An Chen held the Rotation Talisman in his hand, then shot towards the Python like an arrow released from a bow.
The Python, however, suddenly tilted its head back. An Chen felt this wasn't fear, but rather it was gathering power.
It was waiting, waiting for that brief moment of pause after An Chen's blade struck its body to launch its attack.
Trading injury for life—that was the Python's plan.
The outermost coiled limbs were all part of its tail; even if injured, it wouldn't be a significant impact and would recover quickly.
However, An Chen didn't cleave it with a blade as it expected, nor did he pause because of such a strike. Instead, he stuck a piece of paper onto its body...
Then, before the Python could bite An Chen, it found its body was out of control; a strange force seized its body.
Then...
An Chen watched in shock as the Python in front of him unfurled, and even before it had fully unfurled, it began to spin.
And then...
“It... it got tangled?”
An Chen's eyes widened.
He never imagined, nor could he conceive, that this Python would actually spin itself into a knot.
The Python tried to escape its predicament, but found that not only could it not get out, but it also couldn't stop.
Its body was still trying to rotate under the effect of the Rotation Talisman, but because its body was tangled, it couldn't turn at all and was almost twisted into a pretzel.
The Python was frantic, constantly flicking its tongue and emitting sharp hisses.
An Chen quietly walked over to it, holding his knife, feeling too awkward to strike.
He suddenly remembered something and took out his tongshen jade talisman to snap a photo of this spectacle.
Before this, he didn't like taking pictures, but this time was different; this time was too outrageous.
After documenting this once-in-a-century scene, An Chen didn't bother watching the creature twist any longer. He took out his short blade and stabbed it into the crack he had made on its heart scale last time, plunging the blade into the Python's heart. Within half a minute, the snake stopped writhing, its entire body limply sagging.
He pressed his hand onto the Python's body, carefully felt for a moment, and then found a spot.
This spot wasn't tangled, so An Chen could easily cut it open with his knife. He reached inside and probed, quickly grasping a round “ball.”
This was a Yao Beast's inner core.
A Yao Beast's inner core is the most precious thing a Yao Beast possesses. This item is not only Materials for Alchemy, but even has a Body Refining effect after consumption, and can also increase one's Realm.
Some Cultivation Techniques also require a Yao Beast's inner core to Cultivate.
In short, it's very valuable.
For most Yao Beasts, this is the most valuable part of their body.
A first-grade Yao Beast's inner core, a single one is worth a hundred Spirit Stones.
An Chen pulled out the inner core, put it into his qiankun bag, then thought for a moment and also put the Python inside.
After all, this was a first-grade Yao Beast, and a Yao Beast's entire body is a treasure. Its scales can be made into armor, its flesh is rich in spiritual energy and should be sold to the Dining Hall, and its hard, slender fangs might be used to make weapons.
Anyway, these things could at least fetch some Spirit Stones.
Actually, the appearance of this Python was a pure, unexpected delight.
Even within the inner perimeter of this back mountain, there weren't that many Yao Beasts; An Chen being able to encounter one was actually quite lucky.
Some people specifically come here to hunt Yao Beasts, but often search for a long time and still can't find one.
An Chen sat down again on a small stone stool nearby to rest, but then a thought suddenly occurred to An Chen.
What if this snake had a wife and children?
Or even just a snake egg, it should still be worth some money.
After all, it's a Yao Beast egg; it would definitely taste better if used for scrambled eggs with tomatoes, right?
The Dining Hall would definitely want it.
An Chen then looked at the rock crevice, but found that the crevice was curved and he couldn't see what was inside.
An Chen simply climbed to the top of the boulder to see if there were any openings.
But even from the top of the boulder, no obvious large openings were visible.
An Chen thought for a moment, then directly jumped down from the boulder, walked a distance away, and condensed a fireball in his hand.
Fireball spell—this is the most basic spell. One could say that every Cultivator knows it.
This was also something Zhao Qingfeng had transmitted to his tongshen jade talisman that day, and he had learned it all in his spare time.
The fireball hit the rock crevice and immediately exploded, sending fragments of rock flying. A large piece of rock broke off the boulder and crashed to the ground.
An Chen went forward to examine it, and then used his hands to clear away the excess rubble.
Inside this massive rock, there was indeed a considerable space. To An Chen's disappointment, there were no traces of a second snake, nor any snake eggs here.
An Chen was about to leave when he suddenly noticed something else in the rubble.
An Chen reached out and pushed aside the rubble, revealing a flower buried underneath.
The flower was entirely red, or more accurately, blood-colored.
An Chen didn't know why, but An Chen suddenly thought of the Python's pupils from earlier.
He recognized what it was almost instantly.
“Crimson Eye Flower... so that one just now was a Scarlet-Eyed Snake?”
That book once recorded.
This type of flower is planted by Scarlet-Eyed Snakes and grows in rock crevices.
Mature Crimson Eye Flowers are extremely useful; consuming them can aid in Body Refining and help one Breakthrough their Realm. Although there is a minor side effect—a brief period of mental confusion—this is acceptable, so they are still highly sought after in the market.
Scarlet-Eyed Snakes will nourish the Crimson Eye Flower with their own essence blood. Once the Crimson Eye Flower is fully mature, the Scarlet-Eyed Snake will consume it to aid in its own Realm Breakthrough, and then leave behind seeds, thus repeating the cycle.
All Scarlet-Eyed Snakes do this; it's a unique way for them to improve their Realm.
Therefore, wherever there is a Scarlet-Eyed Snake, there is a Crimson Eye Flower.
The book only recorded this much and didn't describe what a Scarlet-Eyed Snake looked like, so he couldn't recognize the Scarlet-Eyed Snake, nor did he think there would be a Crimson Eye Flower inside.
An Chen continued to clear the rock pile but didn't find any more Crimson Eye Flowers.
The Python right now was only a first-grade, and its strength wasn't particularly strong. It probably only had enough essence blood to nourish this one flower.
Moreover, it was likely weaker due to using its essence blood to nourish the Crimson Eye Flower, which is why An Chen was able to kill it so quickly.
Although he knew this item was valuable, An Chen wasn't sure exactly how much it was worth.
So he took a photo and sent it to Hong Shan.
“How much is this thing worth?”
After a while, Hong Shan replied.
“On the market... around five hundred Spirit Stones, it won't exceed six hundred. But kid, I suggest you use it yourself.”
“Use it myself?”
“That's right. The Spirit Stones you get from selling it would still be used for Cultivation. With your Realm and strength, using this Crimson Eye Flower will definitely allow you to advance a minor Realm, and the Crimson Eye Flower's side effects won't harm your Foundation. It's perfectly suited for improving your Realm. I remember you and Ye Xinning both want to quickly improve your Realm, right?”