The clash of the gale and sound waves ceased, and both figures halted their attacks, deeming further struggle unnecessary as they were evenly matched.
Chen Tian raised his dragon claw hands high, and above his head, a colossal nine-colored vortex slowly materialized, expanding continuously, with destructive power swirling within.
The Ice Sky Python sensed a hint of danger. Its scales erupted with black light, standing on end. Countless scales detached from its body, transforming into beams of light that shot towards Chen Tian, a rain of serpentine scales like razor blades slicing through everything.
Chen Tian retracted his claws slightly, the vortex above his head spinning at high speed, becoming a nine-colored wheel of light. He gently tossed his arms, and the vortex wheel instantly shot towards the Ice Sky Python. Before the nine-colored wheel, the serpentine scales launched by the Ice Sky Python were powerless, shattering like paper.
The Ice Sky Python, facing the nine-colored wheel closing in, showed no expression. It coiled its body, its tail wrapping around itself, and its entire form turned black, becoming a black statue.
Chen Tian's nine-colored wheel struck, yet it struggled to inflict damage. No matter how fast it spun, it couldn't cut the statue in half. Seeing this, Chen Tian waved his hand, and the nine-colored wheel vanished.
As the wheel disappeared, the Ice Sky Python recovered, sneering, "Is that all? Heh!"
Chen Tian paid it no mind. The opponent had used a life-saving skill; his previous strike was never intended to kill. His calculation had been off; he'd expected to heavily wound the opponent.
He hadn't anticipated the opponent's decisiveness in immediately deploying their life-saving skill without hesitation.
However, Chen Tian wasn't particularly surprised. Instead, he felt a sliver of joy. If the opponent's life-saving skill was used, their subsequent moves would be harder to defend against.
Chen Tian looked at the Ice Sky Python before him. Divine Fire and Divine Ice enveloped his dragon claw arms, and both energies converged in his palm as he clenched two orbs of light.
Then, nine-colored orbs of light formed in his mouth. Three orbs shot out, heading towards the Ice Sky Python.
As they flew towards the Ice Sky Python, the Divine Fire orb, the nine-colored orb, and the Divine Ice orb instantly merged, forming a gray-white orb that carried terrifying power towards the Ice Sky Python.
Ancestral Dragon Skill: Dragon Annihilation!
However, with the addition of Divine Ice and Divine Fire, its power had increased severalfold. Chen Tian's mastery now allowed him to fuse multiple elements or energies.
For Chen Tian, these were simple matters.
The Ice Sky Python, seeing the approaching gray-white orb, was shocked. This guy's skills were getting more ferocious with each passing moment. This attack, if he couldn't withstand it, would result in severe injuries!
"Damn it!"
With a thought, the black water of the surrounding toxic mud pool formed a giant cocoon, enclosing him.
Simultaneously, the gray-white orb arrived before the water cocoon and collided. The black water shield exploded, scattering black water in all directions.
The Ice Sky Python retreated, half of its body vanishing. Even with its formidable regenerative abilities, it would take a long time to recover.
Seeing this, the Ice Sky Python transformed into its true form, its colossal figure piercing the sky. The entire sea surface appeared minuscule, and before the Ice Sky Python's eyes, Chen Tian looked like an ant.
It then slammed its massive tail towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian had already calculated this move and gathered the wings on his back, enveloping himself.
As he spun, Chen Tian, shrouded by his wings, transformed into a nine-colored eggshell and shot towards the Ice Sky Python's tail.
He instantly pierced the Ice Sky Python's tail, leaving a massive hole.
Ancestral Dragon Skill: Dragon Annihilation Orb!
Chen Tian charged directly at the Ice Sky Python, which cried out in pain. However, it chose to meet Chen Tian's attack head-on. It had no more room to retreat.
Its colossal body coiled, scales sprouted all over, and it charged at Chen Tian, a desperate, all-out attack.
Chen Tian's nine-colored eggshell instantly collided with the Ice Sky Python. Both were forced back, but as Chen Tian retreated, he instantly spread his wings, unleashing countless rays of nine-colored light that shot towards the Ice Sky Python. These rays connected to form a cage, enveloping the Ice Sky Python's entire body.
Chen Tian then clenched his dragon claws, and the nine-colored light lines retracted. Under the constricting light, the Ice Sky Python's body was torn into countless fragments, its blood splattering onto the black mud pool.
Ancestral Dragon Skill: Nine-Colored Cage Annihilation!
A synthesized voice echoed in Chen Tian's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for achieving the first kill of the Toxic Mud Pool Lord-level boss. Rewards tripled!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for gaining 6 billion experience points, leveling up to level 41!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for obtaining items: Viper Gallbladder, Viper Heart, three Gold Threads, ten Silver Threads!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for obtaining equipment: Viper Scale Armor!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for obtaining 300 skill points!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for obtaining 3000 attribute points!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player for obtaining one Ice Sky Viper Summon Card!"
Chen Tian listened to the synthesized voice in his mind, amazed at the multitude of rewards. A first kill, too! This meant this boss had remained undefeated for three years since this map appeared. Such luck! First kill rewards were already doubled.
Chen Tian's rewards were tripled, which was almost unbelievable.
He then began to sort through the information.
Firstly, the skill points could be used to upgrade the quality of skills. 300 points could upgrade three skills. However, skills and skill upgrade cards were different. Chen Tian decided to save them, as he had too many skills and was unsure which to upgrade.
Next were the 3000 attribute points. Chen Tian distributed them evenly, bringing all his attributes to 9500. Including the attribute points gained from leveling up, it was just enough. Chen Tian then spoke, "Now my attribute points are finally close to those of normal players."
Normal players' attributes would exceed 10,000 by level 30 and reach 15,000 by level 40.
But Chen Tian was different. His mode didn't allow for attribute growth upon leveling up. He gained no attributes when leveling, and the attribute points he received were the minimum.
This was a drawback of the Coldness Mode, wasn't it? But the privileges of this mode were very appealing.
Chen Tian had already experienced it. And his all-class mastery allowed him to completely overcome the limitations of this mode. He then looked at the other rewards.
Gold and Silver Threads were items for repairing fragment quests. These needed to be saved up. Chen Tian only had a few Gold Threads and a dozen Silver Threads now. He had no idea when he could gather enough.
Viper Gallbladder and Viper Heart were the heart and gallbladder of the Ice Sky Python, with the sole effect of removing all toxins from the body.
Chen Tian felt this was useless, as he had the Purification skill. What toxins could affect him?
He then looked at the Viper Scale Armor, and its stats appeared before him.
Viper Scale Armor: HP +500, Armor +1000, Constitution +3000, Speed +1500
Quality: Gold
Innate Skill: Viper's Guard!
Chen Tian didn't hesitate and had the Polymorph Orb record it. He then equipped it, and his stats increased. His Constitution exceeded 10,000, his Speed reached 10,300, his Constitution became 12,000, and his HP reached 10,000.
Chen Tian nodded with satisfaction and looked up at the sky, saying, "It seems I can head to the third world now. Third world, here I come."
Even though Chen Tian hadn't reached level 50, he believed that even at level 41, he could still handle the monsters and dungeons of the third world.
With a wave of his hand, a magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and his entire body transformed into light, disappearing.
Mage Skill: Spatial Magic!
As Chen Tian left, a voice boomed across the skies of the Era of Time.
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Dean Elia for achieving the first kill of the Toxic Mud Pool Lord-level boss. Rewards doubled!"
This system announcement echoed through all ninety-nine worlds, shocking countless players.
Because the Toxic Mud Pool was known as a wilderness area! It wasn't a place players could easily enter, and very few went there to level up.
Chen Tian remained unaware of the commotion his simple leveling session had caused.