Chapter 164 - 120: The Amazing Lion-headed Goose! A-Level Identification Skill! The Extraordinary Ascetic

Chapter 164: Chapter 120: The Amazing Lion-headed Goose! A-Level Identification Skill! The Extraordinary Ascetic

After its evolution and mutation, the Lion-headed Goose was much larger than before, weighing around fifty-five pounds.

For a bird, that was absolutely massive.

But compared to the Bloodthirsty Vine mimicking a "Blood-tooth Python," it was like an elephant to an ant.

The size difference between them was enormous. No matter how you looked at it, this was not going to be an even fight.

As they watched the Lion-headed Goose charge into the Bloodthirsty Vine’s encirclement, both Chen Chong and Xu Jun were so shocked it felt like they were dreaming.

But the scene that followed made them question reality itself...

The moth-to-a-flame scenario they had imagined never happened. The Lion-headed Goose, having leaped onto the Bloodthirsty Vine, was like a wolf loosed on a flock of sheep, instantly erupting into a frenzy.

Every rake of its sharp talons tore countless vines apart, and its razor-sharp beak stabbed through them, punching large holes with every peck.

Green sap sprayed out, splashing everywhere...

The "Blood-tooth Python," however, seemed to have met its natural predator. It could only struggle, letting out hisses and agonized wails.

Clearly, with its size and previously demonstrated power, killing the Lion-headed Goose should have been an easy task, but it simply didn’t.

Every time it tried to counterattack, its movements would freeze in mid-air before being abruptly withdrawn.

It was as if it couldn’t muster the will to resist, left to dumbly take the beating. Or perhaps...

...it wanted to fight back but was subconsciously restraining its own attacks, suppressing its instincts. It seemed utterly conflicted.

This bizarre scene left Chen Chong and Xu Jun completely dumbfounded.

Xu Jun, in particular, was so shocked that he completely forgot the aching numbness in his limbs.

The Lion-headed Goose continued to tear at the Bloodthirsty Vine, even climbing onto its head and biting down as if trying to pull something out from within.

The "Blood-tooth Python" shrieked.

Countless surrounding vines shot out, intending to strangle the Lion-headed Goose, but just like before, they froze in mid-air. After trembling uncontrollably, they retracted once more.

Amidst this bizarre, chaotic struggle for control, a large hole had been pecked into the top of the "Blood-tooth Python’s" head.

Seeing the Lion-headed Goose burrow halfway into the hole, the Bloodthirsty Vine finally grew afraid.

The Vine Core for this entire batch of offshoots was hidden inside. If it was eaten again, not only would the Bloodthirsty Vine King have failed in its attempt to parasitize the Blood-tooth Python and absorb its power, but it would also lose even more of its own original strength.

Finally, the Bloodthirsty Vine retreated...

The mimicked Blood-tooth Python collapsed, and countless vines retracted at incredible speed into the ground, the walls, and the rock face overhead.

In just a few breaths, the Bloodthirsty Vines that had filled nearly half the cave vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there at all.

HONK HONK—

The Lion-headed Goose tried to give chase, but it was too large to fit into the cracks in the rock. It could only let out two loud honks, as if furious that a meal just within its grasp had escaped.

Meanwhile, Xu Jun could no longer hold on, and his defensive stance collapsed...

Chen Chong sat on the ground, staring blankly at the Lion-headed Goose.

The scene had been so shocking that it filled his mind with countless questions.

’How did the Lion-headed Goose find this place?’

’Why was the Bloodthirsty Vine afraid of it?’

’The Bloodthirsty Vine’s behavior just now wasn’t simply fear. It was complete chaos, as if its consciousness and instincts were warring for control.’

’Could it be that the evolved and mutated Lion-headed Goose is a natural counter to the vines?’

’Or did swallowing the Vine Core give it the ability to suppress the Bloodthirsty Vine?’

Chen Chong was bewildered. After staring blankly for a long time, he could only come up with a rough explanation...

What he could be certain of was that the offshoots were controlled by the Bloodthirsty Vine King.

However, after swallowing the Vine Core, the Lion-headed Goose must have undergone a special change. It had evolved an ability that could interfere with the Bloodthirsty Vine King’s control over its offshoots, throwing the splintered entities into chaos.

Although he didn’t yet understand the specific reason for this, or if this chaotic state could be reliably induced, the Lion-headed Goose’s suppressive effect on the vines was undoubtedly their most useful countermeasure, especially given their lack of knowledge about an Extraordinary Creature like the Bloodthirsty Vine King.

Even if they couldn’t use the Lion-headed Goose against the Bloodthirsty Vine King’s main body in the future, they at least now had a way to deal with its offshoots.

Chen Chong looked at the Lion-headed Goose, which had come over and was now nuzzling against him. A smile spread across his face as he gently stroked it.

"You really are one magical Lion-headed Goose..."

Deeply exhausted, he leaned back against the stone wall.

Ning Yu was still lying unconscious nearby.

Xu Jun had also fallen into a deep sleep while resting.

According to the life-force fluctuations from his Perception Ring, neither of them was in mortal danger. They had simply overexerted themselves—one had crashed on the spot, while the other couldn’t stay conscious once the tension broke.

Looking at the long-dead Blood-tooth Python not far away, a smile touched Chen Chong’s lips, despite the aches wracking his body.

’The Bloodthirsty Vine has finally retreated, and we successfully hunted the Blood-tooth Python.’

’This job... was even more intense than the time with the Unihorn Catfish.’

[Daily Settlement commencing. Based on your gains and performance over the past day, a rating will be assigned and automatically exchanged for Card rewards of the corresponding tier.]

[Over the past day, you cooperated with others to successfully hunt an A-Level Extraordinary Creature, the Blood-tooth Python, personally dealing the Fatal Strike. You also heavily wounded and repelled an A+ Class Extraordinary Creature—an offshoot of the Bloodthirsty Vine King—thwarting its attempt to parasitize the Blood-tooth Python. A creature under your command has once again devoured a small portion of a Vine Core...]