25: planning

The pressure, like a tide, came one after another, ceaselessly, as the illusion of the Three-Headed Strange Python floated in the air, its eyes cold and filled with a bloody aura.

Facing the mental oppression of a transcendent being directly is completely different from facing a projection through a Martial Dao Crystal.

However...

The Three-Headed Strange Python before him was, after all, already dead.

Life and death are the two most extreme states.

Compared to when it was alive, the current mental oppression was merely a remnant of its body, less than one percent of its original power.

Its body still contained pressure, but this pressure would fade with time until it completely disappeared, leaving no trace.

Qin Jin stared directly at the illusion created by the pressure within his spiritual world, and after confirming it was within his tolerance, he did not hesitate and began to engrave!

Since he had truly found this corpse, he naturally had to make it serve its greatest purpose.

Using spiritual power as a brush and the spiritual world as a canvas, he engraved all of this, transforming it into nourishment for his cultivation.

During the engraving process, the illusion of the Strange Python became increasingly fierce.

In Qin Jin's perception, its body coiled up, its python mouth wide open, extremely ferocious, and it swooped down towards Qin Jin.

The pressure escalated, as if a freezing intent spread.

As his spiritual power rapidly depleted, his thoughts slowed down.

Sweat beads emerged on Qin Jin's forehead.

But now, the lingering pressure on the python's body was, after all, like rootless duckweed, difficult to sustain.

It didn't even possess instincts; apart from exerting pressure, it had no means of attack.

The engraving continued...

Until his spiritual power was almost completely exhausted, Qin Jin stopped his Visualization Method.

His expression was a bit listless, but his eyes were full of vigor.

With a slight thought, the panel appeared.

[Visualization Method: Skeleton Thunder Elephant Lv1 (57%)]

[Visualization Method: Three-Headed Strange Python Lv0 (17%)]

The display on the professional panel had changed slightly.

The cultivation methods for Visualization Method were similar; the only difference was the object of visualization.

"I don't know the true name of this ice-attributed Strange Python. It seems the information on the panel is named according to my subjective thoughts."

A thought flashed, and Qin Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I couldn't engrave it successfully directly. After all, this Strange Python's level is immeasurably higher than the Skeleton Thunder Elephant."

"This is a well-deserved great opportunity. If it hadn't fallen, I don't know how long it would take before I could engrave a creature of this level."

"Once the engraving is complete, besides assisting my cultivation, it can also become a trump card for me."

When a Martial Artist performs an engraving, once successful, the scene left as a projection in their spiritual world will also become a means of attack for the Martial Artist.

In the past, when fighting alongside the hunting team, Qin Jin had manifested the Skeleton Thunder Elephant, causing that giant rhinoceros to suffer mental sluggishness.

"I'll continue once my spiritual power recovers."

Qin Jin piloted the Deep Driller and moved forward.

Although the engraving had not yet been completely successful, perhaps because Qin Jin's spiritual world now contained a similar elemental aura to this Strange Python, the pressure from the corpse was greatly reduced when not actively engraving.

The Three-Headed Strange Python was frozen in ice. Qin Jin piloted the Deep Driller closer, looking up.

"Python blood can be used for medicinal baths. With such an astonishing quantity, besides myself, it can also be brought to the Si Huo Tribe to cultivate tribesmen."

"If someone can awaken a Treasure Technique because of this, it would be a huge improvement for the Si Huo Tribe."

"Python meat can be used as food. For such a transcendent creature, even its meat can be called a treasure. Continuous consumption will subtly improve one's physique."

"This python meat is even flash-frozen, so there's no need to worry about spoilage."

"After the scales are peeled off, they can be taken to the Si Huo Tribe to see if anyone skillful can weave them into armor. With this Strange Python's size, it's enough to arm many people."

"As for the python bones, they can only be kept for now."

Qin Jin examined the giant python: "This Strange Python's bones must be extremely precious transcendent materials. With my current identity, using them for trade or personal use would pose hidden dangers."

"I can only save them for later."

Having made a plan, Qin Jin immediately began to act.

The Deep Driller's right arm transformed, a drill bit extended, and it rapidly spun against the ice in front of it.

Ice crystals splattered.

This extended ice field was created by the power overflowing from the Strange Python's corpse after its demise.

Fortunately, when Qin Jin used physical methods, he did not encounter resistance from transcendent power; the overflowing power truly turned into ice, just a bit more solid.

The Deep Driller was originally a Mining Star mecha. Its drill bit spun rapidly, combined with other tools, it finally began its intended work. Under Qin Jin's continuous efforts, square blocks of ice were cut out.

Qin Jin's first target was the Strange Python's blood.

Its blood was deep blue, flowing from the python's wounds and frozen within the ice crystals, forming intricate patterns that, when illuminated by sunlight, emitted a strange radiance.

"This is still a big project."

Amidst his busy work, Qin Jin's thoughts raced.

"The Deep Driller's storage space is limited. I can only cut a portion first and use the warehouse in the storage area as a transit point to bring them to the Si Huo Tribe, transforming them into the tribe's strength and resources."

"The rest will be left here to be harvested slowly."

"Two extraordinary beings battled here, leaving behind traces of their aura. Ordinary creatures dare not approach, and although the Strange Python's corpse pressure is constantly fading, it can still last for a period of time."

"Now that I know the exact location here, I will be much faster when I come again."

"Once the Si Huo Tribe members have used the python blood for medicinal baths and become familiar with this Strange Python's aura, and the pressure here has weakened, I can let them come directly to collect."

"There's enough time."

Qin Jin became busy on this ice field.

Just collecting the python blood was a huge undertaking.

He piloted the Mining Star mecha, continuously cutting, and when his spiritual power recovered, he continued his Visualization Method and engraving.

Later, Qin Jin gradually became familiar with it and simply multi-tasked, operating the Mining Star mecha for mechanical work while simultaneously running his Breathing Method to enhance his life energy.

This also strengthened his control over spiritual power.

The two great suns in the sky slowly set from east to west.

The Great Wilderness plunged into darkness.

Under the night sky, the blocks of ice frozen with python blood emitted a faint glow, stacked together, looking quite beautiful.

"That's enough for today."

The Deep Driller stored one of the blocks into its storage space. Qin Jin summoned his panel, and in the next instant, he had already returned to the Mining Star.

Inside the old warehouse, it was dark.

The cockpit door opened. Qin Jin spoke, giving a voice command, and the lights in the entire warehouse lit up, illuminating everything brightly.

He jumped down from the Deep Driller, looking at the familiar layout inside the warehouse, a faint sense of being in another world for a moment.

Although it had only been seven short days, during these seven days, he had completely entered a state of cultivation in the Great Wilderness, oblivious to other matters and thoughts.

Such purity was a rare sight.

Upon returning to the Mining Star, his wristband reconnected to communications and began vibrating continuously.

Qin Jin raised his arm, and a light screen appeared. He began to browse.

During these seven days, the only reason he returned to the Mining Star was to reply to messages, so as not to appear completely missing in others' eyes.

His gaze fell on the light screen, and the first message made Qin Jin's eyes narrow.

The message source was Yan Gaoyuan.

Uncle Yan was quite understanding and knew there might be a generation gap with young people, so he usually had Yan Yue contact him. Unless necessary, he would not directly contact Qin Jin.

With a light touch of his fingertip, the full message appeared.

"Qin Jin, go here tomorrow."

"[Map]"

"That Spiritual Energy User senior has already arrived at the Mining Star."