CHAPTER 673: CHAPTER 78: SEMI-ILLUSION CREATURE

As a Level 4 creature evolved naturally, the body structure of the Calamity Serpent is quite astonishing.

Its internal energy cycle can be divided into thousands of small energy cycles, which are connected through the serpent’s spine. These cycles are independent from each other and evenly distributed across the Calamity Serpent’s body, resembling individual segments.

Richard had never seen such an energy cycle structure before.

After conducting simulated research, he discovered that this structure is a highly efficient energy storage cycle. According to the serpent itself, as long as it is well-fed, it can remain active for ten thousand years without absorbing external energy.

Apart from the energy cycle, the composition and structure of the serpent’s scales and spine taught Richard a lot. The composition of the serpent’s scales could optimize Richard’s own bone scales, and the structure of its spine was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

However, these were not the main results of Richard’s research this time. Compared to his major discovery, these aspects were insignificant.

Two months after the research began.

"Incredible, truly incredible."

Richard looked at the serpent’s flesh in front of him, with the pupil of his left Eye of Truth constantly shifting.

In Richard’s vision, the flesh of the serpent gradually shed its outer appearance, unveiling its deeper secrets. After seeing through the Smoke Bomb of the Four Elements Rules, he observed a rule.

A rule that Richard had never seen in any other flesh creature.

Based on Richard’s experience, creatures whose rules can be observed at this level are typically Illusion Creatures from the Illusionary Dimension. The rules observed are Illusion Rules that sustain their existence.

However, Richard could confirm that the Calamity Serpent beside him was by no means a Dimensional Creature.

It was a tangible creature of the Material World.

"Could it be that there exist semi-illusion creatures in this world?" Richard murmured to himself as he gazed at the flesh of the serpent before him.

Suddenly, Richard felt a chill on his face. When he touched it, he found his left eye was bleeding without his notice.

Richard shook his head helplessly, ceasing to input energy into the Eye of Truth.

"Ah, it’s good, but it doesn’t last long."

Although the Eye of Truth can see through the veil, it experiences an overload-like situation after some time of use. Moreover, this has nothing to do with the user’s strength; the time Richard can use it as a Five Rings Great Wizard is no longer than when he was at Four Rings.

Nonetheless, Richard is not a greedy person. Being able to see through the veil already satisfies him greatly.

Turning his attention back to the seemingly unremarkable piece of flesh, Richard felt as if he had stumbled upon a huge treasure. If his thoughts were correct, physique evolution would enter a completely new phase.

The serpent’s ability to resurrect without damage must be related to this rule. If he could decipher its mysteries, could he also achieve undamaged resurrection, and perhaps even more seemingly impossible feats?

Richard didn’t know, so he was filled with anticipation.

Beside him, the Calamity Serpent looked at Richard, who was beaming with excitement over a piece of flesh, thinking how odd this creature was.

It’s just a piece of meat, no matter how fragrant, it shouldn’t be enough to excite someone this much, right?

Letting its thoughts wander briefly, the Calamity Serpent quickly reached a conclusion based on its own experience.

Ah, poor guy, he probably hasn’t eaten anything good before.

Richard sealed that piece of flesh to ensure its cells remained active. Then he glanced at the Calamity Serpent.

With the research done over these days, Richard’s understanding of this serpent even surpassed its own. To put it bluntly, this serpent is a treasure trove.

Its excellent energy storage cycle and a body structure tough enough to withstand 50,000 Power Level shaping spells with only a slight learning make it a perfect battery. Its scales and spine are excellent alchemy materials— the former, slightly enchanted, offers defense comparable to Pure Gold, while the latter’s magic conducting ability is almost on par with Mithril.

Its flesh contains a large amount of evolution material; consuming a small amount can enhance physique. The anti-aging substances extracted from its blood can lengthen the lifespan of a creature without any modifications.

This can be considered a divine medicine for creatures with physique evolution.

Aside from these, there are some scattered materials. Although not as usable as the previous ones, they can be used as by-products for refining them.

All in all, such a treasure shouldn’t go to waste.

But the biggest problem now is, how can he utilize this serpent stably?

To maintain the quality of the serpent’s materials, Richard cannot seal its body. The Calamity Serpent is not a Galaxy Mayfly; its flesh and scales, although seemingly simple, are things that require the entire body of the serpent as a foundation to be born.

The approach for dealing with the Heart of Mayfly does not apply to the serpent.

.

But relying on means like a Destiny Contract won’t make the serpent obedient and calm—

Even though the Calamity Serpent is highly fearful of death, that fear hasn’t reached the level yet. If Richard were to skin and debone it like an industrial raw material, any creature would choose death.

Compared to eternal torment, death seems rather trivial.

Moreover, with his current level of sealing skills, even if he managed to separate the body and soul of the Big Snake, it wouldn’t be enough to prevent the snake’s soul from committing suicide. Once the soul dies, the body of the snake would vanish due to that special rule.

Even if Richard could temporarily preserve it using sealing skills, it would be impossible to use it as industrial raw material.

"Ah, still too greedy."

Richard sighed slightly. He had already gained enough from the Calamity Serpent, yet he was still greedily thinking about how to make use of its body.

If the Calamity Serpent knew what Richard was thinking at this moment, it would definitely choose to commit suicide.

Though death is painful, it’s better than being mined as a beast mineral in the future.

After pondering for a long time, Richard still couldn’t come up with a solution. He could only temporarily feed the Calamity Serpent and then throw it back into the seal.

The reason for feeding it was mainly out of fear that the Calamity Serpent might be drained to death by the seal.

The Calamity Serpent had no reaction to Richard’s treatment, or rather, the only option it had was suicide. If it didn’t commit suicide, it couldn’t do anything.

Before entering the seal, the Calamity Serpent looked at Richard and asked, "Wizard, I can feel that you are different from those blue provisions. I am curious, what exactly do you plan to do? Raise me like livestock?"

Richard was silent for a moment and then calmly said, "...who knows. Maybe in a few decades, I’ll set you free."

...

A downpour, a heavy rain.

In the eerie forest, Bal was running around chaotically. Behind him, a fierce monster was chasing him.

Lightning flashed, thunder roared.

Suddenly, Bal slipped and fell to the ground. He struggled to get back up, but the monster had already leapt onto him, its sharp claws and teeth slicing open his chest and neck like razors...

"Ah!"

Bal sat up abruptly, and after realizing he was in his tent, he vaguely wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"What’s happening to me? Why do I keep having this nightmare?"

Bal crawled out of his sleeping bag and took a few gulps of water from his canteen. Upon exiting the tent, the night watch noticed him.

"Professor Bal, why are you up?"

Bal waved his hand. "It’s nothing, just a nightmare."

Hearing this, the night guard didn’t continue to inquire. Everyone in the exploration team knew that Professor Bal, during his last expedition, encountered a geological disaster where the entire team was buried in a mudslide except for him. He also had been chased by a wild beast in the forest after the mudslide.

After experiencing such events, it was remarkable that Bal was only having nightmares.

The cold night wind blew on his face, thoroughly dispelling the remnants of sleep from Bal.

It had only been two weeks since he was discharged from the hospital, and he had already joined a new expedition team despite objections. To others, it seemed like he was risking his life for the job, but only he knew that he was trying to solve the mystery surrounding himself.

Although hospital records indicated that he had suffered temporary amnesia due to a head injury and significant psychological trauma, making him unable to recall what had happened that night.

But he knew that what caused the team’s complete demise that night was definitely not a geological disaster.

Habitually reaching into his inner pocket for a cigarette pack, Bal realized after fumbling for a bit that he had already lined the inner pocket of his coat with bulletproof material.

Under the starlight, inside Bal’s jacket was a piece of dark red leather that covered his heart area perfectly.

This piece of leather was something he acquired from a villager, who called it a devil scroll, meant to tempt people into signing contracts to sell their souls.

Though he was sure he had never seen this thing before, at the first sight of the scroll, it felt frighteningly familiar. After acquiring it, for some reason, he tested its toughness.

Upon discovering that it could resist bullets, he had even decided not to clean the stains on it and stuck it to the inside of his coat.

At that time, he had an inexplicable sense of urgency, as if without this piece of leather as his inner lining, he would face death.

After smoking a cigarette, the fading sleepiness surged back into Bal’s mind. Putting out the cigarette, he returned to his tent.

This time, he slept very soundly.

The next morning, Bal awoke from his slumber. After tidying up his sleeping bag, he suddenly heard a burst of commotion outside the tent. He stepped out and saw that in this remote area, another exploration team had appeared.

Judging from the equipment of this team, their setup was even more luxurious than Bal’s team.

"Quite marvelous to encounter companions in this desolate wilderness."

Bal rubbed his face, intending to find some water to wash up. But at this moment, he suddenly noticed a very familiar figure among the exploration team.