Volume One: The Soul-Capturing Gourd, The Soul Igniting Lantern Chapter 99: The Terrifying Forest Anaconda

Deep within the rainforest, various shrubs, towering trees, and twisting vines grew frantically, vying for sunlight.

The four of them floated leisurely on a small bamboo raft atop the lake, the atmosphere calm and serene, as if time itself had slowed to a gentle pace.

But—

Min Wenhua and Li Hetang, tasked with rowing, remained vigilant and cautious, their nerves taut like drawn bows. Only Xiao Yulou lay relaxed and carefree within the raft.

Although Gu Mo was unconscious and Xiao Yulou was heavily poisoned, the recovery abilities of these two seemingly worthless fellows were astonishing beyond belief!

At that moment, Min Wenhua suddenly swung his sharp spear backwards, his gaze cutting through the air.

Ripples appeared on the surface of the river behind the raft. Instantly, a swarm of dormant birds and insects stirred in the depths of the rainforest.

Simultaneously, the comfortably relaxed Xiao Yulou jolted upright in alarm.

The next second, Min Wenhua clenched his fist and raised it sharply.

This was a signal known to all special forces soldiers. Upon seeing it, Xiao Yulou and Li Hetang held their breath, tensed their senses, and kept a wary eye on their surroundings, not daring to shed even a drop of sweat.

Soon after, a muffled thud echoed from beneath the raft.

Exchanging glances, the three onboard knew immediately—they were facing a formidable adversary.

The rainforest was oppressively hot and humid; the air was thick and sticky. Beneath the unusually calm lake surface, unseen currents churned.

Frowning, Xiao Yulou glanced sideways and caught sight of Li Hetang’s ghastly pale face—a shade more deathly than someone long deceased.

Silently, Li Hetang pressed his hand against his helmet. A faint blue glow flickered like a receding tide.

In the blink of an eye, the sly man had activated his invisibility mode under Xiao Yulou’s watchful eyes.

Xiao Yulou’s brow furrowed deeper as he stared at the shadows beneath the raft—vast and ominous.

A shiver gripped his heart, a foreboding so palpable it chilled his soul.

What giant creature could lurk beneath the dark currents of the rainforest’s waters if not a massive anaconda?

Suddenly, the world seemed to pause.

The anaconda was the largest snake species on Earth—though, of course, it paled in comparison to the legendary Liu Kunsheng of the immortals.

Robust and muscular, once an anaconda coiled around its prey, it would crush bones and tendons without mercy; escape was futile.

Worse still, as the enormous serpent swallowed its victim in endless darkness, corrosive gastric juices would burn relentlessly.

The anaconda’s head was relatively narrow, its body deep green or dark gray-black, adorned with oval black and reddish-brown patches along its sides. Its underbelly was lighter, with tail patterns of yellow and black.

The Amazonian anaconda’s nose bore six thickened scales—three on each side—and the only part of its body without scales was the cloacal region near the tail.

These giant snakes could reach lengths over ten meters and weigh around 250 kilograms. Males averaged three meters, while females were twice that size.

Their smooth, glossy skin lacked scales, was soft and loose, allowing them to stay submerged for long periods.

Typically, they basked on sturdy shrubs or trees to soak up the sun.

To avoid attackers, they burrowed into the soil and hid in nearby waters.

If their territory was invaded, anacondas launched swift attacks. When threatened, they curled into a tight ball to protect their heads and awaited an opportunity to strike back.

They possessed a breathing tube within their mouths, preventing suffocation while swallowing prey.

Despite their size and strength, young anacondas suffered high mortality rates in their first year, often falling prey to other creatures.

Anacondas practiced a polyandrous mating system, where one female could mate with many males.

During mating, as many as thirteen males entwined around a single female, forming a writhing mass.

Afterward, the female fasted for seven months, sometimes consuming one or more males to gain energy for gestation.

Following the incubation, she gave birth underwater at the end of the rainy season, producing 20 to 40 young snakes at a time, occasionally more than 80.

Newborn anacondas weighed about 200 grams—roughly the weight of three or four instant noodle packets—and measured around 68 centimeters in length.

The world snapped back into motion.

Such knowledge flashed rapidly through Li Hetang’s mind.

Who knew how many terrifying anacondas were lurking in this rainforest?

The would-be "soldier king" trembled with unease.

Xiao Yulou stared at the ripples beneath the raft, sweat pouring down his back. His left hand stealthily slipped inside his robe.

Though he had recently slain a flood dragon, his poisoned state would surely impair his magical abilities.

Without the aid of a divine artifact’s power, his fate would be bleak indeed.

Suddenly, another fierce impact rocked the bottom of the raft.

With a loud thud, the raft was lifted more than three meters into the air before crashing heavily back onto the lake’s surface.

The once tranquil water erupted in turbulent waves.

Min Wenhua’s face darkened. He had navigated this lake countless times without incident. Could it be that Li Hetang and the others had inadvertently attracted the anaconda?

As he pondered, violent ripples stirred the water nearby.

Turning his head, Min Wenhua gripped his spear tightly, calling out loudly:

“Hold on tight!”

At that moment, a tremendous thud rocked the raft again, sending it soaring six or seven meters high—a force several times stronger than before.

The fragile raft creaked ominously under the strain.

Clearly, the monstrous serpent beneath the lake was ravenous; otherwise, it wouldn’t attack humans.

In a flash, Xiao Yulou’s rage surged. He poured all his strength into his legs, inhaled deeply, formed a mystical seal with his fingers, and shouted:

“Three Purities Dao Technique, Thousand-Pound Weight!”

With a resounding bang, the lightweight raft struck the lake’s surface like a block of black iron.

Splashes erupted, dispersing the raging ripples.

Min Wenhua and the now-invisible Li Hetang stationed themselves at the raft’s front and rear, poised to confront the giant serpent.

Facing such danger, the trio had no choice but to confront the beast head-on, or risk being devoured.

Their blood boiled with tension; veins bulged as fear surged relentlessly.

The raft now sat deeper in the water than before, no wonder the serpent hadn’t toppled it.

Xiao Yulou’s Thousand-Pound Weight was formidable—a skill honed through years of rigorous training.

Thus, the elegant and ethereal Taoist once again displayed his prowess.

Standing at the raft’s center, Xiao Yulou frowned as he noticed water seeping through the bottom.

Another few impacts like this, and the raft carrying four would surely break apart.

Then, they would be forced to wade through the water.

With that thought, Xiao Yulou produced an ancient tortoise shell from within his robes, channeling his Taoist energy into it.

Before the serpent could strike again—

With a fierce shout, Xiao Yulou invoked:

“Three Purities Dao Technique, Supreme Armored Shell!”

A dazzling golden light flared, forming a massive tortoise shell shield that enveloped the entire raft tightly.

After a surge of turbulent waves, the serpent struck the raft’s underside again.

Thud!

This time, the golden shield absorbed the blow—only a slight tremor shook the raft, far from being thrown aloft like before.

Beneath the water’s surface, several large bubbles appeared.

Min Wenhua and Li Hetang tensed, astonished at the Taoist’s formidable power.

Just as they began to relax slightly, a sudden rush of water stirred the depths. The emerald-green lake churned into murky chaos.

In an instant, a gray-black snake as thick as a well’s mouth burst forth, coiling tightly around the golden tortoise shell shield.

Its immense girth was terrifying to behold.

The monstrous anaconda’s massive coils obscured the sunlight above.

A wave of dread and darkness surged with it.

Estimations placed the serpent’s length at over twenty meters.

Li Hetang, still invisible, gasped inwardly. Yet Min Wenhua at the raft’s front seemed exhilarated.

Drawing breath, the serpent constricted its coils, applying pressure—yet its enormous head remained hidden.

Crackling sounds issued from the golden shield—chilling and ominous.

Were it not for Xiao Yulou’s profound Taoist mastery, this fragile raft would have crumbled in seconds.

As the three braced themselves, suddenly—

With a splash, the enormous snake’s head emerged, filling the entire view with a blood-red maw.

Inside the black void of its mouth gleamed four rows of razor-sharp, curved fangs, glinting coldly.

A thick, blood-red tongue flicked wildly.

In a mere fraction of a second, the anaconda’s jaws opened 180 degrees, releasing a gust of wind as it bit down on the tortoise shell shield.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The horrifying sounds persisted.

Two rows of scythe-like fangs pierced the golden shield, lunging fiercely toward Min Wenhua.

The teeth were less than a fist’s length from his eyes.

So close, Min Wenhua could see the serpent’s black throat.

A foul stench nearly overwhelmed the iron-willed soldier.

Anacondas secrete a unique odor from sweat glands, reminiscent of a corpse decomposing over ten days.

In this harsh battleground, the stench and terror assailed the three relentlessly.

Suddenly, Min Wenhua’s eyes blazed with fury. He raised his spear and plunged it straight into the serpent’s mouth.

At the same time, Li Hetang drove a specially crafted dagger into the serpent’s most vulnerable spot—the cloacal region near the tail.

Within seconds, Li Hetang thrashed wildly, spraying thick, bloody fluid over his face.

Hissing painfully, the great anaconda trembled.

But despite its injuries, it intensified its grip on the tortoise shell shield, which began to contract.

The massive serpent intended to compress the raft into a size small enough to swallow whole.

Seeing the golden shield falter, Xiao Yulou gritted his teeth, summoning every last drop of his Taoist energy.

With a thunderous roar, the golden shield hardened to an impenetrable hardness.

The serpent, muscles tense and mouth agape, readied itself for the final strike.

Anxiety, dread, and a prickling terror surged through them—a crescendo of horror beyond words...