside the secret room, several Jonin from Sunagakure stood silently in the shadows at the four corners, like statues. They showed no intention of communicating with Orochimaru, and their eyes were wary as they stared intently at Orochimaru sitting on the sofa, as if they were afraid that he would suddenly attack.

Orochimaru certainly deserves this treatment, after all, he is an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha.

What's strange is that Sunagakure, as one of the five great ninja villages that signed the peace treaty, shouldn't be involved with a rogue ninja like Orochimaru. But the situation is as if Orochimaru has come as a secret guest.

Before long, the door to the dark, secret room was opened, and then Sunagakure Jonin Baki walked in from outside, looking at Orochimaru and saying, "The Fourth Hokage does not wish to see you. Please leave, Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru's somewhat sinister laughter rang out, seemingly unsurprised by the answer.

After smiling, he said, "Since Luo Sha is unwilling to see me, then I will take my leave, but..."

At this point, Orochimaru's sleeve twitched slightly, and the four Jonin who had been watching him instantly drew their kunai. Maki's expression also darkened, and he became quite wary.

However, Orochimaru did not intend to make a move here. As he flicked his sleeve, a small, yellowish-brown snake emerged and coiled around Orochimaru's fingertip.

Then, Orochimaru said, "But I think Rasa might change his mind soon. If he wants to see me then, he can use this little snake to contact me."

The moment the words left his mouth, the small snake shot up from Orochimaru's fingertip and pounced on Maki at the door.

Maki's expression remained unchanged. He grabbed the small snake, then took out a small transparent bottle from his tool bag at his back, put the snake inside, and said, "I will convey Lord Orochimaru's words to the Fourth Hokage."

With five months to go before the Chunin Exams in Konoha, Orochimaru wasn't in a hurry.

Even if Rasa doesn't cooperate, he still has a backup plan, but it will be a little troublesome if he can't use the power of Sunagakure.

At the same time, Orochimaru still held some expectations for Rasa, believing that Rasa would eventually fall for him. With that in mind, Orochimaru didn't linger any longer, stood up, and said, "Well then, I'll take my leave."

As he said this, he prepared to leave, but just as he was about to move, he suddenly felt a summons from Ryuchi Cave. This was a very rare thing, and judging from the chakra on the other side, it was extremely powerful. Orochimaru instantly realized that it was the White Snake Sage!

"Why is she summoning me?!" Orochimaru wondered, but he couldn't refuse the summons.

In an instant, this guy channeled his inner actor, clearly puzzled but giving Maki a mysterious smile. The next second, with a "poof," a cloud of white smoke exploded in the room, startling the Jonin who quickly surrounded Orochimaru. But soon, the white smoke dissipated, and Orochimaru had vanished without a trace.

Maki frowned as he watched this scene and said, "As expected of the legendary Sannin."

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, still puzzled, was summoned to Ryuchi Cave by the Reverse Summoning Technique.

Looking at the white smoke that obscured his vision, Orochimaru keenly sensed an inexplicable pressure. It wasn't hostility, but rather a feeling that there was an extremely powerful being outside the white smoke, involuntarily emanating a certain aura.

Indeed, that was the case. Bane controlled his aura, maintaining a steadfast and unwavering presence, while slowly releasing a hint of Conqueror's Haki.

"White Snake Sage, may I ask why you suddenly summoned me here?" Orochimaru asked first, watching the white smoke gradually dissipate.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

He once met the White Snake Sage in pursuit of the power of Sage Techniques, but the Sage Techniques training at Ryuchi Cave was too dangerous, and Orochimaru ultimately failed. As a "scientist," he began to solve problems using his own ideas, and the cursed seals and the like were actually all derived from the Sage Techniques of Ryuchi Cave.

As soon as he finished speaking, the white smoke that had been obscuring his vision completely dissipated, and Orochimaru's cold pupils suddenly contracted, his usually composed face showing a look of surprise and doubt.

What did he see?

A green dragon was coiled on the couch where the White Snake Immortal used to sit. There was a man I had never seen before—or rather, a man I didn’t know if he was human or not. Considering the environment, he probably wasn’t. But let’s assume he was a man for now. This man was lying on the green dragon in a very languid posture.

The White Snake Immortal, who was known as the founder of Longdi Cave, stood respectfully before the bed like a servant, along with another snake princess.

What's going on? The leader of Ryongchi-dong has changed?

No, no, there really are dragons in Ryuchi Cave!?

"Orochimaru, I, the Spirit Lord of Ryuchi Cave, have recently returned from the Pure Land. The Spirit Lord has not appeared in the world for a thousand years and is quite curious about the current mortal world. Therefore, I have summoned you here for questioning," the White Snake Sage said in a deep voice.

Orochimaru was filled with doubt.

He had been under contract with Ryuchi Cave for many years and considered himself to know a bit about it. He would occasionally communicate with the many great serpents of Ryuchi Cave, but in all these years, he had never heard of a Spirit Lord in Ryuchi Cave!

Moreover, it seems that this Spirit Lord is not on the same level as the White Snake Immortal and the others at all. Judging from this situation, he is probably a real dragon.

Although I had thought about it earlier, I was still very surprised. Do you really have dragons in Ryuji Cave?

For all these years, I thought the name "Ryongji Cave" was just a bunch of giant snakes having fun.

What does it mean to return from the Pure Land? Is it a resurrection or something even more miraculous?

Although he had many questions and doubts, seeing the incredibly powerful White Snake Sage's respectful demeanor, and Orochimaru also sensing the terrifying aura that occasionally flashed from this Spirit Lord, he knew that this Spirit Lord was probably not someone to be trifled with.

Therefore, Orochimaru immediately suppressed his doubts, and with a very respectful expression, he supported himself with one hand on the ground and knelt on one knee, as if he were paying homage to the Hokage, and said softly, "Orochimaru greets the Spirit Lord."

"Interesting. Your aura is quite compatible with this Ryuchi Cave," Bane said slowly, exhaling a puff of smoke.

Then, before Orochimaru could speak, he continued, "It seems your soul is somewhat damaged and doesn't mesh well with this body. I see. Were you trying to defy death?"

Hearing this, Orochimaru was startled and involuntarily looked up at Bane on the bed, his mouth slightly open, as if he had something to say but didn't know how to start.

He did suffer some damage to his soul because he had successfully undergone the Reincarnation technique, transferring his soul into a woman's body. Although he still looks the same, it's because he used the Face-Changing Technique to change his appearance.

It can be said that he is now very politically correct; his soul is that of a man, and his body is that of a woman. It is impossible to assume his gender!

Orochimaru was surprised that this Spirit Lord had seen through his most prized technique at a glance.

To his astonishment, Bane exhaled another puff of light smoke, making himself appear ethereal, and then waved his hand, saying, "Considering you've traveled for my Dragon Cave for many years, and given this is our first meeting, I'll give you a gift."

As he finished speaking, a ball of eerie green light floated out from Bane's hand; it was pure soul energy.

The soul energy gently landed on Orochimaru's head, then quickly melted and seeped into his body. At that moment, Orochimaru felt completely refreshed, and the hidden injuries to his soul left by using the Reanimation Jutsu were completely healed.

"Thank you, Spirit Lord!" Orochimaru was truly excited this time and immediately expressed his gratitude.

(End of this chapter)