Bronze Tier
The giant python's massive carcass lay horizontally in the center of the swamp depression, like a thick, cold wall of flesh, completely protecting Lu Heng inside its torso and shielding him from the pervasive damp cold of the wilderness.
The entire swamp was deathly still, with no flowing water, only stagnant water accumulated from melting snow, suffocating in the puddles and mud. Tiny bubbles would occasionally rise from the surface of the mud, bursting with a "pop" and releasing a stale, musty stench of decaying grass mixed with silt. A heavy smell of blood clung to the damp air, making one's chest feel constricted, and with each breath, it felt as if a layer of cold mud was wrapped around one's lungs.
Lu Heng curled up in the narrow gap left by the python's body, a dull, heavy pain continuing to emanate from his chest. The wounds from being tightly crushed by the python's body showed no signs of abating. His legs were completely numb, dangling heavily on the mud. He dug his fingertips into the flesh of his calves, but felt no pain whatsoever, as if they were two pieces of wood that didn't belong to him.
Thanks to the Combat Suit I was wearing, the layers of fabric cushioned most of the crushing force, and the Tiger Hide Knee Guards on my legs were incredibly resilient, managing to withstand the immense force from the python's bending body; otherwise, my leg bones would have been crushed long ago.
The silence didn't last long; a soft pecking sound came from above.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound came through the thick python skin, very light, unlike the sound of a raptor tearing apart its prey. Lu Heng instantly held his breath, using all the strength he had left to steady himself. He dared not look up. Judging from the sound alone, it was a small carrion bird attracted by the smell of blood, landing on the python's back and pecking at the dark red blood seeping from the wound.
Even though the opponent was small in stature, Lu Heng dared not let his guard down.
The swamp was covered in soft, mushy mud; one step would leave one sinking halfway in. It was difficult for the ferocious beasts that lived on the ground to cross this muddy area and get close to the python's corpse. The only threat at the moment came entirely from above.
He struggled to lift his aching arm, his fingertips touching the Wristband on his wrist. A flash of light, and the Giant-Feather Crossbow silently appeared in his palm. His legs were numb and he couldn't stand, so he could only press his back against the python's body to maintain his balance, the crossbow muzzle pointing upwards, firmly aimed at the source of the sound above him, ready to fire at any moment.
After a brief stalemate, Lu Heng slowly swayed his shoulders, causing the python's body he was leaning against to tremble slightly. Even though it was dead, the inherent pressure emanating from the Bronze Tier beast's corpse still instilled fear in ordinary wild birds, and the slight sway instantly silenced the pecking sounds overhead. A few seconds later, the soft flapping of wings sounded, and the birds hurriedly took flight, daring only to circle far away in the sky, no longer daring to land back on the python's corpse.
The surroundings fell completely silent. Lu Heng slowly exhaled a breath of air mixed with cold air. His tense shoulder and neck muscles relaxed, and the soreness and pain inside immediately surged up. He dared not stay here for long. The smell of blood dissipated very quickly in the damp air. This bird was just the first little thing to arrive. If he waited another half an hour, the predators hidden deep in the swamp would definitely follow the scent. At that time, his legs would be numb and he would be unable to move, and he would only be able to sit and wait for death.
He reached out and opened the Storage Space on his Wristband, taking out a small, rough porcelain bottle containing Tiger Bone Wine that he had prepared earlier.
The cork was pulled out, and a strong, pungent medicinal aroma filled the air, temporarily suppressing the acrid, putrid smell around him. Lu Heng tilted his head back, taking small sips of the medicinal wine. The warm liquid slid down his throat into his chest, spreading a faint warmth over the bruises. He poured the remaining wine into his palm, laboriously opened the collar and cuffs of his Combat Suit, and carefully applied it to the large bruises on his chest and sides.
The medicinal wine could only soothe the surface soreness of the skin and flesh; it had no effect on the deep internal injuries and meridian blockages caused by the python's body pressing against them. His legs were still numb and stiff, without any feeling. In this state, it was impossible for him to cross the muddy swamp and walk back to the Stone Cave Shelter.
Lu Heng showed no panic; he had already made up his mind. The only way to heal his severe injuries and regain sensation in his legs was to dissect the Bronze Tier giant python's corpse beneath him and gamble on whether he could condense a flesh and Flesh Core.
He was well aware of the risks involved; not all beast carcasses could yield cores, and if he failed, he would be trapped and die in the swamp, his legs crippled. But there was no other way out, so rather than waiting to die, he decided to take a chance.
Press the disassemble button on the Wristband fingertip.
A soft, gentle light slowly enveloped the entire python corpse. There were no flashy, glaring lights; the soft light penetrated the texture of the flesh at a steady pace, peeling away impurities and purifying the essence layer by layer. After a moment, all the essential substances floated and took shape, Wristband simultaneously refreshed the standard level entries and item descriptions.
[Bronze Flesh Core | Bronze Tier]
Description: The Swamp Giant Python's physical essence contains a high concentration of life force, which enhances its physical strength and causes a significant boost.
[Bronze Energy Core | Bronze Tier]
Description: Pure source energy crystal condensed by a giant python, free of blood and flesh impurities, with stable and pure energy storage. It is a suitable energy source for high-level devices and creations, and can supply special equipment and spiritual plants.
[Giant Python Tanned Hide | Bronze Tier]
Description: Formed from the cold, damp air of swamps year-round, the leather is high-density, tough, resistant to decay, moisture, and tearing, and possesses a slight resistance to cold and dampness. It can be used to make high-level protective gear and sealed storage containers, and can weaken the corrosive properties of cold and dampness.
[Giant Python Bone Material | Bronze Tier]
Description: The solidified bone of the alien beast has a density, hardness, and impact resistance far exceeding that of ordinary wild bones, while retaining trace amounts of original toughness. It is a high-quality raw material for forging bone weapons and pressure-resistant protective armor plates.
[Concentrated Python Meat | Bronze Tier]
Description: High-energy animal meat that has been purified and dehydrated, preserving a thin layer of life essence, has an extremely high calorie density. Long-term consumption can slowly nourish bones and muscles, repair daily muscle strain, and steadily improve the basic physical condition.
[Bronze Snake Gallbladder | Bronze Tier]
Description: This high-grade medicinal gallbladder from a mythical beast combines the traditional pharmacology of cooling the blood and dispersing blood stasis with the original medicinal power of Bronze Tier medicine. It can resolve internal toxins and injuries, enhance the body's tolerance to dampness and cold, and weaken the erosion of yin evil and cold air.
[Nourishing Snake Gall | Bronze Tier]
Introduction: High-grade tonic herbs that promote blood circulation, strengthen the body's foundation, and rely on the medicinal power of Bronze to clear blocked meridians and repair damaged nerves. Long-term use can enhance the body's endurance.
All the materials were extracted and suspended in a cool halo of light.
The python that had been supporting most of Lu Heng's body completely vanished. In the instant he lost his support, he plummeted straight down into the soft, mushy mud. The icy mud and water instantly soaked through his clothes, the bone-chilling cold clinging to his skin.
Ignoring the mud covering his body, Lu Heng's gaze was fixed on the warm, smooth Bronze Flesh Core. He raised his hand, clenched the crystal, and without hesitation, tilted his head back and swallowed it.
The birds circling high in the sky witnessed the bizarre phenomenon of the entire python's body dissolving into thin air. Their innate fear was fully aroused, and they repeatedly circled in the sky, never daring to approach at low altitude.
The moment the Flesh Core entered the abdomen, an extremely warm and gentle energy exploded, flowing through the meridians and blood vessels to sweep over the limbs and bones.
Unlike the harsh heat of ordinary medicines, this vital energy is long-lasting and subtle, gradually clearing the blocked meridians in the chest cavity and soothing the dull pain of misaligned internal organs. The soreness accumulated in the bones and the numbness from necrotic tissue are cleansed and repaired by layers of vital energy.
My legs, which had been dormant for so long, finally started to feel a clear tingling, itching, and stinging sensation again.
Sensation is rapidly returning.
Lu Heng sat quietly in the swamp mud, letting the Bronze Origin Energy continuously cleanse and repair his severely injured body, waiting for his mobility to fully recover before preparing to leave this dangerous swamp depression.