Chapter 65: Slaying the Crown Flame Python

Do not assume that, just because the lungs are named with directional terms, they are positioned as precisely in the chest as they are in humans. In serpents, the right lung is elongated; for the left lung, though it is considered to be on the right, within the snake’s body it does not strictly lie to the right. It twists and winds through the body, and under the pressure of the esophagus, it even shifts towards the left.

Wang Chen had already identified the location of the Flame Python’s right lung. If he struck upward from there, he would reach the left lung, and after that, the heart.

[Wave Dragon Strike!]

Wang Chen estimated that the cooldown period was nearly over. With his left palm surging with the sound of waves, a piercing whistle sounded as a powerful jet of water shot out once more!

“Hiss—”

The torrent spun above the python’s old wound, eliciting a painful screech. At the same time, it gradually realized that Wang Chen’s attacks were steadily approaching its heart, like the Grim Reaper drawing his scythe ever closer to its fatal core.

But plans often fail to keep up with change. After a fierce struggle, the luminous thread at the tip of the Forest Gale Staff snapped.

“Clink—”

A crisp snapping sound rang out. No longer bound, the Crown Flame Python, its force at a stalemate, was yanked toward the tree tightly coiled by its tail.

“Boom!”

It crashed into the trunk, sending down a shower of leaves, its head spinning from the impact. Still, it was better than being killed by Wang Chen.

Once it recovered, the binding power of the Lightning Sphere and the Death Chain would have faded, and Wang Chen would face a ferocious counterattack.

Yet, this situation was still within Wang Chen’s calculations.

With a flash at his fingertip, a bottle of azure liquid appeared in his hand—an invigorating stimulant. Flicking away the stopper with his thumb, he downed it in one gulp.

The potion surged down his throat and, in a manner defying science, took effect directly from his esophagus, a wave of clarity spreading through him.

The fatigue from his repeated use of multiple skills vanished instantly; he felt his mind become crystal clear.

“Paralysis Spell!”

The head of the Forest Gale Staff launched another brilliant point of light, embedding a shimmering thread into the python’s crown.

“Hiss—”

Sensing that familiar pull, the Crown Flame Python was stricken with terror. Before Wang Chen could yank with all his might, it coiled itself tightly around the trunk, anchoring itself.

No matter how Wang Chen strained with both hands, tightening the luminous thread until it seemed it could slice paper, he could not pull the python as he had before.

At this moment, the python’s massive body clung to the tree with all the force of a predator constricting its prey; every muscle taut and straining. Wang Chen had to find another way.

The Crown Flame Python allowed him no time to think. Still seething from the recent beating, it acted in fury.

With a powerful contraction of its abdomen, a stream of gas erupted from its stomach pouch.

Just before the gas burst forth, the snake jerked its jaws, striking its fangs together to produce a shower of sparks.

Those few sparks ignited the gas, and a searing jet of flame roared toward Wang Chen.

He hurriedly dodged behind a pillar of water, the python directing the fiery beam after him.

“Hiss—”

The pillar before Wang Chen sizzled with the sound of water vaporizing in the blaze, like boiling water about to overflow.

“How is this snake’s mouth constructed? How can it ignite its own fire?” Wang Chen was utterly baffled.

He had previously assumed the Flame Python could manipulate a certain amount of fire element, but not enough to form a flame jet directly, so it relied on combustible gases produced by digestion to boost its attack.

But to ignite the gas, he thought, it must at least be able to control a little fire.

Yet who would have guessed that a python named for flames would, through nothing but the marvels of biological evolution, achieve this fiery attack—not an elemental creature at all.

“Someone should film an episode of ‘Walking into Science’ about this—it’s outrageous.”

Wang Chen grumbled, but felt a weight lift from his heart. Though he couldn’t fathom the ignition mechanism, the absence of elemental gathering confirmed it: the Flame Python could not command fire elements.

That meant it probably had no resistance to fire itself, and its flame jet attack had a time limit.

In short, if it kept breathing fire too long, it would burn its own mouth.

The high-pressure stream swept away the air near the serpent’s fangs, so the oxygen content was insufficient to ignite the flame jet immediately; it only combusted at a certain distance.

This buffer zone prevented the python’s mouth from being seared by flames, but if it persisted, the heat would inevitably be conducted back to the snake.

Not to mention, its stores of combustible gas would eventually run out.

“But your fiery breath stinks so badly, it gives me a headache. Better to send you on your way quickly.”

Wang Chen focused his staff, a thick wave of light plunging underground and speeding toward the tree where the python was coiled.

“Hand of Stone!”

“Bang!”

A massive hand of rock burst from below, wrenching the tree’s roots from the earth and thrusting both the tree and the entwined python skyward.

Wang Chen did not have the stone hand close its grip, but used its immense force to hurl the python into the air.

“Hmm, that’s not exactly what I intended. This wasn’t part of my plan,” Wang Chen scratched his head, realizing he’d miscalculated the stone hand’s power.

The python was tossed upward, but not as high as he’d hoped. His original plan was for the effect to be as dramatic as when the Dark Guardian was swept up by the Wind Spell.

In the end, the python only rose about ten meters.

“But that’s enough. Orochimaru, your death knell is about to ring.”

Wang Chen’s gaze followed the startled and panicked python as it was launched abruptly into the air.

It released its grip on the tree, its body flailing helplessly in midair, leaving the wounds left by two jets of water clearly marking the location of its vulnerable heart.

Wang Chen gripped the Forest Gale Staff with both hands, as though wielding a cannon. The tip of the staff roared with the sound of surging waves.

“Wave Dragon Strike!”

A powerful stream of water erupted from the earth, soaring like a dragon breaking through the surface, roaring toward the Flame Python!

“Whoosh—Boom!”

With a piercing shriek and a thunderous impact, the python’s heart was struck dead-on.

Its massive body convulsed, curling in agony, no longer thrashing, succumbing to gravity as it plummeted straight down.

“Crash!”

It slammed into the ground, gouging out a deep pit.

[Successfully slain the Crown Flame Python. 400 experience points gained.]

[Congratulations! Your level has risen to 14.]

The notification confirmed the python’s death.

From the pit, two orbs of light floated up to him, easing the last trace of worry in Wang Chen’s heart.

He gathered the orbs and checked their contents.

[Flame Python Blade]

[Category: Weapon]

[Level Requirement: 12]

[Effect: Increases Strength attribute by 130 points when equipped]

[Durability: 80/80]

[Special Skill: When activated, unleashes a powerful wave of flame. Cooldown: 30 minutes. Forcing activation before cooldown expires will reduce durability.]

“Huh, so this sneaky old snake who ambushed prey from the treetops dropped a weapon as bold and brash as a broadsword? Doesn’t that seem a bit off?” Wang Chen mused, reading the skill description. “But I feel like I can use this blade myself. I’ll just treat it as a wave-launcher—bring it out every half hour for a slash.”