Another new day, and also the day the expedition team would first directly encounter the mutated giant serpents in the original plot.
Knowing the upcoming plot, Uchiha Kazuhiko naturally wouldn't let the boat miss the fork in the waterway.
Thus, the Bloody Mary did not crash down the waterfall like in the original story, and the expedition team continued safely on their intended route.
"Mr. Kazuhiko, are you getting used to life on the boat? I have some macadamia nuts here; would you like some?"
Out of gratitude for Uchiha Kazuhiko's life-saving grace, Gail had been very enthusiastic towards him since yesterday, often chatting with him and occasionally giving him some tasty snacks.
"Thank you, but I'm not very fond of snacks."
Uchiha Kazuhiko put away the scroll and declined Gail's offer with a shake of his head.
"Alright then, I think Sam will like these."
Gail put the snacks away and was about to hand them to Sam nearby when she suddenly pointed towards the forest edge by the riverbank and cried out in terror,
"My God! What is that?!"
Everyone looked in the direction Gail was pointing and discovered a over twenty-meter-long mutated python using its thick body to constrict a fierce, fat wild boar.
The chatterbox Cole scared, hid behind Uchiha Kazuhiko, crying out in panic,
"My heavens, am I dreaming? What the hell is that thing? How can there be such a huge python?!"
Dr. Jack wasn't very afraid of the distant giant serpent.
His eyes revealed excitement, clearly having discovered something that interested him.
"That's probably a mutated anaconda. Quiet down, let's get out of here quickly."
Captain Bill was a retired soldier with some knowledge of the rainforest's creatures.
He knew mutated flora and fauna occasionally appeared, so he didn't panic too much.
He immediately returned to the pilothouse, increased the boat's speed, and quickly left that dangerous forest behind.
Even after distancing themselves from the forest, the shock from the mutated giant python lingered.
The atmosphere on the boat became oppressive, until the chatterbox Cole approached Uchiha Kazuhiko again.
"Hey, man, can that magical Chinese Kung Fu deal with a monster like that?"
Cole looked at Uchiha Kazuhiko full of expectation, hoping for a positive answer to dispel the unease in his heart.
"Don't worry, dealing with it shouldn't be a problem."
Sure enough, after hearing Uchiha Kazuhiko's reply, everyone's anxious hearts settled down.
If even the strongest among them, Uchiha Kazuhiko, couldn't handle the mutated giant python, many on the boat would probably choose to abandon this dangerous expedition.
Dr. Jack looked gratefully at Uchiha Kazuhiko, then used inflammatory words to stabilize morale:
"Guys, danger and opportunity coexist. As long as we succeed, everything in the future awaits us."
As soon as Dr. Jack finished speaking, the brawny Jordan chimed in:
"Jack's right. It's all worth it. Think about it, if every person needs one pill a day, even if each pill costs one dollar, we'll become billionaires."
"Alright then, future billionaires, if you strike it rich, please remember this poor little captain. Give me some money then so I can get a new Bloody Mary."
Captain Bill returned from the pilothouse. Seeing the tense atmosphere, he joked with everyone.
After the few of them lightened the mood with banter, the atmosphere on the deck became lively again.
Seeing this, Uchiha Kazuhiko returned to the roof to continue his training.
A day later, the expedition reached the Satan Basin.
The Bloody Mary docked at the forest's edge.
Uchiha Kazuhiko entered the forest first to scout, confirming there was no immediate danger nearby.
Only then did the expedition members disembark one by one.
"Alright, guests, this is the destination. Good luck to you,"
Captain Bill stood on the deck bidding farewell after the team landed.
"If you need me to pick you up on the return trip, I'll give you a ten percent discount."
"It's a deal then, you profiteer!" Jordan, in charge of finances, laughed and cursed. He shouldered a positioning device for Cole and followed the team into the dark and deep jungle.
After entering the forest, Uchiha Kazuhiko was no longer as relaxed as before, becoming more cautious.
He knew the next period would be the most critical time for the mission.
The primal forest was a very dangerous place for the expedition.
Not only were there numerous mutated giant pythons, but also all sorts of inconspicuous yet deadly creatures, like fiercely poisonous dart frogs, all-devouring army ants, etc.
Under the surprised gazes of everyone, Uchiha Kazuhiko drew his fine steel katana.
He guarded Dr. Jack, who was trudging along unsteadily, not daring to relax his vigilance in the slightest.
The rainforest during the rainy season had very slippery ground. After painfully advancing two kilometers, the expedition was forced to stop.
Looking at the muddy, swamp-like ground ahead formed by the rainy season's torrential rains, Dr. Jack cursed under his breath, then ordered Cole, who was responsible for route planning: "Re-plan the route. We don't have much time."
"Okay, Doctor. But you know, this is just a simulated route. Whether we can actually pass through it isn't something I can decide." Cole chattered on while operating his machine.
Soon, he devised a new route map.
The new route was somewhat longer than the previous one, adding about half a day's journey.
To pick the Blood Orchids as quickly as possible, Dr. Jack only gave everyone half an hour's rest before setting off towards the destination again.
"Stop. Stay here and don't move. Wait for me to return."
Uchiha Kazuhiko's keen senses picked up the faint sound of a giant serpent crawling in the distance.
He had the expedition team stop where they were and advanced alone, intending to deal with it before it encountered the group.
...
A over twenty-meter-long mutated giant python was flicking its tongue, winding its way through the rainforest, looking for today's lunch.
Detecting a tiny heat source approaching it, the mutated python didn't pay much attention, continuing its leisurely glide towards the river where it usually hunted.
Suddenly, the mutated python sensed the heat source abruptly accelerate, rapidly approaching itself.
Before it could react, it felt its body suddenly lose control. Immediately after, intense pain shot through its head, and it instantly lost consciousness.
Beside the corpse of the mutated python, Uchiha Kazuhiko's figure appeared. He took a few small breaths to calm his fiercely pounding heart.
Although energy burst techniques could provide a temporary boost in strength, they also placed a greater burden on the body. It seemed he needed to train his physical strength even harder in the future.
Uchiha Kazuhiko dug out the python's gallbladder and stored it in his storage space.
He then flicked the blood off his katana and kicked the bisected corpse into a nearby mud pit.
After handling this, Uchiha Kazuhiko returned to find the expedition team.
Under his protection, the group continued towards the target point.
Along the next stretch of the journey, Uchiha Kazuhiko discovered over a dozen more lone mutated giant pythons.
He slew them one by one, acquiring quite a few mutated snake gallbladders.
As the team ventured deeper, the number of mutated pythons continuously increased. In one area, even several pythons traveling together appeared.
If Uchiha Kazuhiko wasn't mistaken, the nest of the mutated giant pythons the place where the Blood Orchids grew was about to be reached.