Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System

The blade ignited, flames licking at its edges like tar burning in the heat of an inferno. The sight was nothing short of mesmerizing, each swing sent fire trailing behind the weapon, igniting the very air around it. The serpent, which had once been confident in its superiority, began to feel the weight of Wen Ran's power, the air thickening with tension.

Each breath feels like I'm breathing fire... If I don't release all this energy soon, I might burn to ashes from the inside. Wen Ran's thoughts raced as he propelled himself toward the serpent, his body moving with the swiftness of a storm. His blade cut through the air with deadly intent, aimed at the beast's throat, and the serpent responded in kind, ready to take revenge for the fiery flower it had lost.

The two collided midair in a violent clash. Wen Ran's sword met the serpent's tail with a loud, deafening metallic ring, a shockwave of force rippling through the space around them. The serpent's glowing azure scales shimmered like steel, an impenetrable defense that deflected some of the impact, but it wasn't enough to stop Wen Ran's fire-infused strike from cutting deep. Both combatants were now locked in a deadly struggle, their power colliding like two forces of nature.

The serpent hissed in pain, its body recoiling as it soared higher into the sky. With a furious shriek, it unleashed a shockwave of force, crashing down onto Wen Ran. The pressure made his ears ring and blood trickled down his face as the winds howled around him. The beast's azure eyes glowed with intense malice, its gaze piercing into Wen Ran's mind, attempting to invade his consciousness and disorient him.

But Wen Ran wasn't easily swayed. His mental pagoda hummed to life, absorbing the mental onslaught and strengthening itself, layer by layer. Though the sharp winds slashed at his skin, he stood tall, a mocking smile playing on his lips. Is that all you've got? he thought, feeling the rush of energy as his body adjusted to the immense pressure.

"Thank you for the help," Wen Ran muttered under his breath. He planted his feet firmly into the ground, lowering his stance and preparing himself. Suddenly, his aura exploded outward, rippling with a raw, unrestrained power. Inside his dantian, several small explosions echoed as his cultivation surged, his body adapting to the torrent of energy. Wen Ran's cultivation shot up from the fourth circle of Spirit Flow straight to the seventh circle in one swift burst.

The remaining harmful energy inside him gathered, swirling into his sword. With a fierce motion, he slashed through the air. A fiery wave shot forward, igniting the surrounding air as it sped toward the serpent. The force of the strike cleaved through the beast's body, the explosion of fire and power severing it in half upon impact.

Wen Ran exhaled slowly, his heart still racing from the rush of the battle. The once proud azure serpent now lay in pieces, its power no match for Wen Ran's relentless resolve.

"What a waste of a good medicinal flower..." Wen Ran muttered to himself, though his disappointment was tempered by the growing sense of satisfaction within him. His fire energy now felt far more refined, more pure. "At least I can feel that my fire energy is much more refined now. It will come in handy in alchemy, even if this battle was unnecessary. Still, I lost a valuable plant that could've been turned into a powerful pill. But my strength has grown rapidly... I'm closer to the Spirit Refinement stage than ever before."

He took a deep breath, trying to focus on the positives. The battle had been reckless, and he knew it, but at least it hadn't been a total loss.

"I should at least harvest some parts of the beast," Wen Ran continued, speaking aloud as he scanned the wreckage of the serpent. "The blood is probably contaminated with fire energy and will be useless. But the fangs could be valuable, if they have a potent poison, they might be worth something. Although, the fact that it didn't use poison attacks on me means it's probably non-poisonous. Well, I hope there's at least something worth taking."

Wen Ran walked through the rocky terrain, the signs of the battle still evident around him. Rocks lay shattered, and a long black scorch mark stretched across the ground, the aftermath of his last attack. The sheer power of his strike was undeniable. He reached the beast's fallen form and bent down to inspect it. As he did, the system window suddenly popped up in front of his eyes, causing his gaze to adjust.

"What is happening?" Wen Ran muttered, confusion clouding his thoughts. The system had never acted like this before.

Above the fallen serpent, the white text suspended in the air read:

[Azure Serpent][Status: Deceased][Condition: Poor]

[Bloodline: Rare]

[Harvestable Parts:]

[Scales-High]

[Fangs-Average]

[Heart-High]

[Eyes-Supreme]

Wen Ran blinked, staring at the unfamiliar window. The information seemed... different from usual. The system's assessment of the creature's condition and the parts he could harvest were presented with a sense of finality. It was as if the serpent itself had been cataloged for his benefit, every piece of it now categorized for potential use. His curiosity piqued, he stepped closer to inspect the beast further, wondering what else the system might reveal.

"This is quite useful," Wen Ran murmured, eyeing the system's assessment of the beast. "It helps me focus on what I need. And just as I thought, the blood must have been destroyed, so it lost the value for harvesting..." His voice trailed off with a hint of disappointment, but he quickly pushed it aside. This was a setback, yes, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it. Instead, he pulled out a small knife from his spirit pouch, its edge gleaming in the sunlight.

With practiced hands, Wen Ran carefully began to extract the valuable parts from the beast's carcass.