Chapter 328 - Disturbing A Python’s Nest

With his rich experience of adventuring in foreign civilizations, Han Wu had picked up a wealth of survival knowledge. He could already identify dozens of poisonous herbs with a single glance. Fortunately, the ones scattered here were only mildly toxic, not lethal.

The three kept their backpacks close and pressed forward with care. The instant they stepped into Dragon Seal, a timer unique to them started to tick.

They had covered barely 100 meters when Han Wu sensed something amiss. A python, its body as thick as a man’s arm, blocked their path.

Leng Ning reacted first. She conjured an icicle and launched it like a bullet. It struck the serpent, but its scales deflected the attack. Instead of wounding it, they enraged it, and the python lunged toward them at startling speed.

Han Wu countered with a Fireball, banking on the Blood Fuel and Black Flames effects to burn it alive. Flames crackled against its scales, but the fire never reached its flesh. The serpent only sensed the heat on its back and slithered faster.

Meng Qi coughed. “I knew it would come down to me.”

He shouted and used both Golden Bell and Iron Shirt before stepping forward. The python unhinged its jaw, ready to swallow him whole, but it crashed headlong into the shimmering barrier of the Golden Bell. A metallic clang rang out, followed by a resonant chime that stunned the serpent.

Meng Qi drew the dagger at his waist and drove it into the python again and again until it lay still.

Leng Ning approached him once it was dead. “Hey, watch what you’re doing. Don’t ruin its treasure. Extract the gallbladder first, then skin it. After that, we can cook the flesh.”

Meng Qi recoiled in disgust. “Ew. I’m not eating python meat.”

She huffed, her temper rising. “Then starve to death once your rations run out. If we want to live longer here, we’ll eat what we kill.”

Meng Qi glanced at Han Wu for support. “Hey, you wouldn’t eat python flesh, right?”

Han Wu chuckled. “What are you talking about? Python meat is delicious.”

Meng Qi grimaced. “Are you sure it’s edible?”

Han Wu’s smile widened. “You’ll know once we cook it.”

Meng Qi still looked doubtful, but he followed Leng Ning’s orders. He skinned the python, removed the gallbladder, and cut the flesh into thick chunks for roasting.

Leng Ning studied the gallbladder with care, recalling passages from her books. After a moment, she looked at the others. “This gallbladder can boost a person’s Power and Water potential. Unfortunately, it’s from a young snake, so it isn’t fully mature. Only someone with both attributes at 10 or below can benefit from it.”

“Hey, don’t look at me. Do you really think my Power and Water potential are under 10?” Meng Qi shook his head. His parents’ wealth had given him access to rare resources since childhood, and his potential had grown far stronger than that.

Han Wu shook his head as well. “I can’t use it either.”

With both refusing it, Leng Ning pulled out a small vial of clear liquid and dropped the gallbladder inside. “Then I’ll keep it safe. We can sell it once we get out of here.”

Meng Qi cared little about the money. What worried him more was whether the python meat would taste any good.

Han Wu gathered firewood and began grilling the flesh. Soon, a rich, savory aroma spread through the area. Even Leng Ning, who normally had no appetite for such meat, watched with curiosity. She hadn’t expected Han Wu to be so skilled at cooking.

Han Wu gave a casual shrug. “I grew up poor. Of course I know how to cook all kinds of things.”

Leng Ning nodded and stared at the roasting meat. When it finished, Meng Qi snatched a piece at once to eat it. Leng Ning thanked Han Wu before taking her share.

Han Wu sampled a piece as well and savored the flavor. He had to admit that a python nourished by herbs and rare treasures made for a surprisingly fine meal.

They ate contentedly until a sudden rustle came from behind them. The sound snapped them from their calm, and in an instant they drew their weapons, eyes sharp and searching. A massive python, its body as thick as a water pail, slithered toward them from only twenty meters away.

Leng Ning’s gaze flicked between the python roasting over their fire and the monstrous one advancing on them. She frowned as she pieced it together. “The markings are the same as the one we killed. It’s very likely that snake was its offspring.”

Meng Qi’s face stiffened. “Don’t tell me we disturbed its nest. We just killed one, and now an even bigger one shows up. We can’t fight it. We have to run.”

“Run where?” Han Wu cut in sharply. He had already caught the faint rustling of more movement closing in.

Meng Qi spun around and nearly collapsed when he saw them. Two more pythons glided from the shadows, blocking every path of escape. They were surrounded.

“T-the Dragon Seal is too dangerous. W-what are these monsters eating to grow so big?” Meng Qi stammered.

Han Wu’s eyes hardened. “There’s no choice. If we want to live, we must kill them.”

Leng Ning nodded. “Allow me.”

She gathered her energy and unleashed Blizzard the moment the pythons lunged. The intense cold locked all three snakes in place.

Meng Qi was afraid, but he still charged forward with Golden Bell activated to crush the frozen snakes into pieces.

Han Wu refused to stay behind. He swung his blade with force against one of the frozen snakes. Sharp cracking sounds rang out as the ice shattered, and soon all three pythons lay in broken pieces.

Leng Ning panted, her energy spent from casting Blizzard. “Stop standing around. Quickly find the gallbladders. These snakes are enormous, which means their galls should be fully mature. They could significantly enhance our potential and help anyone with Power or Water potential of 30 or less. Even if we don’t consume them ourselves, we could sell them for a good price.”

Han Wu and Meng Qi set to work. It took them half a day to extract the gallbladders from the frozen remains before handing them to Leng Ning.

She examined the damaged gallbladder Meng Qi had brought her and frowned. “I told you to be careful! This one is punctured. Most of its value is gone, and we can’t store it properly now. Eat it while it’s fresh, while its effects are still intact.”

Meng Qi nodded and swallowed the frozen gallbladder. A warm stream of energy flowed through his body as it digested, a sensation that surged and faded within three minutes. He checked his interface and shouted with delight. “It actually increased my potential! Wow, I didn’t expect it to boost so much!”