Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

The air grew quiet.

Qingwu frowned slightly. This level had no battles, no illusions, only a seemingly simple multiple-choice question.

But for others, the dangers and weight of this choice probably far exceed those of the previous two challenges.

Leaving is safe, but it means losing opportunities.

In exchange for some power, but at an unknown cost;

Facing the final test could be utterly devastating!

Qingwu's gaze swept over the three mist-shrouded roads, and he remained silent for a moment.

Leave? Impossible!

He came to Ryūji Cave not for any kind of inheritance, but for the essence of nature.

Therefore, there is only one answer.

He raised his head and looked at Princess Tianxin with a calm and firm gaze.

Without hesitation, he strode towards the path on the right, shrouded in mist and leading into the depths.

As Tianxin Shenji watched his resolute back, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes—admiration, pity, and a barely perceptible hint of expectation.

"Good luck, kid! I hope you can bring some change to this dull Ryuchi Cave."

Qingwu did not turn back, and stepped into the "giant maw" step by step, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.

……

Frost Country

The purple smoke slowly dissipated as Qingwu disappeared, and the snake-shaped pattern also lost its luster, becoming dull and lifeless.

Orochimaru stood quietly to the side the whole time.

The golden snake eyes stared at the spot where Qingwu had just disappeared, its face expressionless, but a thoughtful light flickered deep within its eyes.

"The trials in Ryuchi Cave... given the strength and mentality that kid has shown, the first two trials shouldn't be too difficult for him."

"The key is the third challenge, 'The Wise Choice,' and then meeting the White Snake Immortal..."

Orochimaru muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the cold wind.

He knew better than anyone the "rules" and dangers of Ryongji-dong.

He himself had gone through similar trials before he was able to sign a contract with Ryuchi Cave and obtain an incomplete inheritance—snake-type ninjutsu and the cursed seal he later developed.

Even he never truly passed the complete inheritance trial of the White Snake Immortal.

That immortal, who has existed for countless years, is eccentric and unpredictable, and the content and standards of his trials have never been fixed.

His "recommendation" of Qingwu was partly due to fulfilling the six-month agreement.

But on a deeper level, it was about using Qingwu, a stepping stone with "special natural talent," to test the true attitude of the White Snake Immortal and the reality of the inheritance trial.

If he succeeds, he might glean an opportunity to go even further.

Even if he fails, it will be Qingwu who dies, not him. He can still get some information about the trial process from Princess Ichikishima.

"Hehe... Qingwu-jun, don't disappoint me. Let me see how much of a splash you, this 'stone,' can make in this deep pool."

Orochimaru licked his lips, revealing a cold yet expectant smile.

He wasn't in a hurry to leave and seemed to intend to wait there for a while.

Let's see... if any "results" come back, or... if Qingwu will "return" in some form.

……

Ryongchi Cave

Qingwu stepped into the darkness of the palace entrance.

He felt as if he were passing through a cold, viscous curtain of water.

The light vanished abruptly, leaving only endless darkness and a suffocating silence.

Qingwu had to push his sense of nature to the limit to barely "see" his surroundings—it was an extremely wide, downward-sloping passageway.

The sides and the ground were wet and covered with slippery moss.

The air was thick with moisture, the smell of earth, and a... putrid odor.

He walked down the passageway for an unknown amount of time before a faint light finally appeared ahead.

Qingwu quickened his pace and approached, only to find that it was a cave far larger than he had ever imagined.

Countless strangely shaped stalactites, shimmering with an eerie light, hang from the cave ceiling, below which lies an endless swamp glowing with a dark green phosphorescence.

In the swamp, countless thick, colorful venomous snakes swam and tangled slowly, emitting a chilling hissing sound.

In the center of the swamp stood a colossal throne.

On the throne sat an unimaginably enormous white figure.

With the arrival of Qingwu, the glowing stalactites on the cave ceiling seemed to be stimulated, and their light gradually intensified, illuminating the entire cave.

Qingwu finally saw clearly the presence on the throne.

It was a gigantic white serpent covered entirely in crystal-clear, jade-like white scales, its size almost blending into the entire throne and even part of the temple's rock wall behind it.

Its body coiled around the throne and the surrounding rocks, layer upon layer, like a white mountain.

What's most striking is its head—not the triangular head of a typical snake, but with thick, orange, flame-like mane...or hair?

A snake that has grown hair? Qingwu was astonished.

The enormous golden snake eyes slowly opened, their gaze like solid ice spikes, instantly piercing the darkness and locking firmly onto Qingwu.

Qingwu met its gaze; a purple silk headband was tied around its forehead, with a bull horn-shaped ornament inlaid in front of it.

At the very top of its head, a red luminous pearl emitted a warm yet eerie light, and in the enormous snake's snout, there was even an ancient-looking pipe.

An exceptionally long white tail meandered down from behind the throne, with two golden rings at the tip that swayed slightly with its breath.

A vast, ancient, and chilling aura spread like a tide, freezing the air in the entire cave.

This is the ruler of Ryuchi Cave, an ancient being who has survived since the Kaguya era and is revered as the "White Snake Sage"!

"Humanity... another little insect, driven by foolish ambition, has crawled up to me."

The voice of the White Snake Immortal resounded directly in Qingwu's mind, deep and hoarse, carrying the emptiness and echo of a thousand years.

It held a pipe in its mouth, its golden vertical pupils coldly scrutinizing Qingwu, as if looking at an ant that had strayed into a temple.

"Huh? Wait..."

Its enormous head tilted slightly forward, its golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted, staring intently at Qingwu, as if it had discovered something extremely repulsive.

Qingwu subconsciously looked at herself. What's wrong?

"This nauseating, sticky, mushy smell... it's from Shikkotsu Forest!"

The White Snake Immortal's voice suddenly rose, filled with undisguised anger and hatred.

Its massive body trembled slightly with excitement, causing the entire cave to shake gently.

……

Chapter 231 Dragon Cave Immortal Techniques

"That old, slug-like slug! I can smell its stench even across the entire ninja world!"

"You... are its contractor? How dare you bring its stench into my sacred Ryuchi Cave!"

What are the ancient grudges between the three holy sites?

Qingwu felt a chill run down her spine.

He truly hadn't expected the White Snake Immortal to be so sensitive to the aura of Shikkotsu Forest.

The three goddesses didn't seem to notice before, perhaps because he didn't have a spiritual connection with the slug, or perhaps because the goddesses' level wasn't high enough to discern it.

However, the White Snake Immortal, an old monster who has lived for countless years, has clearly ingrained the aura of his "old rival" into his instincts.

"White Snake Immortal, the reason I've come here is..."

Qingwu tried to explain that he did not want to be inexplicably drawn into the feud between the holy lands.

"Shut up! You bug contractor from the Wet Bone Forest dare to trespass on my sacred ground and defile my domain—die!"

The White Snake Immortal gave Qingwu no chance to explain, and its angry roar caused rubble to fall from the cave ceiling.

Its massive body suddenly moved.

The incredibly thick white snake tail, resembling a white mountain range, slammed down with terrifying power capable of shattering mountains and splitting the earth, right towards where Qingwu was!

Before the tail even arrived, the violent wind pressure and the fishy smell were already overwhelming.

At the same time, the countless brightly colored venomous snakes in the swamp seemed to receive a command, surging out of the swamp like a black tide.

Screaming and baring its venomous fangs, it pounced on Qingwu from all directions!

Their sheer number blotted out the sky, instantly creating a writhing, nauseating sea of ​​snakes!

They attacked without warning! And their attacks were always aimed at a fatal blow!

Qingwu's expression changed, and he instantly retreated, clapping his hands together: "Wood Release: Wood Wall - Thousand Layers!"

In an instant, layers of wooden walls, several meters thick, rose up in front of him, attempting to block the terrifying, enormous snake tail.

boom--!!!

The white snake tail slammed into the wooden wall with devastating force, instantly shattering the outermost dozen or so wooden walls and sending wood chips flying everywhere.

The wooden wall behind it groaned under the strain, cracks spreading outwards.

Although the power of the attack was eventually reduced by more than half, the remaining impact still caused Qingwu's blood and qi to churn, and he slid backward dozens of meters.

At this moment, the endless sea of ​​snakes had already surged close.

Venom, poisonous mist, entanglement, biting... these venomous snakes may not be strong individually, but their numbers are overwhelming, and they are fearless in the face of death.

"That's... disgusting!"