Chapter 146: Iron Bei Qiu

The giant snake writhed frantically within the pool, clearly in great distress, yet it refused to leave the water for reasons unknown.

Despite the massive dose of venom—nearly a month’s worth of supply—it hadn't been paralyzed instantly. Other creatures in the pool had long since floated to the surface in dense clusters, forming a vast, white "foam." Finally, after about ten minutes of thrashing, the serpent ceased its movements and floated to the surface, belly-up.

Jia Zhengjin had the gnoll crossbowmen test it with a volley of arrows. While they still couldn't pierce its tough hide, the fact that the serpent showed no reaction suggested it was thoroughly paralyzed. Since it had been so adamant about staying in the water even at the cost of its life, there had to be a reason it couldn't come ashore.

Jia Zhengjin immediately jumped onto the head of his fake dragon, commanding it to take flight and hover over the pool. It dove down, gripped the paralyzed snake head with its powerful hind legs, and turned to drag it toward the bank.

Given the changeling’s strength, it stalled halfway through. The tail of the giant snake seemed rooted to the spot, immovable.

"Everyone, help! What are you standing around for?" Jia Zhengjin shouted. He ordered Zhuoma, Wolf, Karl, and all the gnolls into action. They tied ropes to the serpent’s maw, and over a thousand people pulled with all their might.

Even with so many people and the fake dragon, they could only manage to shift the serpent a few times. Jia Zhengjin turned to the forest sprites for help. "Quick, help us pull it ashore!"

The forest sprites acted immediately. They had the treants release vines to entangle the serpent, then used magic to manifest several thick, green, vine-like plants along the bank, which they used to haul the creature with collective force.

"Splash! Splash..." Bit by bit, through their combined efforts, the giant snake was dragged onto the bank. Its sheer size and length were beyond imagination!

What shocked Jia Zhengjin most was that the serpent’s tail was actually a massive, heavy seashell. From the outside, the shell appeared to be made of steel, shimmering with a peculiar luster. The snake's body seemed to be nothing more than a tongue protruding from the shell’s maw—a truly bizarre sight.

In contrast to the impenetrable skin of the serpent’s body, the flesh connecting it to the open shell was incredibly soft.

"What kind of freakish creature is this?" Jia Zhengjin immediately ordered everyone to attack the soft flesh inside the shell. The tactic proved effective instantly, turning the area into a bloody mess.

Once that soft flesh was pulverized, the seemingly indestructible giant snake deflated like a leaking balloon.

[Message: Zhuoma has killed an Iron-Shell Serpent. You have gained 1,000 experience points!]

1,000 experience points? That was staggering. Jia Zhengjin was stunned, but after looting the remains, he was even more shocked.

[Message: You have obtained the "Light Melee Mech Head Component Blueprint"!]
[Message: You have obtained the "Light Melee Mech Engine Component Blueprint"!]
[Message: You have obtained 10 steel ingots!]
[Message: You have obtained an Excellent Steel Battle Axe!]
[Message: You have obtained an Excellent Steel Armor!]
[Message: You have obtained a Fine Steel Helmet!]
[Message: You have obtained the Gunpowder Manufacturing Recipe!]
[Message: You have obtained the Maintenance Tool Manufacturing Blueprint!]
[Message: You have obtained the Tire Manufacturing Blueprint!]

[Light Melee Mech Head Component Blueprint]: Requires a Level 10 Technology Research Institute, Level 10 Mechanical Technology unlocked, and a Level 10 Armory. Materials required: 100 aluminum alloys, 10 precision parts, 50 electronic circuits, 1 super-sensing chip.

[Light Melee Mech Engine Component Blueprint]: Requires a Level 10 Technology Research Institute, Level 10 Propulsion Technology unlocked, and a Level 10 Production Workshop. Materials required: 20 precision parts, 50 electronic circuits, 1 electromagnetic unit.

[Excellent Steel Battle Axe]: Attack 220, Strength +10, Melee skill damage increased by 20%.
[Excellent Steel Armor]: Defense 185, Strength +7, Magic damage taken reduced by 10%.
[Fine Steel Helmet]: Defense 120, Strength +3, Jump ability enhanced.
[Gunpowder Manufacturing Recipe]: Combine saltpeter and coal in a specific ratio. The explosive power is incredible!
[Maintenance Tool Manufacturing Blueprint]: Essential for repairing mechanical damage. Materials: 10 steel. Prerequisite: Must own a blacksmith shop.
[Tire Manufacturing Blueprint]: Teaches the creation of large, medium, and small tires. Prerequisite: Must own a production workshop and have unlocked transport technology.

The loot was terrifying! Mech technology had actually dropped—what level was this Iron-Shell Serpent anyway?

Although mech technology was completely out of reach for Jia Zhengjin right now, the fact that it dropped was a pleasant surprise. At his current rate of development, it would take at least a year or two to own a mech; the material requirements for unlocking the necessary technologies and building the prerequisite facilities were daunting.

At his current stage, even if he obtained a simple blueprint for firearms, he wouldn't be able to craft them.

With no time to dwell on it, he tucked the loot away. With the Iron-Shell Serpent dead, the path was clear. Jia Zhengjin piloted his fake dragon high up and finally succeeded in navigating through the waterfall’s deluge to rescue the little girl from the boulder.

Flying back to the bank, the forest sprites immediately gathered around, fluttering joyfully near the girl.

"Giggle, giggle..." The little girl let out a clear, melodious laugh as she watched the sprites dancing around her. Jia Zhengjin, who had gone to such great lengths to save her, was completely ignored.

"Thank you!" a forest sprite flew over and communicated via telepathy. "We must return her to where she belongs. You have earned our sincere friendship; from now on, you may call upon the treants to fight for you at any time!"

The ability to call on treants for battle at any time? Jia Zhengjin beamed—this was a massive win!

"But what exactly is she?" Jia Zhengjin asked out of curiosity.

"She is a friend of our kind," the sprite replied. "Remember that, and it is enough! We must take this lost child home. Goodbye!"

Watching the treants use their vines to hoist the little girl up and march with heavy steps into the depths of the forest, followed closely by the sprites, they soon vanished from sight.

What kind of creature was she? Jia Zhengjin remained filled with questions.

But then, he thought, *who cares!* He turned his attention to the loot. Aside from the high-level blueprints he couldn't use yet, he had two Excellent-grade items and one Fine-grade steel piece of equipment.

Without hesitation, he handed the gear to Zhuoma. After all, Zhuoma was the one who wielded a giant axe, and the weight of steel armor was too much for the current town guards to bear, let alone himself. Only Zhuoma, the human tank, could make use of them!