Lin Fan continued deeper along the passage of the Ancient Civilization Energy Hub. Here, the runic glow was even more brilliant, and the Origin Energy concentration in the air reached an astonishing level. He could feel the Origin Energy within him, like a joyful stream, surging through his meridians.
The system prompts chimed continuously, analyzing the murals and ancient texts along the way. Lin Fan learned that this energy hub was not only the location of the Heart of Mars but also a sealed place where the ancient Martian civilization had suppressed some powerful entity. His integration with the Heart of Mars seemed to have inadvertently loosened the seal.
"Warning! Energy fluctuations in the前方区域 are abnormally intense. Unknown life signs detected!"
The system's alert tightened Lin Fan's heart. He slowed his pace, warily gripping the metal pipe in his hand. The end of the passage opened into a vast underground chamber. In its center, a bottomless energy pool glowed with an eerie blue light.
Above the energy pool, thick energy chains intertwined, connecting to runic arrays on the four walls. And at the heart of these chains, a colossal shadow loomed, exuding a suffocating pressure.
"This is… an ancient beast under seal?" Lin Fan gasped, a cold dread creeping up his spine. Though the shadow was bound by chains, the mere aura it emitted sent shivers through him.
[Detected Ancient Martian Guardian Beast – Origin Devouring Python. Strength Assessment: D+ Grade.]
The system's prompt made Lin Fan's expression grim. D+ Grade, a notch higher than his current D-Grade physique. This was no mutated sand worm.
Just then, the eerie blue light in the energy pool flickered violently, and the energy chains began to tremble fiercely. The bound shadow let out a deep roar that shook the entire underground chamber. The pool water churned, and a powerful suction emanated from the shadow, drawing in surrounding Origin Energy particles at a frantic pace.
"It's absorbing Origin Energy, trying to break free from the seal!" Lin Fan instantly understood. His integration with the Heart of Mars had weakened the seal's power, inadvertently accelerating the ancient beast's awakening.
[Quest Issued: Suppress the Ancient Beast]
[Objective: Prevent the Origin Devouring Python from fully breaking free and repel it.]
[Reward: Origin Energy points +100, Origin Devouring Python gene fragment (usable for genetic modification)]
Lin Fan didn't hesitate. He knew that if this D+ Grade ancient beast fully broke free, the entire Martian wasteland would face catastrophe, and he himself would have no chance of survival. He took a deep breath, and the Origin Energy within him began to boil, blue light coalescing around his fists.
"Origin Shockwave!"
He punched fiercely, and a solid blue energy wave roared out, slamming hard into the Origin Devouring Python's head. The giant python let out a pained shriek, its massive body struggling violently against the chains, sending water splashing from the energy pool.
However, while Lin Fan's attack was effective, it wasn't enough to completely suppress it. The python's scales shimmered with an eerie glow, indicating astonishing defensive capabilities. It opened its gaping maw, and a black energy beam shot out, heading straight for Lin Fan.
Lin Fan's pupils constricted, his body instinctively dodging to the side. The energy beam grazed past him, striking the wall behind him and instantly blasting a massive crater. The runes on the wall dimmed, clearly having taken a tremendous impact.
"Such a powerful attack!" Lin Fan felt a lingering fear. He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer. He had to find the ancient beast's weakness.
[System scanning… Detected Origin Devouring Python's weakness: Energy core located seven inches from its head, temporarily suppressed by ancient civilization runes.]
The system's prompt made Lin Fan's eyes light up. Seven inches from the head! He once again gathered Origin Energy, this time focusing all his power into a single point. He leaped up, using the thin gravity to propel himself like a cannonball towards the Origin Devouring Python.
The giant python sensed the threat, its massive tail sweeping violently, attempting to swat Lin Fan into a pulp. Lin Fan forcibly twisted his body in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the colossal tail, and simultaneously hurled the metal pipe in his hand like a javelin, aiming fiercely at the seven-inch mark on the python's head.
"Break!"
The metal pipe, imbued with Lin Fan's Origin Energy, accurately pierced a runic node on the python's head. The runes instantly shattered, and the giant python let out a deafening shriek, its massive body convulsing violently, and several energy chains snapped.
[Origin Devouring Python's energy core damaged. Seal strength enhanced.]
[Quest complete! Gained Origin Energy points +100, Origin Devouring Python gene fragment.]
The python's struggles gradually weakened, eventually falling back into silence. The energy pool also returned to calm, and the broken chains, under the glow of the runes, re-formed.
Lin Fan landed on the ground, panting, his entire body aching, but his eyes were filled with excitement. He had not only successfully suppressed the ancient beast but also obtained a gene fragment, which was undoubtedly a huge gain.
"Gene fragment… can be used for genetic modification." Lin Fan looked at the system prompt, his heart filled with anticipation. He knew his strength was about to undergo another qualitative leap.
He didn't linger in the ruins. The awakening of the Origin Devouring Python made him realize the danger of this place. He needed to leave quickly, head to a human settlement, learn more about Mars, and digest his recent gains.
He looked up at the exit of the ruins, his eyes gleaming with longing for the future. Mars, this once-dead planet, was becoming the place of his rise.