The winged serpent struggled for a long while before finally going still. The massive beast collapsed with a heavy thud, motionless, leaving Ella and Finn exchanging bewildered glances.
"Is it… dead?" Finn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked.
Ella, equally uncertain, murmured, "I think so…" Their hesitation was understandable. A Level 10 magical beast being taken down by Kael was far too sudden—neither Ella nor Finn had even sensed how Kael had delivered the final blow. All they saw were violet lightning and icy flames erupting from the serpent's body before it writhed in agony…
"Could it be faking?" Finn muttered. It wasn't impossible. High-level magical beasts possessed keen intelligence. This one might be playing dead, waiting for them to approach before striking back. Finn had encountered such tricks multiple times before.
"No, its life force is fading. It's definitely dead!" The little cat's judgment was sharp. "Kael actually killed this giant snake—though it was mid-shedding. As expected of someone I picked…"
Kael exhaled in relief and dispelled his miniature world. Light returned to their surroundings.
They were back in the same cave, but the once-ferocious winged serpent now lay motionless on the ground, its blood pooling in a dark crimson puddle…
Kael stepped forward. Compared to the serpent's massive, over-ten-meter-long body, he seemed as insignificant as an ant.
"Incredible! Kael really took down a winged serpent!" Finn yelped in excitement. Seeing that Kael was unharmed, he hurried over.
Kael rolled his eyes. Did this guy think everything before had been an illusion?
But right now, Kael couldn't be bothered with Finn or Ella. His attention was entirely consumed by the serpent before him…
This winged serpent was practically a mountain of gold coins! Unlike other magical beasts, every part of this creature was a treasure—a literal trove of rare materials. Its value far surpassed that of ordinary Level 10 beasts.
For instance, the serpent's scales, despite their incredible defensive properties—only breakable by Kael's lightning magic—were surprisingly lightweight. They were top-tier materials for crafting armor.
Just imagine—this serpent's massive body could yield enough scales for at least a dozen sets of armor. If distributed among Kael's strongest allies, their survival rates would skyrocket. As long as they didn't face opponents above Level 10, they'd be nearly untouchable!
Moreover, the serpent's blood was a potent spiritual reagent. Kael could use it to brew potions, enhance cultivation, or even refine his own abilities.
But the most remarkable treasure was the serpent's gallbladder!
This Level 10 winged serpent's gallbladder was exceptionally rare. Unlike the blood, which could only be used for alchemy, the gallbladder only needed a quick steaming before consumption—and it contained the serpent's purest essence, the most concentrated energy within its entire body. In fact, it was even more valuable than its core.
All in all, this was an absolute windfall!
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Had this serpent not been in its molting phase, Kael wouldn't have stood a chance—he'd have been lucky just to escape alive.
Likewise, no ordinary ninth-tier mage could have defeated this molting winged serpent, no matter how many came. They'd have been nothing more than snacks for the beast. Kael couldn't help but feel grateful for his impulsive decision to come personally. If he'd sent Lone Wolf, Finn, or Ella instead… total annihilation would've been inevitable.
When Kael explained the serpent's myriad uses, Finn and the little cat's eyes gleamed with greed. Even the usually aloof Ella couldn't hide her excitement.
"Why is there only one serpent here? What a shame! If there were three or five more, we'd be rolling in riches…" The little cat's imagination ran wild as she pawed eagerly at the serpent's scales, though her soft claws left no marks. Undeterred, she lifted her chin and pointed at the dead serpent with a haughty sniff. "See? You should've been afraid! Stupid snake, you were doomed to fall before my mighty claws! How dare you fail to tremble before the majesty of a dragon?!"
Kael couldn't help but chuckle. This kitten really knew how to ham it up…
This winged serpent was likely a rare sight even across the Three Continents. Level 10 magical beasts were scarce to begin with, and winged serpents were a mutated variant among serpentine species—making them exceptionally uncommon.
"Let's work quickly and process this serpent!" Kael said, promptly retrieving over a dozen glass vessels from his spatial ring. They were specifically for storing the serpent's blood, which had spilled in such abundance that wasting even a drop would be unthinkable.
Ella and Finn hurried to assist, filling the vessels to the brim with the dark, potent blood.
Meanwhile, Kael deftly channeled his lightning magic into blade-like projections, using them to slice through the serpent's scales with practiced precision. Once the scales were harvested, he secured the serpent's magic core—another priceless treasure.
A Level 10 beast's core was the real prize. Its value dwarfed dozens of Level 9 cores, and more importantly, it held enough energy to fuel another growth spurt for the World Tree. Kael couldn't help but wonder just how much the tree would evolve this time.
The World Tree's advancement meant his own power would surge in tandem—this was an unshakable truth.
With meticulous care, Kael excised the gallbladder, finally completing the harvest. A wave of relief and exhilaration washed over him.
The gallbladder's energy exceeded even his expectations. Its potency was so immense that Kael felt a flicker of confidence—this might be his key to breaching Level 10.
The chasm between Level 9 and 10 was vast, and success wasn't guaranteed. But for the first time, he had a tangible chance. The urge to return and consume it immediately gnawed at him, yet one critical task remained.
"A Level 10 serpent wouldn't guard this cave without reason," Kael mused. **"There must be treasure deeper inside."**
His words reignited the group's excitement, especially the little cat's. It waved its paws enthusiastically, though it hadn't sensed any artifacts nearby—a sure sign the loot lay well-hidden.
Anything worth a winged serpent's vigilance had to be extraordinary.
Anticipation hung thick as they pressed forward, Kael leading the way with the cat perched on his shoulder, tail flicking lazily. The deeper they ventured, the more the air cooled, a subtle but perceptible shift that Kael noted instantly.
Winged serpents thrived in chilly environments—no wonder this had been its lair.
The little cat suddenly perked up with excitement. **"Kael, it's right ahead, right ahead!"**
The abrupt enthusiasm in the kitten's voice made Kael's heart skip a beat—so the treasure really was close. Given how thrilled the little creature looked, whatever lay ahead had to be extraordinary. A flicker of anticipation surged in Kael's chest, and he quickened his pace.
Finn and Ella hurried after him, not wanting to miss a thing.
The cave widened, revealing a massive platform spanning dozens of meters—clearly the serpent's usual resting spot. Yet, at first glance, the space seemed utterly empty. Finn and Ella's faces fell in disappointment.
"Huh? There's a pool of water here…" Kael's gaze sharpened as he focused on a small spring nestled in the cavern.
The little cat's eyes gleamed even brighter. Its keen senses—long proven reliable—detected something extraordinary about the clear water.
"This is Water of Oblivion," Kael murmured, his tone certain as recognition dawned.
Water of Oblivion.
"What's that?" Finn scratched his head, baffled. Kael always seemed to know these obscure things, while he remained clueless.
The kitten didn't recognize the term either, but it could sense an immense concentration of water-elemental energy swirling within the liquid…