15: Killing snakes

After finalizing his target and strategy, Gao De immediately swung into action.

He knew well that while he could defeat the giant python on his own, there was no guarantee it wouldn't flee back into the mountains if things went south. If that happened, catching and killing it again would be difficult.

He had to utilize the geographical advantage and the power of his "Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals" to set a death trap from which there was no return!

First, he turned his attention to the dozen or so strongest Crab Spirits.

These Crab Generals had hard carapaces, making them natural shields and pinning forces, but their attack power and the threat they posed to the giant python were limited.

Gao De recalled the rudimentary but practical Yao Race rune knowledge from his Bloodline Legacy.

He extended the sharp tip of his fin and condensed a thread of pure Demonic Power. Using it like the finest engraving knife, he began to carefully carve onto the back carapaces of a few of the strongest Crab Generals.

What he carved weren't any profound Formations, but a few types of basic runes with simple yet practical effects:

[Sturdiness Rune]: Strengthens the defense of the carapace, allowing them to better withstand the giant python's constriction and impacts.

[Strength Gathering Rune]: Briefly enhances the clamping force of the crab pincers, allowing their attacks to pose a genuine threat to the giant python's scales.

[Stinging Pain Rune]: A weak damage-reflection rune. When the giant python attacks, it will passively receive a sting of Demonic Power. Although not fatal, it can interfere with its movements.

The carving process consumed a significant amount of Gao De's Demonic Power and mental energy, but he believed it was worth it.

These reinforced Crab Generals would no longer be cannon fodder at the snake's mercy, but "iron-thorn shields" that could truly entangle the giant python.

Next, he commanded the Shrimp Soldiers.

The Shrimp Soldiers were even weaker; they were useless in direct combat.

Gao De put them in charge of two things:

First, acting as sentries, scattered along the main water and land paths from the back mountain to the deep pool. Once the giant python was spotted descending the mountain, they were to immediately transmit a signal through water vibrations.

Second, once the battle began, they were to harass from a distance using their weak Water Arrow Technique, aiming for the giant python's eyes, wounds, and other vulnerable spots. The goal wasn't to kill, but to distract its attention.

Finally, there was the choice of the trap location.

Gao De did not place the main battlefield in the open bottom of the pool, but chose a narrow area near the mountain wall at the bottom.

Here, both sides were hard rock, with hanging stalactites above. He had secretly used the Water Control Art to churn the bottom into an exceptionally soft and muddy mess; once caught in it, movement would be hindered.

He himself lurked in a patch of dense, dark water grass above and to the side of the battlefield. This was the necessary path for the energy dissipating from the Spiritual Vein spring, which would perfectly mask his Demonic Qi and provide the best position for a fatal ambush.

With everything prepared, Gao De was like the most patient hunter, retracting all his aura and merging with the darkness, waiting quietly.

A few days later, the Shrimp Soldiers on guard sent a rapid burst of water vibrations—the target had appeared!

That giant python with a crimson fleshy growth on its head indeed followed its familiar path again, sliding into the deep pool with lazy confidence.

Its cold serpentine pupils swept over the "familiar" crabs at the bottom of the pool with a hint of predator's mockery.

In its simple cognition, these crabs were nothing more than objects to sharpen its teeth and claws on, or a light snack.

It repeated its old trick, lunging out suddenly and opening its bloody maw to bite the nearest Crab Spirit.

However, this time, the situation was completely different!

A faint light flashed on that Crab Spirit's back carapace. Instead of dodging, it met the snake's bite head-on with a pair of large pincers reinforced by the [Strength Gathering Rune], tearing through the water!

"Clang!"

A crisp sound like clashing metal rang out! As the crab pincers collided with the snake's teeth, a few sparks actually flew! The giant python hissed in pain and fury; it felt as if its teeth had bitten into a piece of thousand-year-old profound iron!

At the same time, seven or eight surrounding Crab Generals with runes carved on their backs closed in from all directions as if receiving a command. Their rune-flickering carapaces formed a moving rampart, and their sharp pincers pounded against its body like heavy hammers.

Although most attacks were blocked by the tough snake scales, the minor Demonic Power backlash from the [Stinging Pain Rune] and the occasional real pain caused by the [Strength Gathering Rune] made the giant python extremely annoyed.

Even more irritating were the sporadic water arrows "pfft-pfft-ing" from a distance. Though their force was weak, they always aimed for its eyes and the spots previously hit by the crab pincers, forcing it to distract itself to evade.

The giant python was thoroughly enraged! It gave up its hit-and-run tactics, its massive body suddenly contracting before springing out like a coil, attempting to use its best move—the death coil—to crush all these annoying iron-shelled insects!

But it made a fatal mistake—it chose to initiate the coil in that narrow, muddy area Gao De had tampered with!

Several Crab Generals were caught in its powerful force, their shells making a "creak" sound from the friction, but the [Sturdiness Rune] allowed them to barely hold on without being instantly crushed.

Meanwhile, the giant python's own body sank deep into the soft silt because of the force it exerted, and its movements suddenly became sluggish!

Now is the time!

Lurking in the shadows, a fierce light exploded in Gao De's eyes!

He instantly activated [Size As Desired] to his nearly two-zhang combat form. The 30% Dragon Fish Bloodline in his body erupted with full force, and a flood of Flood Dragon Pressure—far more pure and majestic than the giant python's—descended like a physical weight!

Feeling this terrifying pressure from the depths of its Bloodline, the giant python's movements suddenly froze. For the first time, a look of horror and disbelief appeared in its crimson serpentine pupils!

"Die!"

Gao De seized this fleeting Opportunity. His tail fin slammed against the water, and his body shot out like black lightning!

He didn't use any flashy Spells. Instead, he opened his massive mouth filled with sharp teeth, aiming directly for the giant python's seven-inch mark—which was slightly open due to its shock—where the scales were relatively thin and its vital point was located!

Simultaneously, he raised a pair of fish fins that were already faintly evolving into dragon claws, their edges flashing with cold light as they clawed fiercely at the prominent red fleshy growth on the giant python's head!

He wanted to destroy the giant python's greatest reliance and potential in one fell swoop!

The long-plotted fatal blow erupted at the perfect moment, on his home turf! This slaughter between Dragon-Blooded Creatures instantly reached its climax!

Gao De's fatal strike was precise and ruthless!

His massive, tooth-filled mouth bit right through the giant python's relatively weak seven-inch area. Pungent snake blood gushed out instantly, staining a patch of water red.

At the same time, his pair of pelvic fins—which faintly shimmered with a dark-gold luster and had tips already resembling claws—acted like the sharpest hooked blades, stabbing deep into the bright red fleshy growth atop the giant python's head!

"Hiss—!!!"

The giant python let out a shrill, agonizing shriek filled with immense pain and resentment. Its massive body twisted frantically, turning the silt and water grass at the bottom of the pool upside down.

The red fleshy growth seemed to be the core of its power and vitality. After being heavily damaged by Gao De, its aura rapidly withered like a deflating balloon.

The surrounding Crab Generals took the Opportunity to swarm forward, their rune-flickering pincers falling mercilessly on the giant python, leaving deep gashes that exposed bone. The distant Shrimp Soldiers also fired water arrows, interfering with its final struggles.

Gao De bit down hard on the seven-inch mark, frantically injecting Demonic Power to destroy its internal organs, while his fins exerted force, nearly tearing the entire fleshy growth off!

The struggle didn't last long. Under the suppression of Bloodline pressure, the heavy damage to its vitals, and the siege of the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, this giant python that had dominated the back mountain and showed signs of dragon blood atavism finally lost all signs of life amidst desperate convulsions.

The pool water gradually returned to calm, leaving only the pervasive scent of blood and a scene of devastation.

Gao De released his bite and looked at the giant python's corpse floating in the water, a look of satisfaction flashing in his cold vertical pupils.

Although he had lost a few Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, in exchange, he had killed a powerful enemy of the same rank with a special Bloodline without taking any damage himself. This deal was simply too worthwhile!

He dismissed his surviving subordinates, letting them clean up the battlefield and guard the entrance.

He then dragged the giant python's corpse back to the Spiritual Vein spring.

Without the slightest hesitation, he opened his massive mouth and began to devour the giant python, which contained pure dragon blood.

Unlike devouring fish, the power contained in snake flesh was more violent and scorching. Especially that red fleshy growth torn from the head; it melted into a clump of blazing Essence Blood upon entering his mouth, surging down his throat like lava!

[Devoured: dragon blood Atavism Giant Python (First Order Peak)]

[Obtained massive Bloodline energy...]

[Obtained special dragon blood essence...]

[Dragon Fish Bloodline purity significantly increased...]

[Flood Dragon Pressure greatly enhanced...]

Surging power exploded within his body, far more violent than when he devoured the Golden Scale Carp!

His body was once again enveloped in black-gold light, and his scales vibrated violently, letting out a joyful hum.

Those two main gold lines spread frantically, giving rise to more fine and profound patterns that covered more than half of his body.

The outline of his head became more formidable, the barbels on his lower jaw began to drift like true Flood Dragon whiskers, and even the bones on the top of his head felt bursts of itching, as if something was about to break through!

It was unknown how much time had passed before that violent energy gradually calmed down and was completely absorbed.

Gao De slowly opened his eyes, feeling the ceaseless, vast Demonic Power within him that far exceeded what he had before, as well as the clearer and stronger evolutionary throbbing from the depths of his Bloodline.

[Current Dragon Fish Bloodline: 48%]

Only one final step away from fifty percent!

He could even clearly feel that the barrier leading to the Second Order Wisdom Attainment Realm was already as thin as a cicada's wing, as if one powerful push could completely puncture it!

"Forty-eight percent..." Gao De's heart was filled with excitement.

The harvest from this hunt far exceeded his expectations.

Not only had his Bloodline significantly improved, but his control over his own power—especially the use of his newly acquired talents—had also become more proficient.

He glanced at the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals loyally guarding the surroundings and thought to himself: "Once I break through to the Second Order and my wisdom fully opens, perhaps I can teach them some rudimentary cultivation methods to further increase the strength of this 'personal guard'."

For now, the most important goal was crystal clear—find the final Opportunity to push his Bloodline to fifty percent and break through to the Second Order Wisdom Attainment Realm in one go!

His gaze turned once again toward the vast Dongting Lake beyond the deep pool.

Opportunities are often hidden within risks.

But he was more willing to wait patiently for the right moment.