When the white serpent awoke, it found itself standing halfway up a towering mountain. The first thing it saw was a massive boulder as tall as a seven-story building, inscribed with three bold, flowing characters: Divine Hua Mountain.
“Hua Mountain rises abruptly into the heavens, dominating countless peaks beneath the firmament.”
The endless mountain ranges stretched into the vast horizon. In its past life, the serpent had visited Hua Mountain on Earth, but this peak was even taller, grander, steeper, and more majestic. It realized now that it had encountered a true expert. Though initially reluctant about being captured to guard a gate, it now saw this as a stroke of luck—having a powerful backer meant an easier life. Even the scraps discarded by such a master could benefit a lowly serpent like itself.
The woman led her two young disciples up the mountain, chatting and laughing, while the white serpent followed closely behind.
Even with its severe nearsightedness, the serpent could tell the scenery was breathtaking.
Stone steps wound along cliff edges, with waterfalls large and small cascading everywhere. Crystal-clear pools revealed fish darting beneath the surface. Sheer cliffs and jagged peaks pierced the clouds, while ancient temples stacked like celestial palaces dotted the mountainside.
Stone bridges and corridors connected valleys, and ancient pines clung to boulders beside roaring waterfalls. Mist curled like an emerald sea, and when the breeze blew, stone pavilions flickered in and out of view amidst the clouds. Sitting in one of those pavilions with a pot of fine wine and a guzheng would truly be an immortal’s paradise.
Raising its head, the serpent spotted a massive formation diagram slowly rotating in the sky. No wonder they weren’t flying up—the airspace must be restricted.
Along the stone path, they occasionally passed cultivators of all ages in white robes with blue patterns, who respectfully stepped aside upon seeing the woman.
These cultivators looked wealthy—their robes embroidered with silver and gold threads, their swords transcendent in quality. The serpent couldn’t help but think that if you squeezed these people hard enough, you’d wring out enough riches to drown in.
Along the way, it picked up plenty of information.
This was the Pure Yang Palace, and the woman’s name was Yu Rong, the younger martial sister of the sect master. The boy was Yang Mu, and the younger girl was Xu Ling—both Yu Rong’s personal disciples. Rumor had it that despite countless applicants vying to enter, Yu Rong had only ever taken these two as her students.
Looks like I’ve hitched a ride with the elite…
Soon, they arrived before a massive, ancient stone archway—the mountain gate. Over a dozen guards stood watch, making the serpent tense. The words “Pure Yang Palace” were carved into the arch in bold, spirit-infused strokes. Strangely, the air inside the gate felt fresher, purer.
Following the trio, the serpent slithered past training grounds where disciples practiced, exquisite halls, stone bridges, and winding corridors. Finally, they reached a secluded yet elegant palace perched on a cliff’s edge, where ancient pines stood resilient amidst rolling clouds.
Still, not having to worry about becoming a snakeskin purse or a bowl of soup was a definite improvement.
There were no ceremonies, no bowing or tea offerings. Bringing back a snake demon to guard the gate wasn’t the same as accepting a disciple—no formalities were needed.
“This palace will be your home from now on. You must also patrol the nearby mountain shrine. I’ve already informed the kitchen and the inner affairs department—you may eat at the kitchen. But remember, do not wander recklessly, or no one can save your life.” Yu Rong spoke sternly.
The serpent nodded. It wasn’t like it had a choice.
Pleased by its intelligence, Yu Rong turned to instructing her two disciples, ignoring whether the serpent was listening or not.
The serpent pretended not to understand, coiling up in a corner of the hall to eavesdrop.
Of the two disciples, Yang Mu was unfriendly toward the serpent, often glaring at it. The mischievous little girl, Xu Ling, however, was endlessly playful, frequently reaching out to stroke its scales. Suddenly free from the worries of hunting and predators, the serpent found the peace and safety here almost surreal.
“The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things…”
The familiar phrase echoed in the hall. Though the serpent remembered hearing it in its past life, the words were far more profound than they seemed. Outside, cranes soared through swirling mist, while inside, a white serpent shamelessly absorbed the teachings…
…………
From then on, the serpent began its new life of cultivation.
It spent its days patrolling the palace, scaring off rats and insects, then lounging in the courtyard to watch the disciples train. In the mornings, it would meditate on the cliffside, swallowing mist, while eyeing the jade vial on Yu Rong’s tea table—filled with delicious pills it wasn’t privileged enough to eat.
Three days passed before the serpent remembered it needed to eat. It could skip cultivation, but never meals—a lingering trauma from its days of starvation.
Leaving Yu Rong’s palace, the serpent slithered toward the kitchen, a jade pendant hanging around its neck.
The pendant was Yu Rong’s doing—to prevent any disciple from accidentally slaying the serpent in ignorance. The serpent appreciated the gesture. Staying alive was always preferable to being chopped into sashimi.
Winding past mountains, streams, and stone bridges, its tongue flicking, the serpent soon followed the scent to the kitchen.
The kitchen was massive, serving the entire mountain. Though high-level cultivators didn’t need daily meals, lower disciples and servants still required sustenance. The lively atmosphere resembled a grand cafeteria, and judging by its size, the serpent guessed the mountain housed nearly ten thousand people. The source of this chapter is novelping(.)com.
Under many curious stares, the serpent slithered into the dining hall, spotting a plump man waving at it.
“Over here! You, snake, come here!”
Obediently, it meandered into the kitchen, drawing another round of onlookers. After this, surely everyone on the mountain would know about the new white serpent.
The plump man had prepared a large wooden basin filled with leftover meat and bones—the undesirable cuts, along with fatty portions.
Perfect. Fat was nutritious, and the serpent had no qualms about it.
Lowering its head, it devoured the contents in seconds, then nodded at the man before leaving, leaving him marveling at the fact that he’d just fed a snake for the first time in his life.
On the way back, it dipped its head into a stream to rinse off bloodstains.
Glancing at a startled crane fluttering onto a tree, the serpent decided against snacking on it—for now. Who knew if it was someone’s pet? Maybe it could sneak a bite at night.
Returning to Yu Rong’s palace, it coiled up on a boulder by the cliff to nap. Guard the hall? This place was practically theft-proof. The serpent doubted there weren’t formations protecting it.
Between Yang Mu’s rigid discipline and Xu Ling’s endless mischief, the little girl was especially fascinated by the serpent, often seeking it out to play. Just as the serpent dozed off, footsteps approached.
Opening its eyes, it struggled to focus before realizing it was Yu Rong approaching—or so it seemed.
“White Serpent! How dare you laze around! Get to work!”
The ‘Yu Rong’ before it scolded sternly.
The serpent flicked its tongue a few times, then lazily lowered its head and continued napping.
“Aiya! You saw through it again! No fun!”
The illusion dissolved, revealing Xu Ling. She had disguised herself as her master to tease the serpent, but after the initial scare, the serpent quickly noticed the flaws—illusions only fooled the eyes. Xu Ling and Yu Rong smelled different, and the serpent’s infrared senses easily picked out Xu Ling’s smaller frame.